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Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Been here a handful of times. It is about a half mile from my house.
I'm so happy to have yummy places in the neighborhood, and this place does not disappoint. The communal seating tables worried me a bit at first, but they can be a great way to meet your neighbors instead of pretending that you do not live in a community. Last night I was there and ended up sitting next to Darrell Steinberg. Go figure. Even the pols know great pizza.
I have tried every veggie pizza on the menu and some of the non-veggie but held the meat. All were good. I would recommend the straight up margherita, or the lotte. Definitely get the app cheese plate if you are hungry and have more than 2 people. The pizzas here are wood-fired, thin crust. Good stuff.
Only complaints are that I would like to see draft beer on the menu and would like the cheese plate to come with more bread/cracker. That's alotta cheese!
This place has family-friendly bathrooms, good for the bebes, if you're into that sort of thing.
I will plan to come here regularly. Did I mention I like those tables?
This is one of those times I really wish that Yelp had half-stars, because I'd love to assign Masullo 3.5. There's a lot they get right--but there's also room for major improvements.
First of all, it is still crazy noisy in here. No matter how much "noise-absorbing art" you put on the walls, the reality is that concrete floors and brick walls are going to bounce sound around. It's just gonna be loud. Going deaf is apparently desirable in modern restaurants, because lots of newer places suffer the same problem. I don't find it overwhelming, but it does downgrade the eating experience. Don't expect to be able to chat quietly.
We were seated at the family-style table, which I liked, but irked other members of the party. I don't see how the two-tops can possibly be big enough for a pie apiece plus glassware. Did love the water bottles, which both matched the super-clean aesthetics and were environmentally friendly.
Service was slow, but not unacceptably so for a busy Friday night. One thing I really disliked was that when lots of folks were waiting, they were stacked up less than a foot behind my husband's back, staring at us eating. At one point there were four women pointing at us and talking about our food. It's a small space, sure, but I also want to eat in freaking peace, okay? This kind of thing pisses me off when I'm paying $20 per person for the meal. Having one dedicated person run the front of house would have helped.
We started with an antipasto plate. Slices of mortadella, coppa, hot salami (I think), plus what tasted like Humboldt Fog, fennel, pickled onions, mixed olives, roasted pepper and cracker. I would have liked more veg on the plate to balance some of the heavier, saltier flavors. Eating salami with the cracker was crazy salty, and it's not realistic to think that none of the antipasto elements will be eaten together. However, each individual element was delicious on its own. I especially appreciated the fennel.
More important by far: the pies. We tried three: an American with salami added (because the step-son lives on meat); the Lotte (tomato, goat cheese, oyster mushrooms) and the potato/Shaft's blue with sausage added. Potato was late because it had been made wrong according to the server, which probably means they forgot the sausage. No biggie; it came 5 minutes later.
Edges of the crust are deliciously blistered and chewy. I could eat these alone. The center of tomato-based pies gets pretty soft about three minutes after serving. To maintain crispness and chew, you'd have to share pies and eat them *fast.* (As a matter of fact, some folks next to us did just this: ordered as they went, which seemed like a great idea.)
Flavors on our Lotte and American were very good. FANTASTIC fresh-tasting tomato sauce Creamy-style goat cheese on the Lotte balanced well aginst the oyster mushrooms, though the mushrooms themselves were a bit watery. I would saute off those oyster mushrooms before putting them directly on the pie to concentrate their flavors a bit more.
The potato/blue cheese was underseasoned and needed something to balance the Shaft's, which overwhelmed the mild potato. Thin shavings of red onion weren't quite enough to bring everything into balance. Not a favorite.
Prices for the food itself are reasonable for the type of dining but not fantastic: range $10-$16 for the pies, $5-10 for apps/salads. Since each pie is meant to serve one, you're basically comparing it to entree prices. It's true that topping coverage is very light. (I estimate that half of a normal sausage went onto our potato pie.) But these type of pies are based on super-light coverage, so it doesn't really bother me. It does mean that the pies made with sauce take on a sameness because you're mostly tasting sauce and crust.
Masullo's prices take it into the "every once in a while" category for us; we just can't drop $20 per person for pizza very often--especially not when Luigi's is within walking distance from home. Yes, it's a different kind of pie, but it's also not a great bargain.
And could we talk for a moment about the $3.50 Boylan sodas? I get that they're made with cane sugar, not corn syrup. I get that we're on Riverside Boulevard. But IT'S A 12 OUNCE BOTTLE OF SODA for $3.50. Fail.
Summary of this tantrum: Noisy spot. Tasty pies with a few downsides. Prices clearly meant for East Sac/Land Park folks. Still worth going for crust edges and deeelish sauce. Definitely avoid on busy Friday/Saturday nights, when you're going to be stared at while eating.
Outshining some somewhat stiff competition, Masullo may be my new favorite pizza place in Sacramento. While Masullo, like OneSpeed (it's most comparable competition), has somewhat slow service, Masullo makes up for it by being NICE. Being nice and polite goes a long way if you are going to make me grumpy by taking a longish time to get me food. They also really aren't anywhere near as slow as that other place. We had our salad and drinks right away, though the pizzas we ordered did take their sweet time in getting to us.
