I do not see how this place is best in Lawrence. Crust was awful and the sauce is horrible. I'm not opposed to a red wine sauce but the measurements are just way off. I liken the taste to the smell of bandaids. The restaurant itself has a great vibe. I wish their pizza lived up to the feel of the establishment. read more

Rudy's is just one of those small little basement pizza joints that's easy to love. Yea, the pizza isn't the greatest in the world but pizza in Kansas in general is suspect at best. Come on, this state is the home of Pizza Hut. The bar is pretty darn low. However, decent slices, cheap, sitting ready to pair with some good local beers from Free State, Boulevard in KC, etc. Sort of off the beaten path for some people, maybe not real high on the list so not always crowded. It's these reasons and the fairly solid slices and service are what make this a place I enjoy returning to often. No pretense to be New York style--we have several of those in the city and they pretty much blow. Great place to hang out and visit, another reason why I'll be back. read more

The only issue we had was that we were not warned that the handicapped entrance is in the back. We came to the front and my husband, who has a new artificial leg, had a very difficult time getting down the two flights of stairs into the pizzeria. Once inside it's very cute and cozy with a koi pond that was immaculate. We are very impressed with the homemade pizza crust as well as the sauce. We got the papa Rudy with thin crust and alfredo sauce and it was the most tasty Pizza I've had in years. It's definitely going to be our go-to place when finding Pizza in Lawrence. The medium Papa Rudy pizza and one pop was $18.95 which is a decent price. now that we know which entrance to use will definitely be coming back with our child since it appeared to me family-friendly. They also serve wine and other alcohol and their cheesecake looked amazing, we look forward to trying it on our next visit. read more

Rudy's Pizzeria - Bottom of the stairs. Legalize Marinara - Pizza Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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My personal favorite pizza place in America. Good vibes, great pizza, and decent beers.

Pizza Delivered - perfect for a Friday night. We don't get pizza often and hadn't had Rudy's for a while... I have no idea why. I had forgotten how good their sauce is, it makes the pizza. The crust is delicious too. Price is good, especially for such great pizza. Website is easy to use. Estimated delivery was 45 minutes and it was there in 30. Highly recommend. read more

The pizza was okay. Tasted like frozen pizza I could have gotten at Walmart for half the price. The ambiance is weird but kinda funny at the same time. It filled me up but. Nothing I'd write home about or come back for. read more

Rudy's Pizzeria - Pizza Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

This was a great way to be welcomed to Lawrence! Great pizza. We got a large pizza (18 inch) with half "Rudy" half "Papa Rudy" thin white crust. It was hot, cheesy and very tasty. The guy at the counter provided great customer service. It is situated in the basement of the building below a gelato shop. The decor is interesting with a little alcove with a brick archway. A a fountain at the base of the stairs as you walk in. Really cool antiqued metal tiles on the ceiling. I highly recommend stopping in for a slice or a whole pizza too. They have wings too but we didn't try those; if the rest of the experience was an indication... I'm sure they too are tasty. read more

Rudy's Pizzeria - Yum! - Pizza Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I love this place and their fabulous pizza! I lived in Lawrence for seven years, and Rudy's was an unsung hero for me. Rudy's is one of those places that was always in the background, and always a great place for a slice or a pizza to share with everyone...because EVERYONE in town was my friend. Ok, that's a lie. But I wish it were true. Anyways. It's funny, because I never really realized until now that Rudy's was one of those places I visited often, but never thought about. Like an old friend you take for granted...and walk past constantly on Mass St. Geez, some friend I am. No wonder everyone in Lawrence wasn't my friend. I'm sorry Rudy's! But when I did decide to descend the stairs into the tiny but cozy space, I was never disappointed. My tastes were across the board here, but I usually ordered some fabulous spinach garlic thing or a veggie-type slice, always on the wheat crust. And as I savored every last, non-greasy bit of that slice (or more if I was feeling piggy that day), I knew that it was just what I needed. The decor is cool, and I especially love the wall with the bricks and foundation that you can see. If I was lucky, I could get the table in the funky alcove which had fabulous acoustics and made me feel like I was in a church or something. The Church of Amazing Pizza maybe! I loved the lighting and the staff were always so friendly. Next time I'm in Lawrence, a trip to Rudy's is definitely in order! read more

