I'd like to tell you a story. It's either late 80s or early 90s and it's just me and my mom at The…read morePlaza Mall. We've gone through the routine of JC Penny's, Dillards, and Sears and now it's time for my food court reward for not misbehaving. Many of you might not remember or have been born yet, but the place that took center stage and what was my favorite pizza place to this day was Luca Pizza. I'll always remember a worker wearing their chef's whites offering samples in the dining area, and my mom taking one for each of us. Every time I ate a piece I thought, "man, no wonder the Ninja Turtles love pizza so much". And then one day it was gone. The pizzeria that I loved so much growing up was no longer there, and it felt like it took all my memories with it. I thought that was it. All we have left here in The Valley is global pizza chains. Nothing made with heart. But then a cousin of mine told me that one of the cooks opened up his own place in Mission on Conway called "Pizza di Roma". Familiar faces. Familiar flavors. Familiar memories. After getting a haircut at Tatan's I would drive over and walk through the back entrance after passing their herb garden and get a pie. Things were right in the world, and wouldn't you know it, I came to learn that the full name of Luca Pizza was "Luca Pizza di Roma". Hah! And then one day it was gone. The doors were shut. The lights were off. Surely this can't be happening again right? Of course it was. The story would repeat itself with yet another pizzeria with the same staff called Titto's Pizzeria in Palmview until that too was gone, only this time there was no new incarnation. The spiritual descendants of Luca Pizza in The Plaza Mall were now all gone. There was no more pizza to be made from them anymore. Their story, as far as I know, had ended. And then one day I discovered The Pizzeria. The same cousin recommended it saying it reminded him of Pizza di Roma. Familiar ingredients! Familiar flavors! So, of course, I made the trek to Harlingen. Has anyone ever had that experience where they open the doors to a restaurant and you're immediately hit in the face with the smell that defines their restaurant? For steak houses it's the smell of the smoke coming from a seared steak, for panaderias it's the smell of sugar and freshly baked bread, and for coffee shops it's the smell of the sweetness of freshly ground coffee beans. For The Pizzeria, it was the smell of a caramelized pizza crust, the burnt flour left over in the oven, and the unmistakable heat and smell of a 450 degree oven that has baked thousands of pies in its lifetime. Now, I've been a loyal fan of this local pizza chain for years, and when their Harlingen location first opened, I still remember walking in and feeling like I had stepped into a true, passion-driven pizzeria. The place had energy, heart, and a sense of pride. Perhaps not familiar faces, but familiar flavors and, yes, familiar memories. But lately, something's changed, and not for the better. My recent visits to the Mission location have felt strangely lifeless in comparison. While the ingredients are still fresh, the execution hasn't been keeping up. The crusts come out uneven, the bakes inconsistent, and the attention to detail that once defined them seems to be fading. The frustrating part is that they still have all the ingredients (pun intended) to be great. Every single bite I take I think "This is good, and it's so close to being great, but it's just not there." What's lacking now is technique and care. The fundamentals aren't being applied with the same precision or passion they used to, and the result shows. I genuinely hope they can turn things around, because this isn't a lost cause. They've proven before, especially in those early Harlingen days, that they can deliver pizza with real heart. With a renewed focus on craftsmanship and consistency, they could easily reclaim what made them special. I want to keep cheering for them, but they need to rediscover the spark that once set them apart.

The pizza is very good. The bread knots were awesome. We had the knots, two slices and 2 drinks for…read morearound $14!

If you're looking for a pizza spot that's a little different, NAPO is worth checking out. Tucked…read moreaway in McAllen, TX, this fun little pizzeria balances the classics with some unexpectedly creative combinations. Our group of six stopped in on a Tuesday evening and we were able to get seated without a wait--though we may have just gotten lucky! The menu has everything from traditional flavors to more adventurous options. Hot Cheetos on a pizza? Some might think it's crazy but it works! I ordered the Franz pizza and absolutely loved it. I shared a few slices with the table, and everyone was also surprised by how well the flavors came together. The dough was perfection! The atmosphere is just as entertaining as the food--there's a giant video wall that I assume is a nice spot on game days. The décor puts a playful spin on classic Italian artwork, which perfectly reflects the restaurant's creative approach to pizza. All in all, it's a great spot for groups, has a relaxed vibe, and serves pizzas that are both delicious and memorable. I will definitely stop by again the next time I'm in the area!

