Giovanni’s Pizzeria
921 San Pedro Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87108
Giovanni’s Pizzeria Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
921 San Pedro Dr SE
Albuquerque, NM, 87108 - Phone (505) 255-1233
- Website https://www.giovannispizzaalbuquerque.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
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.
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Warren B.
That was one of the best pizza's I have ever had. I highly recommend this place to anyone that comes to the area. Had the supreme pizza and it was. We didn't have to wait very long at all, I was looking at all the stuff they had on their walls and didn't even get to finish before the pizza arrived at the table. I will definitely be coming back here whenever I come to the area.
(5)Dominic S.
I think this is my favorite pizza in the city. The location is kinda shitty, I wouldn't go there alone if I was a chick. That said, maybe the food is worth the risk... It's pretty damn good. I've had slices and a calzone before. Crispy, kinda thin crust and the service is friendly and efficient. I've often heard this place has the best pizza in NM. I don't know that I'd go that far but it's absolutely worth having and better than any chain and most of the other local establishments in ABQ.
(4)John D.
New Yorker or Jerseyite lost in the desert? Well, Giovanni's is your home away from home. Good pizza that you might find in the old neighborhood, but part of ABQ's International District. Don't be too East Coast--the Southwest combos are amazing. Friendly service. A little noisy at times.
(4)Emari H.
An hour+ wait for a takeout order??? No thanks! They could've told me before spending time taking my order. I don't care how good the reviews are... Makes no sense if we can't get the food in decent time. There were a bunch if customers in the restaurant and I'm sure there are lots of takeouts in line but being Friday night any business owner with a brain would adequately staff their store... Oh well. I'll never be back.
(1)Cailey T.
My boyfriend and I were on a road trip home to Michigan, and drove straight from Thousand Oaks, California to this hole in the wall place and were blown away! They only had a few Parmesan shakers and didn't have any available when we asked. The people sitting in the booth next to ours gave us theirs (thanks again!) and said they moved to Albuquerque 2 years ago and recently found this place and said we were so lucky to have found it for our ride home. We ordered our pizza with pepperoni, bell peppers and green chili. I've never had a tastier pizza and wish that Michigan wasn't so far away!
(5)Morgan O.
I love this place... love it with all my pizzeria heart! Their spinach garlic pizza is the best in town! I met the owners wife one evening when my son and I were picking up an order and she was an absolute gem. Their pizza sauce is awesome and one that I prefer compared to any delivery joint. I've never had a problem with the wait time and the staff is great at what they do. Keep on keepin' on, Giovanni's!
(5)Tim S.
As most of you already know, pizza is my favorite food. I could eat that shit every single meal, every single day, forever..and a day! I had all my meals planned out for my New Mexico trip about a week in advance. I knew that on my birthday, I wanted to try out Giovanni's Pizza. It has been voted one of the Top 100 Pizzas in the United States, The Best Pizza in New Mexico, as well as numerous other awards, too. I placed my order for a medium pizza with green chile and pepperoni. My wife got an order of spaghetti with marinara sauce. They told me it would be about 20 minutes, so I drove down soon after I ordered it. Giovanni's is located in a more "rough/older" part of Albuquerque. It's not "ghetto" per say, but I would not be driving down this way after 10pm by myself without a GPS so I could find my way out of here asap if needed. I pulled up into the parking lot and witnessed what I'm 99% sure was a drug deal. I saw this guy parked outside the liquor store with his window down. Another dude came up to him and had something palmed, gave him the universal "homie handshake", and they exchanged something. No big deal...I have seen it done many times in my day and I know what it looks like from afar. About that........ after I got my pizza and came back out to the car, I saw the same dude, give the same guy in the car another "homie handshake". Were these guys doing multiple drug deals? Was I lucky enough to see them do it twice? Or, is that just the way they interact? By giving homie handshakes? It was a sight to see and I didn't stick around long enough to play Inspector Gadget. Back to the pizza........... Walked in, paid the man my money (friendly counter guy) and took the goods back to the hotel. Here is how it was............ Medium Green Chile and Pepperoni Pizza- This thing looked fantastic! It was loaded up with crisp pepperonis and tons of green chiles! I took a bite of the first slice and noticed how hot these chiles were! I loved it! The pepperonis were great, the cheese was good, the crust was cooked perfectly. The crusts flavor was just a little bit unique though. I couldn't pinpoint the exact flavor, but it seemed "earthy" and almost like a whole wheat/grain flour was used. I've had way better crusts, and I've had way worse crusts ;-). Ill leave it at that! Spaghetti w/Marinara- My wife ate the spaghetti with marinara sauce. This was kind of just plain Jane. I had a few bites of it. It wasn't bad, but the sauce wasn't delicious either. It came with 2 garlic bread sticks. My kid ate those and seemed to have liked them. My wife ate about 3/4 of the pasta and couldn't eat anymore. I don't think I would order pasta from here again. Stick with the pizza. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good pizza. Best in New Mexico? I can definitely see that! Top 100 in the USA? Eh....we might have to disagree on that assessment. Even though the crust wasn't the best, those green chiles more than made up for it and definitely tied the pizza together. I would come back often if I lived in Albuquerque. I ate my pizza about 20 minutes after I picked it up too. It may be way better if eaten there in the shop! $26.50 for everything...not bad!
(4)Shannon C.
GREAT PIZZA! I love Straight Up Pizza on my side of town, but this is a strong SE contender. Ordered a large (18") 2 topping pie for $20 or so. The crust was chewy and fresh, the cheese was decent quality and the green chile was spicy & flavorful. The large was enough for dinner & lunch for 2 of us. It totally held up against my quality pizza test... it was delicious cold AND reheated the next day. Take out took about 20 minutes. Girl behind counter was friendly.
(4)Marisa W.
