I go here with a good pal whenever she's in town. She begs me to take her. AND I AM BEYOND HAPPY TO! Let's stat with the pizza: top notch, fresh ingredients and just plain delicious. The meatballs are a great appetizer and, dare I say, just as good as my moms! (Sorry mom) Portions are great, the drinks are VERY good and the service is wonderful. The decor is pretty nice too! The only downside is downtown Portland is evil when it comes to parking. It's worth the parking nonsense! read more

Tons of pizza options and lots of cool drinks! The drinks are great. It isn't so great if you don't eat pizza. There are only a few other options if you don't want pizza. The place is very nice inside. The lights are dimmed and there are large, comfortable booths. read more

Lazzari - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Was there with a group of friends and the music was so loud, we couldn't have a conversation. We asked the bar manager twice in a polite way if they could lower the music a little bit. The manager told us to eff off then the. Kicked us out. Hard to believe that so many people love this place. read more

Lazzari makes great pizza and the ambiance is wonderful. It's classy! Service is good.

Great decor, but the pizza was just not my cup of tea. Make the cannolis right there so they are not soggy and they do taste good.

Not sure what's going on here. Been a fan since I moved to Maine, but something has changed for the worse. Pizza was under done and topping ratios were WAY off. Would agree with another reviewer that the music is so loud that it was physically uncomfortable (I'm under 40 and have bartended at multiple establishments). It's a restaurant not a night club... do we really need to be blasting kendrick and drake at 7:30pm at a volume level that makes me say "WHAT?!" Repeatedly to my husband I'm sitting shoulder to shoulder with?? Idk, hopefully just a fluke but we left having only eaten 1/2 our food and feeling bummed about how much it has changed. read more

Takeout during COVID, easy order online and pickup. Had the Bolognese Pizza, it was delicious. A little bit of spice which gave it extra flavor. Crust was a little thin at center so it was hard to pick up the slice and needed a fork and knife, small bummer. Definitely worth a try! read more

Lazzari - Bolognese Pizza - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

The food is decent, but they are notorious for poor customer service. Once I joined a group of friends about 15 min after they had arrived, and I didn't receive my pizza until one of them had already left and the others had paid their checks. read more

I was super excited to try this place, it was recommended to us by a friend. We got there, we stood there for a while. The host/ server / bartender, was on her phone in the corner. The cook, said something to her and told us to sit wherever we'd like. We sat waited for 10 minutes while's she said bye to her friends. Never came over to us, never received a menu. Another couple walked in, they sat down, she brought them a menu. She just seemed to have an attitude. We waited a little longer to see if maybe she would come over. She did not. We finally decided to get up and leave. She didn't say a word to us. Just seemed miserable, which is unfortunate, I get people have bad days but don't get into the service industry if you aren't a nice person. Really disappointed over all as my friend gave me a good review. I hope this place gets better staff. To the server, please just be a nicer person. You made eye contact with us and refused to even come over and do your JOB. read more

Love this place. They're open late, have great service, strong drinks and delicious pizza. What more could you ask for? I don't need to go into details. This place is where you want to go after 10pm! read more

Lazzari - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Delicious restaurant and vibe. We all got pizzas 2 margaritas and 2 pepperoni. Have to say the pepperoni was my favorite. Great drinks and awesome waitress!! read more

Lazzari - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Ordered take out last night (pepperoni pizza) online after a few attempted phone calls didn't go through. Was given an hour-out wait time and got a text confirmation that they would try to have my food ready as close to the scheduled time as possible and that I would receive another text when my food was ready to pickup. Didn't get a 2nd text, but showed up at the hour mark anyways because I was ready to eat! Was helped promptly and graciously at the host station when I arrived, but was handed a very room-temperature pizza. My guess is this was ready to go within 10 min. of when I ordered... I decided I'd just reheat it at home. Got home, flipped on the oven, then actually looked at the pizza. Giant hole in the middle! This was a $23 pizza ($18 + tax and tip). I work in food service at a place that also does a lot of take-out. Occasionally we'll space out a ticket time and make something early. FOH will catch it and we'll remake the order so it's fresh at the expected time. This was not freshly made, was poorly made, is not "bargain" food, and reheated terribly. The crust got tough and it glued itself to the sheet pan at the site of the hole. I've ordered takeout from Lazzari many times, but have never received an order in this rough of shape (cold food is not uncommon). Would not repeat. Still haven't gotten the text that my food's ready read more

Lazzari - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Prompt, friendly and accommodating service. Since I purchased 'take out' it wasn't until getting home that I was impressed with the flavor, crust and appearance of my /Margarita/ Meatball pizza! Wish I lived closer! read more

