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Smiling With Hope Pizza

4.8 (832 reviews)
ModeratePizza, Italian
Closed 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Smiling With Hope Pizza Photos

Business Info

SMILING WITH HOPE PIZZA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Smiling With Hope Pizza

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Half peppers and onions, half mushrooms and onions
Kimberly C.

I have been wanting to try this place for a very long time now. The last few times I tried the wait was either too long (a good sign of the quality) or they closed earlier than I had expected. In any case it was worth the wait!! Growing up on the east coast, I have to say, pizza doesn't quite hit out here. But I was really impressed with this pie!! You could taste the quality of ingredients, and the crust was solid. The staff were very friendly, mostly young kids on a Saturday. It has the feel of a NY pizza joint, adorned with Buffalo Bills memorabilia. I can't wait to go back, and next time I want to try a cannoli!

Cannoli Cup Cookie and a regular cookie.
Craig H.

I saw this place featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and decided to stop in and give it a try. We ordered our go-to specialty pizza--pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapeño on a Sicilian-style crust. It was outstanding. The crust had the perfect texture and the sauce really tied everything together. We also tried a cookie and a cannoli cookie cup for dessert. My wife absolutely loved her cookie, which is saying something since she's pretty particular about cookies. I had the cannoli cookie cup, and it was delicious, a great finish to the meal. Overall, I'll definitely be returning and highly recommend checking this place out.

Crystal S.

Love the local, authentic vibe of this place. Can see why it's been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Tables all together in a smallish square space, but clean and with a NY-themed decor. Probably gets full quickly on a busy night. Fun that you can see them making the hand-tossed crust. Had a make-your-own veggie thin crust pizza, and the ingredients were fresh and delicious with a good variety of options. Garlic knots were crispy (I prefer a bit more chewy) with sauce to dip. Service was friendly but a lot of personal chatter going on, which carries in a small place like this. Great local option for those nearby. Things to come back and try: Sicilian and cauliflower crusts and cannoli cookie cup!

Dara W.

We came here for the first time and loved it. On the corner of the building. Small inside with maybe 8-9 tables with the red and white checkered table cloths. Space itself is small and cozy, but we could see how during very busy times it can be cramped in there. The ordering line is directly ahead when you walk in. Not much wiggle room. The staff are all very friendly. The pizza was perfect. Reminded me of east coast pizza, folding it in half and taking a big bite. Delicious. The homemade sausage was so good. We also tried their garlic knots which were pretty good too. We'd definitely come back again to try the Sicilian and some desserts. They have small to-go pizza boxes for leftovers. There is a single restroom available for customers too. Overall we enjoyed it.

Kevin C.

Easily one of the very best places to get a pizza in Reno. They are always busy, so it is best to order takeout or reserve a time for a table if dining in well ahead of time. The customer service is always great and you can tell the staff enjoys working there. The pies are simple but amazing and one of the closest you're going to get to a true NY slice.

16" Classic NY pie with pepperoni
Mark P.

My kids took me to Smiling with hope pizza for father's day's , we had a great pizza the sauce was delicious crust was also amazing I really liked the sausage on my Sicilian slice! The staff was excellent and attentive definitely have to come back again!

Service Patches from near and far
Phil A.

This was our first time visiting SWHP. My expectations were high based on online reviews and we were not disappointed. This is epic pizza. We ate outside under the tree with a nice breeze despite the 92F temperature. That crust! All ingredients are fresh and the cheese and sauce are outstanding. Highly recommend this place on their community vision and their outstanding food! Cannoli tonight! Love the tribute public service patches on the wall! Even a Dolphin fan can respect the Buffalo roots and Jim Kelly signed jersey!

Pepperoni, black olives, and green pepper pizza
Helen A.

I was in the mood for a good pizza, originally by the slice before my boyfriend convinced me otherwise. This was my first time dining at Smiling and I was pleasantly surprised with how homey and close-knit it felt upon entering. The walls are decorated with Bills memorabilia and traditional NY Italian family memories, with the tables adorned with the classic red and white checkered tablecloths. The menu is rather small, instead of preselected pizza options, it's a build-your-own style with dessert and drink options. Everything seemed reasonably priced and came out in time. This scratched my pizza itch. One thing that really piqued my interest while eating in was the amount of regulars who came in and were warmly greeted. It is a very good sign when dining somewhere local to see how much of the community comes in and pay patronage. Compared to other pizza joints in town, I rate this one highly for its family feel and good pies.

Alexa R.

Fast and friendly service. Pizza was excellent--one of the best thin crust pizzas in town without a doubt. The seasoned ricotta was a fantastic addition to the pizza. We went on a weeknight and it wasn't too busy, but there aren't a ton of tables so I can see this place getting busy fast, especially on a weekend.

