Isabella’s Pizzeria

So I went here based on all the shinning reviews… and I was seriously let down. Got the house special, it was extremely greasy, I posted a pic if you don’t believe me. The bottom half of every piece was soggy and when you pick up a piece everything (cheese and all) would slide off leaving just the sauc 0_​o, the edge of the crust was burnt and chewy in places, and the pizza was pretty flavorless IMO. This was the first time I remember getting pizza from a pizza joint that I just didn’t want to eat.
I noticed most of the reviews are from a couple years ago so I don’t know if the place has gone downhill or if we caught them on an off day, but we won’t be going back.

The pizza was amazing and the cheesecake was to die for!!!

If I’m at work and I want to grab a couple slices of pizza for lunch then this is the place I go. It’s pretty Spartan inside and the interior and exterior can definitely use an extreme makeover but I’m here for the food! I usually get the pepperoni pizza but it’s seems to be too greasy so I spend about a couple minutes soaking up the grease with a wad of napkins. I’ve tried the calzone and stromboli before but it has been so long that I cannot really have an opinion on it. The slices are large and easy to fold. This is definitely one of those hole-​in-​the-​wall places. It’s not near any of the busy streets running through Grand Prairie and you wouldn’t even know it’s there unless you’re looking for it. This place definitely deserves a try for someone who has never been but may not be for someone who expects the total package (ambiance, beautiful interior & exterior, etc.)

The same great food for the last 30 years. I grew up in GP, and Isabellas is a legend. Ok, so its a dated resturant, old tables, un-​hip décor. The green ’72 pinto wagon died years ago, so they may not deliver anymore, but thats not the point.
Its the food! Crunchy NY style dough cooked crisp, pretty thin. Brick oven flavor, perfect sauce, plenty of toppings, and a lot of cheese is the standard. Its a few bucks more than the chain pizza stores since they use actual meats (a joke folks.) and fresh everything. Is a lot of food folks, and Its flavor is worth twice the price. Its as good as i remember as a kid, and i’ve eaten a lot of pizza since then!

This is honestly one of those «don’t judge a book by its cover» types of things. On the outside its not a looker, but it does have pretty awesome food. It is what it is take a few people have some good food, with good company. I mean Gp is not a vacation spot by any means most people don’t know where the crap it is. But if you happen to find yourself there by all means go to Isabella’s you will find that it is a great place to eat and pass the time away!

Upon walking in you might be greeted by Wayne Lapierre, if not in person, at least in spirit. Can’t go wrong there.
The pizza is incredibly unique, just the right amount of slop on top to make it irresistible. it’s got a bit of grease, yet you won’t feel bloated after eating 3 – 4 pieces. not sure how they do that.
This is good pizza, if a bit on the expensive side if you are doing more than one, it’s well worth it.
The gentleman behind the counter may crack a joke or two in such humor only akin to the Sahara, but, rest assured, if he tells you they don’t make pizza anymore or have a mandatory anchovy policy, he’s only yankin your chain.

If you were to rank Texas cities by population, Grand Prairie falls in the top 20. Hard to believe, right? It’s bigger than Carrollton and most of the north Dallas suburbs. It has twice the population of Galveston.
And yet, despite all those people, it can definitely be summed up with the one characteristic many Dallas County residents incorrectly ascribe to places like Arlington or even Ft. Worth. That being that there is a complete lack of quality dining establishment aside from a few chains and/​or fast food joints. Put it this way: you’re not going out for sushi in GP any time soon. But you might go out for pizza…
To call Isabella’s a dive would be an insult to places that are actually dives. I’ve seen break areas in industrial plants with more ambiance. It’s in a strip mall that may have been built in the forties. There’s a giant mixer just sitting in the seating area, which consists of rickety tables and a rack that usually has the day’s newspaper and a bunch of gun catalogs. There are old posters of Grand Prairie High School sports teams from the eighties. There are also glorious newspaper reviews from the 80s hanging on the walls – some of which contain photos of the only 3 people I consistently see working at the place – that would be Isabella Waggenheim, who usually makes the pizza, her husband Howard, who usually mans the register in an gun-​related cap, and Leroy Overby who does most of the customer service – bringing you your food and greeting you (check the website to see the reviews).
This is not gourmet pizza. This is New York style giant slices or pies with a thin crust, a minimum amount of sauce, a ridiculous amount of cheese. It’s greasy. It’s good.
There’s also cheesecake, sub sandwiches, calzones, and pasta. But the pizza is absolutely the draw here. It’s ridiculous to call pizza «the best» at any one place. But you have to say that this is among the best and as good as it gets for NY Style.

Service — 3 Stars
Food — 4 Stars Definitely!
Location — 2 Stars
This is a great big THANK YOU, to all the 11 Unilocalers who reviewed this place before me. Without you I wouldn’t know about this place. Without your positive reviews, I wouldn’t have stopped if I had gone by the place. Talk about your can’t-tell-good-pizza-without-eating-it-first kind of place!
Unusally good pizza. Very different crust than I’m used to eating. Again, I can’t describe the crust, except to say, its not buttery, not garlicy (word?) and not burned around edges, (a pet peeve). It is very good, though. The toppings were plentiful and the cheese generously laid on.
The man behind the counter, who I would never believe is named Isabella, says he’s from Phillie (Go Cowboys!) So I don’t know if we’re talking a Phillie style pizza or not. Well I hate, Hate, HATE, the Eagles, but I like this pizza crust.
The place looks like a prime candidate for urban renewal from the outside, but the inside is spotlessly clean (even the bathrooms, as previously noted by another Unilocaler). My wife and I enjoyed dining there, even if it weren’t the Ritz.
The 16″ cheese pizza was $ 15 before toppings. The special with everything is $ 21. Great price to food ratio.
What would I change? The mushrooms were not fresh, but canned and the pizza crust could have used just a touch of salt to bring out its yeasty bread flavor. A nearby shaker took care of that last thing, but I may avoid mushrooms in the future. And there definitely will be a future with us.
So thanks, Unilocalers. You done yourselves proud!

