Pizza was good but over priced. 2 pizzas and some cannolis over $100. We will be back to try some…read moremore of the menu.

Well, a couple of things 1. The waitress sat us down, wiped…read morethe table, wiped the chair then proceeded to wipe the stand that the pizza sits on with the same rag.. which is very unsanitary.. I had to cover the pizza stand with napkins before they placed the pizza pan down. 2. The reason for us going here is that the reviews I read were stating that the pizza tastes close to New York style with crispy crust... ABSOLUTELY NOT!! The pizza crust was very soggy and limp!! I asked for the pizza to be placed back in the oven for the crispness but it came out the exact same way!! I was very disappointed in this restaurant!!!

So as I write this under Papa Gio's restaurant name, it is meant for the new Venezianlo's…read morerestaurant that's at this location. Interestingly the same thing I'm gonna describe below happened on more than one occasion when it was Papa Gio's too. I've been in Lexington, SC for a couple years now and I'm always on the hunt for the best. I've visited Papa Gio's quite a few times and Veneziano's a handful as well. The best way to describe both places is great food but inconsistent quality and presentation. Let me explain... I'm the guy who comes in, orders my food at the counter and waits in the restaurant for it. I want it hot and fresh. I don't call and order ahead because I don't want it soggy from steam rising up and dripping off the top of the container while it sits on a shelf waiting for pickup. There is a method to my (food) madness. The food at Papa Gio's and Veneziano's is absolutely incredible. Quality ingredients, everything is seasoned perfectly and clearly made with love. Incredible food, so why the lousy review you might ask? Keep reading! Inconsistency in the counter service and even in the presentation of the food. The people are always super nice but not very attentive or focused. On way too many occasions, like tonight I order, I pay and sit or stand there waiting and pfft... there I sit or stand and wait and wait and wait. Tonight was one of those nights, As I listened to the staff up front singing, laughing talking and generally having a good time. The energy there is incredible! Seems like a great crew of awesome people working together. Over the top. Again, why the lousy review? Because on way too many occasions my food comes out, someone sticks it on a shelf nobody at the counter says a word. It gets placed on a shelf and sits there getting cold and soggy from steam rising. One time not too long ago, what started off as a crispy toasted meatball parm hero became a cold, wet, soggy sponge by the time I got it. Tonight it was a pizza. I waited and waited, the counter was not very busy while I was there. The kid at the counter even commented that I came in at a good time, it just slowed down. After waiting and waiting, I walked up to the counter, there was nobody at the counter. Everyone was in the kitchen doing something else. Not too much time passed when the kid came back to the counter to help me. He realized I was the "waiting guy"! He turned and pulled my pizza off an open shelf and put the box on the counter and said it's been ready for a while. As I felt the cold box, I disappointedly commented about the pie being cold. I opened box and felt the cold pizza in the box, I mentioned to the kid that this sucks. Now one might ask how cold could the pizza actually be. Well, it's February and they had the pickup counter door front door wide open the whole time I was there with cold air streaming in. That combined with the open metal shelving and the time it sat definitely put the chill on. The kid offered to put back in the oven to heat it back up. While I appreciated the offer, if I wanted a reheated pie, I woulda bought this one yesterday and reheated it myself at home today. Many times, perfect food, perfectly cooked and placed in hand hot out of the kitchen. However, this exact same cold soggy food thing, with inattentive counter service has happened more times than I care to admit. Pretty lousy attention to customer service. Everything short of saying hey is my food ready, every couple minutes, which in my opinion should not have to be done and that is not the kinda guy I am. Many times, it is perfectly executed and they do a great job. But many other times once they get your money in the register, it seems they forget about you. On the upside, the pie tonight probably started out perfectly cooked and would have been a 10 out of 10 if it wasn't gummy and chewy from sitting in it's steamy cardboard box, needing to be reheated. I did my best to crisp it up while reheating it, Thanks for the offer to reheat my pie. Can you imagine for a second what it would have been like if I let him reheat it and what it would have been like if I had to reheat it again (that woulda been a third time) for leftovers later? Woulda had the taste of great pizza but the texture of a pool noodle. Great pizza and other great food is an art. At the same time, it's kinda simple. The chef made that pie with his hands, with quality ingredients, care and love! Letting it unnecessarily degrade, is a bit of a slap in the face to the pizza guy and to the waiting customer. Even my dogs know a good pie! They wait patiently for what we call "pizza bones", what normal people call the crust! Tasted great although the texture was not so good. Would I recommend them? Meh! Probably, but with a note of caution of the inconsistency. If you're still with me, thanks for caring enough to read this far. Happy eating!!!

Renamed Venezianos but still the same awesome food! The owners are great and the food is delicious!…read morePlus you get enough for leftovers!

We had a reservation for dinner and my friend and I arrived right on time…read more We were greeted and seated within a few minutes. Our waitress brought our menus and took our drink orders. As we sat there waiting and conversing, we noticed the size of this establishment. It is kind of small. There are two sides. The dining room was pretty full. Our drinks were brought out with bread and we places our orders. I ordered the shrimp Alfredo. It wasn't super flavorful. I ate the shrimp and left the rest. My friend ate majority of her stuff. I am not sure if I will return. Maybe if I'm on that side of town.

