On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 a.m.
Loading...
The first time I experienced the magic of Lorenzo's, it had already been an extraordinary evening. I was a child of the suburbs, into the city for a jamband show across the street at the TLA. Being young and fresh-faced, I was already having a great time; people were offering me hash and shrooms like they were selling band candy. And the girls wearing fairy wings struck me as pretty hot. When our group emerged from the concert, tired and hungry, my friend suggested we hit Lorenzo's. Given that it was 4 AM and the line outside the place was practically around the block, I figured they must be doing something right. And WERE they; the slice was bigger than my face (which was admittedly smaller then, but still substantial) - large enough that it required two plates and a bit of folding. And the sauce was sweet, hot and delicious. And the crust - my god! - it was the perfect blend of chewy and crunchy. Not only was it the biggest slice of pizza I had ever tasted, it was the BEST! I was in love.
Since then, I've been back maybe a dozen times. The slices are always big and delicious. There is, of course, better pizza out there. Everyone's got their preferences. But what Lorenzo's does, they do right. Quick counter service, big tasty plain slices, and 4 AM memories to last a lifetime.
This place makes me feel like I'm in the "Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld.
But enough about the ambiance and the friendly staff.
If you want a New York style slice, quick, cheap, no-nonsense, and so huge and dripping with grease it practically begs out loud to be folded in half and inhaled before you get halfway home, here's your best bet.
Been in Philly my whole life, and was only just introduced to Lorenzo's pizza a couple months ago. Didn't know what I was missing out on...
Their pizza is awesome!!! Slices are huge, but like my sister always says, "I don't share my Lorenzo's." Whether you share or not, make it a point to get a slice when you're down on South Street. Actually make it a point to go to South Street so you can get some Lorenzo's.
I've heard of NY Pizza, Chicago PIzza, but Philly Pizza?? I thought Philly just has the cheesesteak. But apparently, they've got their own cheese pizza that is pretty awesome. Simple large slice the size of your arm costs only $2.50 and the thing that makes it so good: the sweet tomato sauce and the cheesy cheese. I don't know what magic they've molded into that cheese as we saw the guy in the back massage that love into the cheese. Maybe that's what makes it so stringy and tasty when melted. I wish I had more of it, but I could only fit a few bites since this was the 4th meal of the day in Philly.
Again, best pizza on south street, bar-none
I love love south street, and love this pizza place, many a time, have eaten a slice of pizza here,… Read more »
This is a soggy grossfest excuse for a slice of pizza. Alas, it's also my desperate late night default. Like sleeping with an ex, you always regret it after the fact.
This place has terrible service and pizza to match. They are RUDE and RACIST. (and NO, I DIDN'T imagine this!!!!) If you enjoy being disrespected... this is the place for you!
For starters, they have rude signs hanging up that discourage you from asking ANY KIND OF QUESTION!!! Basically, they want you to pay and GET OUT!!!! The cashiers are curt (for no reason) and appear to have a real chip on their shoulders. I'm sorry, but I have a reaal problem with giving my money to a place that doesn't seem to appreciate or want my business. They have no customer service or socialization skills and they SLAM your money down on the counter!!! (instead of politely placing it in your hand, as is customary.) If you want to piss me off QUICKLY, that's the way to do it!!
Granted, their slices are big, but who CARES???? So are their attitudes. These people are CAVE-MEN!!!!! There are too many other restaurants on South Street!! If you want good NY style pizza PLUS atmosphere, I'd recommend SOHO in Olde City over this dump!
Questions:
1) why is it so unusually sweet and greasy?
2) why did i eat this huge slice of a mess?
3) why didn't i just stumble a couple steps more to get steaks at SOS?
Answers:
1) only Lorenzo and son know.
2) so i had a couple drinks earlier that night...
3) see the answer above. +2 more drinks. *shrugs*
Just got back from a visit to South Street and stopped in, and had to add my two cents. Lorenzo's is a must when I'm down on South. The slices are HUGE, cheesy, just amazing. One slice here is about the size of two slices anywhere else. The store is cramped, single file in, out, kind of like Seinfeld's Soup Nazi - "no" to anything special, signs posted all over the store warn you not to bother asking. But the line is always out the door - something is bringing the droves of people - it's about the pizza people!!!! GO NOW.
