I came in on a Wednesday with my boy, got a cheesesteak with cooper sharp and onions, lemme say sum. That was the absolute the best cheesesteak I've ever had and I'm from Pennsylvania and have been to Philly many times and tried most of the local spots down there. VILOET STONE HAS THE BEST CHEESESTEAK IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND PROBABLY THE COUNTRY, COPE WITH IT. Anyone who gave it less than 5 stars is obviously an idiot or on drugs. Also anyone who hates this place must have ran into there wife's boyfriend on the way there. read more

Shortly after I moved to Texas, I heard the new location had opened, so I knew I had to make it one of my first stops when I returned to the Bay Area. The new space is absolutely amazing, and the food is every bit as incredible as I remembered. The Philly wit onions and Cooper Sharp is phenomenal, every bite is packed with flavor. I also grabbed a pie and a Philly for some family members who had never tried it before, and they couldn't stop talking about how delicious everything was. I'm so excited to see this family-owned business thriving and expanding. The service was outstanding, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the food was unforgettable. This place is a must visit whenever I'm back in town. Oh and they are opening a second location in Tampa so watch out TB pizza is going to put you on the map! read more

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Update is for the pizza. Definitely 5 stars. Had a margherita and a spicy pizza with some hot honey. Great crust, both delicious. We enjoyed their pizzas more than their cheesesteaks. The new location on MLK is much bigger with a dining area and bar in it. Very cool, very packed on a nice night. I'd say expect some wait- but well worth it! read more

I saw Violet Stone on social media commercial and it looked good on the commercial. Went there excited to get a cheesesteak like I saw on the commercial. I ordered the cheesesteak with onions. I also ordered some cheese sticks. My wife ordered a pizza. The following is one guy's opinion: 1. My cheesesteak with onions was terrible. They used a weird type of bread with sesame seeds on it. It was kind of hard too. Also, it was way too much bread for a cheesesteak in my opinion. It was a really bad choice to wrap cheesesteak with. The chopped onions on the cheesesteak looked gray. The whole thing just looked unappetizing. As I feared, the bread doesn't compliment the cheesesteak. I only ate about a quarter of it and took the rest to go. To their credit, the restaurant does have a sign that says if the food is a flop, to return it. I didn't. I don't like telling restaurants that their food sucks. I just don't come back. I took it home hoping to find a homeless person to give it to, but didn't see anyone so I threw it away. 2. My wife is a cheese stick fanatic. She's always looking for the perfect cheese stick. However, the cheese sticks here also were disappointing. The breading on it was too thick and didn't taste good. I think it was a bit overdone on the outside, but not done on the inside. The cheese inside was not melted or close to being soft or slightly melted. It was the consistency of a piece of cheese that was left out at room temperature, soft, but not melty as a cheese stick should be. It was merely a warm piece of cheese wedge covered in a breading that also didn't have much flavor. I think it's because they were overly done. They were on the darker bitter side that you get from frying something too hot and fast yet the cheese was not soft. Were they frozen and that's why they cooked that way? I don't know, seems that way. 3. My wife liked her pizza. I had a slice because the cheesesteak was a fail for me. The pizza was ok. Nothing special. They do their pizza "well done". For some it may be too well done. My wife likes her pizza well done so she liked it. The place was also expensive for what it is and I felt kinda cheated for spending almost $70.00 (not including tip) for two drinks, a crappy sub, a small pizza, and some cheese sticks. I went, I saw, I conquered, but won't be back. Sorry violet stone. Go check out your competition and change some things. read more

Delicious food and great customer service. It was raining and packed inside but it was worth it! read more

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Sorry, I don't get what all the fuss is about Violet Stone. We were underwhelmed at best. Pizza was overcooked and overpriced. Maybe because it was takeout and on a Saturday night they were slammed...I don't know. The pizza arrived lukewarm and the cheesesteak bites we ordered never came. That's right, simple order messed up. Maybe it's better in the store? Who knows. We won't try again, Too many other reliable & cheaper places. read more

This is still a family run business that's highly popular and struggling to deal with the volume. But what is happening is showing signs of going downhill in terms of food. I ordered a chicken parm sub, which I have ordered before. The container was so dirty with marinara sauce that is immediately turned me off. But, they are busy, so let's let it slide. The problem is inside- the chicken was so dry, and it was assembled with haste, and looked sloppy. The presentation was sloppy, the box was sloppy and the taste was sloppy. They used to only take so many orders, and their quality was on point. They have slipped. Time to right the ship before they expand to Tampa, or this will be another story of a fantastic business going out of business. Slow down, and get back to what made you famous: the food. read more