Been coming here since I was a child. Still my absolute favorite! I will say it is in a questionable area but I've never had any problems. I love their pizza, literally any topping is delicious! I also love there manicotti! Definitely cant go wrong with anything here. Best pizza in Albuquerque hands down!
(5)Karen H.
The thin crust, the tasty cheese, the "just right" sauce, and it's quick! I was there yesterday when an old woman walked in to return her pizza. She claimed that the pizza crust was burned at the bottom, and if it wasn't done "right" her husband would yell at her. Really? Some people just have it too good in life ya' know? This is Giovanni's!! For gawd sake.. The guys behind that counter are super-self conscious of their establishment and product, and take pride in their work. And they're cute. You don't see that too often where i live, trust me. I watched this whole fiasco, and damn near dove at the pizza when she opened the box and started man-handling it. This was a perfect pizza! If she hadn't touched it? i would have bought it myself! I don't have it so great in life, thus, i have to drive over 50 miles one way to get to Giovanni's. And trust me, when i get that pizza or the calzone - folks please try the calzone, you'll love it - i'm hella-grateful. I wouldn't care if my husband didn't think the pizza wasn't "done just right" he could yell his big a** off while i'm chowing down on that good Giovanni's pizza! My hat's off to you guys at Giovanni's. Keep up the good work, and heck yeah, you have a very loyal customer over here in Santa Fe!
(5)Joanne L.
I am a straight up pizza fan but my husband really wanted to try this place based on location. It's good but I honestly didn't enjoy it as much as straight up I missed the spicy pizza sauce they they offer which gives the pizza that extra twist and the pizza was just ok to me nothing special. I am giving them 4 stars as my husband really enjoys this pizza place and given the choice this is his top pick.
(4)Matt C.
We're from new haven, (which is renowned for the best pizza in the u.s.) and Giovannis pizza is as good or better than any of them. We've been so very disappointed by the pizza anywhere else, including Albuquerque, until today. These fine people make ACTUAL pizza! This will be the only pizzeria we order from, as long as we live in Burque. Thank you, for the taste of home. (They ARE open on Sunday. They open at 4pm.)
(5)Sal P.
I have never craved pizza like I do for Giovanni's! The green chile and pepperoni is fantastic and there is no better pizza in Albuquerque! From the muscular Italian New Yorker in the back throwing pizza dough, to the Broadway flyers on the wall, you will love the atmosphere Giovanni's has to offer. Although it is not in the best part of town, I would highly recommend making the trip into the "International District" to try Albuquerque's best pizza!
(5)Riley J.
I wanted to update my review, not because my feelings have changed, but because they are still the same three years later. Giovanni's is a family owned and operated operation. They genuinely care about the quality of their pizza and the satisfaction of their customers. You can even get hugs from the pizza delivery drivers if you're feeling a little lonely, or you're a desperate teenage girl and your delivery driver looks like a rock star(I've done it... no shame). The pizza here is absolutely perfect every single time. The spices, the cheese to sauce ratio, the amount of toppings, the perfect brown on the cheese. Huuuuhhgggnnn. I would have to say it's one of the best pizzas in Albuquerque. Seriously, the best. It's not overpriced either, so you don't have to worry about breaking the bank for a pizza-night-in with your family. The only thing I hate about Giovannis is the location, but whoever said "location, location, location!" was seriously wrong. I would be willing to cross seas, punch angry grizzly bears, or battle rabid raccoons for some of their pizza. Instead, you just have to try not to get hustled by drunks.
(5)Rita S.
Best in Albuquerque if you are looking for thin crust pizza. The atmosphere reminds me of pizza parlors in NJ down to the red and white checkered table cloths. But the ambiance is definitely not why I keep going there. Giovanni's pizza rivals some of the best I've had in NY and NJ. I've eaten their plain cheese pizza, the pummarola (vegan, no cheese), and my personal favorite: the cheese pizza with green chile on top. Because of how much I like the regular pizza, I have not tried the Sicilian pie, the lasagna, spaghetti, calzone, stomboli, or other menu items. If I'm ever in the mood, I think they'd be worth trying. What makes this pizza so good? The crust is thin, but has the perfect balance of crispy and chewy. The sauce is really tasty too, AND most importantly, they use enough of it. My advice: You really need to eat it there, piping hot from the oven to get the full experience. It's still great when you carry it out, but you owe it to yourself if you have time, to sit down and at least eat that first slice right away. You will not regret it!
(5)C T.
I love pizza, but forgot what a good pizza tastes like because I've been doing Papa John's etc., for too long. I hadn't been to Giovanni's for quite awhile until today when a friend reminded me about it. YUM! My friend got a pineapple and Canadian bacon slice, I got a green chile and onion slice. We took home a Napoli 12 incher for later--spinach, pesto and tomato! Can't wait. Seriously, if you're tired of the usual junk pizza around here, check our Giovanni's.
(4)Travel'en C.
I drive 39 miles To get this pizza. Great pie for sure and I believe one of the two best pizza houses in ABQ! Back in Detroit, one of the ways we'd always judge a "great" pizza was by the way the pepperoni would buckle-up and hold the grease. Mission accomplished, they've succeeded. No frills just good pie. They nail the dough, the sauce and the "fold". Well done!
(5)Ken R.
This place is my favorite go to pizza place in Albuquerque. If pizza had the calories of a salad, I'd be eating here all of the time.
(5)Eric N.
