Pizzaiolo
Pizza restaurant · Portland ·
NYC-style pies, meatball subs, salads, and cheesecake
NYC-style pies, meatball subs, salads, and cheesecake
"I reported that Pizzaiolo was one of the restaurants where dozens of women accused Charlie Hallowell of creating an unsafe work environment; former hostess and cook Catalina del Canto again shared her account that Hallowell would come up to her from behind and press himself against her, saying, "He’d say that dress looks great on you, but it would look better on my floor." - Caleb Pershan
"Because of allegations against its owner, Pizzaiolo is named among the restaurants that new SF Chronicle critic Soleil Ho says she will not review, as she excludes establishments run by chefs accused of sexual violence." - Ellen Fort
"At Pizzaiolo I report that Charlie Hallowell stepped away without pay in December after allegations surfaced, and in his apology letter he outlines concrete and performative measures tied to the restaurant: he says a monthly dunk tank will be set up in the backyard where anyone can dunk him, he plans to restart a Sunday supper program donating 20% of Sunday-night profits to a home for battered women and survivors of domestic abuse, and he proposes Friday office hours for employees. He also says he has hired a third-party HR company, formed an all-female board of advisers for his company, and added Donna Insalaco as an outright co-owner and managing partner with the power to fire him and set his pay; he writes that he has begun therapy and is working with a men’s accountability group. The restaurant signs off with a note that feeding people is at the core of what it does." - Caleb Pershan
"After Chronicle reporters Tara Duggan and Karen de Sá revealed years of harassment by chef Charlie Hallowell and dozens of women publicly spoke out, I cannot accept Bauer's willingness to treat Pizzaiolo as if those revelations are irrelevant simply because the dining experience pleased him over a few visits; the misconduct is essential context that should affect whether the restaurant is celebrated." - Andrew Dalton
"At Pizzaiolo, workers joined colleagues from Penrose and Boot & Shoe Service in describing an allegedly sexualized and unsafe workplace and taking their concerns public with labor attorney Mika Hilaire, who said the press conference made clear how the toxic environment affected employees. In response to reporting by the Chronicle, the restaurant group says it has hired an outside investigator, added an HR department, and updated the employee manual, and Hallowell apologized and stepped away from daily operations while remaining the majority stakeholder; workers continue to demand counseling for survivors, neutral references, an anonymous tip line, and Hallowell’s divestment. Pizzaiolo’s own statement emphasizes that 'the simple act of feeding people is at the core of what it is to be human,' and lists dinner until 10:30 and drinks until midnight." - Caleb Pershan