The food was fantastic. Our fennel and arugula salad was simple but well put together and our two pizzas were delicious--and I'm picky about pizza. I'm also not normally a thin crust fan, but they do it right (not too crisp, not too floppy). We ordered the Despina and the Eileen. I particularly liked the Eileen (oyster mushrooms, sage, bacon, cream sauce). I will go back just for that pizza.
And despite reviews talking about how loud things get in their cute little cement box of a location, it seemed much, much quieter than Hot Italian or OneSpeed.
Well, I was really excited to go after reading all the other Yelp reviews. I was disappointed. The crust was good, but the toppings were really, really thin on one of the pizzas, and the other pizza was just okay. I get that style of pizza is different and thinner overall, but I've had it done better other places. We ordered a pizza with artichokes and less than a third of the pizza had any on it. There was only one slice that had a decent amount.
Also, while the noise bothered me, the lighting was worse. Is there any good reason it has to be that bright?
The salad needs to come in a bigger bowl. Every time I tried to toss it, lettuce flipped out onto the table. The bowl was way too small.
The wine list was also surprising in that it didn't have any Italian wines, which have more acidity to stand up to tomato sauce and are the natural pairing with Italian foods. Also, those wine glasses are a pet peeve. They don't curve to enhance the wine, and they cause your hands to warm it.
I will say that the service was good.
I debated over the stars, as it wasn't actually bad, but I won't be back anytime soon. There are too many other competitors in this category, and in this economy, I won't spend money on so so. I would think Hot Italian and One Speed would cause Masullo to up their game.
This is my favorite place to get pizza in Sacramento. Keep in mind, that this is not "Round Table" or "Pizza Hut". It's not fast food pizza, and that's why it is so delicious. I am a fan of the four cheese, but really, every time I try something new I am always happy with my choice. The ingredients taste fresh. I am not a pizza crust eater, and I always eat my crust there. Between two people, we both order a small salad (sooo good) and then share a pizza and it is just the right amount of food for us. But it depends on how hungry you are, etc. I think the first time I went there, I did demolish a whole pizza to myself (granted it was after a big furniture moving day).
Now granted, there is sometimes something to be said for that big, fat, loaded with toppings American style pizza, but Masullo offers something a bit different - and better. Pizzas are more refined - on the thin side and not overloaded with toppings. Ingredients are topnotch and very fresh. But don't worry, you still get that irresistible pizza goodness!
We shared a large mixed greens salad first. This is a nice size for two, has wonderful prosciutto and is lightly dressed w/ a simple vinaigrette that I loved. I would've been happy to have a little more prosciutto, but it was a very nice salad. It came with two slices of the pizza crust as bread. Yum!
Then we shared two pizzas: the Margherita and the Sausage. The sauce is a bright and very fresh and nicely seasoned. Both pizzas were overall deelish. The crust is very tasty and neither too crisp nor too doughy. Two small complaints: next time I think I would ask for extra basil on the Margherita (because I felt it was a bit skimpy on that front) and I think I might add mushrooms or something to the Sausage pizza for a little extra zip. The fella said he thought it would've been good if they browned and crumbled the sausage all over rather than having the little rounds dotting the pizza here and there. At any rate, very tasty and satisfying and we took three slices home.
They have some good natural sodas and a nice little wine list. Service was *super* friendly and we'll definitely be back. Yeah, you are gonna pay a little more than you would for the aforementioned late-night junk food kind of pizza, so save Masullo for when you want something low key and easy but with a little more quality and class than your standard issue pizza joint.
It's great! We've dined in and had take-out and I would definitely recommend dining in. When we got home the pizza's were a little mushy and I think that's mainly because of the fresh cheese not being melted all the way, which is how it is supposed to be served. Their antipasto platter is AMAZING!!! Definitely get as a starter.
The service is impeccable, and for a pizza place, truly outstanding. We really enjoyed our server and felt very taken care of, which is very nice, but not necessary.
Masullo is a wonderful addition to a neighborhood lacking a lot of restaurant choices, and we will continue to come in!
The food is about as bland as the decor inside the building and that is all that I really need to say about the food. If you don't believe me look at the photos.
Now, on to the parking situation and outdoor dining area. My friend and I sat outdoors, and it was a little awkward. First off, there are only about three parking spaces so if you are driving there, you'll have to park in the residential neighborhood or a few blocks down, and with the way the city is handing out parking tickets, it's almost not even worth it. The outdoor dining area is about two feet away from the parking lot and if you stick your leg out from your chair, chances are you will be touching one of the cars parked in front of the business. This also makes dining outdoors there a bit more awkward when somebody does park in one of the spaces and has to brush against your table to get into the business.