Rudy's Pizzeria is part of the culture of Mass. Street/downtown Lawrence. I wouldn't say it is any particular style. Definitely not NY or Neapolitan. Also very different from the general midwest type pizza such as Gambinos. It is pretty close to what you would expect from a homemade pizza. The dough is dense, not using any specialized pizza flours or cheese. The ambiance is nice here. Laid back and chill. It's not exactly pizza I would always crave, but it is a step above the large-chain pizza places. read more

Oh Rudy's, with your less-than-sober help and your ultra-Lawrence vibe. You just never go out of style. Your pizza isn't life-changing (in particular because the crust is just meh), but the sauce and selection of toppings are so yummy with your cheesy goodness! I can always count on you to have a wide ready-made selection of slices for instant gratification, and when I'm feeling picky and gourmet, I can get a custom-made pizza with your homemade pesto sauce instead of marinara. Mmmm! Thank you for being there for me all these years, Rudy's. I started coming to you when I was a student, and now I bring my kids to you! read more

Ugh, how can someone even THINK to put Rudy's and Papa Keno's in the same category ?! Papa Keno's is NOT pizza; it's hardly food. Rudy's is what all good pizza should taste like. I miss it so much, I've contemplated moving back to KS just to get some of that goodness. I was seriously down to my last dollar one day, and had to decide between paying my rent on time, and getting a slice at Rudy's. I chose the latter, and I don't regret it at all. read more

A wonderful little spot to eat or make/take friends. The owner and his wife are divine. The pizza is "off the chain" and Amazingly Good! The taste of the sauce, crust, and cheese is simply the best! I was going to papa murphy's for years and buying a pizza to cook at home. What a waste and tasteless deal that was - didn't even realize how awful that was - bland - even having to do the extra work to make sure it was fresh - was a waste of time. I can order Rudy's pizza - swing buy pick it up and I'm done - the boxes make it last the drive home. The pizzas are warm and delicious - nothing to do, but enjoy the flavor - That Flavor, my goodness. We like dinning in now too - Wow - the beverages they offer are Woot! Woot! - variety - I had this snake something free state beer - it was great too! I must say, finding Rudy's was awesome for me, the kids and hubby. NO cook nights are becoming a thing - the prices are reasonable - the kids love the drinks and the spot. We are sold for life! read more

All throughout my college days I was faithful only to Rudy's. It is the philosopher king of all pizzas, the spot of wine sauce in my otherwise cold cold soul. Even to this day, all pizzas must be compared along side it, and found lacking. When I return to my flyover-state home, I always make the hajj to Rudy's. read more

Good pizza with fun toppings and i prefer to support these guys over the tax-evading, employee abusing Keno's down the road. One note... It may be common sense, but you might want to get a whole pizza and split it or box the leftovers instead of buying by the slice. When i've gotten slices in the past they often taste like they've been sitting under the heat lamp a little too long. Also! I love that this place is in a downstairs location. The space just screams pizza parlor to me. Wonderful. read more

I live in the KC area now but I lived in good ol' Lawrence from 2006-2014 and one of the things I miss most is pizza from Rudy's. I sadly didn't discover the goodness that is Rudy's until after I graduated from KU in 2010, so I only got to enjoy it regularly for the last few years I lived there. One of my biggest regrets in life! I nearly always went on Wednesdays to take advantage of their awesome Wednesday deal and I even stopped in after coming to town for a haircut on a Wednesday evening to pick up a pizza to bring home to Overland Park for my boyfriend to experience the awesomeness that I'm always raving about. When I lived in town I used to have to call back multiple times to get through on their phone to place an order because their phone lines were always busy every Wednesday night, not to mention the hassle of trying to find a parking spot downtown to run in and pick up your pizza...but it was always so very worth it! I recently discovered that they now have online ordering, and while that would've made my pizza-ordering way easier when I lived nearby, it probably would've been very detrimental to my waistline. The crust is thick and can be a bit dry, but that's probably just because I forget to chew sometimes as I'm inhaling it. The combination of gooey delicious cheese and generous portions of toppings are balanced out perfectly with their semi-sweet red wine sauce. I'm not usually a big fan of pizza sauce in general, so I usually ask for light sauce but I'd eat their pizza even if it was completely smothered in it--it's that good. *Pro tip: Their pizza tastes equally good as cold leftovers as it does fresh!* read more

