Il Lazzarone

Went there on a date. Pizza was great, ambience was great. Wait staff was really nice & accommodating. Gourmet pizza so not a lot of topping, only fresh ingredients & classically made.

Good, not great, neapolitan in an unexpected place. We’d never been to Kansas City before, but this little pocket of the River Market area really seemed to be on-​trend. We’re neapolitan classicists, so finding a pie that meets the mark is sometimes hard. Here, we found bright flavors and good cheeses, together with a nice airy dough. The crust erred on the side of being too thin and the sauce too runny, so the pie was ultra soggy at the center, but it had nice leoparding and chewiness throughout the remainder. An excellent beer list, friendly and fast service and cool interior space made it a place we’d revisit.

Let me start by saying that I am really into food and consider myself a decent critic of what is fresh quality food. I have also lived in Italy for some time. With that being said, this is hands down in the top 3 pizza’s I have ever tasted, including Italy! The flavor of the crust and its texture is perfect. It’s dense and chewy and has the wood fired char, while still being light and airy. The freshness of the ingredients was also excellent. Simply put, this is pizza at its best and any Kansas City resident who hasn’t tried it yet should drop whatever they are doing when they read this review and come eat!

I’ve been coming to Il Lazzarone since it opened in the Kansas City Rivermarket in the spring of 2015, but have yet to venture north to the original location in Saint Joseph, Missouri. As someone who enjoys food prepared with purpose, reverence for tradition and ingredients that is served with unpretentious simplicity and dignity this restaurant is right up my alley.
Over the past 15 months or so of eating here the food has always been consistent; It is very flavorful, very fresh, and very well priced given the cost of the ingredients they use. To address a concern that several reviewers had mentioned regarding the price-​point of the menu the prices have been adjusted downward.
Something that at times has left me wanting was the quality of service which, if you’ve read even positive reviews of Il Lazzarone, has been an issue. I will say that the past six or eight months have been nothing but phenomenal. When a restaurant is in its infancy there’s often a period during which the staffing compliment hasn’t quite found its sweet spot. Lesley Borger, in response to a negative review centered primarily around service, did an excellent job of outlining this and if you’ve had a poor experience here in the past I highly encourage you to give the place another shot.
As far as I’m concerned the best place to sit is at the bar where the space is a bit more intimate. Andrew is usually tending bar and we’ve built a decent rapport, but everybody’s been wonderful.
The main dining room has vastly improved due largely in part to the removal of the horrible clunky iron and wood chairs that felt more at home in an interrogation room on the basement floor of a CIA black site than a fun friendly pizza joint in the River Market. They’ve since been replaced with bright red steel side chairs that give the whole place a much more uplifting vibe that invites conviviality and a more casual flare.
In summary if you’re looking for simple, delicious, and serious pizza and drinks (I forgot to mention the excellent beer and liquor selection!) this is a place worth visiting. If you’ve have had a poor experience give it another shot and you might find yourself pleasantly surprised.

There’s a reason why Il Lazzarone is award winning; the pizza is one of the best wood fired pizza in town. The toppings are fresh, unique, and having the option of white or red pizza gives lots of options. Pairing pizza with amazing wine is one of Il Lazzarone’s best features! With a wine list that’s complex & sold by the glass or bottle, you’re sure to find something you love. If you’re not into wine, there’s a very good beer list & cocktails to suit your fancy. Don’t leave without trying the dessert pizza with Nutella & strawberries. This is so good you’ll want to lick the platter clean when you’re done! Best part is that it’s located along the KC Streetcar line! Make the trek downtown. You won’t be disappointed!

We have been twice both times the service was horrible. Decided to go back after we heard the issues had been fixed. Sat at our table for twenty-​five minutes without a server visit. The hostess checked on our server twice, still nothing. We left after 30 minutes without even getting water.

I really liked the pizza. Thin crust good sauce. Quality cheese. Fun atmosphere with friendly staff. Helpful and attentive. Full bar. Outdoor patio. Casual and laid back. There was a birthday party going on and looked like a good place for it. Brought a bottle of water for the table. Pizza could be shared but we ordered one each and ate them. Recommended

I would pay $ 20 for this Pizza, it is that good! Now I’m not adventurous when it comes to pies, so I usually stick with Margherita, Cheese, or 1 topping pies. That being said, this is the best Margherita Pizza I have had to date! My lunch scepades usually happen after 1pm, so of course when I came in there were only 2 other tables occupied, but I’m almost sure this place is filled during lunch rush hour!