The service was alright and our server was helpful but nothing really appealed to me there. Maybe I ordered the wrong pizza. Also I did attempt to make it to Masullo once before the experience that I am writing this review for and the website listed an opening time of 5pm mon-saturday. My friend and I were there at 5pm on the dot and the door still didn't open until much later. We waited in the lot for almost thirty minutes until somebody unlocked the door, but at that point we had already decided on going somewhere else.
Masullo Pizza is not for everyone, but it is certainly for me! It has great pizza, really great pizza! It's not a pizza, beer and football kind of a place. It is a nicely decorated restaurant with a good staff. They have a unique beer selection and I believe their wine selection is pretty good too. The deserts are ok; I don't think they make them on site. It's a cool date restaurant, or a fun place to go with a small group of friends to catch up.
We are regulars at this local pizza place.
Prices are great.
Pizzas are proportionally topped, offer great variety toppings. Wished they served pizza on wooden pizza peel vs. the plate they serve it on due to the moisture collection that is caused from the pizza's steam as it rests on the plate. We've ordered: Margherita, 4 Quarters, Lotte, 3 Meats, Mustapha, Evelyn. The 4 Quarters and the 3 Meats have been our repeat orders.
Appetizers are outstanding, whether we ordered Antipasto or the Fresh Mozarella.
Bottles of wine are great.
We almost always order dessert. Coffee pot de creme or mint chip ice cream, with BF ordering cherry vanilla icre cream.
We just moved to Land Park from ATL and sure wanted to like this place as we can walk there. The food was perfectly good and I do like thin crust pizza ( I came to eat toppings not big chunks of dough) so they did well there.
The desserts look awesome ( I say look because they sold out of the oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwich).
The two big problems were the service and the noise.
After waiting 15 minutes for our beer and having already finished our salad I went to inquire after the beer we had ordered before giving the salad order. The waiter said "Oh another round?" And I said no the first one... I had to do the same thing when I ordered my wine.
This is a concrete box echo chamber. My head actually hurt. They need to put up a bunch of sound baffling art or something
The big question is will I go back...and prolly yes because I can walk there and my daughter can play under the table but I woould actually look forward to it if it were quieter. I assume I'll get another server next time so I'm not too worried about a repeat of the service.
I always have a hard time deciding what to eat because I pretty much like everything. I thought their pizza was excellent. The dough was transformed by the wood fired oven into a thin pizza with the perfect crust outside and a chewy texture inside. They really know how to do pizza right here. The arugula salad with the Meyer lemon vinaigrette was okay. It was just missing something. Maybe they should use almond slivers as opposed to sliced to give it more crunch or a stronger cheese or a touch more acid in the dressing. I don't know. But I'll definitely come back for the pizza!
I'm being a little stingy with my 5th star....I really want to give it to them. I probably should. But 4 0r 5 stars....what I want to say is that this is a great restaurant!
Pizza (like all things, I suppose) is a hugely personal preference. For my taste, their pizza could not be better. I love the thin crust, that manages to be thin but not so thin and crispy that you feel like your biting into a cracker, which can sometimes be the case.
The hubby and I had the Elisa. Salame, Fennal, Mozerella....fantastic!
As seems to be the case with reviews, people always want to talk about whether or not the food is "authentic". Is this "authentic" Itallian pizza? I don't know...I've never been to Italy. My guess would be that, as is true with any country....there are places in Italy that make pizza in this style and places that don't. But more to the point, I don't care if something is "authentic". I care if it's good. And this pizza isn't good... it's great!
I also noticed that some reviews have referenced portion-size as a negative at this place. I'm confused by that. Their pizzas are "individual" size...and priced accordingly....and this is an incredibly generously sized portion for one person. My husband and I, who I think have average to above average appetites, shared a pizza, shared a salad and shared the bread and olive oil dipping plate. We were stuffed! No room for dessert.....which they brough us ANYHOW!
So with all of this, why no 5th star? I'll say that I didn't love the decor. Don't get me wrong....it's perfectly nice if you like the modern minimalist lounge look....it's just not really my thing. Especially when I'm eating such great "comfort food"....I just prefer a warmer more cozy environment. That being said, I'd eat this pizza sitting on the floor of a garage and be perfectly happy.
This is a great place. A great value and great service.
We'll be back...again and again, I imagine.
The pizza, salads and appetizers are amazing. They use the freshest quality and Nieman farms meats (big plus!). The crust on their pizza is thin and flavorful due to the wood burning oven they use. The wine selection is good. My only complaint is that I wish they used stem wear vs. tumblers.
