I hate to give 3 stars for this restaurant because I really like their food. My favorite one is a calcinato. An Italian quesadilla, it suppose an appetizer but for me 3 pieces are very fullfiling, total per order was 6 pieces for $9.99. But today when my coworker did a take out around 11ish. The place was so pack, and not only that they also forgot to make my calcinato so he had to wait another 20 minutes for it. We ordered 5 personal pizzas and 1 calcinatos. Total to wait there almost an hour although he did phone ordering. Crazy. He said the place was so small with so many people there and apparently they were not really ready to get many customers at the same time? read more

Fat Lorenzo's is a fave of our family. Three years ago we moved from the Nokomis area to a St. Paul suburb, but the pizza and gelato (and service) keep us coming back from the 'burbs. The pizza is excellent, especially if you like a thicker, bready crust. They make it fresh and seriously, I could sit down and just eat the crust, it's that good. Toppings and fresh out of the oven make it super good. The gelato is very good, a favorite of our kids, always with a great variety of flavors. A little pricey, but the small is even a lot of gelato, so don't over order. We love the ambiance and service as well, casual Italian, Sinatra in the background, a place where everyone can be themselves, the kids can draw pictures on the paper tablecloths while we wait (it's encouraged with crayons), and everyone is in a great mood. The servers are personable and, because the area of service is so small, they're always close and very responsive. read more

Great if you like thin crust pizza. They seriously have the perfect crust that almost tastes like it's baked in a little bit of butter. We had onion, bacon, and pepperoni and it was so good! We also had gelato for dessert which was very refreshing. Highly recommended. read more

This is a cool place to grab a slice of pizza or a scoop of gelato. They also have a really good garlic chicken hoagie that's really goos. Cool interior and nice staff. read more

Delicious sandwich and good service! No wonder this place has been around for so long. The ambiance is great, very easy to get to. Parking with no problem. I'm looking forward tearing through this menu. Seeing the slices on some of the plates, I certainly think I'm going to swing my bat at that the next time I'm here. read more

I like them better now after my visit tonight. We met the guy who makes the gelato (I think Mike's his name) and we sorta harassed him about how he didn't have Mango gelato available :) Oh well, he had WATERMELON gelato. AMAZING! Everyone there is super nice there tonight. I got a good vibe from everyone there. That makes a huge difference at any place. I'm excited to go back to try more of the food. We had a cold sandwich today and the lasagna -- I'm not a fan of cheesy stuff, but the lasagna was super good! read more

Finally a place with good oven baked subs! They are huge and quite delish if you are into that sorta thing. The service was good and fast. They had some interesting beers to try. I'll be back to take down their meatball sub sooner or later. read more

Fat Lorenzo's - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My son and I ate at Fat Lorenzo's today. We had s couple slices of pizza. It was amazing service. Very fast service including the water refills. And the pizza was awesome. The prices were so reasonable that I had to leave a larger than normal tip. This business deserves to thrive. read more

I first had Fat Lorenzo's at an event they catered. I was blown away by their chicken alfredo and sausage rigatoni. Alfredo may not seem like something that would blow you away, but I do not like restaurant alfredo because no one seems to know how to make it. However, Fat Lorenzo's was amazing and flavorful. After the event, I actually went to the restaurant for lunch. I ordered the Garlic Chicken hoagie. It was delicious...absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this place for the alfredo, sausage rigatoni, and the hoagie (since that is all that I had). My friends all ordered seperate dishes and vowed to return. I will return for their pizza and other menu items. read more

The owners and staff at Fat Lorenzo's have it figured out. You must try this place! Was unexpectedly delayed out of MSP due to weather, and needed a quick dinner on my extra night in St Paul. Walked to Fat Lorenzo's from my Airbnb; within minutes of arriving, I was glad my travel hiccup allowed me to land here. Even though the restaurant was full and buzzing (6pm on a Sunday), they seated me in the cozy dining room within five minutes, and I had an impressively delicious local IPA (Fulton 300...well done, Minneapolis) in hand as I studied the menu. I settled upon the Slim's, a scrumptious veggie pizza with loads of all of your favorites (mushrooms, onions, green peppers and olives). No sooner had I set down my empty bottle when my fantastic server dropped a second on my table. Nice! This is some seriously delicious pizza, folks; and that's coming from someone who lived in the NYC metro area for over six years. Pizza was piping hot when it landed on the stand; crust was tasty, sauce perfectly seasoned, and cheese and toppings generous. Having had a less-than-positive lunch experience at another restaurant in the MSP airport, I was ravenous by the time I walked into Lorenzo's, and still could only make my way through two pieces of this scrumptious pie; my Airbnb hosts were thrilled when I brought them the leftovers! My very experienced server was warm, prompt and very engaging; everyone (staff and patrons) at Lorenzo's was clearly happy to be there. Great vibe, like you're eating amongst family. I unfortunately didn't have time (or belly space!) to check out their desserts, but I walked out one very satisfied customer. Many thanks for treating me like a queen, Fat Lorenzo's, and for turning my travel snafu into the best dining experience I had during my long weekend in the Twin Cities. I will absolutely be back the next time I visit! read more