Pizzas. Carne (San marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, Italian sausage, pepperoni, salami, olive oil and sea salt) Il Porcellini (San marzano tomatoes, coppa, pancetta, cappicola, olive oil and sea salt). Both great. A little on the pricier side (almost $ 14 each pie). Maybe it’s due to the selection of ingredients.
Service was just so so. Took the server a good 10 minutes to get to us. Outside was busy inside was empty other than two other tables occupied.
$ 1 charge for a to go box, really? I wonder if I would get a $ 1 discount for each dish I volunteer to wash myself. Beware for take out orders. If they deliver will they charge for the delivery box?

Went with a large party for a birthday. My husband had the pepperoni pizza. He said it wasn’t good, crust sauce, and toppings. But he did add honey and said that was a great idea. (Seems a little odd to me.) I have a gluten sensitivity and asked the waitress about gluten free and she responded that they didn’t have anything. I ordered the salad with kale because the description looked to be gluten free ingredients. The salad was HUGE, served on the same platter as the pizzas. It was just the ingredients listed and didn’t cause me any reaction, but it was not good :(. Not sure how to describe more specifically, leaves were just tough and not softened by the dressing.
The wait staff seemed friendly, except our waitress who seemed put out by the large group. She even told us we couldn’t take up tables with a large group drinking and eating during «wine walk»; luckily we had confirmed with management ahead of time. Midway thru our evening more of the staff started helping her out and dirty plates and drinks were cleared, but this didn’t improve drink service. While our waitress may not have enjoyed our group, she did have good advice on wine and beer selections.
In summary, would not return just because of the food, but appreciate the great drink selections.

I have been to Il Lazzarone a few times now and absolutely love the food. The pizza’s are delicious and the variety outside the typical pizza are great. The balsamic is absolutely incredible and they should bottle and send some home with me! It goes through some lengthy process with cane sugar and you will want to put it on everything.
Service can be hit or miss. Some of the people are incredible, friendly, efficient, others have absolutely no sense of urgency and don’t seem to have much concern for the customers. I also find the $ 1 charge per pizza on to go orders absolutely ludicrous. To go service is a great way to increase your sales while not increasing your overhead. To charge extra for this benefit to your business will discourage to go orders. I know it will from me!

It’s Tuesday and I work 13 hour days. I just want some good top shelf whiskey at a place I can walk home from. This is it. The bartender is cool, don’t browse the beers browse the menu. Apparently that’s a Wichita thing? To look at the beers in the cooler first. Don’t worry they didn’t say that — but don’t do it.
Good booze, and this dude plays all the 90’s hip hop/r&b which is fine.
I like to drink alone and this is good, but there are some couples in here or tinder dates or whatever.
Overall cool.
Next: the prosciutto … Please get in my belly. Fresh mozzarella? They have it. Even for my taste.

I really like the pizza here. Yes, they will tell you about 10 times how things are «done in Italy» but once you get over the pretentiousness, the food is quite good!
I am a garlic lover and the bruschetta really hits the spot!
They will happily customize pizzas. This is great for someone like me who wants a bit of this and that. I do wish the pizzas were not quite so expensive or they offered more deals, like a smaller pizza with salad. But, I suppose that’s not authentic!
I will say I hope they utilize their patio more. I went recently on a supremely nice day and their patio was surprisingly closed. So if you come thinking of the outdoors, you may want to call first and not assume.

This place is amazing. Not only did we show up with a party of 12 unannounced but we all ordered a wide variety of foods and drinks off the menu. The waiter, who was also the bartender, never wrote down one thing from our order, yet he never messed up a thing. Very attentive. Order the bruschetta as an appetizer, you will not be sorry. The ingredients on all the pizzas we ordered were fresh and everyone in our party are all of their food. There weren’t any leftovers to take home.
If you are looking for pizza and amazing cocktails to go with it. Do yourself and BIG favor, come here. Stay awhile and enjoy everything you can on the menu!

I have been waiting to write an updated review for this outstanding thin Neapolitan style pizza restaurant.
In Kansas City there are so many choices for a good pizza pie & even then you have to decide which type of pizza pie you are in the mood for most; and, also if you are going to have the pizza «take out» or «dine in». I can with 100% certainty say that if you are in the mood for thin crust or Neapolitan style pizza & you are wanting to dine out then il Lazzorone is the pie place
for you!
Not only is there oven one of two ovens of its kind that was shipped from Naples, Italy (that must have had a high shipping cost!), but the service is consistently friendly and professional!
My personal favorite pie here is the «Margarita D.O.C», which includes fresh buffalo mozzarella, those perfect Italian canned tomatoes (turned into a delicious sauce of course), and some fresh basil!
The only advice that I have for this fine establishment is: Do NOT get their pie to-​go; it is in no way the same as it is in the store. This pizza is meant to be eaten fresh out of that awesome Italian oven and not after a period of sitting (even for 15 minutes); trust me I tried it, it was a disaster:)

Great selection for a quick and easy lunch (or relaxed and delicious dinner)!!
I love the variety of the PIZZA LUNCH SPECIAL (announced on facebook daily).
Very cozy atmosphere with lots of room for a crowd. Staff is friendly and eclectic.
And if all that was not enough to get you in… It is also on the street car line!
The best thing about il Lazzerone is the simple, yet very high quality, ingredients.
The salad options are not to be missed when you visit as well.