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I was craving pizza and wanted to try a new to me spot. The Violet Stone is a cute little joint next to an ice cream place and running store. In typical St Pete fashion parking can be limited in back, but they do have ample street parking. I went for lunch and was a little confused on if I was supposed to order at the counter or be seated. Fortunately a nice server quickly explained I could do either and if I seated myself inside I could scan a QR code to order. I'm always fine to scan a code but I do miss being able to ask questions so the option for both was nice. I ordered a lunch special classic pizza & a coke. Perfect portion for 1. I waited a bit before my drink came out but after that my food was quick & the server came over to check on me. The pizza was great! It's more of a thin crust style, which I'm into. They have a lot of other tasty looking menu items - like sandwiches & salads so I'll return to try those. read more

The Violet Stone - Outside - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

I kept seeing this place recommended on social media and decided to give it a try. We ordered a pepperoni pizza and the crabby fries. The crabby fries were a bit salty, but it would have been better with a beer. The pizza was good too, especially with the hot honey on the side. It was a bit overdone for my liking, but it was still good. read more

The Violet Stone - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Cheese steak was tasty mine was ok and my wifes bread was burnt. Same order 2 different outcomes. Thats sad. Ordered to go. They never even called out a name or order number. Had no Idea my order had been ready for :15 minutes until I went up and asked about it. They were busy but need some sort of acknowledgment for a walk-in order that is ready read more

The Violet Stone - Quality - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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This pizza is delicious. After eating a few slices or even their personal lunch pie, you do not feel heavy and bloated. Nice undercarriage. Perfectly cooked. If you like raw and white crust on thick football pie you will not like this pizza. This is thin crust, no flop, well done pie. This cheesesteak is wonderful. I get the cooper sharp with onions. I wish they toasted their sesame bread though. It feels a little thick and dense and a light toasting would help, but that's ok. This is a delicious sandwich I wish I could find in NY. Cup and char pepperoni is number one in my book. Service is friendly and efficient. They are doing a brisk business and move very fast. I go to a table and order from the QR code. You can also order at the counter then sit. The personal pie and half cheesesteak lunch specials are great. I go every time I'm in the area. read more

The Violet Stone - Philly cheesesteak, cooper sharp with onions. - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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I've heard great things about The Violet Stone and I think the hype is well deserved. My friend and I got the fried mozzarella to share and Caesar salad wraps. The knockout, star of the show was the fried mozzarella. The coating was crunchy, tangy, warm and SO flavorful. Probably the best cheese pull I've ever seen from a mozzarella stick. The cheese was fresh, gooey and delicious. I think next time I get The Violet Stone I'll get the pizza for an entree- the wraps were good, but I think there could have been more dressing- I just think the wrap itself lacked flavor. Overall, I was impressed with The Violet Stone- yum! read more

The Violet Stone - Fried Mozzarella & Caesar Salad Wrap - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Here's a fair but honest review you can post: We came here because the Philly cheesesteak was highly recommended and we were really excited to try it. Unfortunately, it wasn't what we were expecting. It wasn't bad, but it didn't live up to the hype. That said, it still did the job and satisfied the craving. The customer service was friendly and welcoming, which we appreciated. However, paying $27 for a cheesesteak, fries, and a drink felt pretty steep for what we received. Overall, it was okay, but not something we'd go out of our way for again. read more

Word around town is these Phillys are to die for, so of course I had to check it out!! There's truth in that statement!! Tried the Philly cheesesteak and the cinnamon sticks and both were so delicious. I'm a little picky and felt like it was a little bit too much bread but literally everyone else was obsessedddd- so I'm just the odd one out here haha. Very delicious and will be back for sure. read more

We came across an advertisement for The Violet Stone on social media and decided to check it out for Saturday evening dinner. The restaurant was about an hour from our place, and when we arrived, it was bustling with people enjoying pizza and drinks. We were quickly seated and warmly greeted by our server. From the menu, we ordered the Chicken Cheesesteak, Crabby Fries, a 16" Classic Pizza, and for drinks, a Modelo Draft and a Diet Coke. Our food came out quickly: pizza and fries. The pizza was absolutely delicious with a perfect crust, easily one of the best and most classic pizzas we've had. The fries were crispy, tasty, and a hit with everyone, even our little one loved them! Next up was the Chicken Cheese Steak, honestly, one of the best we've had in Florida! The bread was fresh, the roasted chicken was flavorful, and everything came together perfectly. It made for an amazing dinner at The Violet Stone. read more

