Pisano’s Pizzeria

They’ve closed down with no indication of having moved. What a bitter pill. This was one of the best pizza joints in town. It’s a loss for the whole community.

Good pizza, nothing amazing. We tried the Chicago style stuffed pizza. I recall pizza in Chicago having a bit more cheese. Sauce did have a great flavor! Might try again, but will try others in the area first.

This pizza place is now closed as of 8÷1÷2010.

I’ve eaten from here several times, and I’ve loved the food each and every time. After spending some time in Chicago last year and eating a bunch of pizza while there, I’d say this is a very accurate representation of a Chicago pie. This sauce is great, and the crust is good.
I recommend getting an order of the cheese sticks. They’re the best I’ve had anywhere, period.

As long as you know what you are getting into this place is awesome. If you are looking for a healthier meal go to Red brick Pizza. If what you are craving is a deep dish Pie with all flavors of Chicago then this is the place. The Italian Beef, excellent, the meat balls heavenly. The Deep dish was so satisfying I think I am crying little tears of joy right now.
This Pisano’s Pizza will definitely not rank up there on any dietitians top 10 choices, but when you want some serious GUY food, this is the spot. Next time I am in here the Sweet Home Chicago pizza (deep dish of course) is what I am going for.

Killer pizza thin or deep dish. This is by far one of the best pizza I’ve had period. I’ve eaten in Chicago, NY, and all types of pizza joints known for their good pizza and this takes the best for a number of reasons. The ingredients are fresh and they heap it on just the way I like it. It is not super greasy pizza like others that just pile on the cheese and sausage. One bite and flavor comes out in waves.
Now onto the Italian Beef Sandwich. You really must try this period. The beef is marinated to perfection and comes out juicy and beefy flavored with Italian spice. The texture of the thinly sliced beef is amazingly tender and you will not find an overly chewy bit at all. Their Giardiniera, pronounced, «jardin-​air» is authentic and spicy as it should be. They even do a pizza version of the Italian beef which is something you will not find anywhere. The owner and pizza chef are friendly and if you have the same enthusiasm about pizza and beef sandwich which they carry, you will feel right at home.
This is now my only goto place for pizza and conveniently a few minutes from my house. Enjoy fellow Unilocaler’s
I’ve attached a picture of the Big Boss Deep dish, so you can drool over.

My Bf surprized me with dinner. He pick up a pizza from Pisano’s.
Now BF is not much of a talker but this is what I dragged out of him.
Guy behind counter was nice. Service was fast. Sorry, that’s all he said. Now onto the pizza.
He ordered the sausage pizza. It was okay. The sauce was definately Mid-​west (Chicago style) sauce. That is to say, it was sweet and not garlicy. Crust wasn’t bad. Sausage was tasty.
Would I order it again? Maybe, if Saccone’s is closed.

This place has the best pizza in the Austin-​area. I drove there from Round Rock based on a friend’s suggestion. Now I pay the toll on the toll road to get there at least once every two weeks.
The ONLY way this place would be any better is if they delivered to Round Rock. I hope they make it big and open a second location closer to me.
BTW, the Chicago beef sandwich and meatball sub are equally incredible. This is a must-​try.

New Domino’s? Fuggedaboudit. The best pizza in Cedar Park today is Pasiano’s. Owned and run by a 3^rd generation Chicago Italian restaurateur +family man & his wife, the flavors are rich, the ingredients are quality and when its all said and done you’re already thinking about your next visit. Don’t come for fancy tables and froofy ambiance — Pasiano’s is small and no frills, and you’ll find that goes for the not-​yet-​existent website. (UPDATE:
) Who needs the inter-​webs to bring us to good food anyway? Just call and ask for directions — old school — just like the fine deep dish and Chicago-​style pie you’ll find when you arrive. Enjoy.

Not all that. Nothing about Pisano’s is worth leaving your home. You’re better off going to HEB and getting a frozen pizza. It’s cheaper and tastes the same. Not sure why there are people given it more than 2 stars.
Had a deep dish, thin crist and calzones for the kids. First calzone that I’ve had with american cheese. No ricotta? Horible! Crust has the flavor of cardboard and has the texture of a thick pie crust.
Yahgi’s is MUCH better and less expensive. Spent $ 75 for 2 pizza’s and 4 calzones.

