THE BEST FRIGGEN PIZZA ON THE PLANET! I grew up in the sleepy little town of Latrobe (pronounced LAY-TROBE if your from there, otherwise pronounced LA-TROBE) and there's not too much that I really miss about western Pennsylvania... except this pizza. This pizza is legendary. No shit, it's amazing. If I were on death row and they said what do you want for your last meal it would be Jioio's Pizza hands down. That's god damn right. It's unlike any other pizza that I have had anywhere in the world! I've used this pizza to gauge my relationships over the years... if a girl didn't like this pizza, I knew it just wasn't meant to be. I mean, when you pull up to the restaurant, it looks really shady... it's just this little shabby looking building with no windows, hardly any parking... You walk in, the same people have been working there forever, there are pictures of the Jioio family on the wall, and the carpet and the tables are the same as I remember from a kid. I come back to Latrobe probably twice a year and for years when I go in this place the same people are still working there.. there's some mad loyalty going on at Jioio's. The crust is the star of the show here; it's like a sweet flaky pie crust, just damn magnificent... then a very thin layer of sweet and tangy sauce goes on, then the perfect amount of slightly browned bubbly cheese... and whatever standard toppings you want next. Jioio's is the only pizza that I can ever order and be perfectly happy with plain or just extra cheese... it's almost like you don't want the toppings on it to take away from the most perfect pizza on the planet. Usually, I order the 30 cut pie, just so I have enough to eat there and to freeze and take back to Arizona with me. The pizza freezes very nicely, and 10 minutes or so in the oven brings it back to life. Who knew that Mr. Jioio could not only invent the best pizza in the world but a pizza that could also rise from cryogenic suspended state and still be the bomb??? Add a few dollars to your pizza and you can get a nice family style salad and a two liter of soda (or "pop" as they call it in Western PA). I rarely deviate from the pizza, but there have been a few times over the years where I have tried a few other dishes at Jioio's.. I remember the Gnocchies being fantastic too.. they cook these delicious little potato dough balls in the same sweet sauce that they use for the pizza.. add a little cheese on top and you have a perfect Italian meal. I would tell anyone who is ever visiting the Pittsburgh area that if you want the best pizza in the world, take an hour drive to Latrobe and grab a Jioio's. read more

Jioio's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Latrobe, Pennsylvania

I have used the yelp app for a few years now and have never written a review. Today, I felt compelled to do so. Took my daughter here for lunch. The restaurant was not even halfway full, however, the wait staff and kitchen seemed to struggle to keep up. It took us almost an hour to get our order. Refills on the water were a bit of a challenge also. I was given one refill in the approximately 1.5 hours we were there. It was hot. At the end of the meal I am still not sure who our server was as it seemed that the ladies in the dining room were taking turns serving us. It seemed pretty disorganized. My daughter was quite hungry, but we made it. When our food arrived my chicken Parmesan sandwich was lukewarm and average at best. It tasted like it was made from frozen chicken, but I ate it as I was very hungry. Additionally, a sign in the dining room proclaimed that food returns would only be accepted provided you return the full order. This also discouraged any complaint. My daughter's pizza was piping hot and she enjoyed it as usual. I think the the kicker here was that I got a side salad instead of fries with my sandwich, it was just ok, small and kind of wilted. Later, as we were finally getting out of the restaurant, I saw the waitresses bringing out salads that looked much better than mine. I would have paid extra for a good salad but was not offered this option. I give Joio's two stars because my daughter loves the super (read cloyingly) sweet pizza. The service was pretty atrocious and I do not plan on coming back to dine in. As a local I would not recommend to friends. It seems that this restaurant forgot about the importance of good customer service. Lots of problems in a meal can be resolved when someone takes the time to be attentive to customers. I think there may be a bit of hubris at work here. read more

