We came here a couple weeks ago for a double date and had such a great experience! Between the four of us, we sampled several dishes and they were all fantastic. The margherita pizza with lemon parm was incredible, and the mortadella appetizer—oh my gosh, so good! The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the olive oil cake, but that’s just because I’m not a big fan of olive oil desserts. We did have to wait about an hour for a table (around 5 PM on a Saturday), but it was absolutely worth it. We can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Francisco Olea
Definitely worth the hype. Lasagna was a huge portion, definitely 10 layers. OTC pizza paired perfectly and was outstanding! Absolutely delicious pizza. Can’t wait to come back and try the other offerings. Great service! Busy and bustling, but attentive staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
eek myhero
Food - the pizza is absolutely delicious. The crust , the sauce, the ingredients, oh my! I had an Adam bamboo, sooo good. We also had a gluten-free pizza. You must order a GF pizza a day in advance, no big deal. There are 2 different GF crusts you can order. We had the thick Sicilian-type crust. Amazingly delicious. Such an unusual thing to run across! Love the little cupped pepperoni! It's a heavy pizza, compared to the non-GF version. If you love bready, deep dish, you'll love this! Everyone there seems invested. Atmosphere -Very small location. Hard to stay out of other people's way as you await a table or your pizza. Only two seats for waiting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Hotto
Arrived at this place 15min before opening and there was already a crowd in the 100 degree heat, a good sign of a good place.
They opened the doors at 2:59pm and I sat at the bar. The place has a very nice atmosphere, very bright and pristine looking.
I ordered a chicken parmigiana and asked if the pasta was made fresh to order and al dente. The bartender seemed nice but I got the feeling he was just yesing me.
When my food arrived, the presentation was top notch, pasta rolled tight on top of a chicken cutlet sprinkled hard cheese and a green leaf on top.
The breading on the chicken was a beautiful color, the chicken was moist and cooked very well. The sauce was very very flavorful and I appreciated the garlic notes. I give high praise for their sauce.
However, unfortunately my pasta wasn’t fresh to order and it was not al dente, it was overcooked and laying around before served to me - the telling sign amongst others is it was not hot, it was barely warm. The surprising thing here is I usually hate mushy laying around pasta, but despite this major fundamental flaw that is hard to come back from, the pasta was actually surprisingly pretty flavorful. A lot of places here in Tucson serve bland pasta, the spaghetti at Penelope’s is definitely well seasoned with the correct flavors. What annoys me is if this place actually served fresh out the pot pasta, ide probably be saying it’s the best in town. But I’m frustrated I can’t say that, if someone from management reads this please make fresh pasta!
As for the bartender, again he seemed nice, but he never once asked me how my food was and I left without telling him.
I did not try the pizza, but I am hoping to next time I get a chance to drop by.
Being a New York City transplant - I recommend the chicken parm here, but if you really love your pasta like me, you will be frustrated!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Lanette Mackey
One customer said in his review that having made the top 50 list of restaurants may turn out to be not too great a thing for this restaurant. Given how I was treated by the owner/chef/cook, recently I would agree that they may not be able to handle the pressure that is intrinsic to opening the doors of yet again one more restaurant in Tucson! Having great food is one thing but being able to handle the pressure of their growing popularity while still treating customers with decency and respect is a whole other issue.
Since their roots are as a food truck I fear the owner wasn't ready for this type of endeavor. Because of these factors I am pretty convinced this wil be their undoing... Hopefully he will be able to handle the psychological pressure that he is under which I believe causes him to lash out at customers (and God knows who else, staff, suppliers!!!).
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Eryk de la Montaña
Delicious but skimpy portions for the price.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sgt Pepper
Kimberly Carson
Just left after having dinner with my family. We had the Pammy & Little Miss pizzas & tiramisu. Absolutely delicious. Have to go back (date night, anyone?) to try some of the pasta dishes that the neighboring tables had became they looked amazing. Great job, Penelope's Pizza.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pammy Pizza
Samantha Johnsen
Penelope Pizza is absolutely fantastic! The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the hospitality went above and beyond. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed and cared for. Every detail made the experience over the top. Highly recommend to anyone looking for amazing pizza and a place that truly values its customers!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ILLA KRASNICK
Exemplary service! Delicious food! Personalized service. They actually care. Can't wait to go back.