I just had one of the most amazing experiences. I was having a rare truly exhausting day. I was well past the point of thinking and unable to comprehend what to cook. My partner sensing my distress suggested we go out. Masullos seemed perfect in tempo for me. We went there rather late and I was worried was within minutes of closing. I would hate to be that person who throws off all the closing procedures to deem my life more important than those who had already worked all day and are wanting to go home. The waiter sensed us trying to read the sign and decide and waved us in. We can not thank him enough for encouraging us because the meal we had was fantastic. We ordered the antipasto plate and I have to say it was one of the fullest and yummiest selections we have had. The fennel had the perfect amount of olive oil and ground pepper on it for me, lots. The hot coppa was a welcome addition. My sug who normally is opposed to anything resembling a blue pushed aside her prejudice to try the lovely layered goat cheese. I had the Eileen pizza. I ordered it with extra sage because I have had this pizza before and knew I was wanting to overload my taste bugs a bit. I have been so burned out by bland terrible food out there lately that I was so excited to get food that would not let me down. The pizza was fantastic. It was perfectly crispy without being burned. The mushrooms had a golden toast to them and were not undercooked yet still had a great tooth to them. And it has bacon on it. Bacon it really a super food. It makes so much food blossom. The bacon is more in lardoon strips than brittle burnt chunks and it comes off as more subtle. It does not overpower the other flavors. I love the strong dry dusky herb flavour sage instills in the pizza giving an edge to the creaminess. Two Trumners were a perfect partner to the meal. I don't remember what Sug ordered because I was so engrossed in my meal. Masullos not only provided me a great meal, they helped to turn a bad day around.
I could eat here everyday for the rest of my life. The joy of yelp is knowing what you are getting… Read more »
Tonight we made our third visit to Masullo, walking for the first time, despite the fact that we live about five blocks away. (Hold your snide comments, please.) The first two times I've had mixed feelings about the food, but tonight I think I was won over.
We had a pate plate and olives to start, which were both tasty. The crunchy bread served with the pate was definitely the highlight. We also shared two pizzas, the three meat and the Eileen. I won't bother you with describing the three meat--use your imagination--but the Eileen had cream sauce, oyster mushrooms, bacon and cheese. Both my wife and I agreed that the three meat was the better, hands down. The Eileen was just too bland for our taste.
This time we also stayed for dessert and coffee. My wife had the pot de creme, which essentially was really thick chocolate pudding and I had the bread pudding which was topped with awesome vanilla ice cream. The coffee was top-rate, served hot in a little french press. Overall, it was a great dinner.
Wow,this is great pizza,the best in town,really the best I've had in this country! I have had many pizzas in Floence,this is it.
I also had an arugula salad that was perfect .I have had one speed,no contest ,hot Italian better but this is truly gourmet toppers,and perfect thin crust but not crackery like onespeed.The staff are nice friendly and make you feel like they are glad you are there,novel idea,manners . I will only go to masullos for pizza,period.
The place doesn't look like much from outside, but it has a clean, modern decor inside. Staff's friendly, the pizza only took 10 minutes to come out, and we shared 3 pizzas among 3 of us. We had Lotte (love the strong goat cheese), Mustapha (fresh arugula with proscuitto), and Jacqueline (thinnly sliced potatoes with bits of bacon) which were all delish. We also shared a bottle of Pinot Noir which was also very good. It came out to be ~$28pp but if you enjoy thin, crispy, light pizza freshly baked in the oven, I highly recommend this place (but if you're craving gooey, cheesy pizza, go elsewhere!)!! Yum!
I don't mind booger-filled, screaming children; I don't give a shit what the restaurant looks like (I would eat in a place designed like the interior of RIchard Simmons' anus if the food was tasty enough) and I don't even mind waiting an hour for my meal, which I did at Masullo.
None of that matters. We ordered a few pizzas (a margherita, one with potato and bacon on it and a veggie), ate some figs and cheese, waited forever, watched an awkward date, thought I saw KJ but it was really another black guy, had a bottled cola that tasted like poison and waited some more.
When they finally came, I ate 2 of the pizzas by myself. The crust was chewy but it crunches when you bite into it--just the kind of chew you get when dough is cooked perfectly. The sauce reminds me of New York. It's sweet, but a little herby and not overpowering. Ok, so it doesn't remind me of New York, but it does remind me of the pizza in New York. And the toppings were fresh and delicious.
If this is yuppie pizza then somebody, please, hand me my cardigan!
I must say...I went back and after Hot Italian fell for me....yeah, Masullo is the best pizza in Sacramento. This time it was good. The margherita was really good.
I am Italian and I enjoy trying pizza in the United States.
For all those of you that thinks that…
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Masullo is the kind of pizza place that probably won't please everyone. First and foremost is the pizza, which is unlike most of what you get in America. It's true Neapolitan pizza, which means a very thin crust, minimal sauce, not much cheese. For instance, their sausage pizza has the thin crust, a thin layer of tomato sauce, and small bits of spicy sausage tossed around the top. That''s it. It's the polar opposite of something like Zelda's or other Chicago-style pizza, where the crust is thick, the toppings plentiful, and you can almost make a meal out of a single slice.
But if you like true Neapolitan pizza, you will love Masullo's. The crust is excellent - it has what seems like a micro-thin crunchy exterior over a chewy middle that's sublime. The toppings aren't heaped on but they are absolutely top-notch in terms of quality. Even in the dead of winter, their tomato sauce tastes like it was made from ripe tomatoes just pulled off the vine. If you like arugula, I'd recommend the Mustapha, where the add arugula and prosciutto to the top after the pizza has been cooked.
