Finale Pizza, created by the same owners of Inizio Pizza, opened this week in the Ballantyne area. When you walk in, you can either place an order at the counter for takeout or scan a QR code to join the waitlist if there's a line. The dining area features a counter with two TVs where you can sit and enjoy your meal, along with a beverage selection that includes bottled Coca-Cola products, beer, and wine. At lunch, the entire pizza menu is available by the slice, a great option for those wanting variety. However, during dinner, you can only order whole pies or plain slices, which streamlines the experience but may limit options for slice lovers. The menu has shareable sides, NY-style pizzas, pasta dishes, wings, and desserts. One aspect worth noting is how orders are placed. Rather than being waited on, you scan a QR code assigned to your table, browse the digital menu, place your order, and make modifications directly on the ordering page. While this is undeniably convenient, I found myself missing the warmth of human interaction when dining in. My Order: Plain Slice: The plain slice arrived first, served piping hot. It had an excellent undercarriage with no char and just the right amount of golden-brown perfection. The crust was foldable with minimal flop, and the cheese-to-sauce ratio was spot on. Speaking of the sauce, it leaned towards the sweeter side, which is exactly how I like it. If you're a fan of NY-style pizza, this slice ranks among my preferred pizza options in the Charlotte area. Caesar Salad: Next came the side Caesar salad. The romaine lettuce was crisp and chopped finely. It was topped with crispy breadcrumbs for a delightful crunch and a cloud-like mound of finely shredded Parmesan cheese. The combination was crisp, fresh, and flavorful. Side of Meatballs: The side of three meatballs were generously sized served with a red sauce. The flavor was rich and well-seasoned. Texture-wise, the meatballs were on the softer side of medium, which is a matter of personal preference, I usually prefer them a bit firmer. That said, these meatballs outshine many others I've tried in the area and are well worth ordering. Baked Ziti: I didn't get a chance to dig into the baked ziti yet, as I packed it up to enjoy as lunch the next day. The pacing of the meal was a little odd. My plain slice came out first, followed by the Caesar salad. The side of meatballs and baked ziti arrived shortly after but were packed to-go as I had requested. I'm looking forward to returning to try their wings and cannoli, two items that are high on my radar for next time. Finale Pizza is definitely worth a visit. While the lack of traditional table service might not be everyone's cup of tea, the flavors more than make up for it. read more

See all

I want there a second time and was disappointed. They have a GREAT Caesar salad with ground garlic croutons and homemade Caesar dressing. I had the pistachio pasta on the lunch special. Way overpriced $20 with chicken. The service is non-existent. You put your order in on your phone. It was not worked both times. The counter staff is not friendly or welcoming. The ambiance is non-existent too. I would recommend looking elsewhere until they get their act together. read more

Finale Pizza - Pistachio pasta. - Pizza Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

What's the point in ordering ahead of time with a scheduled pick up time if they are going to wait until you get there to even start making the pizzas? I sat for over 20 min after my pickup. read more

Really solid NY style pizza, friendly staff. Meatballs and salad were also salad. We'll be back!

Pizza was spectacular!!!!!! Amazing under crust, San Marzano sauce and a high quality mozzarella are used to create a superior fresh quality pizza. A definite 8.1 on the Charlotte pizza scale! read more

Finale Pizza - Beautiful undercarriage - Pizza Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

We visited Finale Pizza on a Friday evening and had a fabulous experience. Service was extremely friendly and prompt. Forgot to take pictures of everything. We started with the Straciatella Focaccia (delishhhhh) and Caesar salad (pic is after we had already eaten some). It was so fresh and tasty. We also got a slice of cheese pizza which was crispy and flavorful. The pasta dishes were really tasty, creamy, and fresh. Would definitely recommend this place! Ambiance was bright and clean with super friendly staff. Bar seating available which is always my fav! read more

See all

Finale Pizza in Charlotte completely exceeded our expectations. The pizza was spot-on New York style -- perfectly thin with that ideal crispy undercarriage and foldable crust. The sauce was light yet incredibly flavorful, and every bite had just the right balance of cheese and toppings. You can tell there's real craftsmanship behind each pie. What truly made the experience even better was the staff. The owner and team were polite, welcoming, and genuinely accommodating. Our group of six showed up about 30 minutes before closing, and not only did they take great care of us, they never rushed us -- even as we lingered past closing time. That kind of hospitality is rare. If you love authentic NY-style pizza, Finale Pizza is a must-try. Honestly, it's better than several well-known spots we've visited in NYC. Charlotte is lucky to have this place -- we'll definitely be back! Unfortunately we didn't take pictures. read more

My husband and I were huge fans of the pizza place that was here before Finale came in. To be clear, Finale did not run the little guys out.... The other place said the rent got too expensive and decided to let the place go and Finale came months later. So this new pizza place had big shoes to fill... I decided to do a pick up on my way home from work and I stopped in... the place had a whole new face lift. Cute little counter to eat at, kind of a retro vibe. The pizza came out fresh and I took it home. The real test, the taste. Yup, the flavor 10/10! Amazing! So much Dimension, and we just got a pepperoni and cheese. I was truly blown away at the flavor profile. Needless to say we will be dining in next time and trying other things on the menu! Nice job, Finale. read more

