Insider Pages Reviews for Pitfire Pizza Company

2 Stars: I really want to like this place but... (by sojourner)

sojourner — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I am not sure why I keep going back. On several occasions I have ordered pick up from this place and a good 90% of the time there is a mistake.
Once I ordered Gorgonzola cheese to be added to a salad. I went and picked it up, drove home, and then realized there was no cheese. I called to ask what happened to my cheese and the girl told me they were out, okay, why did you charge me for it? They offered to give me a free meal on my next visit, I thought this was nice, but when I asked about comping the cheese she said the free meal was in lieu of the cheese. Umm... no I will not pay for something I did not receive.
I used the comp to get a sandwich one day, it took a while for them to find my name for the comp, they should have a better system. I brought my sandwich home and it was soggy, I should have learned my lesson about checking the food before I leave the restaurant.

Oh and for some reason I was always think this will be a cheap alternative to other restaurants in the area but I always end up spending at least $30 for dinner.

So again, I want to like this place but....
I don't.

4 Stars: great! (by viper1613)

viper1613 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

awesome

1 Stars: Wrong order and didn't comp like promised (by taphy)

taphy — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

When Pitfire pizza started delivery service, my husband and I were so excited. The second time we ordered, we were not told that a new delivery fee of $6. Furthermore, we were not told that one of the items we ordered was no longer on the menu. Instead, the restaurant sent some other dish (which was disgusting). Luckily, we don't have food allergies, because we thought they had just changed the recipe (why it looked different) until we took a bite.

I called Pitfire to complain about this nasty concoction they sent instead of their yummy (no longer on the menu) mac and cheese. The manager apologized that the person who took the order didn't notify us of the menu change. She offered us a free meal upon our next order. I was pleased with this offer.

Upon placing my next order, I was told they had no record of the offer nor did the manager even get on the phone to speak with me. The hostess just said, "we don't have your name on file" and was silent even upon telling her that I was very upset and would never eat there again. She didn't apologize or even offer to help.

You've lost our business. I highly recommend you train your employees for better customer service and that you follow through with your promises. This type of treatment sends a message that your establishment doesn't care about it's customers. You've lost our business and I was thinking of trying your catering for monthly meetings (catering for 15-25 people multiple times a month). Not anymore.

5 Stars: Quality ingredients!! (by mj1523)

mj1523 — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Wow... 10" pizzas, thin slices.. with really fresh ingredients.. I went for the first time 3 days ago.. I loved it.. Im glad I work in downtown...This will be a great lunch spot... This time i'll try the pasta!!

4 Stars: YUM! (by Paul R.)

Paul R. — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:17:00 GMT

My daughter & I adore this place - the staff are nice, the place is clean, the food is great & the prices are good. It's always a lovely night out....

4 Stars: great selection (by casualcat)

casualcat — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT

they have a great selection of food here. they have a menu that stays the same, but each season they offer something new up on their chalk boards. but the food here is great, you really can't go wrong, and they have sangria and beers too which is awesome when you want to grab a lunch with a friend. the service is always good too.

5 Stars: The Best Tuna Nicoise Salad (by Jack C.)

Jack C. — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:10:00 GMT

This place is known for their pizzas OMG yummy! But when you have already blown your diet they have yummy salads as well, especially the tuna nicoise salad. The location is great, park your car down at HOWS parking structure and walk one block down Lankershim....you'll be glad you did. OR you can take the Metro Red Line to North Hollywood and walk two blocks down Lankershim.

4 Stars: Good pizza (by StevenParms)

StevenParms — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

ummmm good....i really liked the pepperoni they use its pretty spicy and tastes great....I recommend this place

3 Stars: Great food at a rather busy location (by SCOT S.)

SCOT S. — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:08:00 GMT

I would give this place much higher marks if it wasn't for it's location; situated at the corner of Lankershim and Magnolia in a crowded NoHo district. However, the food is good and the service is, too.

4 Stars: Pitfire Pizza Company (by Dana P.)

Dana P. — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:43:00 GMT

Pizza, Pasta and perfect prizes what more can you ask for..They atomsphere is great and the service is wonderful. Pepperoni, pineapple and Jalapeno pizza. Try it Yum Yum

4 Stars: Great pizza! (by kelsu7)

kelsu7 — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This place is almost like an oasis in this drab part of town. I love sitting outside on the patio and the pizza is very yummy! I always make my own pizza with grilled chicken, kalamata olives, and spinach - delicious and somewhat healthy for pizza!