After a 3.5 hour drive in the rain, DeLucca's was my first meal in Columbia and what a meal it was!…read moreI ordered the beef lasagna which came with a soup or salad. I chose the soup of the day which was quite tasty. I can't remember the name but it was something with salmon in it. They brought bread to the table with a seasonal butter and it took me by surprise because it was quite good. The customer service was top notch too! I was definitely tired but that food made me glad I didn't just go straight to sleep once I got in town. I'd definitely return in the future.

I love this restaurant. I do not understand the low reviews. I am a very particular person and I…read morehave had nothing but excellent service and very good food here. The pizza is some of the best in Columbia if you like new York style There is a competing business down the road that more people seem to go to but the food, service, and drinks are awful there. We actually left that testaurant after paying nearly $100 for food we did not eat to come to Luce's

The plaza this restaurant is in is under a face-lift. It is only one of two businesses remaining…read more The inside of the restaurant was dark and cold. It needs updating. My spouse enjoyed her Chicken Alfredo. She enjoyed the cream sauce. A friend recommended the Antipasto. I was disappointed. I have had much better. The selection of cold cuts was spars. Fresh lettuce and mixed peppers. Too many black olives for this type of dish. A military discount was only given to me. A bit cheapskate if you ask me. Because of this they have lost a prospective returning customer. Most restaurants in the area, discounts for the whole table. The price was reasonable.

It's the BEST PIZZA. It's quick, and simple, and it looks like an old time pizza joint inside. It's…read morefabulous!

I definitely recommend Venezianos, especially for those from up north that miss pizza. We eat here…read moreand take-out often. Although, lately I've disappointed with the portion size of the fried calamari. When we first started going they gave generous amounts and that has dwindled down to about half and this wasn't the first time there's been considerably less. Still worth going.

Highly recommended!!!!!…read more Been here several times since moving to SC from NY. Definitely the best place we've found south of Brooklyn. Good is great and even more importantly, it's great consistently. The counter staff is always friendly and quick to get you your food. Everything is always spot on, including their homemade Italian ices. More importantly, those ices are available all year long. For anyone who knows good Italian ices, Cucinella's definitely compares to the likes of Marino's. This place has a great NYC pizza joint vibe. Simple yet awesome decor, my kinda music playing discretely in the background. Low enough to enjoy a conversation over lunch but loud enough to hear. Best of all, you can buy a pie (a pizza pie) whole or by the slice. If you're in the area, it would be worth your stopping in. Enjoy!!!

This is the best pizza in town! And oh! The caprese !!! Jimmy the owner made our experience…read morewonderful.

The food here is consistently good. I mostly come here for their desserts (made in-house) but their…read moreregular menu items are just as good. The bartenders are a joy to talk to. It can get very loud and crowded but the live music is still fantastic. I would recommend grabbing a reservation if you want a table or else you'll get dropped at the bar (which is my favorite place to be).

Cuisine: 8 Service: 8…read moreDecor: 8 Value: 8 Overall: 8 Just a fantastic Italian restaurant all around in downtown Columbus, SC. I have eaten here twice and loved both of my experience. On my recent visit, I was able to enjoy one of the best Caesar Salad in recent memory, as well as a delicious Mushroom Soup. However, the highlight had to be the Fish Of The Day. The phenomenal Crab Meat Stuffed NC Rainbow Trout had a wonderful saffron, tomato, and fennel broth with toasted fregola. I am quite shocked at how many good Italian restaurants are in this part of SC, but I am certainly thankful that my best option is not Olive Garden.

Stopped by Nikki's Pizza today on a rainy afternoon and had one of those unexpectedly great…read moreexperiences. I walked up with my dog planning to tie him to a light post while I ran inside to order, but before I could even get to the door the manager noticed us and invited us to wait in a covered alcove so my dog could stay dry and comfortable. It immediately made me feel welcome. While waiting, I grabbed a drink ,.. they have cocktails, draft beer, and bottled options ....and the whole place had such an easygoing, friendly vibe. The pizza itself was the real deal: true New York-style and absolutely delicious. Great people, great atmosphere, and food that lives up to it. I'll definitely be coming back.

Lately, Nicky's has become our "Go to" when we're hungry for a tasty pizza, and our last visit did…read morenot disappoint. Nicky's is on Main Street and though one might be worried about parking, there are plenty of spaces available. We parked in the lot by the Ice House Amphitheater. Our friends got a spot right in front of the restaurant. Our server was pleasant and after initially being seated by the window, we requested a move closer to the fire place. We ordered our usual: Grandma's with sausage and mushrooms on one half. When the pie arrived after about 15 minutes, it looked great. The sauce at Nicky's is a bit tangy and slightly sour, which we prefer. The crust is thin and slightly crunchy with a nice chew included. The large pie is cut in eight pieces, so each is us got two nice sized slices. The restaurant is cozy and features two dining areas. There are loots of pizza places to choose from and Nicky's is too good not to check out.