If your night ends in Old City or South Street, you have to go to Lorenzo's for that late-night snack.
Buy a whole pie for the group, it will not go to waste. Just be careful as things get heated on South Street after last call.
"New York style" pizza (NY Style means: thin, soft, chewy, folds easily and with no toppings on it) and it is a BIG slice for the price. Not the best ingredients, not the nicest employees, not the nicest customers and easily the worst mirrored-mushroom-trip-flashback room to eat in, BUT it does it hit the spot! I wouldn't go here if I was looking for anything more than a really late night slice, but again there's usually line after 11 p.m., that runs down the sidewalk......
Maybe it's the rainy weather or that I have to work a long day, but I'm just itching to leave a semi bad review.
Whenever I see a place over-hyped like Lorezo & Sons, I use up a tiny portion of my tolerance for such BS. So, maybe it's not just the weather, but perhaps Ive used up my recent supply of over-hype tolerance when walking past Geno's and Pat's steaks or other mediocre romanticized places that once were good but reputations allowed them to slump into mediocrity.
Their pizza is just OK. It's not worth the hype. Gianfrancos in CC and Sout Philly, Rustica in N.libs, Taconelli's in Port Richmond, all are way better than this place. I grew up in the far north east Philly area and let me just spell it out. I've had ENOUGH floppy, tasteless, drippy pizza, thank you.
Lorenzo's & Sons isn't the worst, mind you, but if it isn't obvious, isn't it possible the rave reviews are more a result of yelping patrons being less than sober?
Hard for me to find anything wrong with this place. It IS Philly. The slices are huge! Fold that bad-boy up, sit on the curb, and talk about how much South Street has changed.
I live in Philadelphia and I'm never on South Street for a multitude of reasons:
1) I don't feel like putting up with twentysomething frat guys from out of town whose idea of a fun Saturday night is to go to Fat Tuesday, drink eighteen frozen strawberry daquiris, fight people, and then throw up/piss in public.
2) I usually don't feel like giving directions to families driving by in cars wondering where the Liberty bell is.
3) I try and stay as far away as possible from both of the Whole Foods in the city, as well as the pestilent, tofu eating, indie looking, fanny pack wearing, fixed gear bike riding patrons that gravitate towards those stores and their surrounding areas.
HOWEVER:
Should I happen to stumble into Mako's for a PBR and shot of Jack for $5 and get a sudden craving for sustenance, nobody...I repeat, nobody.....does pizza like Lorenzo's. It's drunk food just the way I like it....fast, cheap, DELICIOUS, and bullshit-free.
The End.
Oh what to say about Lorenzo's.... I dream of Lorenzo's.
After moving out of my beloved Philadelphia. I make SURE to go to Lorenzo's when I am home.
Tips.
Don't ask them stupid questions like, do you have toppings? is there a bathroom? do you have parmesan cheese? Cause the answer will be NO! (read the signs people~) Actually they're not that rude. Just order your slice, drink, sprinkle some garlic powder, hot pepper flakes and be on your way. I have never gotten bad service from them.. cause really it takes you less than a minute to order. Although my main man with the fabulous hair always treats me well. Haha.. gonna ask what his name is next time. I'll give him a shout out.
I like that they have a sink in the back for you to wash your hands.
They have a mirrored room in the back, which they recently renovated so it looks nice and fresh. Yes, mirrors so you can watch yourself inhale that delicious slice of heaven.
This is everything you should expect from a pizza place that seems to present itself as the best, most ridiculously large slice of pizza for $2.50. It is all of this and not much more. Honestly, this is the perfect place for when you don't want more.
The Sauce is a little sweet. The cheese has a nice texture and doesn't overdo and underdo the rest of the package. The crust is very good. Try out their hot sauce - it doesn't seem to get the attention that it deserves.
this might be the best pizza shop pizza ive had in philly. (excluding specialty fancy stuff) this is no nonsense, huge, and super cheesy. my fav part was the perfect crust. this is a perfect late night stop to feed your alcohol only stomach. no one even cares thats its packed, and there are no seats, because its instant gratification.