Service was good, food was gross, Baked Rigatoni was watery and not baked what so ever. I told the waiter I wanted it baked w/baked cheese. Meatball was like rubber. read more

I like Fat Lorenzos. I went there for lunch yesterday. We went on a recommendation from a local business owner. I was initially put off by all the murals in the outside of the building, the outside privacy fence, and inside the entire restaurant. After looking at them closely, I decided I like them--quirky angels and cherubs flying around with pizza ingredients! We shared the following for lunch: artichoke dip, Fat's Hot Hoagie, Steak and Cheese Hot Hoagie, Fat's Pizza Slice, Pepperoni Pizza Slice. All of the food was great! I actually liked the artichoke dip and the hot hoagies more than the pizza. And the home-made coleslaw was really good. Warning: the portions are LARGE! Finally, the service was great. Despite the fact that it was super busy, our server was super friendly and talented. It's a pleasure watching someone who's good at their job. Thumbs up! -Daddy Maxx Retro read more

My husband and I tried Fat Lorenzo's on our drive out of Minneapolis and we're so glad we did. The place has the down home feel where everyone is welcome. Our waiter was extremely friendly and accommodating. We had a couple of slices of pizza and the dinner salad. The dinner salad truly is great in that it has everything on it - from peppers and olives to cheese and tomatoes. It was definitely larger than I expected. But add a slice of pizza to it and it was perfect for lunch. The pizza slices were also good - and large! Definitely a must for anyone traveling to Minneapolis and looking for a quick bite! read more

I love fat lorenzo's!! There I said it. Felt good. My fave is the garlic chicken hot hoagie - it's HUGE and super delicious. And cheap. My boy got the O Mio Dio sandwich and that almost replaced the garlic chicken in my heart - but not quite. Their 'za is pretty dang good too. And did i mention they have house made gelato? Their beer selection is stupendous as is their wine - it's super cheap too! I got a glass of house wine for $4 - and it was really decent wine! I wasn't sure at first, but for $4 why not give it a shot! Go there - if you can get a table! Or just get takeout and sit in the grass by the lake! read more

If you are staying near the Airport in MSP and don't want to eat at Mall Of America... This is a great choice for pizza! Indoor and Outdoor seating and very good service. The pizzas are generously topped and there is a great selection of toppings. Crust was very good. If the 5-8 is full you have a great option with Fat Lorenzo's! read more

These were the best stromboli I've had in the Twin Cities. The crust was buttery and flaky like a great pie. Pizza was good, but not as great as Stromboli. I will definitely go back soon and try both again! I can't wait to try the gelato. It looked delicious but we were too full this time! The waitstaff was excellent! read more

i hate giving bad reviews but this was such a bad experience. i come here every so often and it's usually great, but today was super slow and it took over 45 minutes for my food to come out. i ordered pasta. the rest of the table got their food and ate and i was still waiting. it's also my birthday, so maybe that's why it bugged me so much, but it shouldn't have been like that even on a normal day. i don't think i'll be returning. read more

I have nothing bad to say about this place. If you're looking for pizza that isn't all hoity-toit like Luce or Galactic, get on down to Lorenzo's for a slice or full pie. They've also got this spinach and feta stromboli thing that will take years off your life but you'll be loving every morsel of it. There's a tiny parking lot but it fills up fast. I've never had an issue finding street parking within a block though. read more