Fold your slice and prepare for happiness that only a great slice can give you! That was going to be my last line, but I think that putting the slice first is the only way to do justice to this review. Let me begin by saying that while I've only just started Yelping, I've been taking friends & family here for years now and I've happily referred a number of people here as well. Everyone has been thrilled with the advice so far. My Uncle in Santa Fe swears by the pizza here and stops in almost every time he's in town. Giovanni's really doesn't need much talking up. They've been around 25 years. They've won the 2010 Top Pizza award from Albuquerque the Magazine, Top 100 Pizzas in the Nation awards from Pizza Today and Best Pizza in New Mexico from USA Today. That should be enough for a pizza lover to try it at least once. If you're talking about true New Yorker pizza, a host of New York transplants have called it the only place to get real New York pizza. This is a point I've seen argued to a heated point. Since I'm not from NY, I'll leave that to those that are. I can only say it's cool that they're in Albuquerque. Is it the BEST in New Mexico? You decide. It's not cheap, but it's not chain pizza either. Good crust and good sauce. When I say good crust, I'm saying that as a person who doesn't usually eat all my crust. Here, I enjoy it because it's thin and because it's tasty. Took my friend and worried that she'd be biased because I read Yelp reviews aloud as we drove there. Did you ever hear how amazing a movie is supposed to be and then you're let down because it didn't live up to the hype? That was my fear. On top of that I had told her that I'd felt like it just wasn't as great one time I went. All of this was in her head when we arrived. She says it didn't let her down. She was expecting a bit more from the venue, but later said she was happy about what she'd found. A no frills, old school pizza joint. After all these years I'm always afraid they will have moved because I always think they will close this strip mall down soon. You'll hear the hype, then drive up and wonder if you're at the right place. No worries. You are. As you walk in you'll see exactly what you'd expect from a place called authentic NY pizza. Red and white checkered tablecloths and floor. One old tv near the counter. The Italian tri-colored banner hold up the ceiling. The walls are adorned with great reviews of the place, playbills Dana brings back from the shows she's seen in NY, mirrors, New York Yankee stuff, Italian movie pics and signed photos of the famous who have stopped in. The smell makes me happy every time I walk in. Head up to the counter and make your choice. Napoli? White Pie? Sicilian? (Better share it) If a calzone is your thing, they really do make a great one here. I stick to thin crust and my toppings vary but I'm always a happy eater. It's been awhile, but I've had luck with the lasagna too. Green chile is warm, but not too hot. Once in awhile I'll get a Pellegrino here because it reminds me of being abroad. If you eat in like we did, your pizza or calzone will be on a the metal pie disk and crazy hot from the oven when it arrives. We burned stuff more than a few times enjoying those great bites. We wound up only having two slices to enjoy the next day. Now about that heat, I know people who will tell you it's better to let it cool a bit so the cheese doesn't run as much. I'm just glad I get good pizza consistently, because that matters to me. I can't honestly recall if it was better 'back when' or if it was in my head, so I have to let that go. Oh, my friend? She loved it and was talking about her next visit mid-meal. Find 'em in your Entertainment book or hit the website for coupons. No printer? (or like me you can't see using a whole sheet of paper & the ink for one coupon) No problem. Their web site has coupons they'll honor from your phone or tablet. Earth friendly, right? You can even use their Wi-Fi. Negatives? Price. Location. No beer. Napkins too small and No Veterans discount, Especially with so many customer coming from the VA & the base. A swing and a miss there. What gives? You'll likely see Rosario, the owner. in there. Tell 'em Eric sent you! (He'll just have absolutely no clue what your talking about, but that's just good times.)
(5)David R.
Got a slice for dinner--green chile and meatballs. The closest to true New York style pizza and pizzeria that I've been able to get in the West. The crust is thin and perfect, the cheese and sauce are just right. I dream about it.
(5)Giselle L.
Thanks again Yelp! This hole in the wall is definately a great find! It reminds me of an old school pizza joint for sure. With that being said, it's not great for big groups, or be prepared to sit in separate tables. I recommend anything thin crust!
(5)Shawn M.
I have got pizza here off an on for a few years not so much because the pizza was great only because they were good enough, close to me and a local business. The last pizza I ordered they screwed up my order and when I called them to try to work it out I was confronted with what I thought was a rude high school kid. When in asked to speak to the manager I was informed that he was the owner. I could not believe that an owner would not make it right. I was told that they were closing in less than 15 minutes so there was nothing they could do. No refund no, discount on next purchase nothing. Thankfully a friend told me about Amedeos, good pizza local and no attitude
(1)Pete G.
Check it out. I'm from Philadelphia and this pizza reminds me exactly of how it is back home. I couldn't be any happier with the pizza here.
(5)Anna G.
We have been going to Giovanni's for years! We go like every week! I love the pizza and Lasagna! We always get takeout so we do not mind the bad location. I have never had a bad experience! The pizza is greasy and delicious! I can scarf down so many pieces! I would highly recommend Giovanni's! Also a great family restaurant!!!
(5)Tory M.
I was excited about trying New Mexico's "Best Pizza". Having experience in the pizza industry I was sadly disappointed. Thin is good but not so thin it tears when you lift it from the plate. And greasy as hell. A good place to go to clean your colon. The amount of toppings was un-impressive. But everything tasted like decent pizza and the service was really good.
(3)Stephanie N.
What else can I add to the review. Everyone pretty much summed it up. Great pizza! I only tried the pepperoni green chili pizza & it was pretty darn good. Great tomato sauce & great crust. Thin, slightly crispy, not soggy. The green chili wasn't too spicy, just had the right amount of kick. Now one of our favorite pizza places. Expensive though. I think it was $16 for a medium pizza? But well worth it. Nice owners too. Will definitely be back. Update: came back & ordered half pepperoni & half white. They had no problem doing it & halved it perfectly. But white pizza was not so good.
(5)Reed D.