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I'll start by saying our service was great as we were sitting inside. First, the fries were greasy and salty as the ocean. Even ketchup could not help it. I gave it to my husband. We split the Philly cheesesteak sandwiches which were pretty good size. Bread was pretty hard and dense. I didn't like the texture. Not my thing. I ordered mushroom, but I didn't see it or taste it at all. Perhaps it was minced and mixed in. Glad I tried it, but now I know. Maybe I'll try it somewhere else. This one was not for me. It was a bit squishy inside but we were comfortable and happy to have the big huge fan next to us. read more

The 1st time I had this at the old hole in the wall tiny take-out place it was pretty decent (see the older pics). Today, on 8/20/25, at their new dine-in location (no AC like their old place), however, it tasted really bad of like old meat lots of bad beef parts or something extremely greasy. It tasted like the blood bubbly parts of the beef that should be thrown out scraped off... ick. It was lukewarm not pippin' hot. Not worth $17. I threw the other half in the garbage. I won't be back here for the cheesesteaks that's for sure. My friend had the pizza & she said it was good. The bartender has poor manners. He's very bad at customer service. This makes me really miss Joe's Philly Cheesesteaks in Clearwater they closed shop a few years ago during COVID. That place had the best cheesesteak in the area. Not sure if Joe's ever relocated or skipped town altogether. The Violet Stone needs some mad Philly Cheesesteak competition around here. This place has gone downhill on the Cheesesteaks. read more

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I have heard of the hype about this pizza all year. I'm happy to report that the hype is well deserved. The pizza was absolutely delicious. I wasn't sure how I would feel about a well done pizza, but as a thin crust pizza fan, I really really liked it. The char gave a rustic flare to the pizza. Fresh out of the oven, this was a great lunch. The fresh basil on top was a lovely finish. I do wish the pizza topping selection was a bit more expansive. read more

The Violet Stone - Pizza with Pepperoni and Long Peppers - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

I'll start off with the pizza was really good I'm impressed. Hot and fresh and the crust well done it's a keeper. We had the chicken cheesesteak and I thought it was good the wife thought it a little dry? Their fresh seeded bread and the checker was real and fresh not a flat frozen type. The sevice was good and they have a lot of servers in a fairly small place but whatever works form them. The place it self is "interesting" to say the least. An older store front with old metal tin type ceilings and a bunch of small 2 person tables. The table size makes having a pizza on it somewhat of a challenge. It's part done in and grab and go with an open bar window out to the patio, but with the rain today inside we went. If you're looking for good pizza and sandwiches this is the place. If you're looking for ambience and fancy dining then you might need to move on. read more

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I've been here several times and to the old location as well. I guess I'm a little confused because I was told the only option for half of a cheesesteak is at lunch, so I got the full size at dinner. I had gotten the half cheesesteak at the old location and it was the same size as the full at the new location. Maybe that's just how they do sit down dinner, but it blew my mind that I got a 6 inch for the price of a 12. I'll attach pictures of both. It wasn't nearly as good as the previous one I had. The Philly egg rolls are amazing! The mozzarella sticks are just ok, the batter tasted weird to us. Also, heads up that you have to order on your phone, there are no waiters to take your order or answer questions. Everyone always seems in a panicked rush. read more

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I found this place thanks to David Portnoy who does the pizza reviews. After our day at Busch Gardens we decided to take the 30 min detour home to try the Violet Stone. Its a small little shop in a plaza with not a lot of parking. The do most of their orders as to go. There is a tiny spot for some seats. We always order a classic cheese and our favorite topping Hot honey on pizza. The hot honey had a couple other toppings like bacon, peppers and Ricotta cheese. The pizza was thin and crispy. The sauce had a lot of bold flavors. The put a warning on the door that says pizza will be cooked overdone, its a different style of pizza because they want that extra crispy pie. That isn't my absolute favorite style but i appreciated their authenticity of their product. On the video i watched Dave say that the Philly was the best he has had in Florida. That it was just like the originals in philly but honestly i didn't get the hype. I have had way better philly cheese steaks in the Florida and Georgia area. There was barely any cheese and the meat was little dry. The price of $18 was not worth what we got. read more

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Hands down, the best pie in the St.Pete/Tampa area. Probably top ten in FL. The Philly cheese steak is also top notch! Haven't found one in the area that even comes close. Super friendly staff, and fast service!!! Love violet stone Try the ranch, it will change your life read more