Inside
Mike S.

So the wife I heard about this place. So we were not far from this place and gave it a try. So glad we did when you go in the place it smells amazing. The guy that helped us was super friendly and nice. The pizza was so good and good size. I got a single piece and it was huge. My wife's pizza with the cauliflower crust was yummy. Pizza came out fast this is a must try pizza place! Highly recommend this place! Cheers

Half pepperoni and half pepperoni and mushroom
Dalinda A.

We tried this place on a recommendation from someone that is originally from NJ. We were told it was very good, and we were not disappointed. The pizza was delicious and the cannolis looked amazing, although we didn't have any. It's a small restaurant, maybe 10 tables and a few outside as well. You can make reservations, which I would suggest for a Friday. Service was excellent and we will definitely return.

New York style - pepperoni and anchovies. Tremendous!
Chucky H.

As a Registered Pizza Enthusiast (RPE), I seek out the best local pizza places before I travel anywhere that I've never been before. While my wife and I prepared for our trip to Reno/Lake Tahoe, I spent a good amount of time researching just about every pizza place in the Reno and greater Lake Tahoe area. Smiling with Hope looked to have all the makings of a hidden gem - small, locally (and Veteran) owned, community-minded, sports themed, family style pizzeria. We were greeted by the friendly staff as soon as we walked in. We ordered one New York style and one Sicilian style pizza. They were both fantastic but the New York style stole the show! The Garlic Knots were also very good, smothered in garlic and parmesan. While we were eating, the manager(?) came by to see how we were enjoying everything, which I alway appreciate. We had plenty of leftover pizza to snack on the next day or two of our trip. Who doesn't love a cold slice the next day? I feel like my research paid off and we found the best pizzeria in the area. I will gladly recommend Smiling with Hope Pizza to anyone I know that is visiting the area, and we will definitely be back some day.

Half pepperoni and pepperoni with jalapeños/pineapple
Cecilia B.

One of my top 5 favorite pizza spots in Reno. The pizza is delicious. We usually get pepperoni, pep with pineapple or jalapeños. IMO the pizza is a bit oily and the pep is a touch spicy, but VERY good flavor and thin. If you are ordering Friday or Sat night the wait times are usually 1h.

Pepperoni pizza with ricotta

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Pizza is great the service was amazing ambiance is very nice great patio. Love there mission statement! Keep up the great work.

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3 months ago

Great pizza, great service! Great having the games on TV, this is like a slice shop in New York. Definitely a great mission and great food!

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Business owner information

Photo of Andrew S.

Andrew S.

Hi Ali! I’m so sorry the pizza missed the mark! I’ll send you a DM!

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1 month ago

Excellent pizza very friendly staff. One of the best pizzas in Reno if you like a New York style pizza.

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Ask the Community - Smiling With Hope Pizza

Thought you guys were retiring? Loved the restaurant and the concept! DELICIOUS chocolate chip cookies! Happy retirement!

New owners, the original retired. No drop in quality, still amazing pizza.

Does the call in time between 3-5 count as business hours (ie we get the voicemail at 4:10 we should give up because the dough is gone already)?

We have only 1 landline phone line with call waiting. Judy answers every call starting at 3pm until the dough runs out and takes every order. We are a small operation and apologize if you have trouble getting through.

Do you guys sell pizza by the slice only?

Sorry but we don't. Only whole pies.

Would you guys do a thin crust ? Absolutely loved your pie and my wife says the owner is from my families same area in Jersey and knows about the Star.

Thinned usually my fave ( Nu Yalk Pizza), but I really enjoyed their crust at SWH as not overly doughy!

I have unusual food allergies and a serious need for pizza. I'll be in Reno soon. Could you tell me what spices are in your pizza sauce? Thanks SO much.

What are you allergic to?

How do we place an order if we continue to call since 3:00PM yet we never get through to anyone? We want to support you and enjoy our favorite pizza in town, but we cannot get help. Do you accept orders in person at the curbside?

Megan: We apologize for the inconvenience with ordering. We have only 1 phone line with a call waiting. Judy answers all calls and with our limited number of dough balls it makes for not being able to meet all orders. We do take walk ups but… 

Do you offer vegan cheese for your pizzas or calzones?

Sorry but we don't

Hi Walter - Is there a schedule for when you have bread and focaccia available?

Ethan: I make them when we have extra dough which is unpredictable. Best to call when you want it and we can let you know if we can do it. Thanks. Walter/Judy

View All 9 Questions

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Smiling With Hope Pizza - pizza - Updated July 2026

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