Along with the pizzas, they serve seasonal salads and desserts. I've not had any of the desserts, but I had a caprese salad there last summer made with local tomatoes that was wonderful.
I would recommend eating there. You can get pizzas to go but because these are so thin they cool down quickly, so I think they're better eaten on-premises.
I've been haunted by Masullo's pizza. So much so, that I ask for it every week. Tonight, in a last moment decision, we decided (with some trepidation on my part) to bring along our kids.
I had noted on my last visit little signs of mindfulness towards young customers -- high chairs, a changing table. Covered sippy cups with straws are available. Just ask. They are the kind that can be washed and re-used, not the kind that contribute to the landfill. Very young kids who refuse to sit in a high chair but are unsteady in a backless chair may need to sit in your lap.
I wasn't sure if my kids were ready to enjoy Neopolitan style pizza. Well, they surprised me. We ordered the margherita with no basil, extra cheese and light sauce. In particular, our almost six year old (and extremely picky eater) not only loved the crust as expected, but loved the sauce and asked if he could have more next time. Of course, both kids dove into the thick and rich chocolate pudding.
They were intrigued by the irregular edges of the table formed from a tree trunk. They also enjoyed talking with Robert Masullo when he came to our table and peering over the counter to see the wood burning oven.
I believe Masullo has two new fans in town.
Delicious Neapolitan style pizza, salads, and desserts made with local, seasonal ingredients.
I've…
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FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT IN THE WORLD... do not bring young children here who do not understand the concept of an "inside voice". A young toddler who screams in here will have dogs, miles away, running in circles because it's so painful. Conversations on the other side of the dining area can be conveniently heard - in your own head!
Ahem...
This is my third visit to Masullo. I was greeted with a "closed" sign the first two times. Anyway, as I entered, the place was busy, as there was no place to sit even a single diner, such as myself. While waiting, I looked over one of their daily menus, and decided on a 4 Corners pizza, and had been considering an arugula salad. By the time I made my decision, a couple had just finished and left. The staff cleaned up, and I was seated at one of the side tables.
Now my server must have been puzzled at the concept of a person eating by himself, as he constantly walked by my table to service others who were paired up. He finally stopped to take my drink order and promptly came back with my Jack Russell IPA, but he turned and walked off so quickly. When he finally came back, I asked for the salad, and again he walked off to get it. I had to stop and call him back so I cold place my pizza order as well.
While I'm no pizza enthusiast, I do enjoy a pie whose crust does not flop down flaccidly, dumping it's contents onto the plate, forcing me to eat the slices snobby-like, with a fork and knife. The flavors themselves were good, but the crust becomes like a sponge and soaks up the moisture.
I give Masullo Pizza three stars, and one more for tilt, because I like the place. I do have to take it away though, because of the cacophony still lingered in my head well after leaving.
Note: Parking at the auto place next door is possible after 5pm.
It's the pizza place on Cell Block 9. Upon entering Massullo Pizza I was stuck by the hollow emptiness of the restaurant. Absolutely no character at all. That was my first impression. A good place for buddist monks to chant. Echo echo echo. I think a giant fountain with water squirting from a bosomy Italian woman's nipples would be good. With the echo you can close your eyes and dream you're near the Cascate del Serio.
The friendly waiter seated us at a small table for two against the wall. I'm thinking the owner is a minimalist of some sort. Not a lot to look at. Barren. Empty. Luckily I had my wife's pretty brown eyes to gaze into. It also would be a nice touch to have some sort of ambiance. How about a little music playing in the background? Some sort of art on the walls. The only thing hanging on the wall was a health inspection report. Something...anything. Very boring ambiance. I also disliked the chair I was seated in. Very IKEA. These things are important to me.
I ordered the American Pie with pep and my brown-eyed pizza partner had something that didn't have any toppings on it, which I guess is the definition of "neopalitan-style". I also ordered a Gordon Biersch and my wife got an iced tea. Our waiter also kindly brought us some cold water in a small glass jug.
I enjoyed my pizza. I like almost all pizza. It was tasty. very light. Although it did remind me a little of Sbarro. Yes..mall pizza. It's nowhere near as greasy. The slivers of pep on top tasted excellent. The crust was delicious too. I gobbled up the whole pizza. Okay, Masullo's is much better than Sbarro.
The pizza is pretty decent. I don't see myself returning because there are so many other pizza joints I like much much better. Zelda's has a jukebox and a dive bar atmoshere. Luigi's Pizza Garden has character. Roma's has actual toppings and style.
Where's Shakey Johnson when you need him?
Went here last night with 7 friends and a 7-week-old baby. Had a terrific time. 6 pizzas, 4 appetizers, a few beers & we were all stuffed. The service is exemplary - really kind, friendly, attentive without hovering. The pizzas were EASILY the best I've had in Sacramento and some of the best I've ever had anywhere. Fantastic crust, not too salty, perfectly crisp and flavorful; each pizza tasted totally differently, unlike most places which simply alter the toppings a bit... The oyster mushroom pizza was really fantastic, as was the eggplant. The cheese they use is so much better than anything used at any other pizza joint I've ever been in.
Nice interior - very spartan and simple so you can concentrate on the food and your dinner companions.
I'll absolutely be back!
This is probably the best pizza I have had in Sacramento. Great crust and fresh flavorful toppings. Service was fast and friendly--the owner even stopped by each table to say hello.
It can be hard to find; it is very unobtrusive. It is right across from the cemetery and next to a local newspaper office. Area is small and furnishings are very bare; I could see it getting pretty noisy in there when the wine gets flowing.
I finally made it to Masullo's for take out. We tried the mustapha (arugulla and proscuitto) and the four corners pizza. I found the mustapha to be highly enjoyable with plenty of toppings. There was proscuitto on almost every slice and arugula was piled high. The crust was especially good since they flavor the edges (butter?). The four corners was a bit more lacking in toppings. Granted, I don't expect it to be piled high or it wouldn't be Neapolitan style, but I felt like I wanted to see a bit more toppings. The taste of the four corners was a bit more average, but still enjoyable.
The size of the pizza is definitely not a gut buster, so really to have a satisfying dinner one would need to get an appetizer, salad, and dessert, which would bring you to about a $30 meal with an adult beverage. Luckily I had it to go and was able to supplement with twinkies and ding dongs from my vast storehouse of food that will never spoil in a hundred years.
I noticed they did add some wall treatments which may help with the noise problem. The pizza was ready in 10 minutes and I didn't have to wait at all when I got there. That's how I like it.
If you've ever had pizza in Italy, you'll find the pizza at Masullo's to be a lot more similar than most other pizzas served here in town. I'm not saying they are as good as Italy, but definitely there's a resemblance in style and method. And they even slice it here for you!
Fantastic! Land Park scores with the best pizza in Sacramento. Four of us shared the eggplant pizza, the arugula and prosciutto and the 4 Corners. Each pie has 8 nice size slices, but there wasn't a piece left.
Try the arugula and fennel salad.
Wishing much success to a great new neighborhood favorite.
I still don't get what the attraction is to this place. First off, I only went back because of a "Buy one Get One" coupon from the News and Review. The salads were good, even though you could barely taste any dressing. The idea, I would hope, is to go for the pizza which by the way, took over 30 minutes to arrive on a slow night. It's almost like they relish in keeping sauce and toppings to a minimum! I'd love to see what a cheese pizza would be like! If you do order is, make sure to get extra cheese and you might actually have an actual pizza. This pizza isn't even in the same league as Hot Italian, Il Forniao's, OneSpeed or even Cafe Bernardo's. The sad part is they have the nerve to charge the same $15 a pizza as their competitors when it should easily be half of that.
Masullo.....Take a field trip to "Hot Italian" to get some tips on how to make a really good pizza.… Read more »
I've been told Masullo is pizza in the traditional Italian style. I can dig that. Basically, don't expect a Round Table buffet, or 'super stuff yourself and hit the bathroom later' Chicago Firehouse type of meal. What you do get is simple choices, and easy dining experience, and a simple atmosphere.
The food is pretty good actually. Everything is quickly coming out of the oven hot and ready including the extra marinara sauce we wanted for crust dipping purposes. The pizza is easy, fluffy crust, light sauce, cheese and your 1 or 2 fresh toppings. Add a glass of wine or a $1 glass of soda pop.
The place itself almost looks like some random community meeting from outside. There's no obvious sign to clue you into what's really inside. I wouldn't mind seeing some art in there on the walls. Based on what I remember, there was a metallic steel vibe going on. There is definitely a family atmosphere going on. Actually, it's more like a Land Park family atmosphere. (I guess I'm eligible to make that kind of a comment since I live in Land Park.) When I was there, there were a lot of people who were friends with people working there. I'm sure this will change once word of mouth gets around.
Overall, there's good vibes and decent food and that is probably all that matters to me. Check it out yourself.
Masullo represents the entrepreneurial spirit and deep-seated loyalty of native Sacramentens. Masullo's story - local kid comes home, tables made from a local tree, desserts made from fruit grown on the Masullo family trees - all great elements of the Masullo story.
These are early days for Masullo, so look past the growing pains and focus on the food. The presentation is excellent, the salads are divine (esp. the salad made with fennel), and the pizza is exactly what Masullo's promised. I also appreciated the unique, regional beer choices. We ordered both a margherita and a four-cheese pizza. Our party agreed that the margherita was superb, but that some of the cheeses used in the four-cheese pizza were overpowering (for us).
We'll definitely return to Masullo - as a couple and with the kids. As an aside, the staff was extremely accommodating of our two little ones; there were many other families dining at Masullo last night. Masullo is great for entertaining a date, spouse, family or large party (call ahead for large groups).
My man picked this place for his 42nd.