Keeps getting better. Now we’ve had their pizza several times and it’s so delicious, always consistent. We crave it!
Tony is the manager and works hard; the pizza is sooo delicious. Seriously, it makes Mangia taste like cardboard. Fresh ingredients, not super greasy, delicious crust.
We get the New York New York as deep dish, large, and it’s enough for three meals.

I drove 20 minutes in the fog on a Saturday night from North Central Austin to get this pie, and it was damn worth it. I am shocked at all the lame 1 star flame reviews, these can only be done by someone with a vendetta, a classless pos, a complete hater, other competition, or someone with no tastebuds… maybe all the above.
In full disclosure I admit, I am going 5 stars to off set the BS reviews I see here, but it would be an easy 4 and more likely a true 4.5
I mean c’mon, even if this pizza was bad, which it is not, it would still be atleast a 2 star… I mean a freaking pizza, the most perfect food on the planet has to be amazingly bad to be a 1 star… I’ve certainly never eaten a 1 star pizza, and my second favorite past time is trying out and seeking the perfect pizza, and I’ve definetly kissed a few frogs in that quest… anyways.
I am not an authority on Chicago style pizza, I’ve been twice and have ate what was considered «the» quintessential Chicago style pizza to try in the city… atleast on a mainstream level I guess… and it was good but honestly the style is just not my favorite with the sauce on top and the layers etc., but I like thick crust pizza and love bread and pizza, so I am always looking to try new things and I get an itch for the style every once in a while, and this pizza did not dissapoint in the least bit if you like the style. It blows Mangia away in my opinion and is HALF the price.
The sauce was sweet and thick just how I like it, and the cheese was very good and of an obvious high quality from the taste, and how it pulled when bitten into and there was no skimping on it either. The pepperoni seemed standard, and I guess that’s where the style (deep dish Chicago) dissapoints my taste buds since I like to taste my toppings first and I like them cooked well done to flavor in on my pizza, so I like my pepperoni a little crispy and greasy on top. The dough/​bread was very good, and the pie was perhaps even better the second day when reheated. I can eat, and two slices was very filling, but I stuffed a third down.
I met the owner when I picked it up and he was cool, and friendly and through our conversation I know he takes pride in his product and craft, and knows pizza. He seemed more upfront and blunt and matter of fact in his personality even through the phone call when I first ordered, which some in Texas might percieve as rude, but I appreciated personally. More like an east coast, fast attitude I guess was my perception and thats not a slight (I was born in Jersey).
Just saying, some people expect everyone to kiss their ass with customer service these days and if they don’t get that they whine and complain saying how awful they were treated, so just a heads up as I know some might miconstrue this, and perhaps some of these reviews might be based off this… who knows.
Honestly I felt I made out like a bandit since I got a huge pie that could have fed 3 hungry people easy, a side of garlic bread, and a drink for $ 13 and some change, and I even tipped a buck. Great value (mangia’s would have been $ 25 easy), excellent authentic pizza and I’ll be back to try another style next time.

Got hungry for a deep dish pizza watching the Travel Channel talking about Uno’s and Gino’s in Chicago. I had heard of a «new» pizza place here in Cedar Park that made «outstanding» Chicago style pizza. When I heard the address, I had my doubts. I had been to that address before, and the food was good, but not great!
But I decided as I continued to watch travel channel, I decided to go back to the restaurant again. Boy, was I glad I did!!! Pisano’s has only been at this address for a couple of months, having taken over the location from the «pizza» place that used to be there. If you are familiar with the prior establishment on buttercup, let me assure you there is ABSOLUTELY NO comparison to Tony and his team!!!
I ordered Sammy’s boss Pizza which is a deep-​dish, not like, I was told, «UNO’s or GINO’s,» but a deep-​dish Chicago nonetheless. While I waited for the pie to be readied (I was glad that I hadn’t ordered by phone ahead of time –) I talked to Tony about Chicago, Rockford and surrounding suburbs, and various favorite restaurants in those areas.
A relative of his (Dad, maybe?) ran a successful Pizza place in south Chicago called Nino’s, and the pizza oven that Tony has here was from that restaurant. Tony has been in the pizza business one way or another since he was twelve. We talked about Italian beef, and after tasting a sample, I can tell you that his Italian beef is as good as Portillos including the pepper relish and the au juice that it is cooked in. His meatballs and the marinara sauce is also as Chicago as I have found here, and if you know me, I’ve been looking for 30 years.
Anyway to the Pizza: It was indeed «outstanding.» One reason is that Tony has the sausage and the rest «imported» into Texas from up north. No wonder, it tastes like Chicago.
Outstanding Tony and team! Keep up the good work! Would I go back? I may be there again tomorrow! Heck yes, I will definitely be back with all my friends who come from or are curious about «Chicago» foods. I recommend this to anyone on the great pizza search!