Blah blah blah. This pizza is lame. The staff has all the personality of a damp, gray sweatsock. I actually wish they WOULD be dicks to me. At least that would make it a bit more interesting. Also, I'm not that hot on checking myself out while I shovel a greasebomb into my pie hole. Not a good look.
This pizza is exactly what you deserve if you are hanging out drunk on South Street at 2 AM.
In all my years of drunk eating, I had never been to Lorenzo's before Saturday. After a long night out, our crew ordered a pie which, to my shock and drunken delight, was so large it required TWO boxes! Noticing the condiments on the counter, I opened the top box and started liberally sprinkling the pie with... something. We discovered soon after that the something was garlic powder. Oops! We enjoyed a very garlicky pizza that tasted like the food of the gods at the time, if a tad potent.
Sober reflection tells me that the pizza was tasty but undercooked. The one remaining slice in my fridge will be reheated in the oven for lunch today, providing some much-needed crunchiness. It should be noted, this is probably the first time in history that I have ever had leftovers from late-night eating. Lorenzo's, I salute you!
I really like all the signs everywhere that say "NO TOPPINGS ON SLICES" and "NO PARMESAN CHEESE" and "NO CREDIT CARDS AT ALL" and "JUST DONT ASK BECAUSE THE ANSWER IS NO! NO! NO!" (that's a real sign as I recall).
even though these guys just might as well just fly a flag outside the door that says FUCK OFF, I kind of agree with their style. It's just pizza. plain and simple! take it or leave it! slices of cheese pizza. thats it.
wanna sit down while you eat? too bad, you only get to stand around in the weird, super awkward, FULLY mirrored "standing room" in the back. (wtf is up with that thing???)
aside from all that, the pizza is pretty damn good. and HUGE! and CHEAP! sometimes I just cant resist. like that one time that we decided, for whatever reason, to grab some slices literally ten minutes after exiting jim's. NOT the best plan we've ever had.
duh. it's lorenzos, it's delicious. huge slices and oh so crispy crust, it's worth the wait it line. don't ask me the price because i'm usually in the bag when munching on it. sooooo good!
Biggest pizza slices of life! I didn't even know how to hold it so I had to fold it in half to eat. Yea, I know I sound like a total fatty. Very interesting pizza place. If you order by the slice, you can only get cheese pizza. There's signs warning you to not even bother asking for toppings or parmesan. So east coast! While I'm usually not a fan of just cheese pizza, I thought this was pretty good and definitely filling! At $2.50 a slice, you can't really go wrong.
There's no seating in this joint. You can walk towards the back and stand in the fun house type room (there's mirrors on every wall!) to eat your slice there.
You can also order by the pie for about 20 bucks.
I'm from New York and some what of a pizza fiend, so maybe I'm just biased to our brand of pizza by the slice. Lorenzo's closest comparison in New York would probably be Koronet Pizza (by Columbia). Big cheese slices served one at a time to a revolving door of penny pinching patrons (like that alliteration?).
Service was brusque and seemed a bit impatient, which is probably reasonable given how quickly lines can form. Charging for boxes and cups of water and various passive aggressive notes (PLEASEEE take one napkin at a time) don't help the vibe.
The slice itself is decent, but generally unspectacular. My main gripe is that the cheese they use seems to solidify a bit too quickly upon cooling off and, since they don't offer boxes unless you pay, your slice will cool off.
I agree the pizza slices are HUGE and cheap! but when it comes to the taste.. ugh! Id eat this only after a night of drunken stupor bc at that point, everything tastes good! But any other time, their pizza is just bland bland bland.
Oh and what is up with the room in the back?! All those mirrors wall to wall. Add a bed and it'd be a pervert's heaven. :(
This is the best slice I've ever had - plain and simple. The cheese is rich and slightly salty, the sauce a good mixture of sweetness, tangyness, and oregano, and the crust flexible but not undercooked. Pizza connoisseurs have no problem with the encouraging of plain slices without herbs and cheese slopped all over them. This is more than just drunken food. It's the perfect NY style slice.
