Pizzicata Carefree Pizzeria Ristorante

come specifically for my favorite pizza: the Delicata with its prosciutto, arugula and shaved parmigiano. The Italian owners know the value of imported Italian ingredients. Their well fired pizza crust is thin with a light crunch but sturdy enough to support toppings without collapsing. Their small, rectangle pizza provides 6 slices which is perfect for my husband and I along with their Farmers Market salad. Wonderful outdoor patio within an amazing, large courtyard. A very popular restaurant. Highly recommend reservations.

We love this venue. Pizza and salad are great. Good variety. Well-prepared.

Great place. The pasta is fresh and delicious. Their pizzas are great. Service was wonderful. Definitely will co mntinue to come back.

Authentic Italian family owned. We had the pizza - very good crust. Eggplant Parma - a bit cold but delish. Tortellini pasta with cream sauce and sausage - very good.The calamari with shrimp was fantastic. Wine selection was good too. Temperature was a bit warm. Open environment. Hopefully they use the A/C when it’s warmer out. We’ll return for another meal.

This was my second time here and my first experience was for lunch, but I can’t believe how good all of our food was for dinner this past visit. My friends ordered 2 different pasta dishes and I ordered pinsa. Just absolutely incredible. You can tell everything is made fresh. I’m not sure what the reviews are about saying the portion sizes are small? Because both pasta dishes were more than one person could eat in one sitting. We will keep coming back!

Decided to try this place because of a post on Cave Creek Infamous Bulletin Board. Shout out for posting about it! Our first time in there JC was our server. She was awesome and encouraged us to try the pizza. The pizza was awesome. JC was so nice and so welcoming. The food did not disappoint. It was delicious and the pizza crust was the best we’ve had in the USA! JC told us that their flour is shipped in from Italy so it’s much more healthier and TASTIER than the flour out here. Since it was so good we couldn’t wait to bring our kids there. We were greeted immediately by Randy and sat immediately. Randy was an awesome server and our food came out very quickly. She checked on us enough to make sure our food was good and our drinks were always filled. She was very friendly and welcoming as well. Before leaving, we decided to get some gelato and Noah helped us. He was very patient with our chaotic family and gave us good recommendations on the gelato. This place is so cute, very clean, has awesome food, but most especially wonderful customer service. Good representation of Cave Creek!!!

My wife & I ended up visiting here after the Sonoran Foothills Community Market & Craft Show... I had the Pappardelle Tartufo... OMGoodness the pasta was perfectly al dente, and the creamy mascarpone was so stinkin' delicious! Enjoyed a Sangiovese Polago (Sangiovese & Montepulciano blend) that paired extremely well. LeeAnn had the Chicken Picatta which was also off the hook... can't wait to try the new location in Glendale!

Local Carefree Spot - Great Outside setting when the weather is nice 😊 great staff “friendly” and the food was decent. The price was high , but what do you expect in this demographic 🌵

Pizzicata in carefree has the best italian food in the valley, great service and a stunning patio!

We were at the new location in Glendale. We are from Philadelphia, also have had restaurants, this was the best experience. The owner and his wife have this nailed. I had the pork shank, better than my Nonna's, my husband had the Fra diablo, couldn't finish the homemade pasta, yes, homemade and it tastes it, make sure you get the fried dough, unbelievable. We are taking home a pizza, and it too is awesome. The chef's sauce is the best I have had in AZ or in Philly, so delicious. Ricotta cake for dessert, OMG, I don't normally eat dessert, but this was so light and airy, you would think it had no calories. So much better than Bottega, which was here previously, the menu never changed, this menu is so much more appetizing. Great job will be back many times especially on Christmas Eve! Try it, you'll like it!

While the food continues to be good, the overall experience has cratered. It was packed last night and it was next to impossible to move around. There was always a line for the one unisex bathroom in the entire restaurant that snaked between the tables. And of course someone vomited in the bathroom so the line got worse. With all the people in the smaller room and with some of them drunk, it was hard to have a conversation. And finally one of our guest's food arrived 5 or 6 minutes after everyone else's. P.S. One item that irritated me was the price of a bottle of Peroni Zero Alcohol - $8. Excuse me but don't you think that's a bit overpriced?

Low key Italian with a cozy vibe, in the middle of the mountains of AZ! I was brought here by friends I was visiting and they had high reviews on the food and ambiance of Pizzicata, and after visiting I can see why! The owners are from Italy and have brought the authenticity to Carefree. Their food was delicious and their pizza crust is made of flour imported from Italy, making it gluten friendly (lower gluten content) I had the Delicata pizza ( prosciutto, arugula, and parm) and ranks as one of the bests pizzas I've had. I'll be craving this pizza for a LONG time! Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly, giving us a run down about their menu and checking in with us enough. She also brought us a few extra cannolis at the end of our meal to make sure everyone got one. I'm not a cannoli girl but I'd eat these time and time again! Seating is mostly outdoors and is cozy and comfortable without being crowded. They have a very small amount of indoor seating, but enjoying the perfect spring evening on the patio put this place over the top! If you're in north Scottsdale and aren't afraid of a short drive, check Pizzicata out. It's worth the drive!

