Gus's New York Pizza — Restaurant in Tempe

Gus's New York Pizza is a veritable institution and neighborhood landmark in the heart of Tempe, serving Arizona State University.

Gus's New York Pizza has a "new" location; they were previously located just across the parking lot. Now they are visible from the street (Rural Road at University.)

I typically order delivery. Gus's New York Pizza offers a fine selection of subs, hot and cold; pizzas including specialties such as the White Pie; calzones; entrees including a mildly spicy, hearty Meatball Marinara with penne pasta; desserts such as delicious, mouth-watering cheesecake and delicate cannolis filled with sweet cheeses and dusted with powdered sugar.

My favorite sandwich is Gus's Provolone, with roast beef. They'll add plenty of shredded lettuce, juicy tomato slices, oregano and onions. There are generous portions of meat and cheese in every sub, while the first thing you'll see is a healthy feast of fresh produce. I enjoy extra mayonnaise, and you can have tangy yellow mustard, etc.

Last night I decided to dine in. At least 4 other tables were occupied as I stayed for 45 minutes on a Wednesday evening. Classes are back in session at ASU and there's plenty of traffic outside, from pedestrians, scooters and vehicles. Free parking is available, and spaces are almost always open.

Inside I found lovely vintage/modern images of New York City, including a stadium, Fire Station 23, and a boardwalk carnival scene. I enjoy the subway-related décor and lights. There are also big-screen TV sets showing live football, etc. Music was playing on speakers, and diners were holding conversations and enjoying the company.

I was greeted by a man at the counter and Alyssa also took my order when I was ready. There's an overhead menu, with straightforward sections and choices. I chose a Spinach Salad which includes walnuts, dried cranberries, and tomato slices. The dressing selections include a raspberry vinaigrette, but Gus's New York Pizza will be happy to serve whichever dressing you choose! I received two servings, which is plenty to coat and toss the entire salad, and a fork was placed inside the box.

Alyssa assigned me an order number. They use tall metal signs that you place on the table, so the server can find you on the dining room floor. There is also outdoor seating available, for people-watching and "al fresco" dining.

Their point-of-sale supports tap-to-pay, so unlock your smartphone with NFC, or just use debit or credit cards here. Delivery is currently offered through DoorDash and others. Gus's New York Pizza has over 20 years' experience in the delivery and dine-in business...

I have ordered from Gus's about five times in total but after tonight I don't know if I will ever order here again, let alone recommend it to family or friends.

Tonight I tried placing a single online order about 10-20 times. However, their "website" kept giving me error messages, telling me my address could not be found. It is literally the same address I have used every other time I have ordered from here. I tried entering my address every which way and no matter which way I entered it I got the same error message.

At first, I thought to myself "OK, no big deal, I'll just call to place my order." After I called, I told the employee I would like the "Special #2" which is a 2-topping 18" pizza. If you order online this pizza is $20/$21. The employee told me he would not offer me that special because it is for online orders only. He then told me the price of that same pizza was going to be basically $40 after taxes. That is literally double the price. I told him I had tried ordering online, but their website was not working and that it is outside my control whether or not their website chooses to function correctly at any given moment. I politely asked him if he could give me the online price given the circumstances and he refused. I told the employee I didn't really want to order if I was going to be charged $40 for ONE regular-sized pizza, hoping that would incentivize him to give me the online price. NOPE, instead he just hung up on me. Ridiculous and so rude.

Do yourself a favor and go to Hungry Howie's. You'll get double to triple the pizza for half the price. Better yet, if you're ever considering ordering from Gus's, just go to your closest grocery store or nearest gas station and buy one of their pizzas instead. The quality of Gus's pizza compared to a frozen store pizza is minuscule at best anyways.

Oh, and if you do order delivery don't be surprised when your food arrives cold. I'm only 3 miles away and 3 out of the last 5 times I've ordered, my food has arrived late and cold. Last time I was quoted a 1 hour delivery and it took almost 2 & 1/2 hours to arrive. I almost didn't want to accept the food once it finally did arrive but I felt bad for the delivery driver so I did anyways.

Unfortunately for me Gus's was the closest open pizza place to me after 11PM. That being said, I am so done with this place. Literally their only redeeming factor is they are open 24/7. But that seems to be their entire business model: be open 24/7 to take advantage of drunk college kids who will pay $40 for a mediocre pizza. That's all this place is, and that's all it...

I recently visited Gus's Pizza with the intention of exploring new dining options. However, I was disappointed with the overall experience. The customer service left much to be desired; the staff did not assist me with the menu or inquire about my previous visits. This lack of attentiveness was disheartening.

Moreover, the quality of the pizza was subpar. It seemed as though the dough had been mishandled, giving it an unpleasant texture. It appeared that someone with wet hands might have touched the dough during the preparation process. Additionally, I had initially requested a smaller-sized pizza, unaware that they offered personal-sized slices. I only discovered this when another customer ordered a slice afterward, which left me feeling uninformed.

Furthermore, the bathroom facilities were unclean, which was rather off-putting. The lack of attention to hygiene was concerning, especially considering the establishment's size and the option for customers to dine in. It is essential for a pizza place to operate with the standards of a restaurant, including offering complimentary water to patrons.

Gus's Pizza has the potential to improve. However, the staff's appearance while serving the food was sloppy, which detracted from the overall dining experience. It would be beneficial if the person taking orders also served the food, ensuring a more streamlined and efficient process. Additionally, the general atmosphere lacked enthusiasm, as none of the staff seemed genuinely happy to be there. This lack of positive energy certainly did not contribute to a pleasant dining vibe.

In conclusion, while Gus's Pizza has potential, there are several areas that require improvement. Enhancing customer service, maintaining cleanliness, and cultivating a more positive and attentive staff would greatly enhance the overall dining experience. As well as I would recommend revamping the...