Varasano's Pizzeria - Buckhead — Restaurant in Atlanta

Varasano's Pizzeria is, without a doubt, a gastronomic treasure trove tucked away in the heart of Atlanta. Having sampled pizzas in various corners of the world (including Italy!), I can confidently assert that Varasano's stands head and shoulders above the rest, making it my undisputed favorite pizzeria.

What sets Varasano's apart is not just its delicious pizzas but the ingenious combinations of flavors that Chef Jeff Varasano (the same guy who set the Rubik's Cube US Record when he was 15!) brings to the table. The caramelized onion pizza, a surprising favorite of mine despite my usual aversion to onions, is a testament to his culinary genius. The sweet, savory notes of the caramelized onions, perfectly balanced with emmentaler cheese, meld harmoniously on the palate. It's a culinary adventure that transforms seemingly ordinary ingredients into a culinary masterpiece.

My second favorite - the Margherita pizza at Varasano's, is nothing short of incredible. Chef Varasano's commitment to using gourmet ingredients shines through in every bite. The freshness of the tomatoes, the creaminess of the Bufala mozzarella, and the aromatic basil meld together on a sublime sourdough crust that elevates the entire pizza experience. The sourdough crust, a unique touch, adds a delightful depth of flavor and a perfect crunch to each slice.

What truly baffles me is how Varasano's Pizzeria remains so underrated in Atlanta. This establishment should be heralded as the best in the city and arguably one of the finest in the entire United States. The combination of inventive toppings, gourmet ingredients, and the exceptional sourdough crust sets Varasano's on a pedestal of its own.

The dedication to quality is evident not only in the outstanding pizzas but also in the overall dining experience. One of the experiences I enjoy most is the private experience that you can reserve, where Jeff curates an intimate pizza tasting, creating off-menu and custom items that blow your mind and your taste buds (deep fried or lemon pizza anyone?) This is perfect for a date night our a group activity.

In a world where pizza has become commonplace, Varasano's Pizzeria manages to stand out as a beacon of culinary excellence. If you're a pizza enthusiast or simply someone looking for an extraordinary dining experience, Varasano's is a must-visit. Prepare to have your taste buds tantalized, your expectations exceeded, and your love for pizza redefined. I believe it's time for Varasano's to take its rightful place among the elite pizzerias of the nation. I'd even nominate them for a...

Varasano's has been near the heart of Buckhead for almost 20 years now, and has managed to keep a nearly perfect review score for a reason. Granted, you won't notice any awards from this decade but they started strong and kept the same pizza.

All pizzas come in one size which is enough to feed 2 people, unless they are teenagers or powerlifters. Or worse, teenage powerlifters. It will cost you between $20-25 per pizza.

Jeff, the owner of Varasano's, is all about the dough. It's a sourdough starter with 4 ingredients: flour, water, salt, and yeast. That is intentional and true to the region's traditions.

The toppings are sparing but your crust won't get soggy. Sauce, basil, and mozzarella: simple but full of flavor. You can add toppings. and the crust is thin, very much like the authentic Italian pizzas I've eaten when visiting Italy.

A stone fire ovan is used to flash cook the pizza. When it comes out the crust is soft but not doughy, except on the outside edge where it is crisp with speckled charring which adds more flavor.

Varasano's and Antico are very similar, less is more, Naples style pizzerias. Antico is very keen on ingredients, but in my opinion has gone down hill since it opened in 2009, and started expanding. They used to have ingredients from Italy flown in daily and when they were out, no one else was getting pizza for the night.

In Italy I was told that quality ingredients are key and pizza should not make you feel full and bloated. Now, I don't know how strict the owner is when it comes to higher quality European ingredients, but I can say that I was able to eat half a pizza without feeling like I had overindulged.

The last time I was in they did seem short staffed and someone new was training. It still only took 20 minutes to get a pizza made.

The atmosphere is dated but still nice. They appeared to be in the middle of a project to line the glass railing on the patio with fake ivy for privacy. It was a bit of a mess as they had zip tied it all on.

Parking is a pain unless you go on a weeknight because it shares a small deck with living areas and other businesses. There are limited spots reserved for Varasano's. You could always park across the street by Houston's.

Don't get me wrong, I also enjoy Mellow Mushroom and Fellini's. But they are their own class of pizzas. If you want simple, flavorful, authentic, and consistent go...

Here’s what I sent to the owner by email.

I have been coming to your restaurant for over 2 years and I love your pizza. There have been a few instances where to cook didn’t it follow my cooking instructions and I had it fix. Today I drove 30 mins away to get your olive and capers pizza when I picked it up the pizza was all crust and I requested for it to be remade. Please see picture. The cook came out be very confrontational and told me that I always complain when my pizza is made. Yes , I have had my pizza remade because one time my pizza was soggy from them not draining the juice off of there olives, I could not even fold it to eat. The second time I requested the pepper sauce on the side and it was instead out all over my pizza, then today I come and get my pizza that’s mostly a big pizza bread stick. He also told me that you instructed him to make the pizza with mostly crust.

Your kitchen Manager Israel senior walked up to me and got directly in my face and yelled at me, his body language and tone was very aggressive and he told me that I complain every time which is not true. I ordered two pizzas last week and they were perfectly made. I’ve ordered over 50 plus pizza from you. I told him that my orders were not as I requested when I placed it online and I had every right to say something. He was arguing with me in the middle of the restaurant and I decided to walked away. He told me I had to eat it I can leave and he will not be redoing the pizza.

I’ve never had that type of experience and I will never again. I will post this experience on every review website possible because no one see to be treated like that, especially when it becomes the cook did not follow simple instructions. I have never asked for a discount or free, I simply ask for my pizza to be...