Zelo Pizzeria

10/11/09

Not bad pie

by tailspin

Ok, I finally made it here on my 10 yr long quest to find decent pizza in LA. Why so long? Because this sucker is landlocked behind a maze of freeways! If you you live in Pasadena you are ok but anywhere else it is just too far. We arrived around 3:30 on a Sunday and people were already trickling in. Service was decent. Atmo was decent. Food was good. We ordered a pepperoni and mushroom pie and a veggie. Both were good. The crust is similar to Pizzeria Uno of Chicago. Almost a pie crust. $20 for a pizza is a little steep. I would come again but only if I were going to Pasadena for some other reason and wasn't going to hit a wall of traffic going home. Sunday was the right kinda traffic day for this place.

• Pros: unique product
• Cons: hella far from anywhere

09/13/08

Zelo Pizza

by Lucca13

The first thing I have to say to those people who complain "It's not like New York Pizza!" is, If you want New York Pizza, GO THE BACK THERE! ( I wouldn't live in N.Y.C. and complain about the Mexican Food...)

The second thing is, You aren't going to have to drop $50.00 for a Pizza, a Salad and a glass of Wine. (like that chi chi place in Hollywood with the rude waitstaff that are more concerned with David Geffen at the next table....)

Innovative and rustic, Zelo is definitely what defines a great Pizza. ( Fresh ingredients and an amazing crust.) I think that Michael Freeman and his wonderful staff can reignite the American obsession with Pizza the same way that Wolfgang Puck reignited it in the 1980's. They recently spiffed up the place and now it has a cool, dark Hollywood vibe. My current fave is the Four Cheese. (the other ones I love are the Wild Mushroom and of course the Corn Pizza!) The Salads are GOOD! (check out the Roasted Beet Salad OR the Green Bean Salad...) One recent visit I ordered Spaghetti and Meatballs. The Meatballs were PERFECT. Interesting Beers and a modest Wine list round out the Menu. The outdoor patio is really nice now with the new planters. The music is always great! Here is a sample of some tunes I've heard recently Hank Williams, X, The Black Kids, The Gun Club, David Bowie, White Stripes, The Ramones, Entrance, L-7, Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine and of course let us not forget the current staff favorite Kings of Leon. Note to celebs. There are no paparazzi here hounding you and the staff is nice but will treat you like anybody else. (so canoodle away with that doe eyed Ingenue you've started dating.) The Art on the wall is a hodge podge of Paintings, Rock-N-Roll posters, Skateboards, Cinema Posters and Pizza memorabilia. If you Love Pizza, do yourself a favor and pay a visit to Zelo Pizza.

• Pros: Great staff and GREAT PIZZA!
• Cons: They need a Wine program.

05/03/07

Didn't live up to expectations

by bwilk1971

After reading Jonathan Gold's review and browsing the impressive menu, we couldn't wait to go get a pizza from Zelo. The pizza we got wasn't bad (andouille sausage), but it also wasn't worth the $20 we paid for it. The crust was pretty oily, the "spicy cajun sausage" was completely mild and off-puttingly salty. Overall I just felt that the pizza was priced WAY over its value. The employees there were also rather icy and snootyfaced - not at all the warm, family-style reception other reviewers have described. I think I'll be sticking with Casa Bianca for a delicious, fresh, reasonably-priced pizza in a welcoming atmosphere.

• Pros: Lots of street parking; nice decor inside
• Cons: Very overpriced; snootyfaced employees

12/22/06

Mike you make THE BEST PIZZA hands down!

by kvollstedt

We've been going here for a while now, as you drive down Foothill, blink and you'll miss it (look for the umbrellas out front) but once you find it, Mike (the owner) has redone the interior a bit but it's still got downhome flavor and the pizza is just to die for ...really Corn Meal crust, all fresh toppings (no canned sauce here) try the corn with carmelized onion or the spinich with sausage. Salads are also yummy, beets with blue cheese, greenbeans and peppers. If comfort food is what you want this is the place! The guys and girls who work there make you feel like family which is an added bonus. Come hungry but be warned ORDER BY THE SLICE as the whole pie is a whole lotta food. And don't forget the Cake!!! Homemade Zucotto cake that is......YUMMMMY!

• Pros: Great Food + Great People = Great Time
• Cons: there really isn't any, the place is small but cozy

02/04/06

It's all about the cornmeal crust

by phoenix_68

The "con" from the previous reviewer will change, I'm sure. Jonathan Gold of the LA Weekly raved about Zelo in a recent issue and put the corn pizza on his top 10 distinctive dishes in 2005 list (not sure if I quoted that accurately, but it's close). Great neighborhood feel, the prices are more than fair, the house wine is very decent and it's all about the pizza-- especially the cornmeal crust. There are 6 standard pizzas (the fresh corn pizza w/ smoked mozarella, chives & balsamic marinated onions is FABULOUS) and then at least 3 special pizzas each day. I look forward to returning very soon!

• Pros: pizza, prices
• Cons: small size, closes at 9:00 p.m.