PizzeRizzo opened for regular business on Friday November 18, 2016. We have been following the refurbishment progress and were happy to have the opportunity to visit this establishment on opening day. Here is our review of how PizzeRizzo is now serving up pizza with a dash of muppet-style humor.
PizzeRizzo is serving up pizza, salads and meatball subs along with desserts, kids meals, and beverages. We are happy to note that PizzeRizzo also offers a fairly extensive allergy-friendly menu that accommodates most common allergies. The pizza comes standard with a small Caesar Salad which is great; as long as they do not run out of lettuce!
I was thrilled that salad comes with the pizza so I ordered a cheese pizza, to include a Caesar Salad, and a Wildberry-Basil Limoncello Lemonade. The food portion sizes are quite good. When my order was ready I was told that, sadly, there would be no Caesar salad for me as they had run out of lettuce. I was handed a bag of potato chips and I asked if that could be substituted for a Cannoli instead since there was no salad as I had originally anticipated. The Cast Member was very accommodating and agreed to substitute the Cannoli for the Salad at no additional charge. The cheese pizza was what one would expect from a quick-service pizzeria. While the crust was crunchy, and the inside of the dough was slightly chewy, the sauce and cheese combination was average. In fact, the cheese was minimal. I was not a fan of the pizza, and to be honest, I will try a meatball sub if I ever have another meal here. The WildberryBasil Limoncello Lemonade, on the other hand, was quite good and I would definitely order this drink again. The Cannoli was just okay as there was not a lot of flavor in this dessert option. The filling did not taste like sweetened ricotta as it was quite bland. The shell tasted exactly a sugar cone you would order for an ice cream so that too was disappointing. The other dessert option is Tiramisu but, even though it looks good, I am not sure I would try to order it after experiencing the Cannoli.
If you enjoy a bit of Muppet-style humor, then be sure to look at the decorative elements on the walls throughout the restaurant. Be sure to check out the framed “Our First Dollar” display on the first floor just as you enter the main dining room after picking up your food. Here you will also see Papa Rizzo’s original apron from 1916 along with various pizza “awards.” On the second floor be sure to check out the bulletin board of Muppet advertisements.
There are some very clever wall displays featuring records, Play Bills, and framed photographs. Be sure to read the Play Bills and check out the artists featured on the records. You must look closely at the photographs to catch the humor in these displays as, upon closer inspection, you will see Muppet characters such as Rizzo and Gonzo.
The second floor boasts a reception hall where a wedding reception is supposedly taking place. There is music playing and the ceiling displays a disco ball. This area was the most crowded but I have to admit, I expected something more from this space. There are no characters on the walls or any sign of an actual wedding party going on. I think they missed an amazing opportunity here. I am no Imagineer, but they could have easily had something as simple as a glass-enclosed case along one wall with the wedding party eating or dancing together.
I really like the main dining area upstairs. The classic Pizzeria deco is very nice and fitting for the establishment. However, I was shocked to go upstairs and see that there was nobody there. This was opening day during the dinner hour around 5:30pm. I was surprised there were not more people there at that time.
One other area of note is the back wall of the second floor near the restrooms. There is a feature wall that is full of sketches and framed art of Muppet characters. This is the only noticable feature that specifically focuses on the Muppets.
One of the really fun elements included in the deco is the trash cans. They are worth noting in that they offer a humorous thought process with regards to discarding your trash.
There is outdoor patio seating on both levels. I prefer the seating upstairs just for the view alone of the buildings. Either way, there was plenty of seating available both indoors and outdoors on opening night.
You can see our inside video tour of PizzeRizzo here:
The main PizzeRizzo sign, on top of the building, is lit up at night. Be sure to notice how some of the lighting, on a few of the letters, goes out. The remaining letters spell out, “It’s Rat Pizza.”
You can see the short night-time video of the sign here:
Overall, PizzeRizzo is not about the food, but rather about the atmosphere. If you have some time to kill, stop by and order a drink, and then wander around the restaurant looking at all of the wall deco. Everyone has different taste preferences and the only way to know if you will enjoy the food options at PizzeRizzo is to try them out for yourself. If you are not fussy about the quality of your pizza then the portions are substantial and can work as a good lunch option. For folks looking for a place to relax for a bit while refueling with some food and beverage, before getting back to the park rides and shows, this restaurant provides a comfortable space for this purpose. While PizzeRizzo is serving up pizza at this establishment, you are more likely to enjoy the dash of Muppet-style that exists in this space.
Are you planning to visit PizzeRizzo on your next visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Please leave your comments in the box below.
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