My family and I were so sad when the last pizza joint located here went under… but now we are excited to have a «Chicago» style pizzeria in our neighborhood.
We walked in on a Friday night, after a long day of messing around with the children, and I had no intention on cooking once we arrived home. The place was packed and we had no idea what to order. The gentleman behind the counter cooking greeted us with a big smile and a menu. We skimmed over the menu and still had no idea what to order. The man, who handed us our menus, suggested the «south sider». I am in no way familiar with «Chicago» pizza and my husband has always been a Connan’s savage fan so he immediately jumped aboard the South Sider idea. It was delicious! The meat was layered on so thick that at first I didn’t think there was a bottom crust. The sauce was heavy and could have been a meal by itself. The whole pizza was so big that it took us a couple of days to finish it all. In addition to the south sider we also tried a small, thin crust pizza with olives and pepperoni. My 4 year old is a very picky eater and we were surprised to see him gobble down this enormous «small, thin crust» pizza. Being the mom that I am, I of coarse, added a salad to our order which was already way to much for a family of four to consume. «The Capone» salad was Awesome!!! I loved it! There was so much of it that I had a chance to eat it the next day and I was happy to see that the lettuce was not wilted and the tomatoes were still fresh! We will be back again, and again!

I’m a fan of Home Slice, Domenick’s and Original Pie Co… so you know what I like. The only thing Pisano’s has in common with these favorites of mine, is that the pie is round.
Let’s start with the crust. I didn’t see them make it, so I can only assume this based on taste, consistency and texture — it’s not home made nor is it a yeast based crust. It’s more like the stuff you get in the freezer section. Not at all doughy or chewey. Also, clearly had been pressed rather than hand tossed.
Now, the sauce — way too thick and sweet. And finally — the toppings — cheese and pepperoni. Well, they were fine.
We tried it. It’s not to our liking, so we won’t be returning.

Probably the worst deep dish pizza i ever had. you do not deserve to use the word «Chicago» and pizza in the same sentence. Ike Sewell and Rudy Malnati (founders of deep dish pizza) would be rolling over in there grave! This is from wikipedia on how a Chicago deep dish pizza is supposed to be made…
«The pizza begins with a thick layer of dough made with olive oil and cornmeal laid into a deep round pan and pulled up by the sides, then parbaked before the toppings are added to give it greater spring; the pan is oiled heavily in order to create a fried effect on the outside of the crust. The crust is covered with cheese (generally sliced mozzarella) and meats, usually in a solid layer or patty, just above the crust. Italian sausage (a Chicago staple), as well as vegetables such as onions, mushrooms and bell peppers are also used. A sauce, usually uncooked, made from shredded or puréed tomatoes is added. Deep-​dish pizza is mostly eaten with a knife and fork, since its thick gooeyness makes it awkward to eat with the fingers.»
Take notes pisano’s… CORNMEAL crust not flour, SLICED quality mozzarella not shredded low-​bid cheese, a SOLID layer or patty of real italian sausage not little pieces, and UNCOOKED TOMATO PUREE only on the top of the pizza not a garbage tomato sauce on the top and bottom.
UPDATE… This is the message I received in my inbox from «Tony C» I’m guessing the owner of Pisano’s.
«By your reviews you don’t compliment many. I will give you your money back for the pizza you ordered if you got the balls to come down and get it. come on down. I am not Lou Malnati, and frankly I think you you probably grew up in the suburbs and really can’t call yourself a Chicagoan. I use the best cheese money can buy, and I make my pizza a little different from the original 50 year old plus wikepedia version of the deep dish. I would love to hear your thoughts. From a true Sicilian Chicago South Sider to a North Side hard to please critic who knows nothing about pizza. I look forward to meeting you. I am hear open to close. By the way most of my reviews are from real Chicagoans from the city, not the suburbs»

Wow, Pisano’s makes all other Chicago style pizza places taste like frozen pizza. The owner is a super nice guy from Chicago. Come hungry and leave full. Best pizza I had in Texas!