Jioio's (pronounced: JOE-eee-Ohs) Restaurant serves up what could possibly be the most extraordinarily singular pizza on the planet. It draws a line in the sand and demands that you stand on one side or the other. It has been the nail in the coffin in many relationships, it has caused a few sleepy Southwestern Pennsylvanian villages to be raised to the ground, and has won one for the thumb (go steelers!). OK, I exaggerate, but only ever so slightly. The pizza served here does have quite a cultish following. It is the best pizza in Pittsburgh, PA without a doubt (many yinzers would agree) and it's an hour drive away from the city. Pulling up to the restaurant and it looks like an adult bookstore with no windows in sight, but I feel that a pizza this pornographic can only be served in such a joint. Upon entering you are faced with a take-out counter and a beer and pop mini-mart style cooler hugs your right side. There are two dinning rooms one on the left features numerous dead animal heads mounted on the walls and the one on the right contains old photographs of the Jioio family from the 30's - 50's. Depending on my mood, I usually prefer one over the other on any given day. Dining rooms are scattered with patrons with there families, couples dining in their sweatpants or real-tree camo just coming back from hunting whitetail deer. (yes, i have seen it). It is the type of place where anyone a little cosmopolitan or different causes the needle to scratch the record to a halt. You people watch and they watch you back, which is sorta like a queer staring contest of sorts. The cantina scene in Star Wars would be a fair comparison. Uncomfortable with the dagger eyes from this 300lb. bearded woman wearing a floral print mu-mu, you glance down at your menu. There are salads (which are of the small town iceberg lettuce, white onion and tomato wedge variety), pasta dishes, pizzas, and the drinks available are pop and beer. Beer comes by the glass or by the pitcher and Latrobe's own (bought out by A.B. and moved) Rolling Rock is on tap. Pizza. Ahhh the pizza. It is unlike any other. Jioio's prepares something so unique that it can be categorized as an appetizer, dessert, main course, and snack. Speaking of their plain: Jioio's starts off with a foundation of sweet pie crust dough--this makes the pizza thin, crisp, and gives it that flaky texture. A very thin amount of tangy and sweet sauce goes on next. Finally the browned and bubbly cheese blankets the sauce. Toppings are standard small-town; onions, green peppers, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms. I usually go with one plain and one white. The pizzas here are rectangular and due to the astonishing crust, the corner slices are prime real estate. Biting in is a shock if you are expecting something, something meaning anything from what you have learned about pizza thus far. It is sweet, salty, savory, and mmmmm.... It is at this point that you will find out what side of that aforementioned line in the sand you stand on. Finally, Jioio's is the most durable pizza I have ever met and perhaps that is due to its pie crust and lower moisture content giving it super structural integrity. It reheats, freezes, good room temp., and even good cold (note: i don't like any other pizza cold). A good friend & fellow pizza fiend, Ryan, drove 4 hours each way (Baltimore to Latrobe) to get some Jioio's. Upon returning from his pizza quest he said to me, "It would be unfair to call it pizza. It transcends pizza." Please take note that this was not fresh in the restaurant pizza, this was 24-48 hours old, reheated pizza!!! Jioio's draws the line. read more

OK, so I've moved away from my western PA roots and instead moved to the city of deep dish pizza and hot dogs with really weird stuff on them (Chicago). Whenever people ask me what I miss about home, there's three things I mention: 1, trees and hills. 2, Chic-fil-a sandwiches and waffle fries. 3, Jioio's pizza. I was very disappointed the last time I was home that I only had time to admire #1 and indulge in #2. I HONESTLY considered trying to find a way to fit a run to Jioio's in on the day of my flight back to Chicago, and then wondered if I could get one of their mega jumbo pizzas through airport security. (It wouldn't fit in the overhead bins, I decided sadly.) THIS PIZZA IS THE BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD. It's that amazing that I have to capslock about it. I am very impatient and picky and I hate waiting and crowded restaurants and, okay, I'm just generally disgruntled a lot of the time. I would wait for HOURS to get a table here, just for the amazing pizza. I would endure screaming children in the restaurant, sticky tables, being crammed in awkwardly in a dining room clearly not meant to fit as many people as it does. ANYTHING. The pizza's so different and unique, you either like it or you hate it. It's this amazing sweet, thin, flaky crust. This is a pizza you can keep eating until its all gone and you wonder what you just did to your diet. I have never eaten anything else on their menu, though I hear it's all good. Sometimes I've gone with someone who insists on ordering something other than a pizza. Those people are no longer my friends. If you ever find yourself in the area, do yourself a favor and stop in. Not only is the place sort of a microcosm of western PA life, but the pizza is hands down the best pizza I've ever eaten. read more

