Ordering food here is a hassle and, frankly, not worth the effort.
I've heard great things about this place, so I was willing to deal with their absurd ordering procedures.
This being Lent, I knew I wanted pizza for dinner. I called at 12:15 on Friday afternoon to order a pie for 6:30 pm. I was told that they couldn't accommodate me until 7:30pm. I agreed to that.
OK, whatever. I can appreciate a chef whom only wants to serve his food while it's at its peak.
But, whomever heard of a pizza place that REQUIRES pizza to be pre-ordered? I've never pre-planned a single pie before.
Around 7:10 that night, I got a phone call from the restaurant. I had ordered fresh basil on my pie. They told me that they were out of it and offered basil oil as an alternative. I didn't want that. I'd settle for the pie plain.
I arrive at Marisa's parking lot around 7:20. There's a sign on the door informing one that you are to remain outside the restaurant until your name is displayed on the whiteboard, announcing that your food is ready.
I can understand this, as when you enter the restaurant, one is immediately greeted by an "L" shaped counter. It's a space maybe 4.5' wide with the cash register at one end and the door to the restaurant at the other end. This space would barely hold 2 people. But, if I had been let in when I arrived, I know I would have at least bought a soda or gotten a drink at their bar.
A young lady brings my pie to the cash register and begins to ring it up. I voice my displeasure that they couldn't provide the extra basil that I ordered 7 hours earlier.
A bearded man, who was busy making pizzas, yelled out to the cashier, "Oh, yeah, make sure you take off the up-charge for the basil." What the hell, if I didn't say anything, I was going to be charged?
I then asked the guy making the pizzas. "What happened? Why no basil?" I thought to myself that this seems like an odd ingredient for an Italian restaurant to run out of.
He replied, " I offered you basil oil." I said that I appreciated that, but it's not what I ordered 7 hours ago.
He then said that he got busy and ran out at 4:00 pm. That was 3.5 hours after they agreed to my order and 3.5 hours before it was due.
I said to the man with the beard who was making pizzas, "There's a supermarket literally across the street. (Market 32, that usually has a large supply of freash basil every day.) You couldn't have bought the basil this afternoon."
This really ticked off the man, and he said to me."Do you really expect me to go out and buy basil when I'm busy?"
I said, "No, I don't, but you have dushwashers, bussers, and cashiers. One of the could have gone." He then made some comments about not all of his staff drive or have cars, so there's no way they could leave. I responded with,"It's two parking lots away, they could have walked."
He then proceeded to tell me that "I had no idea how a restaurant worked." Now, it was my turn to be ticked off. I told him that I was formerly a kitchen manager of a restaurant in NYC where we served over 1,200 covers on a weekend.
He then asked, "Don't you ever run out?" My response was no we didn't. We would sell out, but never run out of ingredients, especially for pre-order. He then said,"I didn't hire you to be my consultant."
My take was that my order for a pie with extra basil was accepted at 12:30 pm. They knew they had a commitment already for 7:30 that night.
When the man making the pizzas at 4:00 pm, realized that he was running low on basil, that was already c
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Seanie
The true NY pizza place when you're in Albany. Marisa's is a classic here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TM Clarke
Love the pizza here. Reminds me of Italy (Puglia). The people are very nice and the service was great. Delicious. I highly recommend it
The pizza is excellent but the hours open are terrible. Even when they are open it seems to be a crap shoot if you can buy one. You can barely predict when you can buy a pizza but when you get a hold of one of their pizzas you wont be dissatisfied. Who is closed 3 days a week?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Izzy “MIMP” Borden
When you move from the city, it can be hard to find similar foods to what you’re used to…well, I’m SO glad I decided to order some pizza to take home when I got my nails done across the street because YES!!! I had to wait a while which threw me off as I don’t live too close but had placed the order a day in advance but it was SO well worth the wait!!!! It’s greasy, it folds, and it’s exactly what pizza should be.
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Large Cheese Pizza
John Kmack
OUTSTANDING pizza and tremendous service. The pizza is expert level and its blatantly obvious that it's made by someone that absolutely cares about the product that they serve. Marisa's in the way a pizza and wine place SHOULD be done.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Burick
Picked up meatball sandwichs.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meatballs
Barbara Munro
Very nice dinner. The pizza was super good. Then crispy the wine by the glass was a bit overpriced for us. We would definitely go back to try different dishes. We recommend making a reservation, especially on a Friday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Mushrooms and Pepperoni Pizza
shawn quackenbush
Outstanding.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
H Bond
The pizza costs less then the other local pizzarias and the crust has a downstate crunch to it.
Ordering food here is a hassle and, frankly, not worth the effort.
I've heard great things about this place, so I was willing to deal with their absurd ordering procedures.