25 years of practice has solidified Fat Lorenzo's as one of the best in the Minneapolis pizza scene. Is there a Minneapolis pizza scene? After stuffing my stomach with all kinds of Italian goodness I thought to myself - why do I ever order Domino's when this is available? And it's pretty reasonably priced too. We spent about $50 (without drinks) between eight people and even had a couple of pieces of pizza to take home for lunch the next day. Not only a great neighborhood restaurant, but also a great deal. Just what the Hicks' were looking for. ...And save room for the gelato! Atmosphere Welcoming, family-friendly environment. Almost felt like we were sitting around our own kitchen table. Service The service was great. Very accommodating to our group of 8. Presentation Classic pizzeria. No frills, just flavor. Taste Fantastic. The pizza crust was crisp without being too crunchy, the sauce was well proportioned, and the fresh toppings were enhanced by a great italian season. Definitely worth the hype. Value for Dollars Affordably priced. We got out of there at about $6 a person! read more

Pros: GREAT Pizza, if you like thicker pizza. Also has good grinders and pasta. Fun location, neat murals, fun for kids. Cons: A little expensive (but it is good pizza!). Due to the smaller dining area, dining in can be a long wait. Don't forget to put your name on the little piece of paper tacked to the wall when you arrive. Limited private parking, but ample on street parking. Also, a few small outdoor tables. A great summer option is to order a pizza for takeout, then walk over to Lake Nokomis and have a picnic on the Lake. They also have Italian Gelato for dessert. read more

Went with the family, on a whim that Fat Lorenzo's would be good. We had about nine of us, so sitting inside was going to be tough, as the place is small. The weather was great, so sitting outside was not a problem. Unfortunately, the problem was that the server was not at all enthused to come outside to help us. Very short and abrupt with us. The food, on the other hand, was outstanding. We tried several dishes, and all of them were huge portions...many served as lunch the next day...and the flavors were very good. I'd definitely recommend Fat Lorenzo's for the food...just hope that you get a server in a good mood. read more

Simply the best. Good Pizza, Pasta and Subs. Location is good, a stones throw from Lake Nokomis. The only bad thing about the location would be off a busy street . When the ground isn't frozen, grab a bite and head on over to the Lake to walk it off ;-) read more

I love their red sauce, which is just a little spicier than most places. A slice of their pizza is a meal for a grown man. Their lasagna is off the hook & I've also had shrimp/alfredo which was great. They offer a nice variety of beers/wines for a smaller place & I love the atmosphere. It's just a shoebox, but they decorated it with beautiful murals on the walls & stacked tomato cans. Kids love this place because they can color on the table clothes & crayolas are on the tables waiting for them. I was far more impressed with this place than I thought I would be. I was expecting a generic pizzeria, but this place has some style & some soul. * Bonus points for selflessly supporting their neighborhood schools (Hale & Wenonah) with catering for charity events. read more

I've tried Fat Lorenzo's pizza, pasta, and gelato a few times. The price is very decent for the quantity, and the place is cosy and slightly kitschy. Nothing bad, but nothing great or memorable. A bit too bland or plain for my tastes, but I've been told kids love it. read more

This was a much needed and delicious meal after traveling all day. The guys needed to load up on carbs before the Voyager 50 and me? well I just wanted to eat. We got a Calcinato (Italian style Quesedilla) to start and share and I loved it. If I ever return I would definitely get it as a main dish. Big, Fresh and tasty - just how I like it. Andy N. and I split the Garlic Chicken Hogie and the "oh mi dio" hoagie. The garlic chicken was yummy, but not as garlicky as we'd hope (we like to avoid vampires) but still yummy. The "oh mi dio" was pretty spicy (too spicy for me to share actually :( )but the meat was yummy and the veggies were great on it. Our eyes were too big for our stomachs of course and we ended up only eating half of our hoagies each. These things are huge. Oh and Andy N. ordered a side of spaghetti and meatballs. It looked average. Spaghetti and what looked like canned ragu sauce on top - avoid that if you're expecting anything more. read more