I've had their pasta once and it was forgettable. I can't say that it was bad, but it certainly doesn't keep me coming back. Full disclosure: I'm not a big pasta fan. And I also find "hometown" Italian food boring. Alright, I'm a food snob. I said it. Moving on... Their pizza is good. If you don't like sweet pizza you certainly won't like this. It has grown on me over the years. But the best pizza they make is a pierogi pizza. It's really the best slice of pizza I can remember eating. The service is another story. I can't say anything bad about the kids working there as I never dine-in. However, the woman or women that manage or own the place are not friendly. I'm trying not to say anything too mean about them, but if there were an R-rated Yelp review section I'd weave together profanities tighter than a 1000 thread count Egyptian bed sheet. I've never had to complain to them. Again, I always order to go. I've just had bad experiences in simply picking up my order. If I wanted to be talked down to I'd move back in with my parents! (Just kidding, my parents are great). Go for the pizza, try not to interact with the managers/owners. Tip the kids extra because working for these people must be awful. Food: 2 stars Pizza: 3 stars Pierogi Pizza: 5 stars Service: 0 stars P.S. Salt the side walks. I nearly fell twice last time I went and entered the side door away from the pickup counter. read more

I went here based on the reviews and was not satisfied. The pizza I got had a sauce that was far to sweet than anything else and the cheese slid right off the pizza on first bite. There were quite a few people in the restaurant but the pizza just didn't live up to it's spectacularness. I'd take any New York Pizza from a mall over this place. read more

Decent,but as the reviewers point out ,it is sweet. If this place were out here in the bay area,hippies and health nuts would be picketing this place saying that too much sugar leads to obesity. Unfortunately most of these people out here are fathead leftest pinko commie PC morons. read more

You go there, or better yet take-out (it is an unfriendly dive, run by grumps, serviced by young kids who are hit-or-miss in their service and knowledge), only for the pizza. And in saying that, I must confess the pizza is not my style. While it is thin crust, and I love thin crust, it is a sweet pie dough and always greasy - never crisp, which is my preference in a thin crust. Many say the pizza is good, but I say it is nothing to write home about. The sweetness is so overpowering that my teen-age daughter and her friends love it. If you do not like sweet pizza you certainly won't like this. Their best pizza is the pierogi pizza - a western PA specialty. Give it a try but be forewarned! read more

I have been ordering Jioio's pizza for as long as I can remember and without question, this is the most amazing pizza I have ever had. The crust is light and flaky with a hint of sweetness, the mixture of cheese and sauce balances the sweetness of the crust. You simply cannot get any better pizza anywhere. Truly a must if you are in the area-you won't be disappointed. Naturally Jioio's offers a wide variety of menu items and all traditional italian dishes are quite good. The gnocchi are a particular favorite of mine, but you can't go wrong with Jioio's if you're looking for either great traditional italian or the world's best pizza. read more

i live in new york city now but come out here to visit my mother's side of the family. i've had both this one and the greensburg pizza. This location is better, the waitress then told me that this was the original jioio's-- i don't know who to believe anymore and don't want to start any jioio feudios. service was slow but it was understandable as I came in on a holiday night. All of the staff was apologetic for the delay and otherwise were very friendly. there was a "help wanted" signs in the window so I understand they're trying to get some more hands in the kitchen and out front. The pizza comes in a big ol' rectangle. the crust is pie-like-- like a fruit dessert pie and on closer inspection seems to have lots of layers almost like burek or baklava which makes the crust very crispy and the part under the cheese have a fairly dense and unique texture-- which is not to say that it is soggy. The sauce is mildly sweet but coupled with the pie crust makes it seem even sweeter. Normally I would think this is an issue but this pie really works! You will not find another pizza quite like it. Highly recommended; even just to try it. read more

I had the lasagna, it was okay, but the sauce was a little bland, and served luke warm. Regular sliced bread, and a basic salad, so it was okay all in all. read more

Jioio's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Latrobe, Pennsylvania

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Got a pizza from jioios in blairsville today 7/30/2019. Was told to wait 35 mins then when my boyfriend went in to get it the said it will be 20 mins. So we had to wait more. The when by boyfriend got the pizza the cashier said blame the cook. Didnt think anything of it until we got home and our pizza was crispy and burnt The cook should be ashamed of him/her self because we are regular customers. We dont appreciate the treatment we received today. read more

This is a pizza you have to try; the sweet crust is amazing! Pizza isn't their only speciality; the wings are fantastic.