As someone who has spent 20+ years wandering the US in search of great pizza, I'd put Giovanni's in my Top 5. I consider it one of the best arguments for taking I-40 instead of I-10 when going cross-country. It is certainly the best pizza in Albuquerque. I've always found the staff to be quite helpful and personable. EDIT: Ok, as time has passed, the little strip mall in which Giovanni's lives has gone from "off the beaten track" to full scale derelict. The only other businesses are now a smoke shop that clearly stays open selling blunt wraps, and a liquor store. This has become a genuinely bad location, and I would not recommend going there outside of prime lunch/dinner hours, because those are the only times that customers outnumber the transient weirdos hanging around the parking lot, sidewalk, and restaurant itself. My last visit to Giovanni's, I actually had to scream (and I mean SCREAM) at this crazy homeless dude to get him to leave me alone. This is inside the restaurant, while the two teeny bopper hipsters working behind the counter pretended not to see there was an escalating problem. I was at the tiny table next to the register, and they could both obviously hear and see me trying to get this guy to leave me alone so I could eat my slices. It was one of the least pleasant dining experiences I've ever had, and if weren't a big guy, it would have been genuinely scary, not just upsetting. I'm changing my rating from five stars to three stars, because that's where you end up when you're serving five star pizza in a one star location. "Giovanni's Pizza: You probably won't get stabbed!"
(3)Nidhi D.
We had their supreme pizza..it was delicious. Thin crust, good and fresh ingredients and perfectly balanced flavours...reminded me of new York pizza. We also got a Stromboli. .it was just ok. .it was missing flavor and they over baked it..Ambience was good. Worth going if u are in mood of good pizza.
(4)Jessie W.
The pizza here is the best in ABQ! you have to.fold the pizza and it is deliciously crafted. The location is a little sketchy but well worth the weird shopping center. My teacher used to buy us Giovanni's when we had a test day in middle school, and I was hooked. Deliciously greasy and flavorful--- just like it's supposed to be!
(5)Nat S.
Crust is the best part of this pizza. Sauce is not ample or zesty enough for me. Though a very thin crust pizza- it is somehow very oily. I do not hate oily food by any means, yet the flavor profile for me leaves something to be desired. That being said, the crust is the closest I have had so far to traditional East Coast Pizza, good flavor, crunchy bottom and thin,. We had the standard cheese pizza, I believe it was around 12$ for a large. The atmosphere is very Traditional NYC Parlor, so any homesick Northeasters may find solace here.
(4)Penelope A.
Had their supreme pizza and it was delicious! I probably wouldn't eat there just because of the "neighbors " actually a liquor store next door with some shady characters asking for money from patrons. Beside that the pizza was great... Thin and tasty crust.
(4)Elizabeth M.
I grew up 20 minutes from NYC and heard this place was as close as I would get to NYC delicious pizza in Albuquerque. As a result, I was overwhelmingly excited about trying it. However, not only was I disappointed, I was shockingly annoyed when I left. The server/cashier was miserable; she didn't smile and was anything but helpful. I felt like I was bothering her by placing my order. When we got the pizza, it was piping hot (as pizza should be) but had almost no flavor, which is saying a lot since we had a million toppings on it: green chili, onions, mushrooms, and black olives. I had to add salt to it!! Which, if this isn't a cardinal sin, I don't know what is. Adding salt to pizza is like adding sugar to ice cream. In the end, we asked for a side of marinara sauce, since it barely had any. She wanted to charge us for it but allowed the free exchange only after we complained that our "four topping pizza" was closer to three. Besides, it barely had any sauce. But really, after spending close to $20 on a soda and a SMALL pizza, when a customer feels they need more marinara, give it to them. The marinara, in the end, wasn't even worth the energy. It tasted like canned pizza sauce. It was runny and again, lacked much flavor. Bottom line: I have eaten frozen pizza and enjoyed it more. Save your pennies, someone's lying or has poor taste. Try NYPD downtown.
(1)Kathleen S.
Delicious classic pizza. Will definitely be back!!! Only reason we aren't rating as a 5 is because it slightly floppy with grease. The flavor was amazing though. There is a bit of a wait while they make the pizza- consider calling ahead. YUM
(4)Cruz K.
Like that this pizza joint is close to my work and I can run there grab a pizza and get back fast..Very good pizza but price is kinda high but Ive never had a bad meal here and the owners are nice.Its located in a run down strip mall but don't let that keep you away if you like good pizza,I keep coming back ..
(5)Thomas R.
I enjoy this place, but having grown up in Brooklyn (and missing absolutely nothing but the pizza), I do find the pizza a little of a let-down compared to the hype. The crust is good, and requires the appropriate NYC folding technique. The sauce is not especially tasty, and unlike every pizza I ever ate growing up in NYC, the crust has absolutely no "lip" around the outer edge. That said, I do try to get here every month or two. Making this a 4-star review instead of a 3-star is the availability of Sicilian pizza (you can't get THAT anywhere else in New Mexico!), and most especially (almost deserving a 5-star review), they have Manhattan Special coffee soda! (You gotta try it, but open carefully --- even at sea level this stuff is explosively carbonated, and here at a mile high elevation it'll erupt all over you if you just pop it open like a normal soda.)
(4)R B.
Some of the best pizza I've ever had.... And in obsessed with pizza. I mean, who isn't? It has all of the food groups!
(5)Clayton A.