The Violet Stone - Pepperoni and hot honey 1/2 mushroom half sausage W/ side of ranch - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Finally stopped to see what the fuss was about and I have to say, Portnoy finally redeemed himself! It actually is the best cheesesteak I've ever had. But for $18 it won't be a regular visit. That price feels steep even in today's climate and that much meat and cheese. $13 is probably more reasonable. Maybe they felt their new fame allowed them to over charge IDK Loaded with shaved beef, melty cheese and a dollop of carmelized onions, the flavor definitely slaps I was a little disappointed in the bread but that's only because so many people had been hyping it up. It didn't stand out to me. Things to know This is a VERY small place with an odd thin sliced cheesecake design inside. Whoever the contractor is must have been drunk. Nonetheless you will be squeezing in just to pay. No seating. There are a couple of 2 seater tables outside in front of parking spots if you really must eat there but this is more of a takeout place with very limited parking that's a pain to get in and out of Very busy at least during the lunch time that I was there. I was quoted a 40 min wait for one sandwich so definitely order ahead. Pizzas, I considered ordering one since I'm not in the area often but I was looking for a Napoli pizza and the menu just didn't speak to me. I'm sure it's good but I travel to Italy and NY often so it's hard to impress me with pizza. Bottom line, make the drive for that sandwich!! It's big and mouth watering delicious! I'll be dreaming about it for weeks. I made the hour drive to try it, you can too read more

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Always love VS. The do cook their pizza well-done so I always ask for it to not be so well done that it's burnt on the bottom. I wish their beer and wine selection was better though. read more

The Violet Stone - Cheese Pizza - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

This is a small pizza restaurant that is attached to a cheesesteak counter. I can't speak to the cheesesteaks (although they looked amazing), but the pizza is incredible. Just really great pies with somewhat unique toppings (think: adult toppings). I recommend the Italian Stallion, a pizza with cheese, sausage, broccoli rabe, and ricotta. Service is a little patchy, which is odd considering how small the place is, but they seem to be handling a lot of take-out which might explain it. Patience is advised--or just grab take-out for yourself. I truly wished we lived closer to this place. It would be our regular pizza joint! read more

The Violet Stone lives up to all the hype. I stopped by today to try the cheesesteak and I wasn't disappointed. Generous portion of tender ribeye grilled with cooper sharp, onions and the perfect semolina roll. Fantastic. The new location is fantastic, complete with outdoor seating with a bar. Keep up the good work and hope you consider more locations further south like Sarasota read more

The Violet Stone - Philly Cheesesteak .....Fantastic! - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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I choose this place based on reviews. I will say it's a great location, that has outdoor seating, & plenty of choices. The customer service from everyone even the dish washer was polite, bathroom, tables were clean. We were greeted when we walked in. We were given instructions on how to order, as well as recommendations for food. We ordered 1/2 pepperoni, 1/2 sausage pizza, & a Cesar salad. The pizza was ok, if you like the burnt crust and thin crispy bottom type of pizza then this is the place to you. There were big bubbles throughout the pizza which created crispy pockets... I did enjoy the sausage, and the sauce had a good flavor. The Cesar salad is big enough to share, however it was basic, nothing stood out. Besides the great customer service and location, I can get a better pie elsewhere. read more

The Violet Stone - Cesar Caesar Salad - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

This little hidden gem was a great find! Wood fired pizza cooked to perfection with that slight charred under carriage and built to order with amazing sauce, cheese and fresh toppings. The cheese steak did not disappoint either. My only complaints with it was that the whiz was slathered on the top of the steak instead of mixed in and wasn't a huge fan of the roll choice. More of like a pretzel hoagie and not my style. But that's just me lol It was loaded with really good chopped rib eye and was very tasty. Prices were on par and the food was prepared very quickly! Definitely recommend if you're ever in the area! 8.8/10 read more

The Violet Stone - Cheesesteak with Whiz - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Stopped in for a takeout cheese steak after hearing they were the best in town (I'm originally from the Philly area and am very picky with my cheese steaks). We ordered a Shroomy Cheesesteak to share as I love mushrooms. The whole ride home, this smelled AMAZING in the car. When we unwrapped it, the roll was beautifully seeded roll with cheese melting out of it. It was gone almost instantly as it was so good. We will definitely be back and I can confidently say it's the best cheesesteak I've had in Tampa Bay. read more

The Violet Stone - Shroomy Cheesesteak - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

This place is great. Inside is very eclectic with old ceiling tiles and cool painting. They are busy. Parking is tough. Staff is very friendly. Lots of Togo orders. We got an inside table with fresh bottles of water, plates, spices, etc. we ordered a 3 topping pizza. Maybe 15-20 minutes later it looked beautiful. Cooked well done and crispy crust. Best pizza in st. Pete. I'll be back for the cheese steaks. read more

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This review is based off of takeout only. Pizza was really good, a thin crispy crust. I would recommend!