I am from out of town and only eaten here the one time. We had 3 pies delivered to my brother-in-laws house. One of the worst pizzas I have ever had and I have had lots of pizza all over the country and in Europe. The dough was overly thick, bland and frankly tasted and felt like it had been frozen and then thawed before cooking. Seriously good dough is not hard to do. The sauce and cheese were again of poor quality and lacked flavor. Cheap cheese and bland sauce. Each of our pizza's had toppings, at least we paid for toppings. The pepperoni were only around the outside edge of the pie, nothing and I mean nothing in the middle. Perhaps 10-12 pieces at the most. The mushroom was no better. The all meat pizza had a little bit more topping but like the rest of the pie the ingredients were low quality and lacked flavor. Of the 8 of us at the picnic table these comments reflect the opinions of all 8. My brother-in-law, who is a regular at Rudy's, was very disappointed and could not explain the poor quality. Perhaps management has made some cost cutting decisions. Take care, Mark J. read more

My opinion must be acknowledge here as I'm one of the few people in the world who has eaten and reviewed the two Rudy's Pizzerias. If you are in a hurry get a salad and a slice to go. It's cheap and tasty. They do deliver, but I prefer eating a pizza there or going to pick it up. The crust is best when it's right out of the oven. Nice little place with great music usually playing in the background. I'm always happy with the employees selections. Yes, Bellingham, Washington has one started by a couple of KU grads that worked at the Lawrence store. I was amazed when I saw the "Sun" symbol and Rudy's Pizzeria sign as I traveled through downtown Bellingham. Good times. read more

Pretty fair pizza at a great price. At just $7.75 for a large on Wednesday, you get tasty, hot food for cheap. Their sauce is good, their cheese isn't sparse, and their toppings seem fresh. While far from gourmet, it's difficult to complain about. The ambiance is a bit lacking and the staff is spacey, so there can a wait to get your order taken. But there is definitely a charm to the place that has me coming back. So, if you want to revisit your college days, or get a quick bite, Rudy's is a stop for you on Mass. read more

I spent every summer in Lawrence for a decade because my late aunt loved Lawrence and graduated from KU. Not gonna lie, the staff were a bunch of buttholes back then. Thus review is based of my most recent visit home....32 now staff is still pretty dismissive and prices are a lot higher now. If pizza schuttle is still a thing...spend your money there. read more

One of my favorite restaurants, let alone pizza restaurants, to go to. I'm a standard-pepperoni kind of chick, but my family always goes for the Mama Rudy, which is an equivalent of a veggie-lover's pizza. Regardless,t hese folks know how to make pizza. The sauce-topping-crust ratio is always consistently proportionate, and it's just an overall satisfying meal. I don't find a lot of grease on it, and if there is, it's just from the pepperoni. (As far as I know, I think that's just how pepperoni cooks?) You can also get individual slices if you're in a hurry--just keep in mind that they're in a little warmer, so they won't be as fresh as ordering a pizza. The atmosphere is super chill. The staff is super friendly; at one point I had been in there so often that one of the cashiers knew my order by heart. If you're new to Lawrence or just want a good pizza, give Rudy's a shot. You won't be disappointed. read more

This place was good. Not great like we were told, or like the many awards it's received. We basically went here because I have two vegan children and Rudy's hasvegan cheese for their pizzas. It has a cute koi water feature. I don't like how you have to go up to order at the counter. If you've never been to the restaurant before, it's hard to figure out what you want. Where do you stand/sit while figuring out what you want? Do you just stand in front of the counter, blocking the other customers? Do you sit at a table? I found this is a common way to order in Lawrence. There were 9 of us eating, so we pushed 2 tables together. We ordered 3 large pizzas. The weird thing is that they don't have pizza stands! So these 3 huge pizzas were taking up the entire table. If you're a pizzeria you should have pizza stands. I heard later that the thin crust is better than the regular. Maybe if we'd ordered the thin crust we would have liked the pizza more. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't great like we expected it to be. It was about $90 for 6 of us. The other 3 ordered salads. read more