This one is tough. I'd been in town for a couple of days with my girlfriend. We decided we wanted one more drink, and something to eat to round out our night. Lazzari was a few businesses over from where we were, so we popped in. Our greeting was dismissive and cold at best. We ordered a cocktail and pizza each. The food was fantastic, and the food itself is easily worth a 5 star review. Unfortunately, the service was ABYSMAL. Although our bartender walked past us several times, he never checked on us... he never even glanced over at us, let alone ask how we were doing. No one checked on us, no one asked if we wanted anything else, and we had to ask someone else working there for a box and our check. The vibe was actively unwelcoming, like our presence as a guest was an annoyance and left a poor final impression of Portland. read more

Felt like ordering pizza the other night and saw the solid reviews and wanted to give them a shoot. Mushroom pizza Margherita pizza The mushroom pizza was simply ok. Nothing to write home about. The Margherita pizza was much better. Wish we would have ordered two. Picked it up for takeout and had to wait inside for ~5min to be helped. Understandable as its the off-season and it seemed proportionally staffed to accommodate. read more

Well Lazzari, as First Dates go, you did a splendid job! A long and difficult week capped off by a day where I wasn't allowed to eat for medical reasons, led me to be willing to try somewhere new for a late lunch, early dinner. Instead of going for the comfort food at restaurants I'm familiar with, I decided I deserved something new. Since a drink was on MY menu, that was one of my search criteria. I used Google Maps to get directions just to make sure I didn't miss it, and lo and behold, there was a parking space out front with time still on the meter. Literally, in front of their door. It was meant to be! Remarkably quiet for a weekday afternoon so I sat my solo self at the bar WHERE I was greeted with a smile from the bartender as well as the food and drinks menu and instructions that the draft beer selections were on the chalkboard behind me. A quick review of the menu shows me that one page is food and the reverse is drinks. Depending on how you feel about prices, this is probably $$ signs. The small plates are just that, but the small plate grilled scallops I had was well worth the price. My only comment about it is I wish a small piece of bread came with it for all the Glorious drippings left on the plate. I was told the pizza comes in 14 in sizes and since I was by myself, that would be too much. I decided to ask what the daily special was and was delighted to find out it was a flattened chicken breast with panko crumb coating, House made mozzarella, House made red sauce, served on house-made bread. You never understand the difference between mozzarella until you eat fresh made. Before this repast began, I asked the bartender for his help. I told him what my standard drink order is and asked his recommendation based on that. He pointed me to the charred cherry oak sour. I am so grateful that he did! Delightfully sweet without being cloying, tart and refreshing but with enough bourbon to put a real whack in the side of your head. I happen to be there long enough for the beginning of happy hour and enjoyed a $5 glass of Prosecco to finish my meal. After a long day I decided not to get dessert, but if I were going for a real date with my husband? Absolutely! I look forward to coming back. The affogato and I shall meet soon... read more

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Lazzari is a great place for happy hour during the summer. My favorite dish on the menu is their hot honey wings. Perfectly sweet and spicy and their sausage, ricotta and caramelized onion pizza will leave you wanting more. It's one of the best weekday happy hour spots in all of Portland if you ask me. 5 dollar Aperol Spritzes along with beer and wine specials from 4-7 Mon-Friday. In a city where cocktail prices just keep escalating it's nice to know there are still great spots for a drink and a delicious slice without putting a hole in your wallet. read more

Visited before a show. Apps and possa were tasty and the service was fantastic. If you're up on Congress Street, you should stop in. You can't go wrong. read more

Happened upon this place while visiting Portland and it's a winner. Great food, great drinks (never too sweet) and excellent service. Make a trip here and you won't be disappointed. read more

Lazzari - Meatballs - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Went to Lazzari last night. I have never experienced such a rude bartender in my life. She acted as if she was doing us a favor by waiting (barely) on us. One of the waiters over heard us talking about the lack of service and said "you better not let her hear that or she won't pour you a drink". Obviously this happens more often than not. When we asked her why she was being so rude, her response was "I don't deserve this". What she deserves is to be fired. She ruined our entire experience. read more

Nice balance is chewy and crisp crust, with a light tomato sauce. We had the bolognese pizza which was simply delicious. One is okay to share if you're not that hungry read more