Found this place using my iPhone Unilocal app. I was in the area and was starving so we decided to pop in. We ordered the special pizza (every topping they have) minus the onions and I can honestly say I was not disappointed. And the pizza & slices were HUGE. We ended up taking most of it home. And I have to say it was even better left over :-). It is a hole-​in-​the-​wall joint and has a comfortable feel to it. The pizza is not greasy or oily… which I liked. If you’re close by definitely stop in & try it!

It’s the classic hole-​in-​the-​wall dive of a place that does a great take-​out business: while I ate my pizza about a dozen folks either picked up orders or placed then and took away. The Pizza is unique: good solid basic pizza, just right crust, a little too much cheese, but it is good.
Not a destination restaurant, but if you are in the hood by all means do stop by and try one: the Isabella Special Pizza has everything, with optional Jalapenos and Anchovies. I was too stuffed for dessert, maybe next time.

Isabella’s is one of those quirky, out-​of-​the-​way, mom and pop, family owned and operated, little known restaurant dives that you would expect to see on that show hosted by the spikey-​haired loudmouth guy who always parks his sunglasses on the back of his noggin.
It ain’t New York pizza, but a creation all it’s own …
If pizza had a gallery, a slice of Isabella’s pie WOULD be hanging in it, tempting all those who come to marvel at its shear beauty and taste.
It ain’t Sbarro’s either, so don’t expect the standard-​sized baby slice that you can readily scarf down in a few bites. Your gonna’ need a fork and knife here, pizza boy. Believe me, one slice will do you for lunch, I made the mistake my first time of ordering two and was STUFFED to the hilt.
It was a good stuffed, though – one that I plan to repeat often in the near future …

i am not going to compare this place to nyc pizzerias because WE ARE NOT IN NYC… i ordered the special slice with everything on it… this was my first thoughts… the thin crust they use is very good, a little crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, im assuming having a well worn in pizza oven helps… by the way the slices are really big… second thought was damn im halfway through this and it doesnt feel like i just drank a liter of oil and grease… the answer to that is QUALITY INGREDIENTS… cheap and crappy cheese is what causes grease and this barely had any or none at all… pepperoni was very good and they use a sausage that looks like briskett (sliced that way i mean)…i highly recommend this place, next time i will try the cheese cake

Real deal, great place. Descriptions here on Unilocal will guide you well. Support the great places of America.
Had the special pizza slice (everything toppings) $ 6.60 on Thursday, one slice is indeed enough. Managed to also split a piece of the great cheesecake. Ice tea was fresh. Friendly staff.
One last comment, bathroom were very clean.

I saw the reviews saying this was great pizza so I gave it a shot and tried the cheesecake too.
Now if it has four people raving it’s good, must be pretty good, right?
First off, when you see this place, it’s not very polished… and I’m trying to be nice here. Whatever, if the pizza is good, who cares, right?
I called and asked for two slices to go and he called me back and told me it would be ready in 25 minutes… I was thinking to myself… why 25 minutes to cook two slices?
When I got there, it seems he prepared two PIES for me… I was like, geez! Whatever, I paid for it without saying anything because I figured, this stuff has got to be good, right? Four positive reviews!
I went for the cheesecake first and it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either. I’ve had better at cheesecake factory or TGI Friday’s (suprisingly).
After that I had some slices of pizza thinking it was gonna be like royalty or something. Took a bite and another. It was actually kinda bland and oily. I was kinda upset cuz I was expecting a lot after seeing those previous reviews.
It’s gas oven cooked and it’s got a lot of cheese on top. Tastewise, it’s just ok.
Later that night I had the runs and don’t want to elaborate on that.

This is the best pizza you will ever have in your life. And do not get me started on the cheesecake.
I have been going to this place since I was in high school because the owner’s family happens to be very close to me. You may find is bias but you can read the other reviews.
It’s family owned and operated, and they know their regulars.
The pizza has a super thin crust and is easiest with a knife and fork. And all the ingredients could not be fresher.
The cheesecake is the best I have ever tasted. Friends that completely hate cheesecake fight over the last bite of this stuff. You can order it with a topping but I always have it plain. They are made weekly but run out quick. Apparently people buy whole cakes and stock up, not that I can blame or judge.
Growing up in Arlington and now living in Highland Park I will say this, it is worth the drive!

My husband is italian and knows a great pizza. He has taught me what real good pizza is and it’s Isabella’s!!! There really isn’t anything like it. I can’t explain how rich the pizza is and cheesey. The crust is perfect and it is served up hot hot on a metal tray. Love it. The double hamburger is a classic. The atomsphere is rather lacking but with pizza that good you hardly notice. You MUST try this place if you like a good pizza.

4 Stars for the Homemade Cheesecake made fresh every week. This place is worth visiting just for the cheesecake. Try the blueberry topping on it its amazing.

I second, «It’s worth visiting». This little dive, located in what was once a 7-​Eleven store and now a pizzeria, is run by a retired navy chief originally from New York and his Italian wife. The pizza is thin crust and the best way to get it is by the slice. (one slice is enough!, they’re huge). Order the toppings you prefer and they prep the slice (all originally cheese unless you order a whole pizza) and throw it in the oven to get it hot while you wait. They also have really good calzones made to order.
The cheesecake is amazing! Made fresh by his wife and then aged for a couple weeks until dense and creamy and delicious! Absolutely do not skip the cheesecake, though I personally would skip any topping on it — it is just too amazing on its own. Have a slice and remember what a true cheesecake is! This is the real deal.