3 Stars: Best pizza anywhere. (by rimi)

rimi — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Best pizza anywhere. great customer service. Be specific: Generalities like "lazy service" or "tasty pizza" leave people wanting more detail. Be yourself: If you're an expert on burgers, let us know. If this is your first-time massage, say so.

4 Stars: You pay for better ingredients, and its worth it. (by vanston2)

vanston2 — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I ordered the grilled chicken panini and thought it was very enjoyable. It came with a fresh side salad of greens and a light dressing with generous slices of Parmesan cheese. It felt light and fresh, some may think that it's not good because they are used to cheesy, greasy, mayonnaise/ranch soaked sandwiches. Those that appreciate good ingredients will like it here.
Those who complain about portion size or amount of cheese need to realize that in good pizza, loads of cheese isn't seen as good. It's about the balance of flavors in the crust, sauce, and toppings.
Those that think the servings aren't large enough need to learn what a serving size actually is. Some might think its no big deal to woof down an entire medium pizza hut deep dish, but in reality its 10-12 servings of food. Pitfire is more than generous with their servings.
The reason for not giving this 5 stars is that I felt the menu layout was not helpful for a newcomer and the service was mediocre.

1 Stars: Molded Tomatos and Poor Customer Service (by krstn150)

krstn150 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We visited Pitfire Sunday Oct 21st for lunch. We ordered two small pizzas and split a caprese salad. Although I'll definitly say the food came out within 10 minutes which was great, the rest of our experience was crappy.

First, I asked the lady at the counter for a parmesean cheese shaker, and she abruptly replied "They're out on the tables. Just go ask someone who's not using them." Then she turned around started bagging cookies. So I amused her, went outside - there were two shakers - one in someone's dirty plate & another at a table being used. I went back to her and politely asked for my own cheese - they're being used - and she slapped me three take-out cheeses without a word.

Onto the food:

We both noticed the heirloom tomatoes were a little smushy, but then happen to catch site of a 1-inch chunk of MOLD on the top of one of the slices. I brought the plate back to the counter and told the cranky employee that there is mold on the Caprese/heirloom tomatoes. The exact response was "Well, I have to get my manager. Maybe we can make you a new one." Not - sorry - nothing and "maybe"?? The manager comes over (lady) and says "It looks fine - what's wrong with it???" I asked her to look for the big white/grey chunk of mold. Again, no apologies, nothing. She turned & asked the cooks (who shook their head when I returned the food) to make a new Caprese. Since I'm certain they'll use the same molded tomatoes, I asked for a refund & explained my concerns. Without a word, she refunded me $10.55.

One pizza (chicken, goat cheese, mushrooms) was pretty good. I ordered a Pepperoni & Mushroom which came out Pepperoni only & LOADS of grease. This could be from the pepperoni or if they used olive oil. But the whole center of the pizza did not stay together and was soaked in orange, drippy grease.

Overall, you can find much better, tasty, quality pizza and service at Dino's in Burbank. We'll never be back & don't recommend this place to anyone.

1 Stars: Advice about going to this place: DON'T!!!! (by lucialoro)

lucialoro — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Overpriced, overrated.
Yeah, the place was nice. Yeah, the crust was good, the ingredients tasted fresh. But the pizza was TOO small for $11, and they barely put any cheese on it! The freaking thing was all red from the sauce and had like 2 or 3 small white spots of cheap cheese. Horrible thing. Never going back there.
You want a real pizza for good value? For those same $11 l wasted last Saturday, stay straight on Magnolia Blvd towards Burbank, and stop at Monte Carlo restaurant. Best pizza in town.

5 Stars: Great Thin Crust Pies in a Cool Outdoor Setting (by vs1)

vs1 — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We went on a Satruday night for a casual bite. On the corner of Lankershim and Magnolia, in a park-like setting with outdoor seating, tall trees, individual, Italian pizzas with wine by the glass (in a plastic cup) and an open-air esspresso stand - we felt like we were in Italy. With lots of people on the street, families having dinner, people out on a date or just enjoying a leisurely dinner and conversation and live music, as well - it was great! The food was really good and the price was right. We went to Mario Batali's new pizza "hot spot" last week and this tasted no worse. We'll be back many times.

