I'd like to tell you a story. It's either late 80s or early 90s and it's just me and my mom at The…read morePlaza Mall. We've gone through the routine of JC Penny's, Dillards, and Sears and now it's time for my food court reward for not misbehaving. Many of you might not remember or have been born yet, but the place that took center stage and what was my favorite pizza place to this day was Luca Pizza. I'll always remember a worker wearing their chef's whites offering samples in the dining area, and my mom taking one for each of us. Every time I ate a piece I thought, "man, no wonder the Ninja Turtles love pizza so much". And then one day it was gone. The pizzeria that I loved so much growing up was no longer there, and it felt like it took all my memories with it. I thought that was it. All we have left here in The Valley is global pizza chains. Nothing made with heart. But then a cousin of mine told me that one of the cooks opened up his own place in Mission on Conway called "Pizza di Roma". Familiar faces. Familiar flavors. Familiar memories. After getting a haircut at Tatan's I would drive over and walk through the back entrance after passing their herb garden and get a pie. Things were right in the world, and wouldn't you know it, I came to learn that the full name of Luca Pizza was "Luca Pizza di Roma". Hah! And then one day it was gone. The doors were shut. The lights were off. Surely this can't be happening again right? Of course it was. The story would repeat itself with yet another pizzeria with the same staff called Titto's Pizzeria in Palmview until that too was gone, only this time there was no new incarnation. The spiritual descendants of Luca Pizza in The Plaza Mall were now all gone. There was no more pizza to be made from them anymore. Their story, as far as I know, had ended. And then one day I discovered The Pizzeria. The same cousin recommended it saying it reminded him of Pizza di Roma. Familiar ingredients! Familiar flavors! So, of course, I made the trek to Harlingen. Has anyone ever had that experience where they open the doors to a restaurant and you're immediately hit in the face with the smell that defines their restaurant? For steak houses it's the smell of the smoke coming from a seared steak, for panaderias it's the smell of sugar and freshly baked bread, and for coffee shops it's the smell of the sweetness of freshly ground coffee beans. For The Pizzeria, it was the smell of a caramelized pizza crust, the burnt flour left over in the oven, and the unmistakable heat and smell of a 450 degree oven that has baked thousands of pies in its lifetime. Now, I've been a loyal fan of this local pizza chain for years, and when their Harlingen location first opened, I still remember walking in and feeling like I had stepped into a true, passion-driven pizzeria. The place had energy, heart, and a sense of pride. Perhaps not familiar faces, but familiar flavors and, yes, familiar memories. But lately, something's changed, and not for the better. My recent visits to the Mission location have felt strangely lifeless in comparison. While the ingredients are still fresh, the execution hasn't been keeping up. The crusts come out uneven, the bakes inconsistent, and the attention to detail that once defined them seems to be fading. The frustrating part is that they still have all the ingredients (pun intended) to be great. Every single bite I take I think "This is good, and it's so close to being great, but it's just not there." What's lacking now is technique and care. The fundamentals aren't being applied with the same precision or passion they used to, and the result shows. I genuinely hope they can turn things around, because this isn't a lost cause. They've proven before, especially in those early Harlingen days, that they can deliver pizza with real heart. With a renewed focus on craftsmanship and consistency, they could easily reclaim what made them special. I want to keep cheering for them, but they need to rediscover the spark that once set them apart.

The pizza is very good. The bread knots were awesome. We had the knots, two slices and 2 drinks for…read morearound $14!

First time trying this pizza out. Ordering online was very easy and with a coupon too. The pizza…read moretasted great initially; however, not as a leftover. The crust tasted weird when the pizza was reheated. Ambiance is a simple way to pick up your order, no place to sit and eat.

First of all thank you all for opening up again . You were always our go to spot when you used to…read morebe on 23rd ! Did an online order and food was ready in 20 min just like the app said so ! Came out hot and tasted amazing even after the car ride home ! Wife and kids were excited to try it after I kept talking about how great the pizza was ! Thank you for coming back to the valley and I wish you all nothing but the best ! And also everyone loved the pizza and cheese bread !!

No need to go to Chicago with this place around. Great food and service! Nice ambiance felt at…read morehome. Artichoke dip 10/10 flavor and pizza bites would definitely recommend. The pizza is always cooked to perfection with a nice crisp never soggy. The Staff is welcoming and very friendly. Definitely worth coming out to try. *Better than Mama Mia's*

Loved the pizza and service when dining in. I'm always for the deep dish. Owner is a sweetheart and…read morefeels comfortable and like home.

Love the pizzas! Service is great and ambience is wonderful…read more I usually order DRAG IT THRU THE GARDEN!!! Full of veggies and cheese.

Visiting from Dallas and was told this was one of the best. For 58 dollars I should have just got…read morea CiCi pizza. It was over done and basically nothing on it. If you are Visiting from a North Eastern state that has REAL Pizza - don't waste your time..... Our pizzas looked nothing like the photos.....

I celebrated a birthday lunch in our office and was introduced to the menu and great setup of this…read morelovely family friendly restaurant. It's a huge space, very clean, and the menu is very broad! You will find everything for everyone. I want to come back and experience the patio because it seems like it would be a great place to enjoy the evening and maybe watch the game.

Pizzas were outstanding and the side dishes were a great compliment to the pizzas. This is the 3rd…read moretime we have had food at/from Stefano's and it seems to get better each time.

Awesome place! Lovely area and despite it being in the Texas heat at 7pm it was very very…read morecomfortable! Bathrooms were clean as well. The pizza wow! We had a nepolitan and the new york classic cheese! Made to order and to perfection! Will be going back. Probably the best pizzas ive ever had. Kudos to the staff yesterday evening.

This is the brick-and-mortar anchor to an amazing food truck park we found during my work trip to…read moreMcAllen. So let's talk pizza. We had the Fuhgeddaboudit which is their hot honey pizza. The pizza was delicious and the crust lived up to the hype as absolutely fantastic. But let's also talk culture and ambience. I learned this place has been open about four months. Let's face it, you can get pizza a million different ways in a million different places. So why here? What makes this place special in my mind is not just that the pizza is delicious but that it is a truly family run business that treats you like family when you're there. Brothers Alfredo and Victor were who I met. Also involved are a sister, a brother in law, mom behind the register, and Alfredo Sr. serving fresh popped popcorn. And what they created together was a fun, electric vibe that felt like a community. And they invited in seven food trucks that complement the park with a variety of other food types so there's something for everyone. In the end, I just love success stories and I want to help champion this family for having the vision, resilience, and drive to bring this community closer together with great food. Do yourself a favor and check it out for yourself.

I was really looking forward to this restaurant after hearing great things. With the baby asleep in…read morethe car we opted for takeout: pizza and wings. The pizza was fine, nothing special, and the wings were on the dry/tough side. Maybe I caught it on an off night, but it didn't wow me like I'd hoped.

Best pizza in Edinburg in my opinion. It's the closest pizza I can eat happily since moving from…read moreLos Angeles, California. Meet lovers Calzone and Stromboli are delicious and full of great meats.

Cafeteria style--Not even close--yeah I know Im 5 miles from the border of Mexico but I needed some…read moreItalian!! The sauce was terrible--the pasta terrible--the meatballs inedible! Even the salad dressing in the envelope was terrible. What was I thinking.

Do not recommend. Ordered online through drive thru, did not got the pizza I order and only 2…read moreslices out of 4 that I paid for, nor did I get the cheesecake that I also paid for and the order of breadsticks were also not in my order. Do not spend your money or time here. I wasted my money, never again will I come here.