Sticky fingers pizza was divine!! My friends and I have always struggled here with pickup time getting delayed 30-45+ minutes from the scheduled time, so that's something to keep in mind. That said, it was Super Bowl Sunday so of course they were totally swamped. The pizza was sooo good and flavorful and not too greasy either. Definitely one of my fav pizza spots in the area! read more

Been wanting to try violet stone since it was at its first location. I came on an early Thursday evening so it wasn't that busy, and the food came out quick. I have to say paying 17 bucks for a sandwhich is hard but I ultimately think it was money well spent. The Philly was massive overloaded with meat, cooper sharp melted American and it was tender & delicious. The bread was fresh and crispy. The fries were super good, and would have been chefs kiss with some malt vinegar although I'm not sure they do that in Philly. They had live music and I had a glass of wine at the outdoor little bar. Staff was super friendly and the owner was in the kitchen working along side everyone. Excited to come back and review the pizza. read more

Not my first time at this place and we have always had a good experience, the food is great, the service has always been good too. But today we had a really bad experience. Starting with the customer service, the young female at the front desk was having a bad day because her attitude wasn't the best. Then we order a regular pizza with 2 fountain drinks and a cup of water but were charge for 3 drink (not a big deal). Then when the food arrived the cup of water felt from the table and one of girls have us a towel to clean up, but didn't offer to bring another cup of water, never gave us the napkins that I asked for and didn't even bring us the parmesan/ pepper. Our experience today in comparison with the others was definitely not the best. read more

I'm always on the lookout for a place that proclaims "Philly Cheesesteak" as their top item. Someone at work mentioned this place and-it being nearby and with time to spare-I scurried over. I seemed to have beat the subsequent rush of pickups and sit-ins (5:20pm) so I ambled over the inside bar and ordered a winter ale as I waited for the arrival of THE PHILLY! I've never eaten one with such a large thick sesame seed bun HOWEVER, when my eyes saw the gooey mash of the steak and cheese, I knew sparks were going to fly 12 minutes later, as I cleaned my self up with a napkin, I finished my beer, did my best Brad Pitt impression biting my lower lip while smirking at the empty basket and said "I'll call you later." Yeah, that happened. read more

The Violet Stone - Whatta ya think??? - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

I really wanted to like this, I regularly travel to St Pete from PA. I had high hopes as they had a good amount of business immediately upon opening. I ordered their roast pork sandwich, with the broccoli rabe and sharp provolone, a true Philly sandwich that is not overdone everywhere. It was disappointing, I got it to go, took it right from the staff, and went outside to eat. Its flavor wasn't terrible, but it was lukewarm at best, I literally took it from the staff and went outside to my car to eat since I had to be somewhere by 12, and the sandwich was not hot. Luke warm pork, and cool boiled greens just were not appetizing, seeded roll and sharp provolone were what you would get in Philly but not served with cold pork and greens. I would give this a pass next time and go for something truly local, not a repro of Philly. read more

The Violet Stone - Roast Pork Italian - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Really good pizza -- love the crunch and flavor. This time it wasn't quite as hot, probably because it was ready before the 30-minute pickup time they gave me, so the crust was a bit tougher than usual. It was slightly better when I tried it at their previous location, but still a solid spot. Definitely ranks as my 3rd favorite pizza in the Tampa-St. Pete area. read more

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This place is Legit! If you love well done pizza with amazing sauce: this is your heaven. My son got the Chicken Parm hero which was alone worth the drive from Tampa but the Pizza kicked it up another level. Can't wait to go back read more

The Violet Stone - Spicy Chicken Parm Hero - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Recommended by my sister in law so we stopped in when I came to visit. Both inside and outside seating and this place is always full (for a reason). Couldn't decide between the pizza or the cheesesteak so we had both. The pizza was perfect crispy and delicious. Cheesesteak was in the top 3 I've ever had (including straight out of Philly. It was no surprise the owner was from there. I heard it used to be a food truck that got upgraded to a storefront and for very good reason. Everything was everything! Do NOT pass up the Violet Stone. Even writing this review my mouth started watering! read more

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Workers were friendly however, after waiting over 30 minutes for a 10" pizza and cheese calzone our name wasn't called. When checking in on our order, we were told that the calzone made wasn't right, and gave us our pizza while we waited for them to remake it. The pizza was barely warm when opened, and calzone didn't come out for another 5-10 minutes. Staff apologized. Pizza woulda been better if it was kept somewhere to keep it warm or given to us when the mistake was noticed. The calzone was very sweet but good. Calzone is listed as 4 servings-which is not accurate. Parking is limited with steep entrance, little ambiance offered in small shop. If I return, I will call ahead. read more

The Violet Stone - Cheese 10" - Pizza Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida