I was born and raised in NYC. I left at 21 years old in 2005. I've missed it everyday since. Especially that NY pizza, unlike anything you'll ever have anywhere else in the world! Well I've lived in a handful of different U.S. cities and for the first time in 10 years, I've found the closest match up. Today had to be one of my happiest days ever. This pizza is legitimate! Crispy, but foldable (like NYC slices are supposed to be eaten), just the right amount of sauce and cheese, thin and just amazing. Try it! Everyone, try it! P.S. Oh and those who say it's no up to par with NY pizza, the truth is, nothing ever will be, so you can't really criticize on that level. As a New Yorker, there's some pretty crappy pizza places in NY too. So if you leave NY, do not expect duplication anywhere else except for maybe Jersey. But do expect people to try to make it as close as possible and your pizza home away from home. This place is it!
(5)
Amaya K.
The food here is always amazing, but this last weekend has definitely put me off for a long time, I think they may need to improve their staff. I called in a pizza, medium with no peppers and salads. I got a large pizza, was CHARGED for a large pizza, and their sunday special is supposed to be $2 off, which i did not recieve. When i tried to question the high price i was brushed off, im assuming because there were a couple people behind me in line and i was just a pick up order. I did not recieve a receipt, and got home to find a pizza piled high with peppers. Plus one of the salad dressing cups wasnt closed all the way, and slow leaked all over my car. So an hour of seat scrubbing and almost $10 I shouldnt have had to spend later, I think its going to be a while before I go back
(2)
Norma P.
Nice little pizza joint. You walk in and order at the counter and give you a number so they can take the food to your table. I enjoy sitting on the front room where it's busier amd livelier. We go here occasionally for lunch and it never disappoints us. The salads are fresh and delicious every time. The pizza are always hot, plenty of toppings and delicious all around. The prices are good and staff is polite. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for some good pizza, lunch or dinner.
(5)
Simeon F.
Three stars for me on pizza means your doing alright. First off the slices were good but I would not say East Coast good. Way better than any chain. While the crust wasn't anything to write home about it was cooked perfect with a little char. I mention this because most pizza places here under cook their pies on my opinion. I think I will ask for a thinner crust with less cheese the next time.
(3)
Lisa K.
ATTENTION: This is NOT authentic NY style pizza. Sorry, but it's not. The dough is not stretched thin enough. There is no chew to the crust. They also cook it on a grate which gives the bottom a strange texture. Way too much cheese and super skimpy on some of the toppings. That being said... it's 8:30 pm... just got home... starving... and BF walks in behind with a pie from here. Did a slice hit the spot...yes. Is this a destination place worth driving out of your way for a killer NY pie...NO!
(2)
Amanda T.
Great pizza, friendly staff. What more do you need? It's also super affordable and next door to a great ice cream shop. It's small, so don't be shocked by a little wait on the weekend. It's worth it, I promise.
(5)
Marilyn R.
This restaurant is the size of a diner without a lot of seating. They have a daily special of a large slice of pizza and a garden salad, which comes with a dinner roll. I would choose that if I were to go there again. The Grinder Sandwich is flavorful. It is an Italian Sausage patty which comes with a side of Marinara sauce and potato chips. The Roasted Chicken Salad was okay but not impressive. The waitstaff is nice. You order at the counter and they bring your food to the table.
(3)
David P.
Quality lunch stop for the slice combo. And a deal that can't be beat.
(4)
Tealah M.
Good solid pizza. We would definitely eat here again. Ordered a large double pep to go with a side of ranch. Good flavor and of course with extra pep it was greasy but good!
(4)
Debbie B.
So happy we tried this place, it really impressed me. The daily special is served all day everyday for $6.69. You get a nice starter salad with fresh ranch (thin) and any two toppings you want and a drink. There were red and green bell peppers on mine. The garlic cheese bread is fresh like everything is here and the marinara is above average. Nothing let me down here. The food, freshness, price, and atmosphere will bring me back, love it! Not that great : Boneless buffalo wings
(5)
Nic N.
Great crust, fresh toppings, and delicious sauce. A cross between artisan and New York. What a great combo.
(5)
Carl L.
We moved to Colorado Springs on Sunday and were hungry for pizza on Tuesday after a long day of house hunting. Hit up Yelp for pizza and filtered by rating. What luck; Tuesday night is all you can eat special. Great local spot; love the sliced meatball topping! Good beer, too.
(4)
Cecily C.
Love Leon Gessis! The place reminds me of a bar up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Their pizza is to die for. Traditional New York style. I wish they had fooseball or darts though. That would be my hang out spot. And I'm wondering what happened to the Warsteiner on tap?
(5)
Tony R.
I will start by saying, for us NY pizza purists, it's not real NY pizza. It's good, but not great. It is an old Colorado Springs icon and a nice casual place for a decent slice. Always good to finish up next door at BJ's for some ice cream.
(4)
Lawrence W.
Leon Gessi's is my favorite local pizza joint in The Springs, the pizza is crispy hot and directly from the oven. The place is smaller in the front with booth style seats but, with plenty of additional room in the back. I have been we few times with friends and family and always had a good slice! The have draft beers as well which in itself is awesome to have. I'd recommend a two slice with cheese and a cold beer!
(5)
Mary S.
Omgosh! Freakin' amazing! We ordered pepperoni and some cheese bread and it was top notch:) good job owner, keep up the good quality:)
(5)
Terri T.
The staff is always friendly pick up orders are ready quickly and if I am ever in jail and get a "last meal " request it will be for their calzone and house salad! This was the freshest crisp salad I've been served anywhere in town the calzone was just right not greasy great dough creamy ricotta mozzarella not over powering all at a reasonable price. Ps I never write glowing reviews this place is a neighborhood jewel and deserves it.
(5)
Mitch F.
I moved from NYC 25 years ago, first to OH, then to PA & now CO. I have not been able to find authentic NYC style pizza anywhere. Leon's pizza is absolutely amazing. This extremely tasty, thin crusty yet soft crust pizza makes my mouth water just by writing this review. I have dined here about 10 times since my wife and I found it a month and a half ago - and the pizza is also remarkably consistent. Thank you Leon's, for making my dinners in Colorado Springs AMAZING!b
(5)
Chris A.
Pretty good pizza and very polite staff. It can and does however, get pretty hot in the dining room. They could really use central air at this location. Other than that, I would recommend the food here, I come quite often and have never had a bad experience!!
(4)
Jimmy G.
I went here last night with my wife and it was awesome. We had a calzone & a pizza. The calzone was incredible, I would highly recommend it. The pizza was really good too. My wife has an issue with tomatoes, so they made her pizza with olive oil & garlic powder. It was so good. They were very helpful while accommodating us. You should definitely check this place out!
(5)
Brittany S.
This review is strictly for pick-up, but I have absolutely no complaints about this place. We've ordered pizza from them about 3-4 times the last few months, for just ourselves and also big group orders. It always takes under 20 minutes and it's always fresh. The green house (veggie) is great. Just enough veggies and not over coked to where they're mushy. The butcher shop is also a good choice if you like meat. Make sure you look coupons up on their website, it makes the price very reasonable! Overall, count on delicious homemade pizza made up quickly for a very reasonable price. Definitely our new go to.
(5)
Katie H.
This is one of our neighborhood pizza places. I absolutely love going on Tuesday night for the buffet. Delicious pizzas, calzones, Buffalo bread and salads. they also have good beer and wine, yay.
(5)
Simon P.
What am OK experience for all the reviews. They are missing some essential NY features I.E full jumbo slices, brick oven, and price. But over all it will fit the bill till we make it back to NY/Sicily.
(3)
Christopher G.
We stopped at Leon Gessi as a post garden of the gods place for the family. Everything about the place was decent, if not amazing. This is the kind of fast casual place that you order your food, sit down, and they bring it out to you. The pizza is acceptable (if not awesome), and the prices are okay. The place was plenty empty when we visited, so there was plenty of room for the family. Overall - A decent stop in the Colorado Springs area for family, pizza, and a few beers.
(3)
Jamie T.
Stopped in for a gluten free pizza and some wine. I love the smell of a pizzeria and got that as soon as we walked in. You place your order at the counter and then they bring the pizza out to you when it's ready. Because I eat gluten-free, it was refreshing to have the option to actually eat pizza! While their gf crust is just okay (Marco's has better), the sauce and toppings were amazing. We ordered the Kitchen Sink and got a bit of everything. We will go back because we love support local business and we love the area of town. I'm hoping they will look into a better supplies for their gf crust. My husband is looking forward to trying their regular pizza and we will go back on a Tuesday since it's all you can eat!
(4)
Jennifer D.
This is the best pizza I've had in Colorado Springs! Their pizza buffet is fantastic! Lots of variety with anything that has the meatballs being my favorite! We are there almost every Tuesday for the pizza buffet! I just wish they had more seating.
(5)
Porter S.
Love this place. Best calzones (I've tried many) and the Jalapeno cheese bread is awesome. Perfect place for a quick lunch that serves great tasting food while not feeling "rushed".
(5)
Adrian O.
There is no good pizza in Colorado Springs. Except at Leon Gessi's. Unassuming family atmosphere, very friendly staff.
(5)
Abby S.
Great atmosphere, good pizza and beer. Can you ask for much more? Seasonal Sam Adams Oktoberfest was delicious as well...
(4)
Steven B.
I ordered carryout. The kitchen sink pizza was OK. The toppings were delicious, but I could barely taste the sauce. The pizza crust itself is very bread like and bland. Also ordered the buffalo bread, and while I do not like food drowned in buffalo sauce, I could not taste any buffalo sauce at all. I might try it again because it is so close to home, but I will definitely shop around a bit first.
(3)
Megan C.
First time coming here after searching for a good pizza place in Colorado Springs. I ordered a pepperoni and onion pizza that came out hot and melted cheese. My boyfriend ordered the calzone which was alright, needed more toppings in it and lacked seasonings. The place was cleans and welcoming and the servers were attentive when you ordered from the counter.
(3)
Mrs K.
The pizza is ok - nothing special. It's still not true NY Pizza - which seems to be impossible to find in Colorado. The pizza itself was ok - better than some of the other places around town, but still not great. The crust was bland, but at least it was thin. The garlic cheese bread was ok - but it's just some pizza dough with cheese and garlic powder. The quality of the cheese isn't great - tastes like part-skim when whole milk is really the only way to go. The menu is extremely limited - just a few subs and some basic pies. They should really add some simple pasta dishes and expand the dessert from 2 cookie options. The biggest drawback is the cleanliness of the place. Some of the best pizza joints back east are just divey little hole-in-the-wall places, but this place just felt cluttered, dirty and old. The service at the counter was also very slow (though the food did come out fast), and the guy at the counter was also a bit rude. The back room was also so freezing cold we couldn't sit there.
(2)
Jameson L.
I am still a big fan of this place. Since my original review I have been back 4 times. I went on a Monday and they had a deal for buy one large pizza get a pan of Italian buffalo bread. Wow! I'm glad I did it! That stuff is delicious. It has a light glazing of buffalo sauce. I was worried it might be smothered as I am not in love with buffalo sauce. It was perfect! Plus they give you a ton of it, it's not like breadsticks at dominos and the whole family fights over it. There is more than plenty to go around. Once again Leon Gessi impresses me.
(4)
Jo L.
Went on "all you can eat" Tuesday. Haven't been in for a while. The price has gone up, just a bit. My family of three ate for $20.59. This includes all the pizza, bread sticks, salad and drink you can cram down your gullet. There is not a traditional buffet stand. All of the food is set onto the bar. So after a short time, the pizza is cold. No matter, this is a really great deal and I like the pizza.
(4)
Quesiah V.
First time here, fast service, pizza was hot right out of the oven, friendly staff. I ordered a cheese pizza, the crust is perfect, thin and crispy, flavored of pizza itself is delicious. My husband ordered the calzone and he loved it, it's really big and flavorful. We also had the garlic cheese bread and it was really good. Prices are very reasonable. We will definitely come back sometime soon.
(5)
Darleen V.
Another great meal from Leon Gessi's! We had the kitchen sink pizza again and opted for the Italian buffalo bread. This time we were about five mins from the location so everything was super fresh and burn your tongue hot! Pizza was really good again, love the consistency so far. And the IB bread? Omg.... So good!!! We got the larger size of both this time and both were polished off within 12 hours, between two people. Their meatballs are also really awesome! Since my husband wanted the KS pizza again I made him give me a few of the meatball slices off his pizza. I can't wait to try the meatball pizza!
(5)
Jade H.
Nice atomosphere. Nice service. Saltiest pizza ever tasted....Tastes alot like extreme pizza but more salt.
(2)
Stephen S.
I ended up going here on a Tuesday, and asked about a pizza with no cheese for the buffet, since I have a milk allergy. They took care of me, making a custom pizza just for me. The pizza was really good, and the salad was pretty decent as well,. The person working the counter was very friendly and polite. I would definitely recommend for a good atmosphere, good food, and nice service.
(4)
Brad S.
I recently made a trip back to the Springs, and my first stop after nine hours of driving was to Gessi's to pick up a pie and see if it was as good as I remember. Since my last time eating here, I've put a lot of different slices in my mouth, so I won't be as easy to please as I once was. New York-style pizza escapes many shops in the central United States, and sure, the crust was a little thicker than I would prefer, and there was a little more grease on top of the jalapeno and pepperoni pie than I would like to see, but you know what? On top of that decent crust was a well-rounded and spiced sauce, and on top of that sauce was a nice cheese mixture that was golden brown and delicious. This is no amateur pizza, and even though it's more of a pizza in the style of NY-style pizza, it's still much better than many places touting authenticity in other surrounding states. Probably the best pizza in the Springs, though - as previously mentioned - there will always be a nostalgic part of me that maintains its greatness for the nostalgia as much as the tasty food.
(5)
Bullitt F.
Fantastic pizza. The fresher the better.
(5)
Erica G.
I went to Leon Gessi's a few weeks ago as I was in the area with my family for vacation. It was late afternoon and the restaurant was not crowded, so I can only rate the service from this standpoint, but the pizza came out fast and it was a great place for a bunch of people to relax and eat (6 adults, 4 kids) to eat - very family friendly. There is plenty of seating and the atmosphere is very casual. As far as the pizza is concerned, we didn't get anything out of the ordinary - pepperoni, cheese, and 5 meat (I believe), but it was hot and fresh tasting. The server gave us a couple of pitchers of water for the table, and that was very convenient as well. Overall, a great pizza place. I will definitely stop by again if I am in the area!
(4)
Shannon J.
Absolutely delicious! We were visiting from Texas and stopped in for some pizza and beer. So glad we did!
(5)
Jeremy S.
Ate here today. Had the buffet. For the price, great deal. Fresh pizza on the buffet, nice staff. Has a small town feel to it. Pretty neat.
(5)
Stina B.
Best pizza in the Springs for anything close to New York style. Crust is crispy on the outside, with a soft doughy consistency on the inside. The sauce is a good flavor, and doesn't taste like it was made from tomato paste. The price is definitely right, especially for a decent pie, and the "take and bake" pizza is priced even better. They even have a gluten free pizza, which was nice when my friend with Celiac's came over. As for the restaurant itself, it's no looker from the outside, but the inside is a really chill atmosphere, with decent tap beers, and subway maps on the tables. Usually, I don't like places that do this, because if their pizza sucks, it's like they're rubbing it in my face that I'm not in Brooklyn anymore, and my days of good pizzas by the slice are over! Not this place. Tasty pizza, cold beer, and scrumptious cheesy garlic bread make this my go-to pizza place in my new home state.
(5)
Sheryl P.
Really good pizza and salad, and a lot of beer on tap. The front room is tiny, but it has a really nice ambiance. Friendly staff too.
(4)
Holly G.
Love the hot, fresh pizza and the buffalo bread. It's a great family spot. :) Testimony to the family friendliness: My son was messing around and accidentally dropped the cheese shaker. From the back we heard "Window or table top?" The voice was not exasperated, angry or overly loud. Really just asked it as a question. Most folks would be screaming if they thought one of those big table tops or a window had just been busted out. Really appreciated the tone with which the question was asked. The staff quickly cleaned up the glass, told my son it was ok and were very nice to him (he was upset about breaking something). Yea, they earned an extra big tip for that one! Crust is super yummy, toppings are great. Price is pretty good too! Definitely recommend if you are in the area... and we always stop next door for dessert too lol. Look at Radio Shopping Show for a certificate for this great place!
(3)
Matt O.
Based on the theory of relativity. Combined with the fact my mom and her husband are both native New Yawkers. Add to the scenario where we went in and grabbed one slice to share amongst five of us and ended up eating in a large and medium pie. All combines to form the perfect five star pizza storm!!!! :) Agree with other posters that the cost is a bit higher than Crapinos or Papa Crappy's but ya know - you get what you pay for, as the saying goes.
(5)
Isaac L.
Great place to get a slice of pizza. The place is nothing fancy but the food is good.
(4)
Todd O.
So far the best pizza I have found in the area....but I'm still new here. I do like the small shop with wooden benches and subway maps on the tables. The service was good, and the pizza was actually very tasty.
(3)
Chris G.
True NYC pizza. Go no where else.
(5)
Hamster A.
Got a great pizza here a while ago. Unfortunately, it's much too far from where I live, so I haven't been back since.
(4)
Nick B.
Killer pizza. It's the real deal.
(5)
Christopher H.
The pizza was ok, but not quite as great as one would expect for a homemade pizza place. A 10" pepperoni was about $10 when it was all said and done, a little on the steep side for average pizza.
(3)
Cobra K.
Probably the best New York Style pizza in the Springs. I liked the two different dining areas and the service was fine. The maps of NYC's subway system are out of date though. Don't they know that? hahaha! Once you order your food and sit down, they leave you alone. Fountain drinks are unlimited and can be refilled on your own by the dispenser in the front room. (HINT: Bring a large drink container and fill it up when no one is looking) Ordered the16 inch pizza...half Kitchen Sink and half Meat. Was good. Would recommend getting the 18 inch next time as it's only an additional 2 bucks. When you're finished eating, you can bus your own stuff...I didn't leave a tip since we didn't really get any 'service'.
(4)
Heather G.
Best Pizza in The Springs PERIOD! Full of toppings and flavor. Their bread sticks are just as amazing as the pizza. We just tried this place a couple weeks ago and already know this is where we will be ordering from for now on!
(5)
Jacob K.
Dare I say it?... The best pizza in town... even if it is not like the "classic New York pies" that some other brothers in town seem to have a knack for. This is a very cool home-grown spot and they do take and bake as well. Oh yeah, tap beer (such as Sam Adams lager) and a couple of big screens in the large dining room. I could see myself watching the game there even though I don't watch sports. Cheers to Leon Gessi!
(5)
Terry V.
Got takeout and the pizza was cold and over cooked. It was crazy busy but expected a better product from a place with such good reviews.
(2)
Brittany T.
Food was good and cheap! However the dining area was very dirty.
(4)
Jim C.
Great Pizza and atmosphere, been coming here for years and have not been disappointed yet!. So many pizza places in The Springs are over rated, this is the real deal!
(4)
Crystal G.
Awesome Pizza, awesome staff, awesome food and beer prices, great hole-in-the-wall NY pizza joint!
(5)
Jeremy C.
Probably my favorite pizza place in the Springs. The pizza is wonderful and the location doesn't level you fighting traffic or hunting for a parking space. It's got a NY theme that is all tied together with red checker table cloths and woven wood salad bowls.
(4)
Sibby S.
Ambiance: I really love the vibe of this place. Has the feel of a mom-and-pop style pizza place hands down! Very un-chain like. You sit in wooden booths alongside floor-to-ceiling picture windows. There are huge maps of the New York subway system under glass on each table top. The Geography major in me loved that! There are two dining areas, the larger one being in the back. Self serve soda machine. I have driven by many times before finally checking this place out, and have seen all tables full on a weekend night, so get there early. Service: Friendly enough. Pizza arrived timely. Food: Sorry Boriello Brothers, but you have moved down to #2 in my book. This is now my favorite pizza joint in town. Excellent New York style pizza. Great crispy crust, and really good pizza sauce (the two most important things about any pizza.) I ordered the "Kitchen Sink", which is their version of a combination. All toppings were really good. Had to eat my first piece with a fork, as it was blazing hot, and I could not hold it. Ate the remaining pizza New York style, folded over in half and with my hands. Overall, I have driven by this place countless times, thinking I need to check it out, but for some reason, I have never heard my friends or co-workers talk about this place. When I saw the number of Yelp reviews begin to rise, I had to finally check it out. This is now my favorite pizza place in town (and I will be voting it as such in a few months when the Colorado Springs Independent comes out with their ballot for "best of" for 2011.) Looking forward already to my next visit.
(5)
Jane O.
Love this place! It's got a pizzeria feel and has great beer on tap to boot. The only major complaint that I have is that service can be a little slow. Little tip too, if you order the meatball pizza (which is fantastic!) make sure to order extra meatballs because its basically a cheese pizza with meatballs otherwise.
(4)
Deborah S.
Very good pizza at a really good price. We ate there and the staff was friendly and the food was tasty. A very typical kind of pizza place on the inside with a delicious pizza to boot. I would highly recommend.
(4)
Kelli G.
I have been eating here for nearly 30 years. Still love it . The food is great and the price makes it affordable. Great salads too!
(5)
Tom W.
This is a small pizza place with some pretty good pizza. Their pizza is a bit pricey, but they always have some really good daily specials. Seating is limited so if you go try to avoid lunch time or get it to go. As far as the food goes the pizza is made with fresh ingredients and the sauce is a sugar sauce. If you prefer non-sugar sauce don't come here. Stay Hungry My Friends
(3)
Elliot P.
We live just a few blocks away, and grab pizza from Leon Gessi often. If it weren't so convenient I doubt we'd eat here, and I honestly don't understand all the five star, "best in the Springs" ratings. Honestly, it's only a little better than average, with heavy emphasis on traditional, heavy, greasy meat pies. Yes, it's better than Boriello Brothers, but so is a fried hubcap. The service is slow, but friendly enough, and they do have a half dozen good beers on tap. Reasonably priced, casual, family friendly. Good, but not great. Plenty of better pies in town, but for a neighborhood joint, Leon Gessi is "good enough."
(3)
Jon F.
Best NY pizza in town, sorry Borriellos.
(5)
C N.
Colorado Springs can't be a pizza town if this is the best pie in town. Staff is friendly and efficient...and the place smells great. But the reason for coming here turned out to be a disappointment. The pizza was below average. Oh well, at least I didn't spend $10 at Applebees.
(3)
Danielle T.
I love pizza, especially if it's NY style pizza. Tried this place and ordered a calzone, which was very good. Tried a slice of the pizza my friend got and it was okay, but definitely not NY style. I've eaten pizza in most of the boroughs in NY and that didn't even come close, but regardless it was still tasty. The vibe of the place felt like I was on the east coast though. Looking forward to eating more food from Leon Gessi's!
(4)
Ron M.
In town for the weekend needing a good meal. Someone said pizza; someone said Pizza Hut; I said Leon Gessi because of Yelp reviews. Let's say yes it is a great place, great pizza and salad, and great service.
(5)
Ben M.
I went here a few weeks back with a friend of mine. The atmosphere was very "pizza shop", and the maps of the New York subway system filled our conversation about how great it would be in other large cities. I'm done with the pretty, now for the edibles: the pizza had a nice thin crispy crust that I have heard is characteristic of "New York", which is probably why they call this New York Pizza. The crust was crispy enough that it seems like it would hold up whatever topping you might add to it. So structurally, very sound, but not so sound that you feel you might need to chip off bits to eat it. A good crunch, and a good bread. Toppings: I think if anything this might keep this review from a solid 5. I'm not sure if it is the high cooking heat to get the bread perfect, but to me, and maybe it's the times I've been in, but the toppings seem to suffer the heat. Veggies take a little more cooking than they should. Cheese, if left too thin hardens. Of course the meats survive the heat just fine. So if you want a perfect pizza, just order all meat. Staff was good. Checked up on us once after the pizza was dropped off. Not really the type of place that I go into really expecting much service. But it seems like they keep the tables clean and the price of the pizza didn't suggest that maybe you were paying for non tipping patrons so they could pay their wait-staff. Cost is just about what I would expect from a "real" pizza. (If I want to spend 5 dollars on dough and cheese I know where to go.) I haven't sampled all the pizza places in town yet, so I can't say this is the best. It's far better than the chains, so I am defiantly a fan.
(4)
Lauren H.
First thing's first--this is NOT NY style pizza. At all. And I hear people say that it's impossible to recreate NY style crust out here because of the water, etc. Okay, I get that. But still, this is not NY style pizza. For starters, the toppings were too fresh. The crust was too thick. The pizza was not big enough. That said, it's pretty good pizza. More than that, I thoroughly enjoyed my time sitting in a booth with a pitcher of beer at a NON-chain establishment in COS. I could have done without the Yankees paraphenalia, however.
(4)
Deryk E.
Best pizza in Colorado Springs. The kids love it. The wife loves it. The in-laws loved it.
(5)
Jeff H.
I am a pizza snob. Leon Gessi's is the best pizza i have found in the Springs so far. I wish they would put more sauce on them though. ( i have the same problem with Borriello's)
(4)
Victor B.
Has the feel of a old town pizza spot, which is real cool. I enjoy going here with my kids to grab a pizza together from time to time. They have some good pizza indeed but there calzones are where it's at.
(4)
Kat M.
This was very yummy. We liked the dough for the calzones and pizza. It was way better than what you'd get at any chain and less expensive with the coupon I got from their website. The sauce had a nice spice and the pizza was cooked to perfection. Not sure if salad dressing is homemade or not.....just know the ranch was tasty. My only beef is without a special or coupon the pizzas are a pricier than other places in town but they've got the quality to back it up.
(5)
Ethan C.
Best Pizza in the springs. We love going here as a group and they provide quick NY pizza and good beer. Great atmosphere, and a wonderful old time ice cream place is right next door. A local secret, with all the great charm. The pizza is very good, and I have never had a bad slice.
(5)
Adam X.
My favorite NY style pizza to eat there. Cheese pizza and pitcher of New Castle; perfect and very resonably priced.
(4)
Elizabeth N.
The pizza's good. I actually prefer to many of the pizza chains. But I'm in love with their subs and cheesy jalapeno bread. My favorite is their vegetarian sub, even though I'm not a vegetarian.
(4)
Rhonda B.
Loved this piping hot pizza! We ordered 1/2 Hawaiian and 1/2 pepperoni and mushroom. So fresh and a true pizzaria taste worth coming back for! The house salad is generous romaine with some blk olives and red peppers. The ranch dressing tastes homemade. We'll be back...
(4)
Hailey D.
Absolutely delicious!!!!! Almost makes me feel like I'm back home in MA.
(5)
Jim H.
Best east coast style pizza in the Springs. We've been going to Leon's for years and have yet to have a bad meal. We love the ambiance of a non-chain pizza joint that's been around for ever. Get a pitcher of root beer, fold yourself a slice and enjoy!
(5)
Andrew F.
As a native New Yorker, this is definitely not New York style. The crust wasn't close to being how it should, the sauce and cheese didn't have the right proportions, and it needs just a tad bit of grease, which it didn't. Good pizza, just not New York. However, the atmosphere does make me feel like I'm at a pizzeria back home.
(2)
Tim B.
I guess not being a New Yorker, I don't get the New York style pizza. The pizza was fine nothing special. Service was very quick atmosphere is relaxed. Yes I would go back but I would not rate it as a "must eat at" in CO Springs
(3)
Dean B.
Myself and family have been going here for years. I think the pizza is really good, but my absolute favorite thing there is the meatball sub. It consists of sliced meatballs baked in the pizza oven with a side of marinara. Great prices, cold beer, casual atmosphere. It's an old time local pizza joint. The fresh baked pizza smell walking in with worth the trip alone. I'm going there tonight.
(5)
Stephen F.
Very solid east coast style pizza place. I go for the pepperoni and like it a lot.
(3)
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Address :1806 Palmer Park Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO, 80909
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Lauren S.
I was born and raised in NYC. I left at 21 years old in 2005. I've missed it everyday since. Especially that NY pizza, unlike anything you'll ever have anywhere else in the world! Well I've lived in a handful of different U.S. cities and for the first time in 10 years, I've found the closest match up. Today had to be one of my happiest days ever. This pizza is legitimate! Crispy, but foldable (like NYC slices are supposed to be eaten), just the right amount of sauce and cheese, thin and just amazing. Try it! Everyone, try it! P.S. Oh and those who say it's no up to par with NY pizza, the truth is, nothing ever will be, so you can't really criticize on that level. As a New Yorker, there's some pretty crappy pizza places in NY too. So if you leave NY, do not expect duplication anywhere else except for maybe Jersey. But do expect people to try to make it as close as possible and your pizza home away from home. This place is it!
(5)Amaya K.
The food here is always amazing, but this last weekend has definitely put me off for a long time, I think they may need to improve their staff. I called in a pizza, medium with no peppers and salads. I got a large pizza, was CHARGED for a large pizza, and their sunday special is supposed to be $2 off, which i did not recieve. When i tried to question the high price i was brushed off, im assuming because there were a couple people behind me in line and i was just a pick up order. I did not recieve a receipt, and got home to find a pizza piled high with peppers. Plus one of the salad dressing cups wasnt closed all the way, and slow leaked all over my car. So an hour of seat scrubbing and almost $10 I shouldnt have had to spend later, I think its going to be a while before I go back
(2)Norma P.
Nice little pizza joint. You walk in and order at the counter and give you a number so they can take the food to your table. I enjoy sitting on the front room where it's busier amd livelier. We go here occasionally for lunch and it never disappoints us. The salads are fresh and delicious every time. The pizza are always hot, plenty of toppings and delicious all around. The prices are good and staff is polite. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for some good pizza, lunch or dinner.
(5)Simeon F.
Three stars for me on pizza means your doing alright. First off the slices were good but I would not say East Coast good. Way better than any chain. While the crust wasn't anything to write home about it was cooked perfect with a little char. I mention this because most pizza places here under cook their pies on my opinion. I think I will ask for a thinner crust with less cheese the next time.
(3)Lisa K.
ATTENTION: This is NOT authentic NY style pizza. Sorry, but it's not. The dough is not stretched thin enough. There is no chew to the crust. They also cook it on a grate which gives the bottom a strange texture. Way too much cheese and super skimpy on some of the toppings. That being said... it's 8:30 pm... just got home... starving... and BF walks in behind with a pie from here. Did a slice hit the spot...yes. Is this a destination place worth driving out of your way for a killer NY pie...NO!
(2)Amanda T.
Great pizza, friendly staff. What more do you need? It's also super affordable and next door to a great ice cream shop. It's small, so don't be shocked by a little wait on the weekend. It's worth it, I promise.
(5)Marilyn R.
This restaurant is the size of a diner without a lot of seating. They have a daily special of a large slice of pizza and a garden salad, which comes with a dinner roll. I would choose that if I were to go there again. The Grinder Sandwich is flavorful. It is an Italian Sausage patty which comes with a side of Marinara sauce and potato chips. The Roasted Chicken Salad was okay but not impressive. The waitstaff is nice. You order at the counter and they bring your food to the table.
(3)David P.
Quality lunch stop for the slice combo. And a deal that can't be beat.
(4)Tealah M.
Good solid pizza. We would definitely eat here again. Ordered a large double pep to go with a side of ranch. Good flavor and of course with extra pep it was greasy but good!
(4)Debbie B.
So happy we tried this place, it really impressed me. The daily special is served all day everyday for $6.69. You get a nice starter salad with fresh ranch (thin) and any two toppings you want and a drink. There were red and green bell peppers on mine. The garlic cheese bread is fresh like everything is here and the marinara is above average. Nothing let me down here. The food, freshness, price, and atmosphere will bring me back, love it! Not that great : Boneless buffalo wings
(5)Nic N.
Great crust, fresh toppings, and delicious sauce. A cross between artisan and New York. What a great combo.
(5)Carl L.
We moved to Colorado Springs on Sunday and were hungry for pizza on Tuesday after a long day of house hunting. Hit up Yelp for pizza and filtered by rating. What luck; Tuesday night is all you can eat special. Great local spot; love the sliced meatball topping! Good beer, too.
(4)Cecily C.
Love Leon Gessis! The place reminds me of a bar up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Their pizza is to die for. Traditional New York style. I wish they had fooseball or darts though. That would be my hang out spot. And I'm wondering what happened to the Warsteiner on tap?
(5)Tony R.
I will start by saying, for us NY pizza purists, it's not real NY pizza. It's good, but not great. It is an old Colorado Springs icon and a nice casual place for a decent slice. Always good to finish up next door at BJ's for some ice cream.
(4)Lawrence W.
Leon Gessi's is my favorite local pizza joint in The Springs, the pizza is crispy hot and directly from the oven. The place is smaller in the front with booth style seats but, with plenty of additional room in the back. I have been we few times with friends and family and always had a good slice! The have draft beers as well which in itself is awesome to have. I'd recommend a two slice with cheese and a cold beer!
(5)Mary S.
Omgosh! Freakin' amazing! We ordered pepperoni and some cheese bread and it was top notch:) good job owner, keep up the good quality:)
(5)Terri T.
The staff is always friendly pick up orders are ready quickly and if I am ever in jail and get a "last meal " request it will be for their calzone and house salad! This was the freshest crisp salad I've been served anywhere in town the calzone was just right not greasy great dough creamy ricotta mozzarella not over powering all at a reasonable price. Ps I never write glowing reviews this place is a neighborhood jewel and deserves it.
(5)Mitch F.
I moved from NYC 25 years ago, first to OH, then to PA & now CO. I have not been able to find authentic NYC style pizza anywhere. Leon's pizza is absolutely amazing. This extremely tasty, thin crusty yet soft crust pizza makes my mouth water just by writing this review. I have dined here about 10 times since my wife and I found it a month and a half ago - and the pizza is also remarkably consistent. Thank you Leon's, for making my dinners in Colorado Springs AMAZING!b
(5)Chris A.
Pretty good pizza and very polite staff. It can and does however, get pretty hot in the dining room. They could really use central air at this location. Other than that, I would recommend the food here, I come quite often and have never had a bad experience!!
(4)Jimmy G.
I went here last night with my wife and it was awesome. We had a calzone & a pizza. The calzone was incredible, I would highly recommend it. The pizza was really good too. My wife has an issue with tomatoes, so they made her pizza with olive oil & garlic powder. It was so good. They were very helpful while accommodating us. You should definitely check this place out!
(5)Brittany S.
This review is strictly for pick-up, but I have absolutely no complaints about this place. We've ordered pizza from them about 3-4 times the last few months, for just ourselves and also big group orders. It always takes under 20 minutes and it's always fresh. The green house (veggie) is great. Just enough veggies and not over coked to where they're mushy. The butcher shop is also a good choice if you like meat. Make sure you look coupons up on their website, it makes the price very reasonable! Overall, count on delicious homemade pizza made up quickly for a very reasonable price. Definitely our new go to.
(5)Katie H.
This is one of our neighborhood pizza places. I absolutely love going on Tuesday night for the buffet. Delicious pizzas, calzones, Buffalo bread and salads. they also have good beer and wine, yay.
(5)Simon P.
What am OK experience for all the reviews. They are missing some essential NY features I.E full jumbo slices, brick oven, and price. But over all it will fit the bill till we make it back to NY/Sicily.
(3)Christopher G.
We stopped at Leon Gessi as a post garden of the gods place for the family. Everything about the place was decent, if not amazing. This is the kind of fast casual place that you order your food, sit down, and they bring it out to you. The pizza is acceptable (if not awesome), and the prices are okay. The place was plenty empty when we visited, so there was plenty of room for the family. Overall - A decent stop in the Colorado Springs area for family, pizza, and a few beers.
(3)Jamie T.
Stopped in for a gluten free pizza and some wine. I love the smell of a pizzeria and got that as soon as we walked in. You place your order at the counter and then they bring the pizza out to you when it's ready. Because I eat gluten-free, it was refreshing to have the option to actually eat pizza! While their gf crust is just okay (Marco's has better), the sauce and toppings were amazing. We ordered the Kitchen Sink and got a bit of everything. We will go back because we love support local business and we love the area of town. I'm hoping they will look into a better supplies for their gf crust. My husband is looking forward to trying their regular pizza and we will go back on a Tuesday since it's all you can eat!
(4)Jennifer D.
This is the best pizza I've had in Colorado Springs! Their pizza buffet is fantastic! Lots of variety with anything that has the meatballs being my favorite! We are there almost every Tuesday for the pizza buffet! I just wish they had more seating.
(5)Porter S.
Love this place. Best calzones (I've tried many) and the Jalapeno cheese bread is awesome. Perfect place for a quick lunch that serves great tasting food while not feeling "rushed".
(5)Adrian O.
There is no good pizza in Colorado Springs. Except at Leon Gessi's. Unassuming family atmosphere, very friendly staff.
(5)Abby S.
Great atmosphere, good pizza and beer. Can you ask for much more? Seasonal Sam Adams Oktoberfest was delicious as well...
(4)Steven B.
I ordered carryout. The kitchen sink pizza was OK. The toppings were delicious, but I could barely taste the sauce. The pizza crust itself is very bread like and bland. Also ordered the buffalo bread, and while I do not like food drowned in buffalo sauce, I could not taste any buffalo sauce at all. I might try it again because it is so close to home, but I will definitely shop around a bit first.
(3)Megan C.
First time coming here after searching for a good pizza place in Colorado Springs. I ordered a pepperoni and onion pizza that came out hot and melted cheese. My boyfriend ordered the calzone which was alright, needed more toppings in it and lacked seasonings. The place was cleans and welcoming and the servers were attentive when you ordered from the counter.
(3)Mrs K.
The pizza is ok - nothing special. It's still not true NY Pizza - which seems to be impossible to find in Colorado. The pizza itself was ok - better than some of the other places around town, but still not great. The crust was bland, but at least it was thin. The garlic cheese bread was ok - but it's just some pizza dough with cheese and garlic powder. The quality of the cheese isn't great - tastes like part-skim when whole milk is really the only way to go. The menu is extremely limited - just a few subs and some basic pies. They should really add some simple pasta dishes and expand the dessert from 2 cookie options. The biggest drawback is the cleanliness of the place. Some of the best pizza joints back east are just divey little hole-in-the-wall places, but this place just felt cluttered, dirty and old. The service at the counter was also very slow (though the food did come out fast), and the guy at the counter was also a bit rude. The back room was also so freezing cold we couldn't sit there.
(2)Jameson L.
I am still a big fan of this place. Since my original review I have been back 4 times. I went on a Monday and they had a deal for buy one large pizza get a pan of Italian buffalo bread. Wow! I'm glad I did it! That stuff is delicious. It has a light glazing of buffalo sauce. I was worried it might be smothered as I am not in love with buffalo sauce. It was perfect! Plus they give you a ton of it, it's not like breadsticks at dominos and the whole family fights over it. There is more than plenty to go around. Once again Leon Gessi impresses me.
(4)Jo L.
Went on "all you can eat" Tuesday. Haven't been in for a while. The price has gone up, just a bit. My family of three ate for $20.59. This includes all the pizza, bread sticks, salad and drink you can cram down your gullet. There is not a traditional buffet stand. All of the food is set onto the bar. So after a short time, the pizza is cold. No matter, this is a really great deal and I like the pizza.
(4)Quesiah V.
First time here, fast service, pizza was hot right out of the oven, friendly staff. I ordered a cheese pizza, the crust is perfect, thin and crispy, flavored of pizza itself is delicious. My husband ordered the calzone and he loved it, it's really big and flavorful. We also had the garlic cheese bread and it was really good. Prices are very reasonable. We will definitely come back sometime soon.
(5)Darleen V.
Another great meal from Leon Gessi's! We had the kitchen sink pizza again and opted for the Italian buffalo bread. This time we were about five mins from the location so everything was super fresh and burn your tongue hot! Pizza was really good again, love the consistency so far. And the IB bread? Omg.... So good!!! We got the larger size of both this time and both were polished off within 12 hours, between two people. Their meatballs are also really awesome! Since my husband wanted the KS pizza again I made him give me a few of the meatball slices off his pizza. I can't wait to try the meatball pizza!
(5)Jade H.
Nice atomosphere. Nice service. Saltiest pizza ever tasted....Tastes alot like extreme pizza but more salt.
(2)Stephen S.
I ended up going here on a Tuesday, and asked about a pizza with no cheese for the buffet, since I have a milk allergy. They took care of me, making a custom pizza just for me. The pizza was really good, and the salad was pretty decent as well,. The person working the counter was very friendly and polite. I would definitely recommend for a good atmosphere, good food, and nice service.
(4)Brad S.
I recently made a trip back to the Springs, and my first stop after nine hours of driving was to Gessi's to pick up a pie and see if it was as good as I remember. Since my last time eating here, I've put a lot of different slices in my mouth, so I won't be as easy to please as I once was. New York-style pizza escapes many shops in the central United States, and sure, the crust was a little thicker than I would prefer, and there was a little more grease on top of the jalapeno and pepperoni pie than I would like to see, but you know what? On top of that decent crust was a well-rounded and spiced sauce, and on top of that sauce was a nice cheese mixture that was golden brown and delicious. This is no amateur pizza, and even though it's more of a pizza in the style of NY-style pizza, it's still much better than many places touting authenticity in other surrounding states. Probably the best pizza in the Springs, though - as previously mentioned - there will always be a nostalgic part of me that maintains its greatness for the nostalgia as much as the tasty food.
(5)Bullitt F.
Fantastic pizza. The fresher the better.
(5)Erica G.
I went to Leon Gessi's a few weeks ago as I was in the area with my family for vacation. It was late afternoon and the restaurant was not crowded, so I can only rate the service from this standpoint, but the pizza came out fast and it was a great place for a bunch of people to relax and eat (6 adults, 4 kids) to eat - very family friendly. There is plenty of seating and the atmosphere is very casual. As far as the pizza is concerned, we didn't get anything out of the ordinary - pepperoni, cheese, and 5 meat (I believe), but it was hot and fresh tasting. The server gave us a couple of pitchers of water for the table, and that was very convenient as well. Overall, a great pizza place. I will definitely stop by again if I am in the area!
(4)Shannon J.
Absolutely delicious! We were visiting from Texas and stopped in for some pizza and beer. So glad we did!
(5)Jeremy S.
Ate here today. Had the buffet. For the price, great deal. Fresh pizza on the buffet, nice staff. Has a small town feel to it. Pretty neat.
(5)Stina B.
Best pizza in the Springs for anything close to New York style. Crust is crispy on the outside, with a soft doughy consistency on the inside. The sauce is a good flavor, and doesn't taste like it was made from tomato paste. The price is definitely right, especially for a decent pie, and the "take and bake" pizza is priced even better. They even have a gluten free pizza, which was nice when my friend with Celiac's came over. As for the restaurant itself, it's no looker from the outside, but the inside is a really chill atmosphere, with decent tap beers, and subway maps on the tables. Usually, I don't like places that do this, because if their pizza sucks, it's like they're rubbing it in my face that I'm not in Brooklyn anymore, and my days of good pizzas by the slice are over! Not this place. Tasty pizza, cold beer, and scrumptious cheesy garlic bread make this my go-to pizza place in my new home state.
(5)Sheryl P.
Really good pizza and salad, and a lot of beer on tap. The front room is tiny, but it has a really nice ambiance. Friendly staff too.
(4)Holly G.
Love the hot, fresh pizza and the buffalo bread. It's a great family spot. :) Testimony to the family friendliness: My son was messing around and accidentally dropped the cheese shaker. From the back we heard "Window or table top?" The voice was not exasperated, angry or overly loud. Really just asked it as a question. Most folks would be screaming if they thought one of those big table tops or a window had just been busted out. Really appreciated the tone with which the question was asked. The staff quickly cleaned up the glass, told my son it was ok and were very nice to him (he was upset about breaking something). Yea, they earned an extra big tip for that one! Crust is super yummy, toppings are great. Price is pretty good too! Definitely recommend if you are in the area... and we always stop next door for dessert too lol. Look at Radio Shopping Show for a certificate for this great place!
(3)Matt O.
Based on the theory of relativity. Combined with the fact my mom and her husband are both native New Yawkers. Add to the scenario where we went in and grabbed one slice to share amongst five of us and ended up eating in a large and medium pie. All combines to form the perfect five star pizza storm!!!! :) Agree with other posters that the cost is a bit higher than Crapinos or Papa Crappy's but ya know - you get what you pay for, as the saying goes.
(5)Isaac L.
Great place to get a slice of pizza. The place is nothing fancy but the food is good.
(4)Todd O.
So far the best pizza I have found in the area....but I'm still new here. I do like the small shop with wooden benches and subway maps on the tables. The service was good, and the pizza was actually very tasty.
(3)Chris G.
True NYC pizza. Go no where else.
(5)Hamster A.
Got a great pizza here a while ago. Unfortunately, it's much too far from where I live, so I haven't been back since.
(4)Nick B.
Killer pizza. It's the real deal.
(5)Christopher H.
The pizza was ok, but not quite as great as one would expect for a homemade pizza place. A 10" pepperoni was about $10 when it was all said and done, a little on the steep side for average pizza.
(3)Cobra K.
Probably the best New York Style pizza in the Springs. I liked the two different dining areas and the service was fine. The maps of NYC's subway system are out of date though. Don't they know that? hahaha! Once you order your food and sit down, they leave you alone. Fountain drinks are unlimited and can be refilled on your own by the dispenser in the front room. (HINT: Bring a large drink container and fill it up when no one is looking) Ordered the16 inch pizza...half Kitchen Sink and half Meat. Was good. Would recommend getting the 18 inch next time as it's only an additional 2 bucks. When you're finished eating, you can bus your own stuff...I didn't leave a tip since we didn't really get any 'service'.
(4)Heather G.
Best Pizza in The Springs PERIOD! Full of toppings and flavor. Their bread sticks are just as amazing as the pizza. We just tried this place a couple weeks ago and already know this is where we will be ordering from for now on!
(5)Jacob K.
Dare I say it?... The best pizza in town... even if it is not like the "classic New York pies" that some other brothers in town seem to have a knack for. This is a very cool home-grown spot and they do take and bake as well. Oh yeah, tap beer (such as Sam Adams lager) and a couple of big screens in the large dining room. I could see myself watching the game there even though I don't watch sports. Cheers to Leon Gessi!
(5)Terry V.
Got takeout and the pizza was cold and over cooked. It was crazy busy but expected a better product from a place with such good reviews.
(2)Brittany T.
Food was good and cheap! However the dining area was very dirty.
(4)Jim C.
Great Pizza and atmosphere, been coming here for years and have not been disappointed yet!. So many pizza places in The Springs are over rated, this is the real deal!
(4)Crystal G.
Awesome Pizza, awesome staff, awesome food and beer prices, great hole-in-the-wall NY pizza joint!
(5)Jeremy C.
Probably my favorite pizza place in the Springs. The pizza is wonderful and the location doesn't level you fighting traffic or hunting for a parking space. It's got a NY theme that is all tied together with red checker table cloths and woven wood salad bowls.
(4)Sibby S.
Ambiance: I really love the vibe of this place. Has the feel of a mom-and-pop style pizza place hands down! Very un-chain like. You sit in wooden booths alongside floor-to-ceiling picture windows. There are huge maps of the New York subway system under glass on each table top. The Geography major in me loved that! There are two dining areas, the larger one being in the back. Self serve soda machine. I have driven by many times before finally checking this place out, and have seen all tables full on a weekend night, so get there early. Service: Friendly enough. Pizza arrived timely. Food: Sorry Boriello Brothers, but you have moved down to #2 in my book. This is now my favorite pizza joint in town. Excellent New York style pizza. Great crispy crust, and really good pizza sauce (the two most important things about any pizza.) I ordered the "Kitchen Sink", which is their version of a combination. All toppings were really good. Had to eat my first piece with a fork, as it was blazing hot, and I could not hold it. Ate the remaining pizza New York style, folded over in half and with my hands. Overall, I have driven by this place countless times, thinking I need to check it out, but for some reason, I have never heard my friends or co-workers talk about this place. When I saw the number of Yelp reviews begin to rise, I had to finally check it out. This is now my favorite pizza place in town (and I will be voting it as such in a few months when the Colorado Springs Independent comes out with their ballot for "best of" for 2011.) Looking forward already to my next visit.
(5)Jane O.
Love this place! It's got a pizzeria feel and has great beer on tap to boot. The only major complaint that I have is that service can be a little slow. Little tip too, if you order the meatball pizza (which is fantastic!) make sure to order extra meatballs because its basically a cheese pizza with meatballs otherwise.
(4)Deborah S.
Very good pizza at a really good price. We ate there and the staff was friendly and the food was tasty. A very typical kind of pizza place on the inside with a delicious pizza to boot. I would highly recommend.
(4)Kelli G.
I have been eating here for nearly 30 years. Still love it . The food is great and the price makes it affordable. Great salads too!
(5)Tom W.
This is a small pizza place with some pretty good pizza. Their pizza is a bit pricey, but they always have some really good daily specials. Seating is limited so if you go try to avoid lunch time or get it to go. As far as the food goes the pizza is made with fresh ingredients and the sauce is a sugar sauce. If you prefer non-sugar sauce don't come here. Stay Hungry My Friends
(3)Elliot P.
We live just a few blocks away, and grab pizza from Leon Gessi often. If it weren't so convenient I doubt we'd eat here, and I honestly don't understand all the five star, "best in the Springs" ratings. Honestly, it's only a little better than average, with heavy emphasis on traditional, heavy, greasy meat pies. Yes, it's better than Boriello Brothers, but so is a fried hubcap. The service is slow, but friendly enough, and they do have a half dozen good beers on tap. Reasonably priced, casual, family friendly. Good, but not great. Plenty of better pies in town, but for a neighborhood joint, Leon Gessi is "good enough."
(3)Jon F.
Best NY pizza in town, sorry Borriellos.
(5)C N.
Colorado Springs can't be a pizza town if this is the best pie in town. Staff is friendly and efficient...and the place smells great. But the reason for coming here turned out to be a disappointment. The pizza was below average. Oh well, at least I didn't spend $10 at Applebees.
(3)Danielle T.
I love pizza, especially if it's NY style pizza. Tried this place and ordered a calzone, which was very good. Tried a slice of the pizza my friend got and it was okay, but definitely not NY style. I've eaten pizza in most of the boroughs in NY and that didn't even come close, but regardless it was still tasty. The vibe of the place felt like I was on the east coast though. Looking forward to eating more food from Leon Gessi's!
(4)Ron M.
In town for the weekend needing a good meal. Someone said pizza; someone said Pizza Hut; I said Leon Gessi because of Yelp reviews. Let's say yes it is a great place, great pizza and salad, and great service.
(5)Ben M.
I went here a few weeks back with a friend of mine. The atmosphere was very "pizza shop", and the maps of the New York subway system filled our conversation about how great it would be in other large cities. I'm done with the pretty, now for the edibles: the pizza had a nice thin crispy crust that I have heard is characteristic of "New York", which is probably why they call this New York Pizza. The crust was crispy enough that it seems like it would hold up whatever topping you might add to it. So structurally, very sound, but not so sound that you feel you might need to chip off bits to eat it. A good crunch, and a good bread. Toppings: I think if anything this might keep this review from a solid 5. I'm not sure if it is the high cooking heat to get the bread perfect, but to me, and maybe it's the times I've been in, but the toppings seem to suffer the heat. Veggies take a little more cooking than they should. Cheese, if left too thin hardens. Of course the meats survive the heat just fine. So if you want a perfect pizza, just order all meat. Staff was good. Checked up on us once after the pizza was dropped off. Not really the type of place that I go into really expecting much service. But it seems like they keep the tables clean and the price of the pizza didn't suggest that maybe you were paying for non tipping patrons so they could pay their wait-staff. Cost is just about what I would expect from a "real" pizza. (If I want to spend 5 dollars on dough and cheese I know where to go.) I haven't sampled all the pizza places in town yet, so I can't say this is the best. It's far better than the chains, so I am defiantly a fan.
(4)Lauren H.
First thing's first--this is NOT NY style pizza. At all. And I hear people say that it's impossible to recreate NY style crust out here because of the water, etc. Okay, I get that. But still, this is not NY style pizza. For starters, the toppings were too fresh. The crust was too thick. The pizza was not big enough. That said, it's pretty good pizza. More than that, I thoroughly enjoyed my time sitting in a booth with a pitcher of beer at a NON-chain establishment in COS. I could have done without the Yankees paraphenalia, however.
(4)Deryk E.
Best pizza in Colorado Springs. The kids love it. The wife loves it. The in-laws loved it.
(5)Jeff H.
I am a pizza snob. Leon Gessi's is the best pizza i have found in the Springs so far. I wish they would put more sauce on them though. ( i have the same problem with Borriello's)
(4)Victor B.
Has the feel of a old town pizza spot, which is real cool. I enjoy going here with my kids to grab a pizza together from time to time. They have some good pizza indeed but there calzones are where it's at.
(4)Kat M.
This was very yummy. We liked the dough for the calzones and pizza. It was way better than what you'd get at any chain and less expensive with the coupon I got from their website. The sauce had a nice spice and the pizza was cooked to perfection. Not sure if salad dressing is homemade or not.....just know the ranch was tasty. My only beef is without a special or coupon the pizzas are a pricier than other places in town but they've got the quality to back it up.
(5)Ethan C.
Best Pizza in the springs. We love going here as a group and they provide quick NY pizza and good beer. Great atmosphere, and a wonderful old time ice cream place is right next door. A local secret, with all the great charm. The pizza is very good, and I have never had a bad slice.
(5)Adam X.
My favorite NY style pizza to eat there. Cheese pizza and pitcher of New Castle; perfect and very resonably priced.
(4)Elizabeth N.
The pizza's good. I actually prefer to many of the pizza chains. But I'm in love with their subs and cheesy jalapeno bread. My favorite is their vegetarian sub, even though I'm not a vegetarian.
(4)Rhonda B.
Loved this piping hot pizza! We ordered 1/2 Hawaiian and 1/2 pepperoni and mushroom. So fresh and a true pizzaria taste worth coming back for! The house salad is generous romaine with some blk olives and red peppers. The ranch dressing tastes homemade. We'll be back...
(4)Hailey D.
Absolutely delicious!!!!! Almost makes me feel like I'm back home in MA.
(5)Jim H.
Best east coast style pizza in the Springs. We've been going to Leon's for years and have yet to have a bad meal. We love the ambiance of a non-chain pizza joint that's been around for ever. Get a pitcher of root beer, fold yourself a slice and enjoy!
(5)Andrew F.
As a native New Yorker, this is definitely not New York style. The crust wasn't close to being how it should, the sauce and cheese didn't have the right proportions, and it needs just a tad bit of grease, which it didn't. Good pizza, just not New York. However, the atmosphere does make me feel like I'm at a pizzeria back home.
(2)Tim B.
I guess not being a New Yorker, I don't get the New York style pizza. The pizza was fine nothing special. Service was very quick atmosphere is relaxed. Yes I would go back but I would not rate it as a "must eat at" in CO Springs
(3)Dean B.
Myself and family have been going here for years. I think the pizza is really good, but my absolute favorite thing there is the meatball sub. It consists of sliced meatballs baked in the pizza oven with a side of marinara. Great prices, cold beer, casual atmosphere. It's an old time local pizza joint. The fresh baked pizza smell walking in with worth the trip alone. I'm going there tonight.
(5)Stephen F.
Very solid east coast style pizza place. I go for the pepperoni and like it a lot.
(3)