5 Stars: Great Pizza, Perfect Salad, Excellent service (by meryldan)

meryldan — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Tasty thin crust pizza. Fresh local ingredients. My favorite is the wild mushroom pizza with a Mediterranean salad. I am afraid I could eat it daily and never get tired of the flavors. So fresh it feels healthy.

5 Stars: Artisen, Organic & Tasty! (by tiffrochelle)

tiffrochelle — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

OK, I've been to both the Pitfire Pizza in Downtown L.A. on 2nd & Main and in North Hollywood! The food is consistently delicious... every time! The vibe is hip & it's clean & fun inside. These guys definitely get it. The owners go to the local farmer's market and buy in season produce for their pizzas and salads. The heirloom tomato pizza is out of this world. The crust is thin and tastes like some little old man in Naples made it in an outdoor woodfired oven. They have this slogan, "the crust you can trust" and you'll know why once you take a bite of this tasty pizza. I could go on and on about this place. Anyways, just go!!!

5 Stars: Simply Delicious (by tiffanyandaura)

tiffanyandaura — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This pizza is exceptional. I have traveled all over southern Italy eating pizza, & these guys have it right here in LA, only it's better. Everything served here is fresh. The cheese & plate is wonderful. The mac & cheese to die for. And now they have great wines & great prices to pair with your food. Fab time all around!

5 Stars: Best pizza in town (by schroeder101)

schroeder101 — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I've tried the Pitfire Pizza at the downtown location, and I've also been to the North Hollywood location.
Their both in primo locations - close to stores, theatres,etc. The pizza is absolutely amazing. They get their produce from the farmers' market. Everything is fresh. And, the salads and soups are satisfying and really tastey. It's great for lunch meetings, great for family outings. There is always a table, because there is lots of room to spread out. Don't leave without trying their yummy desserts. My husband and I make a trip to the Pitfire Pizza company, at least once every 2 weeks, before we see a movie or play.

5 Stars: The shizl (by benright)

benright — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

These guys get it. They get food, they get taking care of customers, they get good ingredients. After years of perfecting their pizzas first by cooking on open woodfired grills (the "pit" in pitfire), then to different ovens, they've perfected the crust. It's the best crust I've had in North America. Better yet, by using local resources for ingredients be it farmers market veggies or artisanal sausage, the Pit Fire guys create good food.
Pricing is fair, quality is fantastic. Service is always fast and friendly.
We (Westsiders) can't wait for the new location on Westwood Blvd!
My kids love it, my friends love it, you will too. Really!!!

2 Stars: Small portions (by clarkbarnoho)

clarkbarnoho — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I just got the pumkin ravioli. The price was $10.25 and there were 10 in the box. I don't mind paying good money for good food, but they were OK...yeah...just OK. The pumkin was flavorful but covered in oil...very greasy. It was more like an appitizer. I certainly was not filled up by this small portion. I usually get the bow tie pasta which is good. That is why they got the 2 stars. Otherwise they would have gotten one star. I would suggest asking about the portion size before ordering.

5 Stars: Sweet Surprise! (by libbywedge)

libbywedge — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The atmosphere was cool, staff helpful and pizza awesome! Their crust is truely a crust you can trust and the toppings and freshness were really fantastic. Definately one of the best pizza's I've ever had.

4 Stars: Perfect Wood Oven-Fired Pizza in NoHo (by debaoki)

debaoki — Thu, 18 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I recently moved to North Hollywood, and this pizza spot is hands-down my favorite in the neighborhood. There's over 5 competing pizza places within 4 blocks in any direction of this place, including one next door, but Pit Fire is so good, I'd gladly drive to eat here even if I lived farther away. Generously sized single pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven -- the result is a chewy, crispy crust, topped with trendy or traditional toppings. I've had the sausage and greens pasta, which was also good. Service is fast and it's never been so crowded that I've had to wait for a table. An under-hyped gem!

5 Stars: Great Place - To Keep it Uncrowded, Don't Go! (by mrdproductions)

mrdproductions — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Great Place, Best Place - To Keep it Uncrowded, Don't Go!

5 Stars: Great Food (by kgatimu)

kgatimu — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 09:00:00 GMT

This lovely cafe is best enjoyed by dining outside. It's not the beach or Santa Monica but you can still have a nice dinner inexpensive dinner under their misters on a hot summer night. Their bean soup is to die for and their different salads, pizza and pasta will accomodate anyone diet - Zone or otherwise.

I recommend it for a quick dinner or a "fun" date night (but not the first one!!)