It is what it is. Love it. Everytime we're on tour and play a few feet down at the TLA, I make sure to get a slice (or two). They're not too friendly, not too fancy, not too flashy but they make a delicious pie. Battles NYC pizza to me.
If you frequent Uno's for the pazookies, or CPK for some thai chicken pizza bulls&!t, then you won't be down.
For a slice as big as your head, so big you NEED to fold it over to eat, and forget about trying to walk on south street while you munch-- this slice commands that you sit down to enjoy it, even if you have to crouch in front of the wawa on second street.
For a while last summer, I would go to Lorenzo's every day for a slice, which is more like a meal, and at $2.50 a pop (it used to be $2 for the longest, but they had to raise prices because of the global food crisis) it's a cheap fix that will stick to your ribs for hours.
The best in Philly. Anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about. They probably like Domino's.
A pizza place with a waiting line is usually a good sign. I kind of felt like I was in the Soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld as I watched the stern-faced do-it-all guy behind the counter while advancing step-by-step in the line. The little sign listing the answers (NO, NO, NO, NO) to possible questions was a little off-putting, but I guess I was in a sympathetic mood as I thought about the legions of people this guy must deal with in a given night. It's actually thoughtful, though brusquely stated, that the house rules are clearly posted.
As I watched him, I thought it might be interesting to see a human actually blow out a jugular vein, envisioning some idiot who might ask for a topping on a slice and this guy being pushed over the edge into an eruption. If he just smiled at people and was a little pleasant, I'd nominate him for "Best Food Server in Philly" 'cause he does have one tough job. And this was on a Sunday night, with far less drunks to deal with.
With the product turnover in this place, I thought I was assured of a top quality slice. It hit the mark on being hot. The fact that the guy had to flip the pointy end over onto the rest of the slice because it was too big to fit on a standard paper plate was cool. Though I wince at paying more than $1.75 out the door for a plain slice, the size of their slice justified the $2.50 OTD price. Plus, they're in a high-overhead section of the city.
The sauce was okay; fortunately it wasn't too sweet. It could have been a little more spiced & had a better acid balance. Inoffensive, and unremakable. The cheese was okay, and there was enough of it on the slice.The crust had an okay flavor, but I just can't praise any slice that is too floppy & chewy. This is where I keep coming up short in my quest for a great slice in Philly, the crust. Sometimes its al dente enough, but tastes like cardboard. Others have more going on in the flavor department, but with the consistency of a thick rubber band.
I'd recommend Lorenzo & Son if you've got insane munchies and happen to be closeby, but this isn't a "desination" pizza place.
I just can't bring myself to giving this pizza parlor 5 stars. After a night out on the town, and a few dirty vodka martinis, a slice of Lorenzo's pizza was just what the doctor ordered. It was truly magic to my taste buds.
Yet for an east coaster-turned Cali girl, my first slice of pizza on my visit back east was not quite the greasy, thin-crusted with crust bubbly goodness that I expect of a tri-state area slice. So in that sense, I was disappointed.
The slices are big and the sauce is sweet. Good location, nice people who work there. Just got a cheese slice so can't judge other kinds. Overall, 4 stars.
One of the best slices in philly. great for late nite. cash only and they don't offer toppings. slices are HUGE. pizza is one of the best tasting slices i've ever had. Better than most NY pizza slices. Don't expect a crunchy slice like ny pizza tho. only complaint is once in a while they under cook the pies.
Big slices of cheese pizza done right. Nuff said.
Having trouble getting laid? Just go with your friends to a South Street bar, get faced, and when the bar closes, head for Lorenzo's. Order two slices and sprinkle a ton of the free crap on it. The next step is vital. Start eating the second you get out the door. Minutes later, you're spent and just want to crawl into bed.
Don't mess with the formula. Once I wasn't drunk. The pizza sucked. Once I was drunk, but didn't eat it until I got to an apartment two blocks away. The pizza sucked. Do it right and you'll be satisfied every time.