My parentals were not impressed by the salad or the sausage pizza or the $1 cup of soda or the $8 smaller cup of zin. My dad made a few jokes about how it wasn't Italian, it was scotch, so where was the haggis? He made the joke 4X. The bill came to $92 for 4 individual pizzas, 3 mixed greens salads (again my dad made his cheap joke about the lack of dressing) a ramekin full of olives, a cup of wine, a cup of soda, an Izze and a beer. Basically, dad took a headshaker of a walk, and we got him to Vic's pronto for detoxification.
For all the hate at our table, you'd think I might not have liked it.
But I DID.
I liked the basic salad with high-end pecorino romano gratings and good balsamic (applied with a light touch) and the two pieces of lightly salted flat bread. I enjoyed the hard green spanish-style olives, but thought the Greeks too mushy and fat, and I adored the teensy green ones with the seed you could swallow by accident.
The pizza was good. I ordered the potato and bacon. Mom got the eggplant (looked as bad as an eggplant pizza sounds), my dad got the sausage ("10 dime thin slices of dime sized sausage???!!! I say again, where is the Haggis?") The best one was the cheese one we got for Beanie. MOL got a half-and-half pepperoni and cheese (3 pieces of pepperoni on a half-and-half, you can imagine my dad was calling for more scotch)
The biggest disappointment for me was the glass of zin. ~4 oz. of red wine with no body served in a small juice cup. Eight bucks. I shoulda had a beer.
Best bets if you want to give this place a try:
-Potato and bacon and the cheese/tomato based pizzas. Skip the meat if you are a carnivore as you will be saddened by the lack. More for veggies, if you can believe it. SHARE ONE. 2 people can enjoy a 12 inch pizza, but it's slightly too much for a single person even though they call it "individually sized."
-Buy the $18 bottle of tempranillo. Much better deal than buying cup after 4 oz cup of overpriced Boeger zin, that's for sure.
-Salad is enough for one, but two frugal minded folk with simple tastes could share that and a ramekin full of olives and have a lovely, light meal.
Bonus point: while the busser and server forgot my daughter every time they came by (they neglected to give her a plate, cup, water, or flatware. We had to point out she was there) and seemed kind of nervous around her, the hostess showed up with crayola markers and spiral bound paper. She saved the day, Good Job Hostess with the Mostest.
I hope they never hang a sign because I think very, very soon it will be hard to get a seat! Business was brisk on a Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., but not overly crowded.
The pizzas were lovely and I had happy dreams of the crust all night long. I can't think of another pizza place in Sacramento that has such an authentic vibe, perfect for a casual night out with friends, or even a romantic evening for two, complete with chilled glasses of Prosecco and beer.
It seems that everyone that has reviewed this place thus far has had better pizza than me. I was there with Amanda's group of 9 & although my pizza was okay, it really was lacking on toppings.
I ordered thae Margherita & although the sauce was, in fact, d-lish, there just wasn't anything super fantastic about about the pie. There was WAY too much of that sauce with not enough cheese or basil on mine. I thought maybe it was an accident but I saw on some other plates that they had the same 3.5 pieces of basil. *See my photo of my pizza & you'll see I wasn't kidding!
I probably would visit again, but I've had far better pizza that weren't skimpy with the basil elswhere.
It was also super-duper loud in there, they need some art on the walls. Something, anything to help with the echo!
Returned here last night and was still impressed. Wonderful, gorgeous fresh tomato salad with a few different heirloom varieties gussied up with tomatillos, cucumbers, and what I think was lime basil.
Then mom and I split the Jacqueline pizza which has a cream sauce, fontina and mozzarella cheeses, morel mushrooms and Nieman Ranch bacon. It was crisp, light, earthy, flavorful perfection.
I love that their pizzas are fresh, crisp and relatively light and not laden down with too many toppings. Sometimes I'm in the mood for that type of pizza, but I always feel like a pig afterward. Masullo's pizzas leave you feeling perfectly satisfied rather than feeling guilty.
Another great neighborhood spot. Yay for Curtis Park/Land Park! The Mr. and I rode our bikes over… Read more »
A group of 9 of us stopped by Masullo before going to the Dive Bar meet in Land Park. This place is hard to see from the street so make sure you have the address handy. The only sign is a small frosted tree with the name on the door.
We waited a few minutes to get a seat to accommodate all of us. The tables are huge solid pieces of wood recycled from a local tree giving the place a rustic, cafeteria-like feel.
Service was friendly and the pizzas were made quickly, with the exception of the arugula and prosciutto one, which came out about 10 minutes after everyone else had their pizzas. I ordered the American - pepperoni and mozzarella and it was delicious! I loved the crust, the sauce, the cheese and the meat. B thought his pizza was ok and figured the frozen ones at Trader Joe's were just as good. Some of the pizzas seemed to have skimpy toppings. Online the American pizza is listed as 9$, on the menu is was 10$, and when the bill came it was listed at 11$. We mentioned it to our waitress and she adjusted the price.
My only complaint is the noise. Since the space is so open every sound is intensified. By the time we left the place my ears were ringing. Maybe some wall art or fabric on the walls as well as some carpet in certain areas could help.