They just don't have pizza like this in California. Instead of sweet, red-wine sauce, California style is no sauce. Which I say makes it a cheese toast. Not bad, but not pizza. Lawrence is full, full of great pizza, but Rudy's is my favorite. Thanks Rudy's, for ruining me forever (sigh). Please just keep on doing what you're doing, and pay no attention to those communist californians who hate sauce. read more

I've had pizza from NY to Rome...and for me, this is the greatest pizza in the world. You can't beat the downlown Lawrence location, in the basement of an old historic building. The crowd is extremely diverse, a lot of locals mixed with a bunch of college kids. The ambience is warm and cozy and the music is alwasy eclectic. The sauce is phenomental, the crust is always fresh, and the selection of toppings is huge (but manageable). Go on Wednesdays for some crazy deals and try the brownies with peanut butter cups (if they aren't sold out). read more

For the partner in crime and myself, Rudy's had become a sort of tradition. The pizza is fantastic and they have toppings for every taste. Our preferred combination is a large original wheat crust with black olives, artichokes, sausage, sliced tomato, and mushrooms. There is also a specialty bearing my name that is quite tasty as well. (The Andy). Getting a seat on busy nights will require some strategy as you seat yourself. The atmosphere is relaxed and the basement location feels like an urban pizza bunker. Some of the walls are actually the old stone foundation of the building and it's really neat to look at the hand laid stones. They don't make them like they used to!!! read more

Game day in Lawrence Kansas, College football , pizza and beer....perfect. The location is fun, down town , down stairs. ..Clean and neat. The staff is friendly, the crowd is good , comes in waves, timing is everything. Lots of different choices, exotic and old standards. We got the large half cheese and half pepperoni...thin crust, white flour, diet Cokes... Very nice flavor, smells were good and the appearance was perfect. We had to run ,got short on time, it was delicious in the car rushing to our activities. Not five star this trip, didn't get to try other menu items thou the other reviews may cover thoose. They did offer by the slice, looked good too. read more

I have loved this place for almost two decades. It never fails and the fresh taste of the pizza has remained consistent since I first started eating here in 2003. Long live Rudy's!!! A large wheat crust with pepperoni and black olives has been my go-to since 2003. Keep an eye on their Wednesday specials. Don't be a fool and support some stupid corporate chain. Get your rear end to Rudy's and experience LFK pizza at it's finest. read more

Delicious, SO many options. They deliver anywhere in Lawrence, FREE!!! And have the best cheesecake :) Plus all of the staff is SUPER friendly. Definitely worth a try, WAY better than any chain Pizza store by far. read more

Hands down the BEST pizza in Lawrence. I love their red wine sauce and their wheat crust is far superior to Wheat State. Also they have great specials on Monday and Wednesday! Since recently making the switch to eating mostly vegan, I discovered the Daiya cheese available here is delicious paired with the red sauce! Also a wide variety of veggie toppings are available compared to other pizza places - everything from kale to zucchini to broccoli. Seriously a must try if you're a college student on a budget or just want to eat the highest quality pizza in town. read more

I had the Rudy's pizza delivered. The delivery time was fine, I had no problem with it. The toppings are great, those are worth four stars. The crust was bad though. It made the pizza taste like frozen pizza warmed up in the over. Two stars is "Meh. I've experienced better" which perfectly encompasses my feelings on this pizza. However, I've heard the calzones are much better. This rating could be bumped up when or if I try the calzones. read more

Pretty shit pizza, but it's cheap. So many other pizza places in LFK idk why anyone would waste their precious za time here.

