Focaccia 14th ave — Restaurant in Vero Beach

Pizza Review: Focaccia on 14th Ave

Tonight I went for pizza at Focaccia on 14th Ave. It wasn’t my first choice, but it was suggested to my mother, and she really wanted to try it.

First Impressions

Walking in, the first thing I noticed was a case of slices on display. They looked old and unappealing, which wasn’t a great start. I joined my mom and my son, who were already seated, and we started reviewing the menu. We decided on stuffed meatballs and a Margherita pizza.

That’s when I noticed something odd—the prices on the wall behind the counter were $1 higher than the printed menu. When I asked the waitress which was correct, she admitted she was new and wasn’t sure.

The Food

We ordered the stuffed meatballs, which were described as homemade. I watched as the server pulled them from a crockpot and then opened what sounded like a container. Sure enough, when they arrived, it was clear these weren’t truly homemade. They were likely frozen meatballs, cooked all day in the crockpot, then stuffed with unseasoned ricotta and mozzarella, topped with cheese that hadn’t even melted. I immediately sent them back.

The second attempt came out hot, but they were still just “okay.” Honestly, I’m not convinced they were homemade.

The pizza, however, was much better. It looked great—crispy crust, not greasy, flavorful sauce, and made with Grande cheese. The restaurant even sent over garlic knots to make up for the meatball issue. The knots were fine, nothing special.

The Check Surprise

When the bill came, I noticed the total seemed high. The posted menu prices were:

Pizza: $19.95

Meatballs: $9.95

The wall menu behind the counter listed:

Pizza: $20.95

Meatballs: $10.95

But the receipt read:

Pizza: $21.85

Meatballs: $11.45

We questioned the charges, but the waitress explained the owner had stepped out for a delivery. She apologized and took our number. A little later, while we were next door getting ice cream, the owner actually tracked us down. He apologized, tried to explain the pricing discrepancies, and offered us free dessert (which we declined).

Final Thoughts

Pizza: Good, but not the best in town.

Meatballs: Major disappointment.

Garlic knots: Just okay.

Staff: Very nice and apologetic.

Pricing: Big turnoff. Menu, wall, online, and receipt all had different prices.

If one pizza and one app added up this way, I can only imagine what happens if you order several.

Recommendation: 👎 Not worth it, but if you do try it, make sure to check your...

We were in Vero Beach for several days recently for a baseball tournament at the Jackie Robinson baseball complex. I grew up in New Jersey, eat pizza multiple days every week, eat pizza around the country when I travel, and am basically a pizzatarian. We tried three different Vero Beach pizza restaurants on this trip. Though the other two restaurants we tried may have many more reviews and possibly be better known or existed longer, the pizza at Focaccia 14th ave was excellent and is dramatically better than the very average and generally unappealing pizza of the other two restaurants we tried. I was surprised to find pizza this good in Vero Beach and I would be surprised if there is any other pizza this good in the area. I hope we play baseball again in Vero Beach in part so we can return to this pizza. Sorry for the bluntness here, but my intention is to be clear enough that I help you in selecting good pizza when you...

Im super happy and thrilled to have visited this restaurant after hearing numerous reviews of this place. Was definitely worth the visit! Talk about being treated like family as soon as you walk in the door. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. She provided recommendations. We ended up ordering a White Pizza while adding bacon and meatballs. My husband and I were blown away by the flavor and the quality of the ingredients. Every single bite was amazing! For dessert I recommend their Cannolis which were amazing as well. Wasn't overly sweet like it was compensating for something else. It was my husband's birthday and he was so thrilled and happy I found this place for him to enjoy. May ghe gods bless this place and the owner. Thank you again for such an amazing experience ❤️. We...