I have mixed feelings about writing this review. I really want to love this place (their star pizza is a fave) but also, when you leave a place feeling a bit bamboozled by the experience, it makes you question returning. I do find that the "forced appetizer" concept is a bit over the top here. Often times the tables have bread, olives, jam/spreads sitting at the table on arrival. If you aren't familiar with "the way", most people eat them and are blind sided when they are on your bill. BUT this place doesn't stop there. They often bring three types appetizers to the table, which if you eat them, it is likely to raise your bill by 10/15 dollars (as a guess). I always turn them down. BUT just know. That bread sitting on the table has probably been breathed on by another table that turned it away. They are taken to and from the table often and I am unsure if that app is sanitary to eat at that point. Maybe? But be warned. Don't touch the apps or send them away as the arrive. You will be billed. Service is often, not the friendliest. We have gotten one lovely gentleman from Brazil once as a server and he was fab! But recently we got this woman that was less than friendly. Calling people "hey lady" when needing to get attention, and not patient. Maybe just say "excuse me" next time as some feedback. To be fair, it might be a direct language translation (Menina) which is acceptable in Portuguese. Even if so, the place had basically zero people the most recent visit except us and I felt patience and kindness could have been extended a little more. FYI: they won't give you tap water (even though legally they have to when requested) so expect to buy your water, maybe if you are a local Português things are different. I am not Portuguese but I am local and this is the first place that has ever refused me a cup of water. "It tastes bad" was the reason. As a side note: the first time we came here we arrived at 11:58. They opened at 12:00 and they told us we had to wait outside until 12...in the bitter cold and torrential rainfall. I understand not being "open" but I don't think there would have harm in allowing us the stand in the entry way for less than 2 minutes until the proverbial open gates flung open. Overall, you likely will enjoy your meal. But just be aware of the funky little quirks about this place. Oh ya, and paying and splitting bills can get funky with them too so just bring cash if you have more than yourself and you are splitting the bill.... I say this so you don't have to navigate it. There is a lot of good things about this place and I hope next time, if I visit again, things will feel different. It might have been a bad few days for them. I mean, we haven't seen the sun for weeeeeeeks so maybe we are all just blue. read more

On our 3rd night in Porto and having ate a francesinha for lunch, we wanted something less filling and less Portuguese for our last night here. We decided to go with pizza and chose IL Pizzaiolo based on walking distance from our hotel. We came at 630 pm when the restaurant first opened and were the first patron that night. We got the chicken Caesar salad and the Diavolina (spicy salami) pizza. Firstly, on the table is a basket of bread and condiments. I recalled later on past review Yelp that if you eat it, there will be an additional charge to your bill. They don't say anything about that additional charge so be mindful of it. The charge you will see on your bill is Pao Cecete (bread) 2 euro and couvert pizzeria (condiment of butter, Olive oil and olives (2.8 euro) When we finished the sides, the waitress took our small plates and brought our salad and pizza. The pizza is not sliced at all and we had to ask the waitress for 2 plates to share the pizza and salad. I guess for some, the salad is their main meal. Chicken salad Caesar - 14.45 euro - delicious and had bits of bacon along with egg, Parmesan slices and croutons. Chicken breast was large pieces. 5 stars The Diavolina- got our craving for a light dish and something that had a light thin crust , light tomato sauce and tasty soft crust that hit the spot. 5 stars Yes, the price is a bit high but worth eating if you are craving for something like pizza. read more

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We just wanted a quick bite one evening and found IL Pizzaiolo near where we stayed. What a lovely find. IL Pizzaiolo's pizza was so good with thick and chewy crust outside and thin/soft in the middle. I was pleasantly surprised that they had vegan cheeses from their last special and the staff was willing to make one for me. We each ordered one ourselves and left very few slices when we were done. It was a great change after eating mostly Portuguese food. Great service and staff too. read more

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Had the spaghetti carbonara. My lady friend had the pizza pollo. Both very good. Put that together with a glass of house red. Nice, nice. Service was friendly and attentive. read more

After reading some of the negativity on Yelp, we pondered not checking this place out. Our stomachs dictated that we wanted pizza so we relented and made the short trek from our flat to give it a go. We got there not long before closing and we're told as we were sat that we didn't have long to order. A group of ten showed up at the door and were turned away and were told that they didn't have the time left in service to feed them all. Our request for tap water with lemon was checked upon, and denied. Our second request for tap water only was granted. We quickly scanned the menu and settled upon a Calabrese salad and a spicy pepperoni pizza, along with our coveted water and a bottle of white wine. Our server quite stiff at the end of a long day lightened up as we cajoled and kidded during our meal. The decor was somewhat industrial with the top half of a shipping container part of the pizza oven's enclosure and area. The seat pads on the benches could use new foam, but overall the place was clean and tidy. The salad was excellent, plentiful, and arrived promptly. The pizza was delicious with a few char marks on the crust which we love as flavour. All we can say, is that not every day is a great day as far as service goes, but we can say the food was excellent at a fair price, and that's all you can ask for in todays world. read more