This being Lent, I knew I wanted pizza for dinner. I called at 12:15 on Friday afternoon to order a pie for 6:30 pm. I was told that they couldn't accommodate me until 7:30pm. I agreed to that.
OK, whatever. I can appreciate a chef whom only wants to serve his food while it's at its peak.
But, whomever heard of a pizza place that REQUIRES pizza to be pre-ordered? I've never pre-planned a single pie before.
Around 7:10 that night, I got a phone call from the restaurant. I had ordered fresh basil on my pie. They told me that they were out of it and offered basil oil as an alternative. I didn't want that. I'd settle for the pie plain.
I arrive at Marisa's parking lot around 7:20. There's a sign on the door informing one that you are to remain outside the restaurant until your name is displayed on the whiteboard, announcing that your food is ready.
I can understand this, as when you enter the restaurant, one is immediately greeted by an "L" shaped counter. It's a space maybe 4.5' wide with the cash register at one end and the door to the restaurant at the other end. This space would barely hold 2 people. But, if I had been let in when I arrived, I know I would have at least bought a soda or gotten a drink at their bar.
A young lady brings my pie to the cash register and begins to ring it up. I voice my displeasure that they couldn't provide the extra basil that I ordered 7 hours earlier.
A bearded man, who was busy making pizzas, yelled out to the cashier, "Oh, yeah, make sure you take off the up-charge for the basil." What the hell, if I didn't say anything, I was going to be charged?
I then asked the guy making the pizzas. "What happened? Why no basil?" I thought to myself that this seems like an odd ingredient for an Italian restaurant to run out of.
He replied, " I offered you basil oil." I said that I appreciated that, but it's not what I ordered 7 hours ago.
He then said that he got busy and ran out at 4:00 pm. That was 3.5 hours after they agreed to my order and 3.5 hours before it was due.
I said to the man with the beard who was making pizzas, "There's a supermarket literally across the street. (Market 32, that usually has a large supply of freash basil every day.) You couldn't have bought the basil this afternoon."
This really ticked off the man, and he said to me."Do you really expect me to go out and buy basil when I'm busy?"
I said, "No, I don't, but you have dushwashers, bussers, and cashiers. One of the could have gone." He then made some comments about not all of his staff drive or have cars, so there's no way they could leave. I responded with,"It's two parking lots away, they could have walked."
He then proceeded to tell me that "I had no idea how a restaurant worked." Now, it was my turn to be ticked off. I told him that I was formerly a kitchen manager of a restaurant in NYC where we served over 1,200 covers on a weekend.
He then asked, "Don't you ever run out?" My response was no we didn't. We would sell out, but never run out of ingredients, especially for pre-order. He then said,"I didn't hire you to be my consultant."
My take was that my order for a pie with extra basil was accepted at 12:30 pm. They knew they had a commitment already for 7:30 that night.
When the man making the pizzas at 4:00 pm, realized that he was running low on basil, that was already c
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
The true NY pizza place when you're in Albany. Marisa's is a classic here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love the pizza here. Reminds me of Italy (Puglia). The people are very nice and the service was great.
Delicious. I highly recommend it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Antipasto Salad, Meatballs, Sausage, Sausage Pizza, Pasta Fagioli Soup, Cheese Pizza
The pizza is excellent but the hours open are terrible. Even when they are open it seems to be a crap shoot if you can buy one. You can barely predict when you can buy a pizza but when you get a hold of one of their pizzas you wont be dissatisfied. Who is closed 3 days a week?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
When you move from the city, it can be hard to find similar foods to what you’re used to…well, I’m SO glad I decided to order some pizza to take home when I got my nails done across the street because YES!!! I had to wait a while which threw me off as I don’t live too close but had placed the order a day in advance but it was SO well worth the wait!!!! It’s greasy, it folds, and it’s exactly what pizza should be.
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Large Cheese Pizza
OUTSTANDING pizza and tremendous service. The pizza is expert level and its blatantly obvious that it's made by someone that absolutely cares about the product that they serve. Marisa's in the way a pizza and wine place SHOULD be done.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Picked up meatball sandwichs.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meatballs
Very nice dinner. The pizza was super good. Then crispy the wine by the glass was a bit overpriced for us. We would definitely go back to try different dishes. We recommend making a reservation, especially on a Friday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Mushrooms and Pepperoni Pizza
Outstanding.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The pizza costs less then the other local pizzarias and the crust has a downstate crunch to it.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food. Pretty place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Marisa Pizza
Great pizza and very friendly and out going staff. It’s so good I’m going back to get more pizza today !!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
A friend brought their pizza to a Party. Oh my god. This stuff is gold. Mark us down as a new customer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best pizza i have had in Albany. Most NYC style and tasting pie in the capital region out of the 20 or places I've been to so far.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A friend brought their pizza to a Party. Oh my god. This stuff is gold. Mark us down as a new customer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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