I've only been here once, but based on that first experience, I'd enjoy going back. My wife and I ordered the white pizza with onion, garlic, green chile and chicken....this after much deliberation. But my wife being a different eater than me, requested that the onions, green chile and garlic stay off her side of the pie. They willingly accommodated her, even as I shook my head and tried to explain her she was taking the good parts of the pizza. As we debated, I watched the guys in the kitchen at work and their tediousness gave me confidence that a good pizza would arrive. After about 15-20 minutes, a good one did come. The only problem is that they hadn't prepared the pizza separately into two halves. The whole pizza came out with the green chile, garlic and onions. For me, this was a wonderful development and my wife seemed prepared to begrudgingly accept the pizza as is and dig in. Our server, who also had taken our order at the counter, realized the mistake and quickly offered to prepare her a couple slices the way she wanted. This was a shining example of great customer service and win for both of us as we got even more pizza to munch on. The pizza was quite good. The thin-crust was to my liking, the green chile was authentic and had a sharp bite, and the heavy garlic presence ensured that my palate wouldn't struggle to find some flavor. I nearly finished the whole pie by myself. My wife got her slices after about ten minutes and she too enjoyed what she received. Now, if you read my other Albuquerque pizza reviews, I dislike the use of "New York-style pizza" in advertising a place, but this, like a number of other stars in the Burque certainly deserves a "New York-worthy pizza" stamp.
(4)Peter P.
Best pizza in town. Get ready for huge slices with a NY atmosphere.
(5)Eric M.
Not cool. We drove 130 miles round trip to eat at this place, just to have the cashier fail to process our order. I figured we have a small wait but 45 minutes later we found out what really happened. If the service was up to par he would have asked us if things were ok. We were only sitting right in front of him.
(1)Henri G.
Closest thing to a NYC pizza on this side of the country that requires you to use that folding technique before you take a bite out of it. The only thing I hate about Giovanni's is the location. Take out is suggested.
(4)Michael H.
The hype is real! I went months as an ABQ newcomer without good pizza, and Giovanni's has shown me the light with simple, no-frills NY-style pizza that tastes amazing. Any pie you order is good, and don't let the semi-ghetto location fool you because once you're in the restaurant you're in a warm and cozy atmosphere where you'll love eating.
(5)Vinh N.
The pizza here isn't very good at all. It might have just been a bad day for them or something. I ordered a Pineapple pizza and I can tell that the Pineapple came right out of a can. Dole Pineapple to be exact. So the ingredients aren't the freshest, but it's ok. I'm a heavy sauce eater and I don't think there was really any sauce at all. The only thing on top of the pizza was a layer of grease. The pizza was burnt and it was too crunchy. It felt like I was eating a Dorito chip instead of a pizza.
(2)Glenn G.
I've spent the last 30 years (USAF) traveling and trying pizza all over the world and this restaurant is in my top 5! Definitely on my list of places to visit when in ABQ. Great staff!
(5)M B.
Was in town and a friend recommended this pizzaria. Based on the accolades on the wall, it's NY style decor and support for the NY Yankees, I thought great, I can't wait. Ordered a white and an extra cheese with sausage. Sadly, the dough had no flavor. The white was so dry. The sausage wasn't bad, the sauce was light with a good tomato taste. I had to put so much salt, garlic and Parmesan on the white to make it taste like something other than the box though. Oh well, I tried.
(2)Bill K.
I am in Albuquerque on business and a co-worker suggested we go to Giovanni's for a quick lunch. This small restaurant eminds me of the pizzerias that were seemingly on every corner when I was a kid growing up in New Jersey. Having been out West now for 30 years, this is about as close as I've come to real thin crust East Coast pizza and real East Coast pizzeria ambiance - even had the Yankee fan signs. Enjoyed the pizza so much that I went back this evening and got a whole cheese pie to go. Who would've guessed you'd fine this gem in Albuquerque?
(5)Nicole O.
Order a head of time to save time. Super delicious.
(4)Sara M.
I live nearby and go here as often as I go to other neighborhood pizza joints. This pizza can be hit or miss. I had a hit the other day. Green chile and pepperoni. The crust was great, both crusty and chewy and on the thin side. The cheese was good, and the green chile not too hot and overwhelming. I also come here often for the eggplant parmesan roll, you can't get that just anywhere and this one is good because their sauce is delicious and the eggplant just gives it that extra flavor that makes you just want to keep eating it. YUM. YUM!
(4)Erica V.
Love patronizing local restaurants with true character and grit? Giovanni's is it! Great owners, good service, charming ambiance. While I'm still working my way through menu, the Sicilian pizza is crazy good and the pesto pizza has become my Friday night favorite.
(5)Andy B.
I heard about this place via the USA Today article which ranked their pizza in the Top 50 nationally (might have been Top 100, but anyway pretty darn high!) It is a trek to get here from where I live, but I have wanted to try their pizza for a while. Whilst waiting for them to open on Saturday I found a coupon (from the ABQ Magazine food issue) which gave us two free toppings if you ordered a large - how could we not do that? We decided to go with pepperoni & green chile (my two favourite toppings) so that we could compare it to other pizza we like in town. One worrying site whilst in line to order was the use of some kind of roller device which made holes in the pizza dough (to stop it rising/bubbling up I guess) once the dough had been tossed - I don't recall having seen that at other pizza places. It didn't take too long for our pizza to arrive and it was huge (honestly we should have ordered a medium, the large would feed 4 moderately hungry folks and 3 really hungry ones). Size didn't really matter on this occasion though. The dough was slightly undercooked (and had a bread like consistency); the pepperoni was there, but really didn't have much of a taste and the green chile had no taste at all. The dough had lots of tiny slits/holes from the "rolling" process and wasn't that thin or crispy (which is what I understand NY style pizza to be?) Maybe we should have tried one of their specialty pizzas, but then we wouldn't have been comparing like with like from other places in town. We took the leftovers back home in a box - and this is pretty telling as I love leftovers - I threw them out this morning as I didn't want to eat it again. The service was great, the prices are fair, but based on this visit I won't be going back. If you want good & affordable pizza try the 10" gourmet pizzas at Dion's and if you want something fancy go with the margarita pizza at Farina's.
(2)Mike G.
The best pizza in Albuquerque, period!
(5)Michele D.
Divine. Can't get better than this except in NY city proper. We had the pepperoni and green chili. WOW just wonderful and crust perfectly done. Great pizza.. May need to take some road trips from Tucson, just to dine there
(5)Reagan M.