Penelope Pizza feels like the kind of small-town pizzeria everyone wishes they had nearby. From the moment you walk in, the aroma of fresh dough and melted cheese wraps around you like a welcome hug. The space is casual and unpretentious, the kind of spot where families gather after a game, friends laugh over a pitcher, and travelers find comfort in something familiar yet special.
The pizza itself is the headline. The crust has just the right balance of crisp and chew, the sauce is rich with flavor, and the toppings are generous without going overboard. Whether you lean classic with a pepperoni or adventurous with one of their specialty pies, each bite feels like it was made with care. The calzones and garlic knots deserve their own mention too, hearty enough to make you forget about ordering anything else.
The staff add to the charm. They move quickly but carry a friendly, laid-back energy that fits the spirit of a local pizza joint. There is nothing fancy here, but there is heart, and that is what makes Penelope Pizza a place worth remembering.
Grateful Traveler’s Note
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Juan Vanegas
Very busy place. Worth the wait. Friendly staff and great pizza!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Tasha Vargas
This place is a cute little spot. We ordered a pizza and salad to share and both were fantastic. The pizza crust is light and fluffy. Not at all dense. It was perfect! We had their house salad which was wonderfully different than an ordinary salad. We plan to visit sooner than later to try out more wonderful things on the menu…especially the tiramisu. The staff were all so wonderful! Very attentive and willing to give their input on the menu.
The one feedback I would give is to get some sort of gnat control for the restaurant. I am A plant lover which made me love this place even more. However, I did notice a lot of gnats. So I would treat the soil or get some lights for over night. This won’t keep me away from this place though. I will for sure be back sooner than later.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Jim, House Salad
Philip Scanlon
We had to stop in and see why this place is always packed. It did not disappoint. We weren't brave enough to try any of the specialty pizzas. We stayed simple and had a pepperoni pizza and shared a chicken parmesan. Both were delicious. We will be returning. 👍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Connor
Awesome Food and Atmosphere! Meatballs and Sauce were Amazing, Caesar Salad Tremendous while Pizza was to die for. Definitely coming back! Thanks Y'all for a Great Evening
Incredible food, super kind staff, relaxed atmosphere, reasonable prices. A real diamond in the rough of today's restaurant landscape.
Their mac and cheese was crazy good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Margherita Pizza, Bread \u0026 Friends
We came here a couple weeks ago for a double date and had such a great experience! Between the four of us, we sampled several dishes and they were all fantastic. The margherita pizza with lemon parm was incredible, and the mortadella appetizer—oh my gosh, so good! The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the olive oil cake, but that’s just because I’m not a big fan of olive oil desserts. We did have to wait about an hour for a table (around 5 PM on a Saturday), but it was absolutely worth it. We can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Definitely worth the hype. Lasagna was a huge portion, definitely 10 layers. OTC pizza paired perfectly and was outstanding! Absolutely delicious pizza. Can’t wait to come back and try the other offerings. Great service! Busy and bustling, but attentive staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food - the pizza is absolutely delicious. The crust , the sauce, the ingredients, oh my! I had an Adam bamboo, sooo good. We also had a gluten-free pizza. You must order a GF pizza a day in advance, no big deal. There are 2 different GF crusts you can order. We had the thick Sicilian-type crust. Amazingly delicious. Such an unusual thing to run across! Love the little cupped pepperoni! It's a heavy pizza, compared to the non-GF version. If you love bready, deep dish, you'll love this!
Everyone there seems invested.
Atmosphere -Very small location. Hard to stay out of other people's way as you await a table or your pizza. Only two seats for waiting.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arrived at this place 15min before opening and there was already a crowd in the 100 degree heat, a good sign of a good place.
They opened the doors at 2:59pm and I sat at the bar. The place has a very nice atmosphere, very bright and pristine looking.
I ordered a chicken parmigiana and asked if the pasta was made fresh to order and al dente. The bartender seemed nice but I got the feeling he was just yesing me.
When my food arrived, the presentation was top notch, pasta rolled tight on top of a chicken cutlet sprinkled hard cheese and a green leaf on top.
The breading on the chicken was a beautiful color, the chicken was moist and cooked very well. The sauce was very very flavorful and I appreciated the garlic notes. I give high praise for their sauce.