So, we got a flier on our door for Pisano’s, today. Looked at the menu and saw they deliver. Perfect. FYI to restaurants in Leander/​Cedar Park… this method does work and it is one of the few ways we find out about new restaurants and especially ones with delivery.
We ordered a 14-​inch Chicago deep dish with pepperoni and sausage. First you cannot beat the price, $ 17 and change with delivery fee. Try getting that from Mangia.
It was delivered on time (less than an hour) and hot! The crust is relatively thin, yeast-​leavened crust… the way it should be. A number of other places use a pastry-​like or biscuit crust. Yuck. The sauce was not too thick and had a slight spiciness and best of all, it was not sweet (yeah). The sausage was real sausage, not the stuff used at the chain places and also AJ’s. The cheese was a nice thick layer of gooey goodness. Pepperoni was standard.
The verdict: My husband said it was a lot like eating lasagna with crust and promptly devoured 3 slices. I enjoyed my 2 slices. It was a great pizza worth ordering again. I think it was much better than Mangia, not only for value but also for taste (they use too much sauce and there sauce is just not tasty to me).
Does Pisano provide authentic Chicago deep dish pizza? Dunno, I am not from there, nor am I an expert on the dish. But, I do know we will order it again and again (and the the thin pizza too). It is also fab that there is another place to give competition to the chain places in Cedar Park/​Leander.

Thanks to Nutchanat for turning me on to this place! AND they deliver to my house! Yay! I called to order last nite and understandably they are freshly opened and stumbling a bit, but placing my order with what sounded like «Butthead» was slow and painful (Itried not to use words like «sausage» or «jalopenis»). I could have snail-​mailed my credit card info and been done faster. It was most amusing actually and I was truly curious IF we would get a pizza and HOW it would turn out.
Sure enough, about 35 minutes later they arrived with a burn-​the-​roof-​of-​your-​mouth-​hot pizza, loaded with goodies and with a super thin crust, AND it was square cut which nostalgically reminded me of my fave place Bud and Walts, that closed years ago. I like these square cut «negative edge» pies where the toppings go all the way to end, only held back by a sliver of cracker crunchy crust. And this was near to perfect.
We were watching «Hot Rod» too and I don’t want to spoil this movie for you, but… it’s no Oscar winner. It is entertaining and easy to watch and at times funny, and the pizza was a perfect accompaniment, like watching the «Wizard of Oz» with Dark Side of The Moon playing.
I was surprised at one point to see «Rod» doing his pre-​stunt Tai Kwan Do by a lake shirtless (ala Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse) and he was hot! Just like the scorching jalapenos in my mouth… I was sweating all over, in a good way.
I was also surprised to see top star Sissy Spacek in this movie and was even more surprised to see one of my personal favorite topping stars on my pizza… tons and tons of smokey bacon. Salty goodness!
We ordered the «Works» as we had no menu and the thought of going thru it all with Butthead on the phone caused me to age prematurely. It came with sausage (hee hee), bacon, ham, pepperoni, (i think hamburger), tomato, onion, bell peppers, shrooms and black olives and we asked for the jalapenos. All of this goodness was held together by tasty stringy, yet strong cheese, just like all the elements in the movie were held together by a soundtrack wholly consisting of «Europe“‘s glam metal cheese. As in Europe the band. As in «It’s the Final Countdown…» REally cheesy goodness!
So «Hot Rod» no award winner, and probly neither Pisanos. But both great for an easy cheesy nite at home. I may not have to see Hot Rod again, but I’ll definitely be letting Pisanos bring me some pizza again. I’ll just call Butthead up and say «Dude, bring me your sausage and jalapenis… hee hee hee…»

I’m gonna try not to tell y’all what side of bed I got up on this morning ;)
Here goes…
It’s an old Garlic Joe’s.
I must say, they have good pizza.
A nice, airy place with friendly people.
Open till midnight 7 days a week and they deliver.