Super awesome pizza! Thin and delicious! I love how they make it fresh and hot, given to you right out the oven. You can get a full pizza or just a slice which is perfect! Definitely have to try this place when you're around.
(4)Kurt V.
I'm an East coast native and a New Haven apizza aficionado. This is, hands down, the best pie I have had outside the tri-state area. Neapolitan style thin crust heaven, with just enough carbon to get my juices flowing. Highly recommended!
(5)Sommer H.
Good pizza and friendly staff.
(4)Trevor H.
Pretty damn good pepperoni and green chili pizza. You're missing out if you don't come here!!!
(5)Brian T.
Ordered takeout (a large pizza with pepperoni and green chile). Despite what Yelp says, they no longer deliver. They apparently used to, but I won't hold outdated information on he website against them. Ordering experience over the phone was good, no problems whatsoever. I was quoted a reasonable time for pickup (20 minutes). As for the food itself, I have to admit I wasn't all that impressed. Their ads say they were voted one of the top 100 pizzerias in the country, but I couldn't tell why. Big NY style slices, but cheese and toppings left a lot to be desired. There was barely any green chile on the pie, which was surprising given that New Mexico is all about chiles. I was only in town for the holidays so I didn't get a chance to give them another try. I've had much better pizza at other places, but I think this place might still make it on my list of goodies for pizza joints.
(3)Gordon H.
How did this place get to be called Albuquerque's best. No pizza sauce, undercooked crust, dirty restaurant, and just plain old nasty. Stay away eat elsewhere
(1)Ryan P.
This place is fine, top 100 in the US no. Anything special, great, or worth driving for? No. It's good pizza, better than Dion's but not by much. I would not chose this place over Nicky V's or Pizzeria Luca all three are on the same level.
(3)Keira M.
Man I wish this place was closer to home.
(4)Jordan P.
As far as pizza goes, I don't think there's a better place in Albuquerque. The crust is thin and crispy. The cheese is not too stringy and not a slab. The green chile is a good quality also. The sauce I think is what brings all the other 5-star qualities together though. It's spicy and full of flavor but not overpowering. There are other places in town that claim to serve "New York Style" pizza. I can't speak to their accuracy but this is the only pizza that left an impression on me. Their bread sticks aren't the best. It looks seasoned, but is flavorless; a mere (and literal) stick of bread. But I'm rating pizza and not sides, so 5 stars!
(5)Jes A.
Best pizza in Albuquerque. Seriously.
(5)Jacob T.
This is one of my favorite pizza places in Albuquerque. It is some of the best pizza I've ever had. I am local, and go here often.
(5)James R.
Great pizza. The prices are a tad high in my opinion, but if you want quality pizza I would come here. We got pepperoni and jalapenos and the jalapenos were not the best, so the toppings might not be the best quality. The crust is what crust should be though, It's not a cracker but it's not a sponge. It's that perfect mix. A little over-priced, but excellent pizza. Wish I could take it to Dallas with me! 3/27/11 came back here again, got a veggie pizza with three friends and we were blown away. It was slightly above 20 for a large and it was quite a bit of food.
(5)Nate J.
Service fine. Free refills on in-house fountain drinks a plus. Food though... needs discussing. Stopped by here after seeing great reviews on Yelp. Driving in to parking lot, realized we'd been here a couple years back and hated it. Figured we'd give it a shot again. Bought two basic cheese slices for the crew to try before committing to a meal of it. Not half bad. Enough to entice us inside for a full go. After seeing multiple recommendations, decided to try a New Mexican Pizza. Was fairly warned it was a white pizza, which in and of itself isn't a bad thing. Ordered a slice of pepperoni as "backup." Also had a salad. Salad wasn't anything special, just a pile of lettuce with a few chopped veggies and shredded mozz. Easily doctored with oregano and garlic salt. Dressing is not homemade... just typical poor-quality commercial packets of ranch or italian. Nothing to write home about, and a bit on the pricey side for how basic it is. Pepperoni slice same as the basic cheese. Pretty good. The New Mexican Pizza is a garlic disaster though. Bar none. White pizza with a slightly thicker crust that appears it would be crispy, but ends up on the chewier side. Not bad though. Flavor of the dough itself is acceptable to good, with a decent little tang. The base is a ricotta/garlic blend that absolutely reeks of old garlic. Now, I'm Sicilian, and I love me some garlic... but this is a travesty. Smelling the pizza got me worried after I got a good whiff of the garlic. Tasting it only proved the problem. It was overwhelming of every other flavor on the pie, including the fairly generous amount of green chile present. The garlic literally tasted green. Either the bulbs were sprouting/old when chopped, or it was prepared so far ahead of time that it oxidized and became bitter. Anyway... to the rest of the pie. Cheese blend was typical. Green chile didn't have a discernible flavor... but another big throw-off was the breaded chicken used as the meat topping. Chicken wasn't fresh... rather it tappears to be a typical frozen breaded chicken patty, the kind labeled "with rib meat" when bought at the store. Didn't really have any flavor on its own save for some very slight seasoning in the breading. The pieces were so small, they dried out in the cooking process. Ended up that my cohorts didn't even finish their first slices before giving up from the overwhelming garlic. I begrudgingly ate my piece in an effort to not waste food (and I hadn't eaten a proper lunch either). They finished the pepperoni slice instead. Chucked the leftover half of the pizza, which I feel only a twinge of guilt over... feeling worse about the waste of money. Overall, pricey. Not worth a side trip given other pizza options closer to us (and no, not the national chain crap). Come for a slice, but watch out otherwise. PS - Our past experience was a horrible calzone that was dry and flavorless.
(3)Birdie B.