Phenomenal pizza. Far and away the best bet in Ballantyne. The pepperoni pizza and mozzarella sticks were outstanding. The caesar salad was also very good. I will definitely be ordering again and exploring the menu further. read more

So glad a friend recommended Finale to us. It is so good! We are pizza snobs after living in New Jersey previously and dare I say Finale is my favorite pizza in Charlotte. We love the plain cheese but our favorite is the Hornet with the spicy peppers and pepperoni with hot honey. I seriously dream about it. It's very cute inside the restaurant and we also order sometimes for delivery. A little pricier than some other decent pizza places in town but worth it for sure. read more

We were excited to try Finale pizza, but unfortunately we didn't enjoy it. We ordered the Hornet pizza and buffalo wings. The crust on the pizza was tough and quite chewy. It also had Calabrian chiles, which I really appreciate the option, but most of them still had the stems left on which is an unpleasant experience when you bite into it. $29 for the pie, that's pretty rich considering the lack of quality control & taste and about 20% higher than competitors. The wings were ok for 1990, but nowadays, buffalo wings can be sooo much better and these weren't. At $2/wing, I expect a lot better. So, no delivery, poor product, high cost. I think not. Too bad too. Farleys, the previous pizza joint located in that space was exceptional. read more

Really great pizza from same ownership of Inizio. You gotta try it! Salad was also really good and fresh. Sometimes, I have low expectations on salad from a pizza joint but Finale delivered. read more

Awesome pizza! Ordering was a little cumbersome, leveraging QR code and toast app. Pizza came out quick and was prepared perfectly. Staff was friendly and helped with any questions. Will definitely be back for more! read more

See all

Probably the best and most beautiful pizza in Charlotte. I'm from NJ, if there is one food I can eat all the time, it would be pizza. There are so many good pizza places in NJ, if they are not good, most likely they will be out of business, because of the competition. We ordered a Sweety Pie, Vodka and a Pepperoni. The Sweety Pie - Italian sausage, sweety drop peppers, stracciatella sauce. The Vodka - vodka sauce, mozzarella, basil. The Pepperoni All three were outstanding. The crust had a nice char throughout the pizza. It was as crispy and chewy and on the slice fold test, it did not bend. That's what you are looking for, from pizza from the northeast. The sauce was very good! The reason I gave it four stars, is that they said it would be ready in 35 minutes and it was done just over 15 minutes. By the time we picked it up it, was only warm. This will be my go to pizza place and thank you for having it In Ballantyne! read more

Finale Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

My husband and I love this place, along with Prince's awesome performances. We can't get enough of their NY style pizza. My husband Jesse says it's the best he's had since leaving FL. Kim & Jesse read more

Great pizza by the slice! excellent service. I will definitely be back. I used the QR code to order very simple. Reasonable

Overall, it's a solid place to grab a slice when you're craving something satisfying and tasty.

Loved the pizza, pasta, and salad! Really friendly staff. I will definitely be ordering from here more often.

Tried Finale Pizza this week and was not disappointed! Cute little spot. Has a great, fresh new interior, very crisp. The pizza was delicious and even great as leftovers, because that matters. Interesting service though, you scan a QR and order and pay on that which is not my personal favorite. Either way, the staff is friendly! Additionally, during lunch they sell by the slice and that would be a nice way to try to different pizzas! read more

Finale Pizza - Toasted White, added mushroom. It has a toasted sesame crust that was very delicious. It was bright and fresh and very earthy. - Pizza Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

This pizza is LEGIT if you are from the NJ/NY area and trying to find your pizza fix. OMG the Hornet pizza was soooo good. The crust was crispy and you can properly fold the pizza to eat it, as pizza should be folded! HIGHLY recommend! My only suggestion, you need a bigger place cause this joint is rapidly going to outgrow this space. read more

All went well! It was fabulous! I was surprised how well everything was. The service, polite and the pizza was excellent. I have told my friends and neighbors to try this restaurant. They will be very happy with it. Can't wait to go again soon and have the delicious food. Thanks again. read more

Really good pizza at Finale! The slice came out hot and very quickly. The pizza is thin and crispy, well seasoned with the "good" pepperoni and chewy crust. If I lived or worked nearby, I would definitely be a regular. The atmosphere is clean and crips. Easy to get in for a casual quick lunch and I'm sure a great transition for dinner time. The mozzarella sticks are good, can't say I would get them again. The marinara sauce is really good and actually much hotter than the mozzarella sticks themselves. Going in for lunch you can order at the counter when you walk in or use the QR code at your table. I'll be happy to go back and try some of the pastas when I'm in the area again. read more

Finale Pizza - Mozzarella sticks ($10) - Pizza Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

Delicious pizza!! Not a lot of seating but I definitely recommend going just know there may be a wait. Their lunch menu is great everyday until 2! read more

Finale Pizza - Lunch slices! - Pizza Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

See all

Had the Hornet yesterday! It was outstanding! Highly recommend Finale Pizza. Great service. Cozy on the inside.