I worked in Latrobe in the late 90's and was first introduced to Jioio's then. I had never eaten a 'sweet' pizza, and I've yet to find one that I like better than Jioio's. Every time I meet someone from Latrobe I say one word: Jioio's. 9 times out of 10 naming the restaurant starts a long conversation about how great their pizza is. Sweet, flat, pie-like crust with delicious fresh toppings. I could eat an entire pizza. Its savory but its dessert like. Until you try it you'll never know. So try it, now! I love their side salads as well. They come with homemade croutons and beets. Delicious. read more

If you like sweet pizza - this for you. Expect to be treated poorly. The staff here are very rude. Also, I find their pasta to be "not so fresh." I really don't know what all the fuss is about the place. Food: Meh Service: Horrible read more

This is an awesome pie! Sweet sauce.... and the thing that makes them so different than anyone else is the crust..... It's like a pie crust...an actual pie crust.... The first time i had ever had their pizza,i wasn't sure if i liked it or not....i was shocked at the crust..... Now i know it's one of the greatest foods in Westmoreland county PA.... And if you haven't tried it.... You should! read more

Use to be a fan, but the sauce is way too sweet now, plus the prices are to high. A 6 cut Pizza cost me almost $14.

I grew up going here and last had Jioio's in 2011. I have never found a better pizza place. I was lucky enough last night to get pizza from Jioio's and wow--it tastes the same as it always has. The best pizza in the world!!!!!! read more

Oh Jioio's. A family staple for us, I have had more Jioio's than probably any other pizza in my life. When it's good it is good. When it's bad, it is almost inedible. Poor management has plagued this restaurant lately. The decor inside is also about twenty five years overdue for a remodel. The pizza, like I said, can be really amazing. Very unique, truly not going to be like anything you've ever tried. My new problem, and the reason for another star subtraction is the giant TRUMP sign posted in front of the restaurant. Please keep your politics out of my pizza. It's all we've got. read more

Most of the food here is good and there is a lot of variety. The pizza here is unlike any pizza you will ever eat. I know that it has almost a cult following and it is definitely something you should try. Honestly, I don't care much for it and my wife strongly dislikes it. The service is hit and miss and I've sometimes not felt very welcomed. There are far better Italian restaurants in the area. read more

Came here after Steelers Camp and in typical Jioio's fashion, it didn't disappoint! We split a large pizza for the table with half pepperoni and half cheese end it was just amazing. The crust mimics pie crust and has a nice flaky consistency and the sauce is sweeter but not too sweet. Combine that with the great cheese and it being cooked to perfection, you got yourself a great pie. Rock on, Jioio's! read more

I have been a patron for 35 years and loved the pizza. The service the past few times was very poor. We waited an hour and half for pizza and had to leave before being served. They do take out orders first. Last take out order of party pizza was dry, very little pepperoni or roasted red peppers and size smaller than usual. I won't recommend again. read more

Oh how I miss thee. I miss thee so so much. I wish you marketed your lasagna and I could buy it anywhere. I'd pay so much money for it. I do not miss much in PA, Texas is a wonderful place but alas... I cannot find any lasagna in anywhere near the same sphere as the venerable Jioio's. read more

Dang good pizza. The sauce is sweet, not like kinda sweet, but really freaking sweet. So be ready for that and don't complain afterwards, because you were warned. It's a great little hole in the wall Latrobe institution. I make sure to go everytime I visit the old hometown. read more

The problem here is not so much the food it's pretty good. I am not a fan of the pizza but my family is so I enjoy the other food. But it is the service that is horrible they sit around eating in the dinning room no one comes over to great you at the table when you sit down we waited awhile before anytime came over and they are just talking. There just is no good management there place could be ran so much better read more