Move over Otto's, Lazzari has officially stolen my heart and has become my new favorite Portland pizza place. My husband and I decided to try out Lazzari after a friend of ours had tried it out and gave it rave reviews. After a day scoping out some of the brewery scene of Portland, pizza just seemed like the most logical choice of foods. When walking into Lazzari, you are greeted by the long allyway of the location that is tastefully decorated with leather booths and ambiance lighting. When you look all the way down, you can see the pizza chefs making the pizzas and the dome oven! The bar is also pretty long and is fully stocked with beer and a variety of liquors. My husband and I decided to order the pepperoni pizza, which has pepperoni and cherry peppers. We also ordered the Amatriciana, which has pancetta, mozzarella, onions, and a bunch of other deliciousness. Our pizza came out promptly and my husband and I literally devoured the two pizzas, which were decently sized, but it was just so good that we demolished them both. It was hard to choose the favorite out of the two pizzas, however, the pepperoni was divine. We would definitely come back to Lazzari, and they even have take out, which is a huge plus when you just want to lounge and nosh at home! read more

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We visited the restaurant after coming from Ghost of Paul Revere's last concert at Thompson's point. We got there around 10:51 pm. The place was mostly empty except for a handful of customers. We ordered a pepperoni pizza and my partner got a beer. An hour later, the place got busier with other concert goers and we never got our pizza. I saw 9 other pizzas that went out to other customers who came way after us and they got their pizzas but we never got ours. So we got fed up and left. The kitchen is so disorganized. Extremely disappointed because we were looking forward to the yummy looking pizza but we left angry and hungry. read more

So delicious. The Bolognese pizza was SO good. That sauce! With the ricotta and mozzarella! Crispy crust! Highly recommend! read more

Lazzari - Bolognese pizza - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Good service, pizza lacking toppings, sometimes more crust than pizza. Price is okay for what you get. Cute atmosphere. Good stop on a night downtown. read more

WOW! This place is absolutely amazing! For the past week, I have heard a couple people talk about Lazzari and how great the pizza was. So naturally, I just had to go! We arrived around 330PM. It appears to be a seat yourself place, so my husband and I just grabbed one of the booths along the wall! The place itself is pretty large! There is a long bar with seating all down it and then there are plenty of booths and regular tables throughout the restaurant! The ambiance was nice and the restaurant was tastefully decorated. All of the options on the menu sounded delicious and my husband and I just couldn't settle on one pizza to share. So naturally we just ordered two! We ended up settling on the Pepperoni and the Amatriciana. The pizzas both came out relatively quick which was nice because after walking into the place and smelling the pizza, my mouth immediately started watering! Now the pizza... I seriously don't even have words to describe how delicious the pizza was. Every bite was just amazing. The crust was thin and had a perfect crunch to it. There was a perfect ratio of sauce and cheese and the toppings were also plentiful! I serious have zero complaints on the pizza! As far as services, I seriously can't even remember our server which just goes to show how amazing the pizza was and how I clearly had no capacity to acknowledge anything other than the pizza! We will certainly be coming back..... often! read more

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It's the cool new place, and everyone is doing it. So, you know what that means. We did, too. The friendly hostess seated us at a table against the wall. She told us our server would be right with us. Five minutes later he comes over and apologized for the wait, but truthfully the wait wasn't that bad. Our server came over with the water and asked if we needed more time or knew what we wanted. We said, we are ready to order. He said OK and walked away. Why do I mention this? The music and volume inside this restaurant make it almost impossible to not only hear the servers but also the person you're sharing the table with. My wife and I both had to lean in over our table to be able to have a conversation with each other. When the meal was over, my ears thanked me. We ordered the Prosciutto Provolone for an appetizer. It was provolone wrapped in grilled prosciutto with toasted bread and figs. There was nothing wrong with it. We thought it was quite enjoyable. The only thing is though--it came with: 2 pieces of bread, 3 pieces of provolone and 5 figs. I'm not very good at math, but something didn't add up. This dish also cost $9. We had the Brussel sprout and pancetta pizza for our meal. This was Brussel sprouts, pancetta and goat cheese. It was quite tasty. We did enjoy it. But for $16, it seemed a bit small. Our server never checked on us or filled our water glasses. It seemed as though we were the only table they had in that section. I got the bill and waited 12 minutes for them to come take it. It was a busy Friday night, so we were trying to help out and get out of our table so they can make more money, but they never came to our table until I brought the check to the hostess stand. This place reminded me of another Portland pizza place that is a staple to the town. The nearest location is right down the street, and the pizza here seemed oddly similar... The food was definitely fresh--which would beckon 4 stars. The service brings it down to a 3 star. The volume keeps it at a 3 star. And lastly, a place like this shouldn't have TVs--they totally killed the vibe. That holds down the 3 stars. read more