First time to Charlotte, North Carolina, and we found this little gem for lunch. The pizza and the meatballs were excellent. Great flavor. The meatballs melted in your mouth. The service was great. The staff was friendly and the restaurant was very clean. It was so good. We ordered pizzas to bring back to our hotel for some of the other guests. read more

It's just ok. So many people rant and rave over NY style slices. I just don't get it. We've tried so many places that are super hyped only to be let down. Tonight was no exception. Sparse toppings, thin crust $35 pizza. We did get it to go, perhaps it's better there. But at the end of the day, it seems these NY style places bring the NY price, but it's the are just not bringing great pizza. Those from up north may love this place and I'm not saying it's bad. It's just not what we like and it's double the prices. Lorenzo's, Inuzio's is better in our opinion. read more

The Innizio team does it again! Elevated authentic NY style pizza that's a cut above all other pizza in the area. We were in a hurry and Prince took care of us - got us our dinner in time to make our movie! Will definitely be coming back. read more

A very good crust, even from my native New Jersey point of view. The flavor of the crust is the best that I've experienced in my mostly failed search for tasty and crispy crust in Charlotte. At $22 this is a bit pricey for a plain cheese pizza, especially since the cheese was so sparsely placed ...It's possible that the crust is too thin to support more of the cheese. A slightly thicker crust and more generous content would make this my favorite pizza in Charlotte! read more

Finale Pizza - Finale not so cheesy pizza - Pizza Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Top 2 Pizza in CLT (alongside Pizza Baby) absolutely incredible. I've been here 20-30 times. I love their food so much.

If you find it tucked away like I did consider yourself lucky. I am going to go a solid 4 out of 5. They do it right from scratch and don't sleep on the meatballs. I know a guy that knows a guy. That is all I am saying. read more

Still average. The pizza is never cooked evenly or consistent. They also do not put enough toppings on the pizza to justify $26 for a pepperoni pizza. Definitely not a value leader. I have been here 4 times to verify that. The pasta and sauces are good and I would recommend the meatballs. A decent place that charges way too much for what they provide. read more

1000/10!! this is the place to eat! we started small and slow..wings and mozzarella sticks, BOTH WERE GOOD. as a pizza lover i was a little nervous (because you can mess up pizza) but this was everything and more! thin crispy pizza just like they said. every bite was delicious and crispy! oh and the cheese cake, creamy, sweet and delicious. service was good, it's small inside but clean and cute! we will be back! read more

Started out amazing, Prince was so friendly in sitting us and explaining the menu and ordering process. We got the Straciatella + Hot Honey + Focaccia (amazing), Cheese slice, and Chicken parm. The chicken parm came out but no slice. We waited 20 minutes, no one came by to check on us, and no slice ever came. We had to wait in the to-go line for another 5 minutes to ask about the slice. It's a shame because when I finally did get my cheese slice, it was great. Definitely seems like more of a to-go hub rather than a sit down restaurant. Great convenience of ordering from your phone at the table but that means zero customer service during your meal. read more

The pizza was incredible - the honey and basil plus the spice of the peppers was a party in my mouth. Once we got our food we never saw our server again, has to track someone down for water refills, parm, etc. Maybe bc we were at the bar and they have you pay up front idk. Will be back to try the pasta and mozzarella sticks. read more

Finale Pizza - Hornet Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Fantastic pizza. The dining area is pretty small with only 4 tables and bar seating but if you can snag a seat it's worth it. Bar staff was very friendly and provided great service. There were a lot of people waiting for carry out as well. Would recommend but only if you're okay with potentially waiting a bit. read more

OMG this place is amazing! food is great, especially the ceasar salad, and the service is spectacular!:)))) loved our server (didnt catch his name) read more

The BEST pizza in Charlotte. I seriously crave the Hornets pizza! Quick, friendly service and incredible flavor - I'm surprised more people don't know about this place. Highly recommend! read more

Probably the best pizza in all of Charlotte. The food tastes very good and the ingredients taste fresh. We've been several times and although it was cheap it is good and the kids do love it. I did feel the price for slices was a bit excessive even for good quality pizza but we still continue to go back time and time again. read more

Had this for the first time recently when my boss ordered us pizza for lunch. It was very good and I loved the crispy pepperoni! The cannoli's are good also. read more

We were visiting family and they took us to Finale Pizza. Being from NY we know good pizza. This pizza was amazing. The crust was done the way we like it (crunchy and a little dark). The owner came to talk to us about his pizza and where he was from in NY. I would definitely recommend this pizzeria!! We will come back when we visit again. read more