Hello dear
Welcome To Pazzo
At Pazzo, the spirit of Italy shines through every dish. Nestled in San Carlos, this charming eatery specializes in New Haven-style pizza, boasting an inviting atmosphere perfect for casual dining. Guests rave about the exceptional quality—each pizza features a perfectly charred crust, with standout options like the clam pie and homemade fennel sausage. The menu offers a delightful range of Italian classics, from the light and fluffy ricotta gnocchi to the heartwarming cavatelli with pork ragu. With vegan and vegetarian choices available, along with a robust selection of beers and wines, Pazzo promises a meal that caters to all.
Today's Suggestions
Explore the featured selections!
Meatballs al Forno
Cavatelli
Roasted Cherry Tomato
White Gulf Prawns
About
Pazzo
Welcome to Pazzo, an Italian gem nestled at 1179 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA. This delightful pizzeria marries the warmth of casual dining with a hint of classy ambiance, making it an inviting spot for families, friends, or a romantic dinner. Known for its New Haven-style pizza, Pazzo is a haven for pizza enthusiasts and casual diners alike.
The warm, rustic decor combined with the vibrant atmosphere sets the stage for a memorable culinary experience. As you approach Pazzo, you are immediately drawn in by the tantalizing aroma of fresh ingredients and the promise of delightful Italian offerings. Whether you're settling in for a hearty meal or just stopping by for takeout, Pazzo has you covered.
- Starters: Start your meal with a selection of appetizers that are hard to resist. The Beet Salad, topped with wild arugula, almonds, and a zesty citrus vinaigrette, provides a refreshing contrast to the heartier dishes. Don’t miss the Caesar Salad featuring a rich anchovy dressing that elevates this classic dish.
- Pastas: The pasta offerings include the comforting Cavatelli with slow-braised pork ragu and Ricotta Gnocchi that feels like little pillows of delight. Each dish bursts with flavor, skillfully prepared to showcase seasonal ingredients.
- Pizzas: Of course, the stars of the show are the pizzas! The clam pie, abundant with freshly chopped clams and garlic, is a must-try and has quickly become a fan favorite. For the traditionalists, the classic Margherita is a testament to simplicity and quality.
- Unique Offerings: The menu also features an array of vegan options alongside a limited vegetarian selection, ensuring that everyone can find something to enjoy. The Cauliflower appetizer has been described as a revelation, with customers raving about its unexpected flavor and texture.
Customer experiences highlight the friendly and fast service, with several reviews emphasizing the welcoming nature of the staff. For instance, one delighted diner, Priya D., dubbed Pazzo her “new pizza spot” due to the consistently exceptional food and service. Meanwhile, Max S. has cherished his long-standing relationship with the restaurant, noting that the friendly staff and delicious meals keep him coming back time and again.
Pazzo also caters to various needs with its wheelchair-accessible facilities and outdoor seating, ensuring a pleasant visit for all. Plus, with special offerings like happy hour and a robust wine and beer selection, every dining experience can be tailored to perfection.
In summary, Pazzo offers an experience that combines delectable cuisine, a lively atmosphere, and top-notch service. Whether you’re grabbing a bite after work, diving into a hearty dinner with friends, or indulging in a special evening out, Pazzo is a destination that promises satisfaction in every bite. So, gather your friends, bring your appetite, and prepare to be dazzled by the flavors that await you at Pazzo!