I think the only possible way for someone like me to enjoy this pizza is to take it home. As I'm getting older, either some strange biological phenomenon is causing my ears to become increasingly sensitive to noise, or the infrequencies of my excursions are making me more sensitive, or the acoustics of Masullo's are worthy of philharmonic orchestra practice (or all of the above).
After reading Gretchen's reviews of Masullo's we were SO EXCITED to try this pizza. We LOVE pizza. You can't say the word pizza and not cause us to start drooling uncontrollably.
But upon walking into the restaurant we knew we'd have to take our pies to go. The fact that every single surface in Masullo's is hard and shiny means that every. single. noise. reverberates. throughout. the. restaurant. Family style tables were filled with patrons who apparently needed to TALK AS LOUD AS THEY POSSIBLE COULD TO EACH OTHER. The din was pierced by the occasional clatter of stacked plates, the clang of pots and pans, and the screech of the wooden chairs against the concrete floors. Nails down the chalkboard, anyone?
We had a (small) glass of wine while we waited for our To Go order. Can't go wrong with Boeger.
Once home, we discovered that the salad we'd ordered was delicious. The pies while very tasty, were woefully undertopped.
I would go back here for more To Go pies, because I loved the crust and the sauce, despite the dearth of toppings. I also felt like the price was fairly appropriate (even if you CAN get a gigantic fully topped near-tasting slice at Sbarro's for a fraction of the price) and the salad was amazing.
But unless someone stages an acoustical intervention (carpets? tapestries? a wall between the stoves and the patrons? anything?) if you find me inside these four walls, I'll be the one standing by the door, impatiently tapping my foot, with my fingers shoved in my earholes.
Phenomenal pizza! The crust is heavenly and the light hand with the sauce and toppings are great. I actually opted to get the arugula salad and have a small slice of my husband's Framani sausage pizza, and it was a perfect small meal. The salad was so basic and perfect.
I do agree with some other reviewers who were bothered by the noise and lack of ambiance. It's a cacophonous space, but a little, light music would go a long way to temper the din.
I have to give major thumbs up to this place for apparently paying such close attention to their Yelp reviews. Another friend was somewhat frustrated by the lack of attention and utensils given to her small child, but when I went a few weeks later, we were showered with attention, sippy cups, and a visit from the chef who talked with my son about making pizzas.
I can't wait to go back and have that salad again!
Thin, individual-sized pizzas bake in a towering, newly constructed wood-burning tile oven. The inviting smell of fresh pizza crust overtakes the quaint restaurant. Welcome to Masullo, Sac's latest pizzeria.
What separates Masullo form your Zelda's and Roma's is its Neapolitan-style crust . Thin but light, crunchy and chewy, even slightly sweet, it's just like crusts you'd find in southern Italy (or most places in Europe, for that matter).
My girlfriend ordered the traditional margherita, which looked like it was over-nighted from Naples--tangy marinara sauce, small cheese ovals, slightly burnt underneath. She didn't finish it (about 8 slices), but it tastes fine the next day (I just at it--not tough at all, still holds up despite a night in the fridge).
I enjoyed a veggie pizza with seasonal squash, corn and red peppers. Satisfying and filling--and I've got an appetite.
I'd heard of Masullo on http://TwinSoup.com, but Beckler (http://heckasac.blogsp...) e-mailed me Friday morning raving. She blogged it, too, praising their "localism" (Niman ranch bacon, Fra'mani sausage) and house-made desserts (which I did not try).
"The salads were weird," Beckler also wrote, but I couldn't disagree more. My gf and I shared a caprese, with came with four thick slices of mozzarella, basil, heirloom tomatoes and two triangular pieces of house-made focaccia. Cool and nice, with a good balance of the tomatoes' acidity and the extra virgin olive oil, which is made locally in Woodland.
Wines are regional and served "family-style" in small tazzinas (if that's the right word). There are only four small tables for couples, but we sat at the end of one of two 15-foot long communal tables, which were hand made out of local logs.
The ambiance is modest, modern and minimalist family-style. Very unique feel--for a pizzeria, for a Sac restaurant. Definitely the kind of place to go to with a group.
Masullo's been open less than a month. We didn't wait on a Friday at 8pm but inevitably word-of-mouth will have you biding your time out front for a good half hour on Fridays/Saturdays. It's probably worth it: You'd be hard-pressed to find a similar, or better, pizza crust in the city.
I had the pleasure of eating the 4 Quarters Pizza with toppings of roasted peppers, artichoke, Italian sausage, and prosciutto. Each of the toppings are individualized to it's own quarter, hence the name 4 Quarters. If you live in the Greater Sacramento area or happen to visit from time to time, I suggest you you give it a try. The menu items are reasonably priced and delicious.
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Sacramento, CA
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Sacramento, CA
Category: Pizza
Sacramento, CA
Category: Pizza
Sacramento, CA
Category: Italian
Sacramento, CA
Category: Pizza
Sacramento, CA
Category: Pizza
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