One of the most famous restaurants in Arizona, Pizzeria Bianco isn't the kind of place you can just visit on a whim. With wait times that are regularly up to several hours long, a trip here takes careful planning - but you won't regret it. This award-winning eatery has some of the best pizzas outside of Italy, and you can rest assured you'll savor every bite.
Wildly famous restaurants often don't live up to the hype surrounding them, but Pizzeria Bianco is an exception.
Chris Bianco opened the now legendary restaurant in the back of a Phoenix grocery store in 1988, and he - and the eatery - quickly became household names in the pizza industry.
Featuring brick walls and a wood-fired pizza oven, the restaurant's interior offers a no-passport-required trip to Italy...if you're willing to wait for a table, that is.
Wait times start at around 90 minutes and can max out at several hours, especially as the day wears on.
The food is worth the wait, however. Start with some fresh, crusty bread dipped in the highest-quality extra virgin olive oil on the market to prepare your palate for the pièce de résistance.
Perhaps you'll also want to pregame your pizza with a light and fresh salad. You can't go wrong with a classic Caprese!
Now, onto what you've all been waiting for: the pizza.
The menu is not large - there are only a handful of pizzas to choose from - but that is intentional to ensure the chefs can pay each one the utmost attention to detail.
If you prefer to keep things simple, a traditional Margherita pizza is always a solid choice.
The flavors of fresh mozzarella, basil, and marinara sauce work together seamlessly.
The "Rosa" is a fan favorite, featuring red onion, parmesan, rosemary, and Arizona-grown pistachios.
Patrons also rave about the "WiseGuy," which comes topped with wood-roasted onions, house-smoked mozzarella, and fennel sausage.
You can opt to add mushrooms, olives, sausage, pepperoni, anchovies, salami, and/or prosciutto to any pizza for an extra charge per each topping.
Other menu items include sandwiches and small plates.
Pizzeria Bianco also has a second location in Phoenix as well as a Los Angeles restaurant, however we are primarily referring to the original location in downtown Phoenix. Please visit the Pizzeria Bianco website or Facebook page for more information, including current hours and a full menu.
Have you ever eaten at Pizzeria Bianco? If so, in your opinion, is it worth the hype? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Don't forget to check out our previous article for a nearby flea market where you can find all sorts of unique treasures.
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