I really used to love Lorenzo's when I first moved here. I would walk from Drexel's campus to South Street just to come here. They had a nice balance of ingredients and it was dirt cheap.
Since the back was renovated (it looks like there should be a stripper pole in there with all those mirrors), the pizza has not been as good. The times I have eaten it since then it has been either undercooked or too greasy. I will probably give it one more try before writing it off.
Great pizza!
The best pizza on South St and perfect after a night of heavy drinking or after watching a band at the TLA.
They are open late and they are fast service.
Some of the biggest slices I have ever seen.
Don't be picky, just order a slice or two and feed that hunger.
I used to love this place, but I just stopped by tonight and was pretty disappointed by my slice. It was huge as usual, but even with all my crushed pepper and oregano, I couldn't help but notice that the magic was gone.
Also, every bite I took seems to just slide down my throat with the cheese. Kind of a choking hazard if you ask me. I want to give them another half star because of all those times before when that huge slice of pizza was fast, quick joy.
This place is good to go to especially after the bars close when you're drunk. Cheap HUGE slices. Too bad you can't get any toppings for individual slices. Lines are long 2am -3am.
I didn't enjoy the pizza sober. If you're low on cash and need to eat, it hits the spot.
I try and live by the philosophy of why be a dick when you can be nice...the people at Lorenzo and son full heatedly disagree....but they do have a very good plain slice and sized appropriately for me. Stick to the plain the toppings are not worth the extra time/money and side of murder stare you will get from the staff if you order anything else. Recently told you should wrap a slice of Lorenzo around a Jim's cheesesteak- well at least I know what I will be having for brunch this Sat.
I actually really really love Lorenzo's pizza and have found my self waiting in their ridiculous 3am line many, many times. My more sober moments at Lorenzo's, however, have been less enjoyable.
It really makes me mad that they think/know they're the best, so they have the place decorated like jerks.
Toppings? NO
Napkins? NO
Water? NO
Courtesy? DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT
Anyone's who's worked retail knows how much it sucks to be asked the same questions over and over, so... I get it. They're being minimal, but there's no need to throw it in our faces. I have stopped going to Lorenzo's on principle. Lickety Split is a block away and it's ALMOST as good.
My Patronage? NO
My Apologies? NO
Good Review on Yelp? DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT
At this point, Lorenzo's is coasting along on word-of-mouth reputation alone. They seem to be getting a bit stuffy, like the Pat's steaks of Pizza. I can understand that life can downright suck if you have to make a living catering to drunk 22 year olds at 3:00am after the bars close, but come on, don't act like the pizza nazi when all you have is plain cheese.
The slices are of decent quality, with gooey cheese and a thin and crispy crust with slightly charred edges. While good for soaking up a night of drinking, whole pies are a bit pricey- close to $20 and not worth it.
I was going to give it two stars, but it gets an extra star for convenience and being open late. But if it's earlier than midnight, there are plenty of neighborhood pizza places that won't charge you an arm and a leg or treat you like you just kicked their dog.
yo the pizza here blows. i don't know what all the fuss is about. yea, i mean they give you a lot of crappy pizza, but whatever...don't go to lorenzo's for the pizza...go there for the CIRCUS
went on saturday night around 2 and there was a line wrapping around the corner. there were so many young drunk ADD types there that some sh!t is always bound to go down.
i saw a tranny get headlocked, a cop almost lay into a dude for pretending to punch his friend, a bum putting on a side show for like 20 people, same bum being harrassed by same 20 people.
place is so dope! haven't been so entertained in a while. its all safe because there are like 5 cops always patrolling. actually there was a cruiser parked right outside!
don't go for the pizza...go for the show.
Neighborhood: Italian Market
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Olde City
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Avenue of the Arts South
Category: Pizza
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: Pizza
These are all the places I eat, drink and shop at…
Along with the mass littering, crime, bad…
Where to grab a quick slice/hoagie/bbq rib…
These places are famous, but fuck me if I know…
My (old) local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli,…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