Lazzari - Brussel sprout and pancetta pizza. - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Great vibe. Upbeat place with 80s music in the background. Great pizza! Had the Marinara pizza with chopped cherry peppers and garlic. Light airy crust and no flop. Caesar salad and caponata both excellent. Ryan our waiter was terrific and all around good man! Walking distance from the Westin. read more

*Pizza review only* OH. MY. GOSH. this pizza has blown me away. Ordered the pepperoni and it was the perfect ratio of cheese to crust to spice. Holy cow!!! It wasn't too greasy just enough. Perfect size perfect atmosphere and Weston our waiter recommended the pepperoni pizza which did not disappoint. It will be hard to compare another pizza to this! read more

Lazzari - Pepperoni pizza - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

OK, here's the thing. One place can't be all things to all people. For a dining experience, I would rate Lazzari a solid 3 stars. But for a trendy, dare-I-say sexy bar experience, it's top notch. During one dinner trip, the pizza was on point and our server was phenomenal, but the lighting was too dim and the music too loud for me to truly enjoy the meal. Returning to the bar for drinks, the bartender is dedicated to his craft and even re-made a cocktail that he didn't think was up to standard. The strawberry basil margarita he picked out for me was the stuff dreams are made of. I'll definitely be back to enjoy some drinks and snacks. read more

Lazzari - Strawberry basil marg - Bars Near Me - Portland, Maine

Ummm...yes, please. I wandered into this location on a Saturday around 10:30. Their door was open and I was interested in the space now that the brown paper was removed from the windows. This space, for the longest time, remained vacant after we tragically lost two dollar pitchers of happy hour margaritas from Mesa Verde after they shuttered their doors--through no fault of the current business. Well, it wasn't so tragic, because from that loss, it gave us Lazzari. The hostess, who was preparing for the day was polite and congenial, answering our questions with a pleasant and polite demeanor, even though she wasn't seating us, because they weren't open. She took the time to answer our caffeine riddled questions as we had just left the coffee shop a few doors down. We vowed to come back, and we did, a few hours later. The first thing I must remark on is the atmosphere. The space is well used, configured perfectly, giving it an open feeling, yet intimate atmosphere. They have a bar against one wall with the space opening up to the kitchen, which is exposed to the seating area, and their large onion domed copper pizza oven, where I could see the flame roaring inside as it cooked flat bread upon stone. Wonderful. I remarked to my companions and the waiter that the tables looked like the floor of bowling lanes, and they are. During construction, they found two lanes in the basement, and cutting them up, they constructed the tables you sit at. I love when a business reuses and incorporates the old into the new. And, there is something so cool about that story, its like a bonus find. The drinks are phenomenal and full. We ordered two rounds of cocktails between us. I judge a place on how they can make a manhattan, and they do not disappoint. Their drinks are delicious, well priced, and perfect size. The food. Oh. The food. Oh...just give me a minute. Ok. The food. The meatballs are to die for. Get them. They come with a big glob of house made ricotta. Do it. Just get them. The pickled vegetables are delightful, a good palate cleanser, and just the right amount of vinegar and brine. So good. The beets with goat cheese are flavorful and perfect. Yes. Perfect. I could make a dinner from a few appetizers. The helpings are just right. The Ciccioli, whipped pork terrine on grilled bread with capers, onions, and grana made me melt in my seat. And I hadn't even had my meal yet. I ordered a calzone. I know, a calzone. But, here is the thing. I am from New York. Northern New England cannot figure out what a calzone is, so they just fold pizzas in half and call it good. Or, you find that abomination that is a thick wad of dough with something in the middle. No, this is a true calzone. The dough is a little thicker than I prefer--looking for NY perfection--but other than that, it is perfect. They just have cheese. That is it. Big globs of ricotta, mozzarella, grana, and pecorino. This. This is what a calzone should be like, Maine. Take note and try. The prices here are great. They are fair and everything seems underpriced--please don't take that as a hint, management. The waitstaff was punctual, friendly, and attentive. We went during the day, and not many people were in there, but whatever. They paid attention to us. It was great. I will be back! read more

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The pizza was decent, if not a bit thin/soggy in the middle. The service was really slow though, and they had a bunch of staff running around. You'd think they'd want to free up the table but they just left us sitting forever and we didn't order more beer because they never asked. RIP profit margin. read more

Amazing food. Like seriously amazing everything I've tried there! Not bad prices either. If you are familiar with their sister restaurant, Taco Escobarr, you'll be very surprised that they did more "classy decor" rather than youthful, upbeat, and eccentric. You'll also be surprised how large it is! You could fit 3 or more Taco Escobarr's right in there, so the plus is you never have to wait! However the wait staff is a bit slow, so don't go here if you're looking to throw back a few while in a rush. It took my boyfriend and I a very long time to get both rounds of our drinks (perhaps a new bartender?) anyway, that's why I left out a star. This girl needs her night cap! Can't wait to go here in the winter (am I really saying that..?) to snug up next to their wood fire stove! read more