My three favorite pizza places in Lawrence: Rudy's, Papa Ken's and Wheat State. Rudy's is the the college town pizza. Simple sweet sauce with a small toss of herbs. I recommend it as my 2nd favorite pizza in Lawrence. read more

I think Eric J.G. is spot on here, pizza is good, some nice flavors but nothing to drive well out of my way to grab. I hit it up for the first time tonight and was happy to see that unlike Joi B's experience my pie was "properly" sliced. I did like the tastes generated by the herbs they added-reminded me a little of the spring water dough of Mellow Mushroom back in the ATL, though not quite as unique or as good. To bottom line it for you-dont avoid Rudy's, but I wouldn't go too far out of my way for it. read more

My 7 year old cousin says it's the best pizza in Lawrence. Maybe he's right, I haven't had any other pizza in Lawrence, but I know I've had much better pizza. The place is super cute, and the service is quick. Not too big of a slice selection, but i was ok with that. read more

Fair at best for the US, they would not last a month in Italy or NYC. But hey, this is Lawrence ... Fugeddaboudit! Enough said. The pizza is reasonably priced and they do not skimp on ingredients, but the taste of the sauce put me off a bit. Too sweet and, like most American pizzerias, too much of it. More pizza joints should follow the lead of the people who make pizza the best, the people of Naples (Italy, not Florida), and use only good crushed tomatoes as a sauce. Maybe a touch of salt, oregano, or basil for flavor, but that's it, nothing else. Everybody thinks they need to create a signature sauce for their pizzas and this sauce had too much sugar. The service was fast and friendly and the place a bit of a dive, but what should we expect from a basement pizza joint? I like dives and I liked Rudy's "OK". I am actually being generous in my rating because I cannot fairly compare Rudy's or most other American pizzerias to the best pizza in the world, so I compare to "Midwest pizza" and in comparison, Rudy's is pretty "average". CombatCritic Gives Rudy's Pizzeria 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better! read more

Pizza is gross. Tastes bland and the "toppings" are actually "unders." The crust is flavorless. Pizza Hut is much better and cheaper.

This is my favorite pizza in town. Their crust is always the right combo of crispy and soft, if that makes sense! Their sauce is the best and the cheese is always melted perfectly on top. My fave is sausage and pepperoni, but really any of the options are good. We get Rudy's delivered a lot, but I also like to take my kids in for a slice. They love watching the koi pond. read more

Gluten-free people: the pizzas here have not triggered my gluten intolerance. Also, the pizza is delicious. Options for gluten free crusts are limited to one- size small and akin to hand tossed. Options for regular pizza crusts and toppings are numerous, including whole wheat. The topping selection is amazing, with anything a person could want, veggie-wise, cheeses and meats. Only problem here is the prices, although they have daily specials. I would definitely recommend getting the frequent buyer card. I saved a lot of money that way. Only issue there is that one can't use it in deliveries, only dine-in and pick-up. I forgive the prices, though, because of the extensive menu, quality and care with food, and overall local atmosphere. Can you believe- I've lived in the only two tiny towns that have Rudy's pizza? Lawrence, KS and Bellingham, WA. I have been a loyal customer at both, and definitely recommend it. read more

Let me start by saying the pizza is actually ok. Not great but ok. It's good if you want the taste of pizza and a small salad and soda in a quick hurry for a descent price, however!!! I ordered delivery a couple months back & it included wings. Gave them specific directions to please make the wings somewhat crispy, when they arrived they were rubbery... Gross. So I took a hiatus for a couple months but my wife wanted to go for a quick dinner and I agreed tonight. Ordered a small taco pizza, wife got a quick slice w/a salad. We sat and she ate, we sat some more.... And some more.. Over an hour later my wife went and asked where the pizza was.. The girl didn't even turn in our order in! I swear I'll never eat there again solely because I think the customer service really kinda sucks. Sadly. Cuz we're huge supporters of local business!!! read more

This is my favorite pizza. The red sauce is robust, herbaceous and (probably) full of garlic. And, the personal 'za is a really good meal.

They're pizza is pretty good. I had a small Papa Rudy's on wheat original crust because I'm a carnivore and Jeremy had a medium Za. They're sauce is sweeter than most but good and one of those meats was slightly spicy. The garlic bread stix are also very tasty. read more

Rudy's Pizzeria - Papa Rudy's on wheat original crust - Pizza Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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