Food: 1 star Service: 3 stars We were visiting the area and checked this place out as it was highly recommended by a local resident. First off, the location is pretty bad. It's on the corner of an extremely busy intersection and with limited street parking, we had to park a ways down the street in the residential neighborhood and nearly got run over by a lady who clearly doesn't stop for pedestrians that are safely crossing. The outdoor tables are first come first serve and we waited nearly 20 minutes waiting for an inside table before an employee informed us of this very key info. After getting our table (outside) a very friendly server stopped by and took our drink orders. (She was the only reason for the 3 stars). The service was great and she checked back on us quite often throughout our meal and refilled drinks. Now onto the food...the local guy who recommended the place told us that we should skip the pizza and try one of their pasta dishes as they serve "authentic homemade" Italian food. So we took his advice and all ordered various pasta dishes and an app to share. The very generous spinach and artichoke appetizer was good and filled us up before our pasta came out. Thank goodness. I can't speak for everyone else, but my lasagna was the strangest lasagna I've ever had. It was straight AWFUL and not at all "authentic". The lasagna consisted of pretty much some marinara with a large amount of various sliced Italian deli meats, layered in soggy pasta with some bell peppers and mushrooms shoved-in, covered in melted mozzarella cheese. I cut right into the center for a bite and it was COLD as if it had been improperly reheated or maybe even microwaved??? Silently repulsed, I decided to instead eat the rest of the appetizer as my meal and not make a big deal out of it to not ruin everyone else's meal. As we sat there outside trying to enjoy our meals we found it quite difficult to have dinner conversation. It was drowned out by the sound of non-stop traffic driving by. This is a VERY busy intersection! And I'm not so sure about the Minnesota laws regarding smoking but there was a fellow customer who felt the need to enjoy his cigarette upwind from our table as we ate which added to my frustrations. As the sun went down I could see inside the windows and noticed the kitchen staff preparing the food, when it all made sense...MICROWAVES!!! I saw it with my own eyes, they "cook" their pasta dishes in the microwave! What "authentic" restaurant would ever do such a thing?!? I'm sure it's to help speed up the process, but pasta dishes should be made and served fresh to be called "authentic". The food looked and tasted like a TV dinner. With dinner a done deal, I looked forward to trying their homemade gelato which they also serve by the scoop inside. I popped inside to take a look at the gelato flavors in the freezer case and was grossed out when I saw the ice cream scoops (handles and all) inside the vats of gelato...yuck. Needless to say, I passed on dessert. Overall, I would never go back to this restaurant again. The sad part is I always prefer a family run type of restaurant over a chain restaurant which there are plenty of being near the Mall of America. But this place was as "authentic" as your local Olive Garden, who probably doesn't microwave their food. I am disappointed and confused because all of their great Yelp reviews. I hate to leave a bad review on a small owned place like this one, but the truth must be told. read more

Fat Lorenzo's - 5600 - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Eh. I was all excited to check this place out after reading the review in the City Pages and seeing all the good reviews here. I was sort of underwhelmed. It's not *bad*, necessarily, but it's not amazing either. Apparently the original owner grew up in the Bronx and wanted to make New York Pizza, so maybe my disappointment was a product of inflated expectations, but it's not really like New York pizza: the crust is too pillowy and the sauce is a bit too sweet. However, the price is right ($3ish for a huge slice) and it's definitely adequate as a decent place to get pizza. And any place that doesn't try to tell you that pizza should have barbecued chicken or fruit on it gets some extra points from me. read more

Both I and my dining companion arrived at the same conclusion at the same time: I don't like this pizza. A medium sausage/mushroom pizza, that was. They should call it "huge" because it was. The crust was like food service, commercial pizza dough. Really, think about it. What high volume pizza place doesn't use food service dough for low cost and 100% consistency? Enough about the food. It's a matter of palate and nose. And lust for salt. And price. Now, about the booths. Constructed out of planks including the back of the seat at razor sharp 90 degree corners, this was a matter of bone-deep pain. Squirming, "what's wrong with you?" pain. Worse than the worst picnic table. They don't make having a pizza easy. I also thought it was particularly funny, that these booths in a restaurant named "Fat Lorenzos," were obviously designed for those with an extreme waistline. Sturdy, overly roomy, no upholstery to ruin. Bring your own big, meaty (fat Lorenzo) butt - you will need the padding. And then dig in to that 3,000 calorie pie. And don't forget to add 15 units of fast acting insulin to the order. I've driven by this restaurant hundreds of times wondering - what I'm missing? Now I don't have to worry about it anymore. read more

You practically share a seat with the couple near you, but any restaurant that covers their table with paper and gives you crayons to color can have 5 stars. ...oh yeah, and the food is great, too. After a short wait, the neighborly service was very fast and brought plenty piled on my plate. Don't be afraid to indulge; after a hearty meal you can walk, run, or bike it off on the trails around Lake Nokomis. And seriously, let your Crayola creativity flow. read more

I've been here many times dating back to the days of skipping class and cruising Lake Nokomis in the late 1980's in a Camero IROC-Z. The IROC is long gone (and so is my mullet) but Fat Lorenzo's is still here pumping out great pizza, pasta and gelato!! My kids love this place and a stop at Fat Lorenzo's after a day at Lake Nokomis Beach is still a must! It's good to know somethings haven't changed. Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses optional read more