I love the vibes of this pizza shop! It was bright and had fun art work…read more Unfortunately the flavor of the food didn't measure up. The pizza was cooked perfectly, but lacked overall flavor. The crust was chewy but didn't taste like anything. The pizza also didn't have enough pizza sauce. The ranch dressing severely lacked seasoning. It tasted more like straight mayo instead of ranch. The online order portal needs updating. There was no description for what Napo sauce is and there was no listing for pizza sauce/marinara under the sides of sauce.

Great ambiance, dynamic customer service, waiter extremely attentive to our needs and the food was…read moreAMAZING

Food was just so so. Not as good as I expected. I was ,…read morehowever, able to stay in my car and have my order delivered to me. That was a plus. Their sign says Pasta Company and in smaller letters "Malfitany".

Consistently good food, clean place good ambience A McAllen…read morefave Sometimes the noise level gets a little loud, so if this is for a romantic evening, you'll have to put up with a lot of noise

Went for lunch a couple weeks ago and it was a nice atmosphere. I ordered the lasagna and it was…read morepretty good. Server was also awesome, definitely a cool spot down here.

After reading the previous reviews, we decided to come here to settle our Italian cravings. I love…read moretrying new and unique dishes and the Salty Pear pizza was the perfect item on the menu for me to try. It was amazing! The cheese, pears and balsamic glaze all joined together to make a fabulous dish! My husband had the Pepperoni Pizza and he said it was great. Btw, they make their own dough for the pizza and it is perfect. Our friend had the Shrimp Scampi and he thoroughly enjoyed it. The restaurant is clean and offers comfortable and spacious seating and pleasant decor. The staff were extremely friendly and efficient. We will be back and we hope you will go, as well. They have 2 additional spaces for groups and special occasions and they have a step down lounge adjacent to the bar with tvs going - perfect for watching the game! Please go! You won't be disappointed!

I saw this restaurant on an Instagram post and the food looked really good so we had to try it…read more We started with the spinach artichoke dip and that was delicious! We also ordered a regular pepperoni pizza. The pizza was really cheesy, which I loved but I think it could have stood to be in the oven a couple more minutes because the center was a little too soggy. But the outer crust was nice and crisp. I ordered the tortellini bolognese. The pasta was cooked nicely but the sauce did not taste like traditional bolognese sauce. It tasted like regular meat sauce. That being said, I enjoyed the taste of the sauce but it was not worth the 20 dollar price, especially since it wasn't even bolognese. The service was nice. Our waitress was attentive and since we were the only ones there at the time, our food came out pretty quick! The space itself was clean and felt homey. Would have loved some Italian music but we enjoyed ourselves either way. All in all, this place was ok, not great but definitely better than some other Italian places I've been. With a few improvements, their food could be really great!

Pizza is so good. It's incredible. It's literally better than Papa John's best pizza in the valley…read moreso so far that I have tried it's crispy. It's hot. It's well done. The service is fast. It tastes, homemade and authentic.

The pizza is delicious and is a very fair price. The wings are very tender and tasty. The salad was…read morefresh with a combination of different vegetables. And most importantly the service is excellent and fast.

Hubby & I checked out 5x5 Brewing Co during their June Bug Festival & had a great time. Tried the…read moreGolden Ale which was refreshing & delicious. The crowd was pleasant, live music entertaining & weather was hot. Great evening of check out all the Volkswagens that were brought in.

I have seen and tried 5x5 brewings beers all over Texas and when I found the brewery was right here…read morein McAllen I had to check it out. It looks like they have two food vendors outside but only one was open. It was a small taquero man making tacos. I had an order of ref tacos and they were really good. The brewery itself has a huge outdoor area. Inside is very military themed. Patches, medals, bullets in the bartop under the glass the whole nine yards. The beer is excellent. They have a lot of styles on tap and not just 7 IPA's. Theres stout, porter, IPA, Hefeweizen, etc. They probably have what you're looking for. Definitely stop in and sample some brews!

First time customer. Very bad customer service for not being honest in forgetting to place my order…read moreand for the owner not putting the customer first and calming the situation down. Example of good customer service: Please give me 15 minutes and I will take care of the matter. Sorry for the inconvenience. Will not be back, lost not one but two customers.

Great food, pizza, amazing staff always smiling and we always go there for birthdays and special…read moreevents. You guys are the best.!

Super amazing pepperoni pizza! We are very picky pizza lovers but we're never disappointed with…read moreKhaleesi's

I personally didnt love the food it was ok they do have great friendly service but they do have a…read morevery small variety of food