Their pizza is 5 stars...I love the sweet sauce and the thin pie crust. I almost gave Jioio's 5 stars for their pizza alone, but the only reason I'm not is because I can't recommend anything else on the menu. Partly because I haven't tried too much else (even though I've lived in Latrobe my whole life) and partly because I'm not sure what I have tried (besides their pizza) is better than other Italian restaurants in the area (particularly Gino's). If I could review with 4.5 stars I definitely would. What I can say is, you will be hard pressed to find a better pizza anywhere. I would recommend trying the onion pizza. read more

This place is awful, the service was absolutely awful and the canned sauce is so sickening sweet things are not edible. Didn't notice the trump sign until I left. Jioios? More like Diabetos read more

If you're looking for a unique pizza taste, then Jioio's is the place for you. However, if you're looking for great service, then look elsewhere. The friendliness of the staff is hit or miss. Their younger staff is happy to help and patient, but their older members seem like they just don't want to be there. The sweet sauce and thin, rich crust makes it so worth putting up with any discomfort the employees may cause you, though. I would suggest giving it a try because the pizza really is to die for. Just don't expect to be wowed by the service. read more

Used to be a great place, now 50% of the pizza we order is terrible. We try to support local businesses however the quality and service has deteriorated so rapidly in the last few years. We received a pizza today that was entirely mush, the dough was completely raw, we called them (which we literally never complain) and were informed that we could "exchange" it for another pizza, yeah I'll just keep it in the garbage read more

It's been a long time since I've been. Pizza is overrated. There's never any sauce and too sweet. Overpriced for the size of the slices.

My favorite pizza!! I prefer the Greensburg location because they are a little more friendly there, but I highly recommend grabbing some Jioios pizza from any of their locations if you are in the area. There is nothing like it! read more

I always go here when I visit family in PA. Their pizza is very unique. Cooked in a pan and therefore sweeter than regular pizza.. their sauce is a little on the sweet side too. This place is good for groups, and always friendly service. My only recommendation is to switch from iceberg to mixed greens or romaine for salads. Otherwise, keep it up- pizza is solid. read more

Best Pizza in Latrobe. I live in Chicago now, but whenever I am home, I make sure to pick up a pie to go.

They make the best pizza I've ever had. Thin crust that's crisp almost like a cracker. It's just a bit sweet which really rocks with the savory sauce and toppings. The service is very slow. (that is why I knocked one star from the rating) It will take a good 45 minutes for your pizza to come out. Just be prepared for the wait. read more

Good pizza. Burnt a lot. But the place is poorly ran and employees seemed bothered by you being there. I long for the days of mr jioio handing out lollipops and talking to customers. Totally different feel now. Sad. The pizza is great when it's great and terrible when it's terrible. The staff makes it hard to go back read more

I love This place. However the service sucks, the management is awful. Our waitress was alright if the food wasn't wonderful I'd stop going

I went to have lunch there today with family and the food was the WORST EVER. The pizza was so soggy you couldn't even pick it up. Gave my 6 year old niece a slice and when I told the waitress it was AWEFUL she asked if I wanted another one. After checking in the kitchen we were then told it would be another 20-25 minutes I said forget it and she took the SOGGY PIZZA BUT THEN SHE ALSO TOOK THE 1 PIECE MY LITTLE NIECE HAD ALSO RIGHT OFF HER PLATE. I will never patronize there again and will tell all my friends and family to not eat there as well. The bathroom was filthy and had holes in the door. Dirty dishes sitting on a cart in front of the guests. WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!!!!! read more

Delicious pizza! Sweeter and thinner than anything else you'll ever try. It does take a while to make a pie, so don't expect a quick turn around. Save me a middle! read more

Went in at 6pm for reservations for family of 9 we were not served our food till 745 was told wait staff walked out. Had a 1 year old and 2 year old. Need more staff on pasta night read more

This and the Irwin location are both amazing for their pizza. If it wasn't so far out for me it would definitely be my favorite pizza. A phyllo dough crust and a sweeter sauce are right up my alley. The distance hasn't stopped me from driving 40 minutes away for the pizza on multiple occasions. Really love it. If you live far like me and have the space, grab a party-sized pizza. They only offer it to go, but it's cheaper and larger than two large pizzas and it reheats well read more