The building stands out all by itself with the paintings and made me curious about the business. Stopped in for lunch and ordered the deluxe cheese-steak and it was impressive. Everything that was ordered at my table looked good but the cheese-steak ruled all. Prices are decent and that sub was well worth it. If I return to the area in the future definitely going back. read more

always excellent warm service and the best italian in the city! classics done right! too bad the vfw location closed! read more

I've been eating here since I was a little kid. Besides the great memories I have from eating there, the food is wonderful. Its rich and homey, very comforting Italian food. I'm really a big fan of their cheesy garlic bread, which may seem just simple, but its one of the best I've ever had. Their marinara has a pinch of spice to it, which pairs beautifully with many of their dishes. When you're looking for pizza, look no further than their hearty and generous slices. They have one of the best in the city. Also, after dinner you can get their gelato, which is a perfect ending to any meal at Fat Lorenzo's. The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is because their hoagies have a habit of being far too drippy, which ends in a soggy and inedible mess, which eliminates a whole portion of the menu. But otherwise, a wonderful place to eat, friendly staff, and OH! You can color on the tables while you wait for your food! read more

Just got hoagies back home from there and found a beard hair in one of them. Called and talked to Mike (Manager on duty) and he was extremely rude and unapologetic about it. We did get a credit for one of the hoagies but not sure if we will use it. Hope that was just a one-off mistake, it happens, but the rudeness of the manager really turned us off to there. read more

Fat Loreznso's is not that good. I was looking around for restaurants to order take-out before my flight because I didn't want to eat at the airport. This place had the best reviews for take-out restaurants. I'd like to lower their rating a bit so that people don't make the same mistake I did. I ordered the pasta/meatballs + a salad. The pasta and meatballs was nothing spectacular. The sauce was generic and watery. The delivery guy forgot my salad. When I called the restaurant to tell them about my forgotten food, the phone was passed around 3 times before I spoke to a person that could actually be of any help. Then when the delivery guy came back, he seemed annoyed that he had to bring me the salad that was forgotten. Hey, I paid for it! Of course I want it! The salad was ok, but nothing to write-home about. There was too much cheese and the olives were weird. I wouldn't order take-out from this place again, and also wouldn't sit-down in the restaurant for the quality of food. Meh. read more

I love this place! I order the same thing every time - Slim's pizza. I love how the sauce has a little bit of spice to it. It's not overwhelming by any means, but it's not just plain old pizza sauce like some other places. Always save room for gelato for dessert. Seriously. Or just come for gelato and nothing else. My point is - do not come here and skip the gelato. It's the best! The only bad thing about this place is that it's small, and not good for large groups. If you have more than 4 people, you may wait for quite awhile for a table. The great news is that you can order take out - so get the food for your group and eat elsewhere. read more

Visiting the area and wanted some good pizza. Fat Loreno's provided that. We ordered "the fats" as recommended by our server, and he was right. read more

Fat Lorenzo's - Pizza Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

One of our favorite stops when in the area. Always had great service and never felt rushed, even when busy. Something even my picky eaters like and of course the pizza is yummy! Parking can sometimes be a pain in peak/busy times but as long as weather is good a little walk is good for me anyway. read more

Make sure you try the Stromboli -- great to share as an app or for your entree. I tried the Oh Mio Dio today which is their take on a cheese steak sandwich. The idea of a mix of hot peppers, cheesesteak beef on a pizza was intriguing. It was okay -- really not much on the meat. Some slices had none while others had one. Ended up being a mushroom, onion, hot pepper pizza. Not horrible by any means but hoping it to be like they made it out to be close to the sandwhich. Service is pretty good and ambience is fun. read more

I really want to like this place based on an earlier visit prior to my most recent one. However, this last last visit really turned me off to the point that I will never dine at this restaurant again. Visiting with my spouse on a late Friday afternoon, we decided to support this local business because we were in the mood for Italian and also good pizza. Upon entering the restaurant we were immediately met by a server who promptly seated us and provided us with menus. We were then informed that another server would be joining us which is normal as one greets while the other takes the order. Our server (the one taking our order) greeted us after five minutes and asked for our choice in beverage. They later returned with our beverages and we informed them that we needed more time to look at the menu before placing our order. The wait look about 20 minutes and our server never returned to check on us. What really steamed me off about this is that we noticed that other parties were being tended to by their servers while sat idle for almost 20 minutes. Not sure how busy the place was but this really turned me off so much so that I will spend a dime at this place especially if servers aren't attentive to certain "groups" of people. Zero stars for poor service and lack of attention read more