This is my hood. Southeast Heights- a lot to be said for this place. Hands down (wipe sauce off face) this is a true pizzeria. Italian made! I live walking distance to this pie palace! The white pizza is nice to try, but in general the basic pie is the shiz. Seriously the best pizza in Burque! Eeeee 505!!!!
(5)Leo Y.
So tasty, its lip smacking good. Giovanni's isn't a top 50 national pizza winner for nothing. Their sauce is super delicious, lingering flavors far after the first bite. Expect classic pizza style and a little of that Italian east coast vibe. Its a great place to eat a slice of pizza pie and to be reminded of what a great slice of pizza tastes like.
(5)Melanie L.
This place impressed me. I've been looking for something comparable to the pizza in NJ for a long time and as soon as I walked in this place, From the checkered tablecloths to the cheap booths lining the walls, the feel is very "sit down and have a slice and a can a soda in a plastic cup", but that's what I like so I knew right away I was going to dig this place. I ordered the White pizza and the strombolli. The strombolli was perfectly cooked and oozed with cheese and pepperoni. Jason ordered 2 slices of pepperoni w/green chili. Their sauce was good, a little thin, but good. I took home the white pizza and enjoyed it immensely over the span of 2 days. Next time I will definitely try a slice of pizza with their sauce on it. The service was fast and so was the food. I will definitely be checking this spot out again soon. I may even become a regular. It's fun to just sit in a booth, have a slice and check out the famous signed photos of numerous 'gangster' personalities. After reading their newspaper article that they have posted on their wall, I learned the owners were from NY and then it all made sense. NY = good pizza (of course, I am bias). I only wish they could fly out the tap water for their dough! A girl can dream... I'm giving this place 4 out of 5 because I haven't decided on their sauce yet. After all, what is good pizza w/out delicious sauce?
(4)Morgan L.
Best non-gourmet pizza I've had in ABQ, hands down. The variety is good (try the New Mexican!) and the prices, though a bit high, are reasonable. The crust is thin, but well cooked and not at all soggy in the middle. The pizzas I get are never greasy (Napoli, New Mexican, Spinach) except for the pepperoni (but come on, it's pepperoni!). If you're one person you can expect to spend around $25 for a large pizza that will last you four meals if you pace yourself and only have three BIG pieces a night. Definitely worth it if you're on a budget like I am. Spring for extra red sauce to dip the pizza in...amazing!
(4)Robert S.
Oh my god. I'm in love. I looked around yelp for good thin crust while I was in Albuquerque and chose Giovanni's based on some reviews. So glad I did. I asked for extra thin and they told me it was already pretty thin, thats ok I said, I just wanted to see what would happen. Pepperoni and green chile (I never had green chile on a pizza before btw, genius), I ate the whole thing and savored every bite. I have worked at numerous pizza places making pizzas and am kinda picky about thin crust, that being said I will now judge all future pizzas I eat on how they compare to Giovanni's. I came back the next day with my folks to show them, but really it was just a reason to have Giovanni's 2 days in a row.
(5)Todd M.
I've been looking for real East Coast style pizza and it took a friend from New York to send me to Giovanni's. I can say that hands down it's the best pizza in Albuquerque. If someone else has a place that's better, I'd love to know, because I've tried a wide range and hands down they're the best. Real deal NY thin-sliced pizza and the Sicilian deep dish pizza is awesome as well. A little out of the way on San Pedro near Gibson, but well worth it.
(5)Tyler T.
I grew up in New York and spent 3 years living in Italy so I have eaten my fair share of great pizza. I will say Giovanni's makes a mean pizza and by far the best one in ABQ.
(5)Enrique S.
Still my favorite pizza in town and quite possibly the best on the city. I don't know of anyone in Albuquerque with an exceptional Chicago Style pizza, but the best New York Style is Giovanni's!
(4)J C.
This is the best pizza I've ever had. Anywhere. And the people who work here? They make you feel at home.
(5)Emma T.
The best pizza I've ever had in Albuquerque. It's a total hole-in-the-wall place, but the pizza is fantastic!
(5)Eduardo S.
Wow. Best pizza I've had in years. I had the Sicilian (deep dish), with a custom combination of Spinach and White (no tomato sauce). It was the best pizza experience I've had in a long time, even better than my own. Spinach was plentiful and oh-so-tasty, richly garlicky, perfect with the ricotta and mozzarella. Crust was exquisite! Deep, tender, flavorful, and crisp on the bottom. I also tried a slice of their thin-crust cheese pizza. It was about the thickness of two sheets of paper ... yet it was eye-poppingly delicious, crisp on the bottom yet still structurally sound enough to be a real pizza. How do they *do* that?! The tomato sauce was well spiced, a pleasant surprise to this no-tomato-sauce-please bigot. Next time -- and there WILL be a next time, even though I live 2+ hours away from here -- I'm going to have a hard time deciding what to get. I'm looking forward to that indecision, and feel secure that whatever I do get will be worth the drive. Thank you, Yelp: I discovered this place thanks to your Android app.
(5)Rosie Z.
Man oh man oh man! This place has the best pizza I've had in a very long time! We tried their meat pizza and the crust was thin and perfect - and the cheese... wow! New York pizza is here in Abq! Husband ordered an "Italian burrito" which is like a calzone but it isn't... it had ground beef, mozzarella, and sauce -- simply delicious. They also make their cannolis in house and they were the best I've ever tasted! The staff was friendly, the food was delicious. What more can we ask for? We'll be back!
(5)H M.
Best "real" pizza in Albuquerque. 90 percent of the time, Giovanni's has it down. They deserve 5 stars for being the best pizza I've had west of the entire East Coast. As close to real New York city pizza as possible. It's in a not-so accessible part of town for many people, but too bad for them, - we get Giovanni's all to ourselves up in here.
(5)P C.