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The pizza was traditional thin crust and very tasty. Good place overall for pizza. Friendly staff and quick service, would recommend. read more

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Waiter played in our face for 10 minutes while we waited for him to even get our drinks in. Clearly didn't want to service Americans. Tourists, there's an awesome burger restaurant nextdoor. read more

Enjoy some good quality brick oven pizza with some even better sangria. Highly recommend stopping by. Waiters speak English, Spanish and English (for the most part). read more

IL Pizzaiolo - Pizza Near Me - Porto, 13

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Absolutely amazing food and service, after climbing the steep streets of Porto we developed an appetite, too which our luck have it we found this little gem, friendly staff, and great decor. We started off with the Garlic mozzarella bread and were greatly pleased with these little triangles of flavor. Next came our pizza's. I would say without a doubt this is a great place to grab a bite to eat. read more

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Overall: Great, dependable pizza place that scratches that specific pie itch. The good: Good pizza and crust, with plenty of options to choose from. A chewy and charred crust with plenty of toppings on top. Comes out hot relatively quickly as well. A little bit of outdoor seating, and plenty of indoor seating. Staff was friendly and helpful with the menu. Free WiFi. It was a great fallback when we weren't able to find reservations/seating at other nearby places. The not-so-good: Honestly not much, it's just not 5-star pizza. The prices are a little high, but not by much. Food/drink: 8/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10 read more

Great pizza made in a clay oven! We ordered a margarita pizza. It was a thin crust with a sour dough type of crust. Very tasty. I also tried an affogato for the first time, which is vanilla gelato with shot of espresso and they added a shot of amaretto. It was delish! The location is great on a street with no traffic. Great place to sit outside and people watch. read more

IL Pizzaiolo - Affogato with shot of Amaretto - Pizza Near Me - Porto, 13

Great spot for pizza in Porto. We were looking for a simple, no-frills spot for Italian food, and this place met all that. We got the Margherita pizza, the lasagne, vegetable soup and garlic bread. The bread was cheesy and delicious. Loved the lasagne; it was enough for one person. The Margherita pizza was very good and hit the spot. Veg soup was Aok. Their mojito is quite good and refreshing. Overall, it was a very good experience. Service was good. read more

The food is delicious but the service was very rude. They don't respect foreigners and will say no to every request. Their server Kayo was very disrespectful. BEWARE guys! They will charge for the complimentary bread and water. It's not a Portuguese tradition. When we confronted after paying the full bill, they started saying bad things and calling names in local language. Overall an upsetting experience! read more

IL Pizzaiolo - Pizza Near Me - Porto, 13

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We stumbled across this gem looking for lunch after a quick visit to the library and IL PIZZAIOLO did not disappoint. They had indoor outdoor seating and lively music permeating the restaurant. The food was A-MAZING! They have a full bar along with brunch and even vegan options! The staff was so kind, personable, and very accommodating. We are totally going back next time we visit Porto! read more

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Great service and I really enjoyed the waitress Andrajna the food was great and the wine amazing I can't wait to come back great vibes only here read more

Had a taste for pizza - delicious! Good option to eat when everything else is closed and looking for something other than portuguese food .... read more

I came across this pizza place on Yelp and it had solid 5 stars so I went with it lol Also, we were getting tired of Portuguese food so wanted to try a different cuisine. It's easy to find and walking distance from the Sao Bento train station. We were seated after a little wait in the small restaurant and they informed us they only had pizzas available from the menu (no salads or pastas). It's interesting because this is the second time a restaurant told us they no longer serve certain menu items and I'm guessing they are just running out of fresh ingredients lol My mom ordered the carbonara pizza and I got the vegetarian pizza. We weren't sure if we were being fatties by ordering our own pizza because of the size of the pizza but when it came out, it was a pretty good size lol We were able to eat majority of it because the pizzas here are thin crust so it wasn't hefty even with the toppings lol Pretty good service and wifi. Great spot for getting together with family, friends and dates. One of the best food spots in Porto lol read more

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Tried this place for lunch and we ordered a margherita pizza and a lasagna and we were too impressedz (we are big foodies) The lasagna needed salt and just more flavor, I could tell it was quality ingredients but it just wasn't all that good. The pizza had a great crust but again the flavors were just bold enough. The pizza was slightly better then the lasagna but I would recommend you check some other place out unless you like your food a little blander. Just an opinion. read more

