Gerardo's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Sedona

We had an amazing dining experience—my husband, 21 year old son and I. We were seated by the owner on the patio and were approached by our server Alex right away. She was so attentive, but not overly so. Our drinks and appetizer came so quickly which we really appreciated as we were hungry from hiking! We got the Coccoli (fried dough in herb butter with prosciutto and burrata cheese)—oh, was it good! We got a pepperoni pizza, the pasta special and the linguini con gamberi (shrimp). All were wonderful. The pizza dough and crust—just divine and that homemade mozzarella❤️! We had dark chocolate gelato and creme brûlée for dessert, both excellent. Throughout, the service was good and each time I exclaimed to our server Alex how delicious and wonderful everything was, she would thank me and I’m thinking, “No, I should be thanking you!” Lol. The weather was great for sitting on the patio and as Alex came by to check on us after dessert to see if we wanted anything else, I just remarked we would take our check…to which she casually informed us that our meal was already “taken care of!” Alex gestured to the empty table nearby where two couples had been sitting. As they were leaving, one of the couples told their server they wanted to pay for our meal! I couldn’t believe this! I sat there stunned—my husband and son too. What an incredible gift and they did it without needing to stick around to be thanked. I realize that sharing this experience is not necessarily relevant to the review of Gerardo’s, but I put it on here for 2 reasons: number 1–to thank the couple that treated us to that unforgettable meal on the chance they may see this review—you will never know how special that was to us! And number 2- to share with others the goodness that exists in the world. We’ve never had anything like this happen to us. I was so filled with gratitude (leaking tears of joy) that it felt nearly out of body. And of course I feel inspired to pay this forward. Sedona sure feels so magical every time...

I flew to AZ to visit a sound healer in town, Valerie Sanjali Irons, at Aumbase Yoga and Sound Studio. While visiting, I found a cool cigar shop in town and after browsing and making my cigar selection, the guys there gave me a recommendation to try Gerardo's Pizzeria. Valerie gave me great recommendations, so I figured these guys would too. While I don't eat calamari, my friend who ordered it said it was well seasoned and cooked nicely. She liked it a lot. She's also gluten free, dairy free, etc. Everything bothers her. We were curious how she'd feel the next day, but she said she felt a lot better than she would have if we ate at any other traditional restaurant with the same ingredients, so we feel like their above-and-beyond ingredient sourcing made a big difference. I tend to be a pizza snob since I'm from the east coast. you can't go wrong with good wood fired pizza though and of course it was delicious. While out hiking, someone we met from Long Island, NY gave me a recommendation to try Pizzeria Bianco when I was back in Phoenix. It's apparently rated top 5 pizza in the country. I ate there a day or two after Gerardo's, so I was able to compared their pizzas. While both were good, Gerardo's definitely had more depth of flavor and I preferred it. I was excited to try their chocolate ricotta cheesecake, but turns out it's really chocolate cake with a thin layer of cheesecake or mouse on top. Still good, but I jump at the chance to have ricotta cheesecake since I don't see it often. We heard it was a challenge to get a table and it was certainly full when we went. We got the last table inside, but it's obviously a well loved restaurant in the area....

As an Italian through and through, I never expected to find a pizzeria in the U.S. that could truly capture the essence of Italian cuisine—until I walked into Gerardo’s Pizzeria in Sedona. After visiting multiple cities across the country, I had almost given up hope of finding an authentic Italian pizzeria, but Gerardo Jr. and his team have achieved something extraordinary.

Gerardo Jr. took over the restaurant after traveling to Italy, and it’s clear that he brought back not just the recipes but the soul of true Italian pizza-making. The ingredients? Top quality. The menu? Finally—FINALLY—a place that knows what it’s doing! Every bite transported me straight back home. This isn’t just pizza—it’s an experience.

The ambiance of the restaurant is also something special. No stereotypical “Tuscan hills” décor here. Instead, the place feels like a real Italian pizzeria, with items and details that you would actually find in Italy. And to add to the magic? The entire team speaks Italian! This isn’t just a business—it’s a labor of love and authenticity.

We spent 10 days in Sedona—and 4 of those days, we found ourselves back at Gerardo’s. That alone should tell you something! If you go, you MUST try the mortadella and pistachio pizza. It’s Gerardo Jr.’s favorite for a reason, and once you taste it, you’ll understand why.

To anyone visiting Sedona: don’t just take my word for it—go, eat, and experience it for yourself. Say hi to Gerardo Sr. and Jr., two incredible ambassadors of true Italian cuisine. You will see Gerardo Jr and my wife in the picture! Great guy great pizza

Grazie mille, Gerardo’s Pizzeria—you’ve won my...