Hands down, the best pizza in Albuquerque. Thin, crispy crust. Greasy, cheesy goodness (I only eat cheese). I lived on the East Coast for 10 years, so I got spoiled by the tremendous pizza available (everywhere) in NYC and Philly. This place compares to almost any corner pizza joint in New York. That says a lot. If you want the "real" pizza experience, go to Giovanni's.
(4)Emily L.
I'm just visiting, and I asked around for a good pizza place. No one I asked seem to know any, so I checked on Yelp, and found Giovanni's. My husband I tried it out and I have to say... ...probably the best pizza I have EVER had. I am super impressed. It looks like a hole-in-the-wall pizza joint, and kind of is, but that just makes the pizza all the better. Amazing. The pizza crust was a perfect mixture of crispy and soft, the sauce was just sweet enough, the pepperoni was heavenly, the cheese was a great mix of something that was just awesome. Color me super impressed. I hope to get back here before I leave.
(5)Christine W.
I'm originally from NY so you can say I'm fairly critical of pizza in other cities. Giovanni's did not fail to impress. Not only was my pizza delicious (and about 99% as close to an authentic slice as I've been able to get outside of NYC), but the owner also gave me two free slices, just because he was trying out a new pizza. Great food. Lovely staff. 5 stars!
(5)Robin K.
I've been in NM for 20 years, but I am a Brooklyn girl from way back. This place has the best pizza in the city. Perfect thin crunchy crust, large sizes, awesome toppings. The first time I ate the plain cheese, I cried big giant tears of nostalgic joy. My favorite is the spinach pizza, astonishing in it's perfection. Looks just like the pizza place I ate lunch in during high school on Long Island. I have one complaint - I'm three blocks out of their delivery zone, so I have to schlep down San Pedro to pick up. Worth every gallon of gas!
(5)Lynne H.
This review applies only to their Spinach Delight pizza, since I keep ordering the same thing. Giovanni's has one of the best pizza crusts in the business! It's flavorful and yeasty, with crispy edges and a good chew in the middle. The Spinach Delight is a white pizza (meaning no tomato sauce) smothered in sauteed chopped spinach and garlic. My greens-phobic 4-year-old will scarf this stuff down without even a token protest. (NOTE: E coli is killed by cooking temperatures, so no worries about the spinach.) And the ice in their drinks is the best! It's pulverized and slightly fluffy but also chewy (yes, I am still talking about the ice and not the pizza crust). It's hard to describe, but trust me, it's wonderful.
(4)Chupacabra X.
*Update: Our favorite pizza for the last several months. It's really hard to want pizza from anywhere else now. ===== Great crust. We got the spinach special and the "New Mexico special". Both good, but I can't wait to go back again to try the red sause pizzas. The joint ain't much too look at, and the pizza took a while, but it's worth it.
(4)Mary S.
Absolutely the best pizza in ALBQ!!!!!!
(5)Jo R.
Best pizza ever!!! Loved it so much! I'm from Texas but I travel and found this place and it was sooo good. I don't even like pizza all that much, but I will definitely make a point to go back if I'm passing through.
(5)Larry G.
It's the best in Albuquerque, and I come from back East where good NY-style is the norm. I used to write restaurant reviews and I'm a food judge so I think I know what I'm talking about. I can't comment on anything more than the pizza because that's all I've ever eaten there, but I sure wish Giovanni's was located closer to where I live. Giovanni's pizza rules!
(5)Charity T.
This is the best pizza in Albuquerque. Love it!! And the restaurant is a cute little "hole in the wall" place with friendly service.
(5)Carrie N.
My absolute favorite pizza in New Mexico. NY style pizza, delicious sauce, fabulous cheese, great toppings. Cant go wrong with their pizza. Restaurant is bit of a hole in the wall and in a OUT of the way location (grr). You won't be sorry.
(5)nathalie f.
Some of the best pizza I've ever had. The crust was very thin, perfectly crispy and very flavourful. I had the cheese and green chile slice and it was perfectly balanced.
(5)Jackie R.
I find that my friends who are from NY state tend to rate this restaurant a little more highly than my friends who don't. I tried the spinach, but being a native of NM, the green I like best is chile. Family commented that the pizza was not greasy, which is true. Counter help is very friendly. Restaurant has checkered table cloths and walls full of information and reviews on the restaurant and its food. This is fun to read as you wait if you order a whole pie. Prices are a little more expensive for whole pizzas than most places, but they do offer what might have been ABQ's original specialty pizza. Good place for something different than the chains.
(4)jt w.
Excellent pizza!!! One of the few places in Albuquerque that you can get New York Style pizza with real 100% whole milk mozzarella!!! I've had both the cheese pizza and the spinach pizza--both great. The only complaint that I've had is when I ordered large pizzas they are always cooked perfectly, but when I've ordered smaller sizes, the pizzas were overcooked. Not a fancy place, but they make some of the best pizzas in town...My other two local favorite places to get real pizza is the Whole Foods on Academy (and only the one on Academy--the other Whole Foods serve a different pizza crust) and my new favorite--Sandia Crust in Cedar Crest.
(5)Dm M.
I tried calling several times for a delivery order between 3:30pm and 4:00pm on a Sunday with no answer. I would be surprised if a pizza restaurant would be closed on a Sunday, but I could not find out the hours from the web site. Fail.
(1)The Vegetarian Foodie N.
Not the best New York style pizza - but pretty close to the best - and to find it in New Mexico was great
(4)M G.
The pizza is really excellent! The spinach pizza is also very good, but it's a unique thing: don't expect it to be like regular pizza. It's completely covered with spinachy garlicky goodness. Their regular pizza is awesome, too. They have that crunchy aerated ice, and free refills on your Dr. Pepper. Update: I went back recently and the crust was not good. Still OK overall, but not as special as it was before.
(4)