IL Pizzaiolo - Lasagna - Pizza Near Me - Porto, 13

Good thing we had the wonderful young man, Mateus, serve us today October 20 and give us WONDERFUL service (as we had from him on Sunday October 14 too!!) as we tried to come on Friday night October 19 without realizing we need reservations (for 2). That's completely fine, we get it. No worries. We can come back another time. But....It's HOW the message is delivered. A gray haired man, possibly 50's?? that looked to be the manager was the rudest person we have encountered in almost three months of traveling through Spain and Portugal. I get it. You are busy. But trust me, if not for good pizza and a wonderful young employee such as Mateus, NO one would want to come to your restaurant if you spoke to them as you did to us! This man acted like we had committed a crime because 1. We had not reserved ahead of time. 2. We asked how long of wait? (Even though there were many tables open at 8:15 and we only wanted a pizza. Plus he let young pretty girls in shoving them past us and they did NOT have a reservation-trust me I heard them state that!). His rudeness and throwing the "nothing open until 10 (growling face) well do you want that, tell me NOW" attitude. Ugh. But anyway, second visit. Second time seated outside and second time having Mateus serve us. He instantly recognized us and greeted us so nice. We had the same as last week. The Margherita pizza and the Mushroom/cheese with truffle sauce. Both really good. The crust is perfect in the wood fired oven. Thin with a toasted edge. We will go back on our next pass by Porto. I will be on the look out for the grumpy dude and only stop if I see Mateus and his smile. By the way, the 3 stars would have been 5 but you know why 2 stars were removed. If not, re-read my review! read more

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We ordered take away and it was delicious. Very light and tasty. Next time I would order 2 for myself

We loved the food so much here that we came back again during our week long trip! Highly recommend! read more

IL Pizzaiolo - Pizza Near Me - Porto, 13

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The food was great. The seats are so uncomfortable though that I would not return. Service was good and nice music in the background.

The food was okay but the staff is extremely racist. If you are a person of color then forget about having a good experience. One of the servers, named Kayo, called our table 'complicated' and continued making unpleasant remarks throughout the dinner and later. Upon us taking it to his manager, another staff member pretended to call the police to threaten us. When we confronted the senior server about this behavior, she tried to calm the situation while others continued to mock us from behind. We went to celebrate a special occasion but came out very disappointed. Porto has plenty of restaurants with much better food and staff just avoid this one. read more

On our first trip to Porto, and after a long day of travel and fatigue, this restaurant was PERFECT! The pizza was so tasty and the bolognese was so homey. Our server was on top of it and very nice! We got outdoor seating that was nice to be able to enjoy the city and the nearby sights! I definitely recommend this restaurant! read more

We arrived in Porto late in the afternoon and, without knowing where to go for food, we found this place. The food was excellent. Service wasn't great but enjoyed the overall vibe and the prices were very reasonable. read more

Louis R loves pizza. I know he is shredded and full of muscles and yet he eats pizza. Yes. Louis R loves this Porto pizza spot because: - Pizza was thin-crust crispy, flavorful and makes you want more. - The views were marvelous - The service was affable, attentive, prompt and yet not cloying - The atmosphere is casual yet upscale - The red Porto wine was a perfect paring with the pizza Louis R endorses this Portuguese pizza spot Be like Louis R, be great. read more

We went to this place on our last day in Porto, and it is safe to say it was one of the best meals we had. We ordered the garlic bread with mozzarella, Diavolina pizza, and mushroom risotto. This was one of our more silent meals because the food was just that amazing. The mushroom risotto was one of the best ones I have had in my life. I highly highly recommend this place. I asked to speak to the manager and shook his hand after our meal because he deserved it, and keep in mind I would never do that. read more

Pizza was great! Please take note to either call or have your hotel call to make a reservation, otherwise go at your own risk. We didnt have a reservation but we got there at 645 before the 7/8pm rush and there was only 2 of us so they reluctantly sat us indicating they only had pizza available for order which was totally ok with us because we just wanted to quickly eat and get out. We sat near the door and at around 7pm people in groups of 2 or 3, without reservations, came and were told at least an half hour or more wait, even with tables visibly available. We completely understood their rationale for reservations as locals and tourists enjoy spending time eating and socializing. They can't risk their bigger tables to be taken before the rush and then delaying others with reservations. The older gentleman, possibly owner, is stern in his approach and can be seen as "rude" but his approach is understandable as he is dealing with a lot of people coming in asking for a table. In the 40min we sat waiting and eating at least 5 groups came in asking for a table and this is on a Sunday which is probably slower. I cant imagine during high season. Bottom line. Call in for reservation or go very early or perhaps later after 9/930. The pizza was good. In terms of service it was on par with other places we went where you shouldn't expect to be attended to constantly. On occasion it happens but dont be afraid to raise a hand to call them over :) read more