However, unfortunately my pasta wasn’t fresh to order and it was not al dente, it was overcooked and laying around before served to me - the telling sign amongst others is it was not hot, it was barely warm. The surprising thing here is I usually hate mushy laying around pasta, but despite this major fundamental flaw that is hard to come back from, the pasta was actually surprisingly pretty flavorful. A lot of places here in Tucson serve bland pasta, the spaghetti at Penelope’s is definitely well seasoned with the correct flavors. What annoys me is if this place actually served fresh out the pot pasta, ide probably be saying it’s the best in town. But I’m frustrated I can’t say that, if someone from management reads this please make fresh pasta!
As for the bartender, again he seemed nice, but he never once asked me how my food was and I left without telling him.
I did not try the pizza, but I am hoping to next time I get a chance to drop by.
Being a New York City transplant - I recommend the chicken parm here, but if you really love your pasta like me, you will be frustrated!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
One customer said in his review that having made the top 50 list of restaurants may turn out to be not too great a thing for this restaurant. Given how I was treated by the owner/chef/cook, recently I would agree that they may not be able to handle the pressure that is intrinsic to opening the doors of yet again one more restaurant in Tucson! Having great food is one thing but being able to handle the pressure of their growing popularity while still treating customers with decency and respect is a whole other issue.
Since their roots are as a food truck I fear the owner wasn't ready for this type of endeavor. Because of these factors I am pretty convinced this wil be their undoing... Hopefully he will be able to handle the psychological pressure that he is under which I believe causes him to lash out at customers (and God knows who else, staff, suppliers!!!).
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Delicious but skimpy portions for the price.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sgt Pepper
Just left after having dinner with my family. We had the Pammy & Little Miss pizzas & tiramisu. Absolutely delicious. Have to go back (date night, anyone?) to try some of the pasta dishes that the neighboring tables had became they looked amazing. Great job, Penelope's Pizza.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pammy Pizza
Penelope Pizza is absolutely fantastic! The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the hospitality went above and beyond. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed and cared for. Every detail made the experience over the top. Highly recommend to anyone looking for amazing pizza and a place that truly values its customers!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Exemplary service! Delicious food! Personalized service. They actually care. Can't wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Penelope Pizza feels like the kind of small-town pizzeria everyone wishes they had nearby. From the moment you walk in, the aroma of fresh dough and melted cheese wraps around you like a welcome hug. The space is casual and unpretentious, the kind of spot where families gather after a game, friends laugh over a pitcher, and travelers find comfort in something familiar yet special.
The pizza itself is the headline. The crust has just the right balance of crisp and chew, the sauce is rich with flavor, and the toppings are generous without going overboard. Whether you lean classic with a pepperoni or adventurous with one of their specialty pies, each bite feels like it was made with care. The calzones and garlic knots deserve their own mention too, hearty enough to make you forget about ordering anything else.
The staff add to the charm. They move quickly but carry a friendly, laid-back energy that fits the spirit of a local pizza joint. There is nothing fancy here, but there is heart, and that is what makes Penelope Pizza a place worth remembering.
Grateful Traveler’s Note
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Very busy place. Worth the wait. Friendly staff and great pizza!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
This place is a cute little spot. We ordered a pizza and salad to share and both were fantastic. The pizza crust is light and fluffy. Not at all dense. It was perfect! We had their house salad which was wonderfully different than an ordinary salad. We plan to visit sooner than later to try out more wonderful things on the menu…especially the tiramisu. The staff were all so wonderful! Very attentive and willing to give their input on the menu.
The one feedback I would give is to get some sort of gnat control for the restaurant. I am
A plant lover which made me love this place even more. However, I did notice a lot of gnats. So I would treat the soil or get some lights for over night. This won’t keep me away from this place though. I will for sure be back sooner than later.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Jim, House Salad
We had to stop in and see why this place is always packed. It did not disappoint. We weren't brave enough to try any of the specialty pizzas. We stayed simple and had a pepperoni pizza and shared a chicken parmesan. Both were delicious. We will be returning. 👍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome Food and Atmosphere! Meatballs and Sauce were Amazing, Caesar Salad Tremendous while Pizza was to die for. Definitely coming back! Thanks Y'all for a Great Evening
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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