People talk
Our Guestbook
“ My new pizza spot to go to when I am In the area. Friendly fast service and great food. ”
“ I have been coming to this restaurant for a very long time and my family has been going to all of their previous locations. The staff are always super nice and the food is always amazing! ”
“ Pazzo has been on my to-try list since before the pandemic and we finally made it happen. There aren't many places in the Bay Area that make a clam pie and Pazzo's doesn't disappoint. It was perfect, chock full of finely-chopped clams, pecorino, parsley, and garlic. I honestly could have eaten a whole pie myself. The house made fennel sausage with mushroom was also really tasty. I will definitely be back to try more pizzas! The Caesar salad was a really good one, with dressing that was heavy on the anchovy and garlicky croutons. Yum. And I'm normally not a fan of gnocchi, but Pazzo's ricotta gnocchi was surprisingly light. Like little pillows of delight! And the homemade sauce was so good. Pazzo's pretty much got everything right. The restaurant is small so seating felt a bit cramped. Service was very nice and friendly. Oh, and their prosecco exceeded expectations. It's not as boring as other proseccos. Crisp, fruity, easy to drink. Get the bottle. ”
“ We took a quick trip to the Bay Area a couple weeks back and met up with our friends who live in Redwood Ciy. We needed a place to get dinner without reservations on a Friday night, and they suggested Pazzo, a New Haven-style pizza joint in San Carlos. The place apparently gets busy, so my husband and I went early and camped out at the bar, enjoying a round of beers while we waited to claim a table. The staff wouldn't seat us far in advance, but we were in there before 5:00 and they said we should be good for another half hour. It turned out we could've walked in whenever we wanted. The dining room filled up while we were there, but never to capacity. The space was comfortable and inviting, built around an impressive pizza oven. We watched the pizzas take shape while we sat at the bar, then moved to a pleasant table that looked out onto the street. The New Haven pride was apparent, with posters and pizza boxes from Sally's, Pepe's, and Modern. There was even a potato pie on the menu, a probable nod to Bar. (I spent a few years in the area and got to know the pizza scene reasonably well.) The vibe was casual but lively, and service was good, helpful and attentive. There was a pretty robust beer and wine list. We went for the beers, mostly localish brews that we don't see in Southern California. I had the Little Beast Hot Break, a dry-hopped sour ale, and the Ghost Town Scaredy Cat, a Brett saison. My husband had the Moonraker Captain Mo pale ale and the Ghost Town Lecherous Haze, a hazy IPA. All nice, and well suited to a pizza dinner. The food was excellent. We started with several non-pizza offerings, and they were all winners. The housemade focaccia was fresh and warm, flecked with herbs and salt and served with an addictive sun-dried tomato spalmare (I guess that's an Italian word for spread). The meatballs al forno were hearty and delicious, bathed in tomato sauce with mozzarella and a side of toasted garlic bread. The crispy cauliflower was a pleasant, unexpected dish, tangy with citrus, almost like orange chicken. The cauliflower was lightly breaded and fried and served with currants, pine nuts, honey, lemon, champagne vinegar, and parmigiano. We also shared one pasta, the lovely, rustic cavatelli with slow-braised pork ragu and pecorino romano. We ordered two pizzas for the four of us and this filled out our substantial meal, with a few slices left over. The pizzas were in the New Haven style, with thin, almost crackery charred crusts. The margherita was classic, a red pie with fresh mozzarella, parmigiano, and basil. The New Haven clam pie took me back to Pepe's, chewy nuggets of clam on a white pizza with pecorino, parsley, mozzarella, and plenty of garlic. This was a fun dinner, with great food and drink in a charming, cozy environment. I'd recommend Pazzo if you're looking for a noteworthy restaurant in this part of the Bay. ”
“ Get the cauliflower. No... like... you HAVE TO order the cauliflower. I'm no vegetarian or anything, but whatever these guys do to the cauliflower dish they make... I could live off the stuff. Oh, and the pizza is also quite good haha. ”
“ Came here on a Thursday evening for dinner and I'm glad we came early (~5:15) because it started to get packed shortly after! We ordered the crispy cauliflower and the New Haven style baby clam pizza. The crispy cauliflower was delicious and I was surprised that I haven't had cauliflower served this way before. It had a nice caramelization and slightly crunchy texture that was light and not heavy at all. It reminded me of maple glazed brussel sprouts which I'm a big fan of. I'm usually not a white sauce pizza kind of person but I was very intrigued by the clam pizza. It was good and I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of baby clams and how they did not give off an overly seafoody or fishy flavor. After a couple slices though, it did become a little one note for me and I think I might have preferred it without the mozzarella. Service was super friendly and food came out in a decent amount of time, with the pizza piping hot from the wood-fired oven. I'll be back to try their other pizzas soon! ”
“ Visited this DDD destination for a quick dinner before heading to my hotel. Pazzo makes all of their pasta in-house and claims to serve "New Haven"' style, wood-fired pizza. Started with the fried cauliflower and an order of focaccia which were both very good. The focaccia would have been even better if served warm. The tomato spread was a perfect compliment to the focaccia. For a main course, tried the rigatoni with sausage and broccoli. Pasta and sausage both made in house. Pasta cooked to a perfect al dente and the sausage was really nice. Very good dish. Finished the meal with a citrus ricotta cheesecake. Decadent, not too heavy, and great creamy texture with perfect hints of citrus. Service was great as was the atmosphere. Impressive wood fired brick oven. All the right pieces for a quality Italian restaurant! ”
“ A solid pizza spot! Good char on the pepperonis (but maybe too much char on the crust) and I can always appreciate the cupped pepperonis. The dough is really well done - some crisp on the surface but has some chew on the inside, good amount of toppings, and the ratios for cheese and sauce were good. It's a solid pizza that I wouldn't mind going to if I'm already nearby. ”