IL Pizzaiolo - Pizza Near Me - Porto, 13

Absolutely brutal attitude by the staff!. Our credit cards (two) were mysteriously declined when it was time to pay even though we had used them 3x in the two hours prior to dining. They ran both our cards multiple times and when I started to get nervous, they gave us full attitude and were completely rude to us. And then mysteriously my card went through!?! They even stopped me on my way out the door to berate ME for being concerned about the number of times they ran my card. It was an awful experience that could have ended when our bill was paid but they took it unnecessarily further by being even more aggressive towards me on my way out the door. I do not understand how they thought any of that was my fault. The food was ok. Service was lousy. Our drinks were still being poured when our food arrived. it was very rushed. Not enjoyable and I do not recommend at all. read more

The restaurant is located near the beautiful bookstore Livraria Lello. Our kids love their pizza! Their other dishes are delicious as well. I especially enjoyed the linguine nero & gambi. Also, try their watermelon sangria. Refreshing! read more

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This is a great Italian restaurant with wonderful service. They offered excellent recommendations. The food was fresh and delicious. The service was wonderful. read more

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Very near Clerigos Tower; spitting distance. I tried two or three times to get into this place, but seems like unless you arrive as soon as they open, it's nearly impossible without a reservation. And when I called, no one has answered the phone. So I decided to ask for take out. OK, OK, I did stop afterwards to quickly buy a pair of boots at Fly London (right at the corner), so by the time I got home, the pizza was cold and limp. Therefore, I can't really speak to its quality. However, my vegan mushroom risotto was still hot heaven. They use coconut milk for the dairy, and it was even better than the regular risotto I had last night, at Ze Bota. Something I appreciated, different from the typical US presentation, were the finally shaved mushrooms. Thin ribbons punctuating the unctuous grains of risotto. I was supposed to split it with my husband, but ended up eating the whole thing! Fantastic. And I had to transgress somewhat from my typical diet to try the bufalo mozzarella salad, so fresh and divine! Several days ago I ate at Puro 4050, also great Italian, but most of what I had was a little too heavily oiled. Il Pizzaiolo was lighter, and nothing missing in The Taste Department as a consequence. If anything, it becomes easier to enjoy each flavor with less oil coating your taste buds. I'll try to get in here once more and dine in, so I can experience the pizza properly. If that turns out, I'll update my review with details! read more

An amazing spot in Porto for really really really good pizza, views & service. The atmosphere is semi casual with more of an upscale ambiance, with the interior being well lit and clean. The service is impeccable, with all of the servers being friendly, helpful and efficient. The pizza is fresh and light and complementary with the Duoro red wine. I'd highly recommend! read more

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This spot was amazing!!! Me and me just arrived in Porto and were starving we just walked around and found this spot. The calzone was delicious and really fresh. The wood pizza oven is right when you enter and really makes you hungry. We loved ittttt! read more

IL Pizzaiolo - Pizza Near Me - Porto, 13

Rude staff. Very unwelcoming. We sat anyway because we were hungry and tired of looking. Food was ok at best

We just arrived to Porto this evening and we went looking for dinner. We found this place (note: there are two locations - we went to the location next to the Cathedral). The food was absolutely fabulous! The service on the other hand was atrocious. The young lady who helped us was way too rigid with her ability to make any changes to a salad. It took her literally 30 minutes to take out order and then another 30 minutes with us pestering to pay our bill. There was another issue that we saw that wasn't cool. They were turning away guests due to a lack of tables but we saw at least two tables waiting to pay and we feel from a business point of view - the poor owner is loosing business. Great food - service should be improved. read more

Quality crust and toppings. We had the mushroom with white sauce pizza. Nice atmosphere and wait staff. Right in the heart of the university area. read more

I'm not usually a "pizza person" but this was the best pizza I've ever had. We topped it off with a glass of rose and mouth watering tiramisu. Service was impeccable and it's located in a very nice part of town. 5 stars! read more

IL Pizzaiolo - Nutella tiramisu - Pizza Near Me - Porto, 13

This is a great place for Italian food. Excellent Tagliatelle Mare E Monte!!! Great Service. Highly recommend!!!

We absolutely loved it. Pizza was authentic Italian and was incredible. Staff was attentive and the vibes were very high end but casual enough to just stop in. We went twice in a row because it was that good. read more