Pizzeria Lui — Restaurant in Lakewood

I really wanted to like this place. So the family was in the mood for pizza last night and I searched for a 'new' great pizzeria and found Lui's. I read the reviews and looked at the Facebook page. Reviews suggested asking for a little extra sauce (something about training new cooks). Pics on Facebook showed numerous 'well done' pizzas. Dug a little deeper in the reviews and Facebook and saw the owner is quite proud of the 'char' he inflicts upon his pies. So, I thought, I'll order a couple of pizzas to pick up and communicate my preference for a little less char than usual.

Lui's picked up the phone immediately. I ordered and asked for less-charry pies. He chuckled and said "My oven is pretty hot, but I'll see what I can do." Cool, I thought. "They'll be ready in about 10 minutes". Oh, I better get moving.

To be absolutely fair, I knew almost exactly what I was getting into. I figured I could peel off a charred bubble here and there. How bad could it be?

I picked up the pizzas, paid, tipped a bit. One of the guys acknowledged I had asked for less char and chuckled again when he said something about the sugar content in his dough. Ok, sure.

About halfway into the first slice I had a flashback of that time I forgot a steak on the grill and it got charred black on the bottom. I'd tried to salvage the steak by cutting off the bottom 1/4 inch of char and then tried to eat it. That overpowering flavor of char was the same. How could that be? I flipped the slice of pizza over and found the bottom was pretty charred, too. UGH! The wife and kid refused to eat more than a few bites. I persisted....with beer...just like with the steak.

Ultimately I quit, had another beer, and realized the char flavor was still all over my tongue. Nothing a little tongue brush with Crest and some of my favorite spicy Indian lime pickle couldn't fix.

Lui's, I truly wish you well...it's me, not you...really. It looks like you've got a good thing going, based on all the great reviews. Unfortunately. I don't see much chance of a pizza bromance happening between us...maybe things would work better between you and The Bern (Sanders). I'll introduce you next time he's in town. Deal?

Summary: Good service, but the char is not for me or mine. I suggest looking at the pics on their Facebook page and deciding for yourself if that's what you want to feed your family and friends.

Disclaimer: I'm an old guy, not a hipster, and I drink IPA...

Best in Denver by a mile. I was so pleased to find this place. I like to find the best pizza in every city I visit and have always been a little disappointed in myself for not making more of an effort to find good pizza in my own town. First a word of advice, order earlier than you need to! This is not a hidden gem and they have run out of dough by 6:00 PM a couple times when I’ve had a craving. They keep kind of short hours so plan ahead and you will not be disappointed. This is well worth the effort and even if you have to drive a ways to get here, it will be worth it. The dough is the perfect neopolitan style. Slightly crunchy on the outside with a perfectly chewy and airy center. I don’t know how they get this quality in Colorado. I was under the impression that the altitude and water quality make getting this style of crust difficult to impossible. Somehow they nail it every time. The only pizza I get is the Sopressta. It is the perfect combination of flavors and I don’t want to risk getting something that isn’t this perfect so I’ve never tried anything else. The combination of flavors is just right. Nothing too strong or too much of anything. Just a wonderful balance of sweet, salty, acidity and richness mixed with the wonderful creamy fresh mozzarella. Your mileage may vary on any other pie but I have a feeling they are all delicious. The service is… adequate at best most of the time. They are clearly very busy and probably understaffed. I give them a pass on this as the food is worth a curt attitude some nights. I’ve worked in a high pressure, busy kitchen and...

Pizza LUI is an absolute gem in Colorado. As someone who grew up in Brooklyn and knows great pizza, I can confidently say this place hits the spot every single time. The dough alone is a 10/10, perfectly chewy with just the right amount of crisp, and the crust? Out of this world. It’s the kind of crust you don’t leave behind—flavorful, airy, and baked to perfection.

What makes Pizza LUI even more impressive is that they’re only open 24 hours a week, yet they still manage to deliver top-tier quality every time. That kind of consistency is rare and it speaks volumes about the passion and precision behind the scenes.

The selection is awesome, offering something for everyone without overwhelming the menu, and don’t even get me started on the ranch—it’s next-level. Creamy, tangy, and the perfect companion to every bite.

This spot is a must-visit for any pizza lover. Pizza LUI is redefining what great pizza looks like in Colorado—and doing it with style.

What makes Pizza LUI even more impressive is that they’re only open 24 hours a week, yet they still manage to deliver top-tier quality every time. That kind of consistency is rare—and it speaks volumes about the passion and precision behind the scenes.

The selection is awesome, offering something for everyone without overwhelming the menu, and don’t even get me started on the ranch—it’s next-level. Creamy, tangy, and the perfect companion to every bite.

This spot is a must-visit for any pizza lover. Pizza LUI is redefining what great pizza looks like in Colorado—and doing...