Il Lazzarone serves Neapolitan-​style pizza. It is different than anything else you’ll find in Kansas City. The crust is thin and there is little, if any, sauce on the pizza. The pizza is cooked in an oven around 1000 degrees for less than a minute.
We’ve tried a few different appetizers. The bruschetta was good, but hard to eat because the dough was cut so thin. The pane was delicious. The balsamic vinegar glaze that they use has a uniquely sweet taste to it. We asked and were told that it is made in house.
I love the pepperoni pizza with honey. It is something that I never thought to try before, but I was assured but he waiter that I needed to try it and I’m glad I did… Pepperoni pizza will never be the same again.
For dessert try the Fritto Nutella with bananas and strawberries. The pizza dough is fried which gives it a crispy and slightly sweeter taste. It wasn’t overly heavy and has become one of my favorite desserts.
The space is also beautiful. The pizza oven is appropriately made to be the centerpiece of the restaurant. It is conveniently located near the City Market. There is also a location in the St. Joseph area. Try it… You’ll like it!

I had il Lazzarone bookmarked to try for a long time and finally got around to trying this place out. There was street parking or in the parking lot that was a short walk over (half a block or so). My teammate and I came here just before noon on a Friday. It wasn’t busy and I liked the décor of this place.
There was a very large beer (and wine) selection and we ended up ordering the Boulevard KC Pils ($ 5) since they didn’t have the beer we originally ordered (something to do with the beers on tap not working at the time). Our waitress, Danielle, was nice, friendly, and helpful when it came to questions about the menu. The most ordered pizza was the Crepa ($ 16) and a couple of other pizzas Danielle recommended was Pepperoni ($ 14) and the Supremo ($ 16). The special pizza for the day was the Uovo (originally $ 16 but was $ 10 for the day) which sounded very interesting to me especially with the egg as part of the toppings. I thought about that pizza for a while. lol Instead, we ordered the Crepa and the Supremo. Those prices alone should tell you that this wouldn’t be a cheap lunch for two people, but you gotta treat yo self once in a while (or all the time if you can afford it).
We waited a few minutes before both of our pizzas came out. The pizzas were large and looked delicious. We split our pizzas in two to trade so we could try the other pizza. The Supremo was good and had good flavor with all the toppings. If you don’t like brussels sprout then put that aside; otherwise, you might not even notice it. I actually forgot they were on the pizza. lol The Crepa was an entirely different kind of pizza. There was way more flavor in that one than the Supremo in my opinion. This was the first time eating a pizza with balsamic glaze (yes that’s a very specific topping), but I thought it helped complement the flavors of the other toppings. I saw why the Crepa was the most ordered pizza. I was full after finishing the four oddly-​shaped slices from the Supremo and the Crepa. One pizza would be enough for one person or just right for two people sharing.
Danielle asked us if we wanted dessert so we looked at the menu to see what sounded good to us. I believe at least one of the desserts was actually a dessert pizza while the others were not. She said she really liked the Fritto Nutella ($ 11) so that’s what we ordered since everything sounded good to us. We added bananas ($ 1.50) and strawberries ($ 1.50) to it because why not. It took probably another five to ten minutes for that to come out. I thought the Fritto Nutella looked like a broken funnel cake with fruit and Nutella. Everything tasted good and wasn’t too sweet. I was pretty full after finishing most of the dessert but all good.
Yes, this would be an expensive place for pizza, but again, treat yo self. This place was great and I would be back in the future to try other pizzas on the menu!

Mama Mia! I freaking love this place. I had my pie made about an hour before my friend’s arrival, its been sitting in their warmer because I didn’t realized my friend who flew in from San Diego was still stuck in Pacific time zone. The guys at the bar were very sweet and replaced my pie with a fresh one. That says a lot about this restaurant. They knows their ingredients, where it’s shipped from, what day it’s delivered and they personally know their drinks.
Amazingly, they serve absinthe. The alcohol that was once banned in Europe and US. I didn’t get to drink it as I had to meet the rest of the Bachelorette party that would inquire me to use my motor skills and a pole.

Best pizza I’ve had in Kansas City since relocating here three weeks ago. Great sauce, great meats, crispy singed crust.
It looks like a great area of river market to have dinner or happy hour perhaps.