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When trying a restaurant a few days after opening, you never know what to expect. So I'll compare it to other new openings...I prefer Lazzari to Tipo, BRGR Bar, Baharat, and any other new restaurant not named Izakaya Minato. The owner of Taco Escobarr (easily the best Mexican restaurant in Portland) really nailed it on this one. The Mesa Versa space on Congress Street has been vacant for three years, and Lazzari hasn't received quite the hype that it deserves. It's a long, beautiful space. There must be 10 tables that can comfortably seat a party of 6, a half dozen others for smaller parties, and a lengthy bar. The professional pizza oven (which heats to 1,000 degrees and can cook a pizza in two minutes) is impossible to miss in the back. Hours will be 11 am to 1 am every night, with food served right until closing. Considering it's quicker to order a fresh pizza here than reheat a slice at Otto, I imagine it's going to be very popular. I wasn't expecting 21 cocktails to be on the menu for the soft opening week, and many use homemade infused alcohols. The Honey Ginger Chai Iced Tea was refreshing, with house infused honey ginger bourbon, lemon juice, agave, and fresh brewed Chai tea. A Negroni with grapefruit infused gin was also a great twist on a classic. Next time I'm excited for the Charred Oak Cherry Sour, with house infused cherry bourbon, fresh grapefruit juice and lime juice. It appeared to be the most popular drink. All cocktails are $7-$11, with the vast majority in the $8-$9 range. In this city, that's a steal. There are also 16 wines, all available by the glass ($7-$8) or bottle ($26-$34). The draft beer selection could use a little work, but I bet it will improve. It was an abbreviated menu for opening week, but still appeared polished and professional, like the rest of the restaurant. Lazzari waited to open until they had it down to a science (take notes El Corazon) and it shows. Seven pizzas were available ($11-$16). The pepperoni with tomato, mozzarella and cherry peppers was delicious. Thin, but not Otto-thin, it was a solid size (I was full off half). It could have used a few more pepperonis though. Another customer's sausage and onion pizza was bursting with sausage. Either way, I prefer the pizza here to Tipo. An appetizer of grilled beets with red onion, basil, parsley, mint, pistachio and goat cheese ($8) was presented as more of a salad but was still easy to share, with the flavors complimenting each other perfectly. The patron next to me ordered fried olives ($7), which arrived resembling popcorn chicken, and he quickly proclaimed that every movie theater should serve them. Service was smooth, with friendly and attentive hostesses and bartenders. You would not know this restaurant was in a soft opening. With a full menu arriving soon, expanded hours and positive word of mouth, Lazzari is going to become a lot more crowded. But it'll be worth the waits. read more

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Decent wood fire pizzas. Several different unique kinds of toppings. Located right across from Maine State Theater so very convenient for a quick bite before or after the show. Many locals frequent this bar. read more

Excellent pizza. The Suppli is incredible and the Nutella zeppole is one of the best desserts I've ever had. I initially just came here for drinks but now try to come here for dinner as often as I can, the food is amazing. read more

Here with daughters, one who is a chef and the food was good. However, the music was way too loud, to the poimt of discomfort. Waiter said he was unable to turn it down. Very uncomfortable dinner..will not be back..who owns this place? read more

Was in search of a good place open late on a weeknight for a post Sea Dogs game meal and Lazzari did not disappoint. There were four of us and we sat outside. Drinks were good, the food was great. We ordered two pizzas, Margherita & Mushroom, and two salads, Leafy & Grilled Beets. All four of us enjoyed everything, but the Grilled Beet salad was a particular highlight for me. I could eat that every day. This place has a great ambiance, friendly staff, and delicious food. Will definitely be a go-to for late nights from now on. read more

Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Relatively quick service. Really wide range or options for being "just" a pizza spot. Great vibe too. The vegetarian options are a'plenty as well. read more

Food has a lot of potential but execution here is just one of the problems. Calamari was overcooked and lacking squid. Caesar salad was very soft, over tossed and overdressed, soggy. Pizza dough was great but she didn't get the mushrooms on it that I asked for. Underside of the pizza was burnt tasting because they do not sweep the deck in between pizzas in the oven. Then the service...our server did not seem like she wanted to be there. Had to flag her down to get our pizza ordered after we ordered apps. The entire staff looked like they came in wearing the clothes they slept in. read more