Pizza Picazzo: Where Pizza is Art

When we're stopped around Sedona by tourists looking for a "good place to get something to eat," we often times point them to Pizza Picazzo. I classify Picazzo's as a high-end pizza place, where the specialty is pizza and everything revolves around pizza. It's a fun environment, although sometimes a bit loud at peak times. If you are looking for an intimate dining experience, we might suggest going next door to Troia's (more on that in another review), but if you are with the family or friends, Picazzos is ideal. Seating is first-come, first-served, so at hungry times you may have a wait.

During the hotter months, there is shaded outdoor seating with sprayers, which tend to do a pretty good job. Evenings on the patio are grand. Inside, there's a main dining room with various sized tables and a full bar which airs sporting events.

Now, on to the pizza. We find crusts tend to pretty thick and tastefully crunchy, although you can special request thin or gluten-free crusts. Quite honestly, if you are going to go for it, best to avoid the gluten-free crust -- but hats off to them for offering it, keeping in mind myriad dietary restrictions these days.

My wife, Kim, is a sucker for the Puttanesca, a veggie style 'za with olive oil and garlic, mozzarella, fresh Roma tomatoes, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives and French feta topped with fresh basil. If you are veggie-minded, you can't go wrong. My only hesitation on the Puttanesca are the olives, but that's just me. She loves them.

On many occasions we've ordered their signature BBQ Chicken pizza, which is out of this world. Not too much BBQ sauce to overwhelm the dish and tender chicken with just the right amount of red onions. Again, a can't-miss suggestion.

For those who want to spice it up a bit, try the Thai Chicken pizza. But buyer beware: if you aren't prepared with one of their many local brews on tap, bottom-less lemonades or water, the spice may knock your socks off. Don't get me wrong, it's very tasty -- and the spice tolerance reflects my own preference -- so if you love spicy food, order up.

For the kids, there's the classic cheese pizza. (Do they like any other kind?). Actually, that's not entirely true. Our kids request some pineapple be thrown on top and that's never a problem with the friendly staff.

The added bonus at Pizza Picazzo is their salad selection. And we're not talking a dinky house salad. No, a small will easily feed two men and a baby. We order a medium for our family of four -- two adults, two kids. our "usual" is the Gorgonzola and red pear salad, which comes sprinkled with candied walnuts and a wonderful raspberry vinaigrette. Be sure to get it on the side to avoid over application, which tends to overwhelm the dish. One word of caution: The Caesar salad tends to be a bit flat - sometimes a bit light on the dressing, but croutons and cheese are fresh. Large portions of salad will do well for bigger groups and small armies.

A quick word on proportions: Our family tends to eat two medium pizzas and a medium salad, along with various drinks -- and no one's complaining about being hungry for awhile. From a pricing perspective, the mediums tend to run about $20 while the large versions about $25, so it tends to add up (which is probably why we only eat their every so often). While you're waiting for your food, check out the huge mural on the wall of famous people, some locals but mostly well known.

We've never had a problem with service, always friendly and reasonably quick. On one occasion, when the kitchen was pretty backed up, they warned us ahead of time, but the order arrived faster than expected. If you want to experience all the flavor but just don't want to go out, they have great takeout service that's spot-on accurate and always ready when promised.

See a full menu here

Deal Alert: Try Picazzos lunch special. One slice and salad for between $7-10. My guess is that you won't leave hungry.

Sedona Location
1855 W Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ 86336
928-282-4140
Map

5 total locations in greater Phoenix and Northern Arizona

"What's For Dinner?" and Life's Other Big Questions

Welcome to Sedona Food Review!

It seems every day we're faced with two of the same inevitable questions: What should I wear? and "What should I eat?" (or family-sized, "What should we eat?").

I'll leave the first wardrobe-related query to my wife, Kim - she's a pro, while mine continues to regularly "malfunction." But the second question - "What to eat?" - it remains as persistent as the hunger pang itself. Our constant companion that doesn't necessarily want to be noticed but won't be ignored.

Today, running through today's food and restaurant options sounds more like roll call at the U.N. Chinese? Italian? Thai? American? And it all can be very confusing - especially when hypoglycemia kicks in.

So this blog will attempt to guide you to the best eateries in Sedona, Arizona, in the heart of red rock country, by reviewing as many restaurants as possible. And it's intended for both long-time residents (and have somehow NOT eaten at some of the places I'll be reviewing) and tourists or prospective tourists.

What's different about this food review blog is our multi-review approach. While people never usually get a second chance to make a first impression, we feel local restaurants deserve a fair shake. Amazing food and service one night might not be the same two weeks later, and vice versa. Let's face it - we all have bad nights. With multiple reviews of the same restaurant, this gives you -- the hungry reader -- more time-tested, reliable information about where you want to eat.

If you've come across an experience at a local Sedona restaurant that you want to share, shoot me an email djutilla [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Happy eating!

Dean Jutilla
Sedona, Arizona