I did takeout so I cannot speak to the restaurant but from the photos - it looks super cute! I ordered the mozzarella sticks and the carbonara for my entree. I was staying in a nearby hotel and did DoorDash so I may have forgotten to say I needed utensils but I did not get any. The mozzarella sticks were super crispy. They would probably be better to eat at the restaurant as by the time I got them - the cheese was not as melty inside as I would've wanted. The carbonara pasta was a huge serving!! Definitely could have fed 2-3 people. It was loaded with bacon/pancetta. There were far more onions in it than I would liked. It was not as creamy as I have had carbonara before either. It was just okay.

We ordered take out pizza. We ordered a white pizza and a regular pizza. They were both amazing

My sister's family took me here. We were seated right away and on the outdoor patio. The patio was quiet and had heaters. We ordered a 1) Large Fig pizza, 2) Large Viola, 3) Chef's Bolognese, and a 4) Tiramisu for dessert. We also had a bottle of red wine (forgot the name)They were all good. The pizzas were not greasy at all. Tasted healthy. My sister told me they use 80% less gluten in their pizzas. The ambiance here was nice and romantic. Service was fine and very minimalistic. The food was fine. The tiramisu was good, wasn't too sweet and was in a coffee mug. My sister mistakenly forgot her leftover pizzas at the restaurant. The outdoor patio allows dogs and there were a couple of them hanging out.

Looking for amazing Italian food look no further! Every item I've had was amazing! And the portions well we had quite a few leftovers! The service was amazing, drinks, and the atmosphere, all for an amazing price!

Food was not worth the price. Pizza tastes like it comes from a box, no flavor not even the crust. Ordered a tiramisu for desert. Literally it was just cream and a couple of crackers filled in a coffee mug. No bueno. Do better, especially for a non chain Italian restaurant.

I ordered Fettuccine with meatballs for takeout today ( 06/15/25 ) . The menu showed "Fettuccine with 5 meatballs" for $22. But when I went to pick up my food, the cashier told me the total was $30 didn't even include tax. I asked why, and she said the $22 is only for the noodles and sauce -- adding meatballs costs an extra $8. That's confusing, because that's not what the menu said. When I opened the container, I only got 4 meatballs, not 5 as listed. 1. The price on the menu and what the cashier charged are different. 2. The menu said 5 meatballs, but I only received 4. They overcharged me and gave me Less meat, but a lot of noodles. I didn't open and check the to-go box and gave almost a $6 tip, I really regret it. I ended up paying a total of $37.03 for disappointing food. I won't be coming back!

This spot was gracious and fit in our big group at the end of a night. The service was amazing and the food was fabulous! We enjoyed every bite and would indeed go back there. My beet salad was perfect and many who tried their flatbread said it was the best they had eaten. It was a lovely night out and the atmosphere and food were amazing!

Delicious food, friendly efficient servers. We stopped by here after being denied a patio table at Keelers as we had a small dog with us. So we walked over to Pizzicata and we were so happy they accepted us. We enjoyed a lovely meal of Bruscetta and Amicola (?) pinsa. Wow, so delicious! I had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc which paired well with the meal. Our servers were very nice. . They even brought a bowl of water for our dog. We'll definitely be back! We've dined all over Europe and feel Pizzicatas food was on par with meals we've had in Europe. So happy to find this little gem close to home! The only downside for me having a back full of hardware is that the patio chairs could use some seat cushions. We'll be back and will bring friends and family ! Thank you for a lovely afternoon, Pizzicata!

My first time sharing an experience at this restaurant which is tucked away among other shops but you'll find it with ease. I cycled up here yesterday to enjoy a delicious outdoor time with friends for Easter. There is both outdoor and indoor seating and they do have a bar. Staff was very accommodating and delightfully friendly and warm. I had their superfood salad which was spinach, walnuts, blueberries and a house made balsamic vinaigrette. Not a morsel remained on my plate. I also asked to have a seafood pasta dish made which was with a white sauce, shrimp and anchovies and they nailed. My friends have pasta con amore and they too cleaned their plates and caprese salad. If you're up in Carefree and hungry for some delicious Italian food, you won't be disappointed and experience la dolce vita.

What a nice local pizza joint! I love their patio and their staff! They have a full bar with good variety of cocktails available. I glanced at the wine list. There were several that looked good. We had pizza and was able to add arugula to the top. Wow. Their crust is good! We are locals and will be back when the snowbirds go home!

Pizza here is darn good but not as exquisite as nearby Pizzafarro. But we'll definitely be back as the menu looks fun and I'm curious to try different kinds of pasta here.

Went to Lunch here while I was visiting the nearby Wellness Resort and Spa. I think my server's name was Gracie! She was very nice and recommended her favorites (although we didn't go with those selections) I honestly wanted to try everything on the menu. Our food arrived quickly it was sooo fresh and absolutely tasty! I loved the area it was in and the weather that day made eating on the patio a great experience!

Food was cold. Not enough cheese on pizza. Waitress lingered at table for way too long and we couldn't enjoy our friends

Fantastic, our body builder server(only cause I don't remember her name) was great made awesome recommendations was fast and courteous wish we had more like her. Food was very good nothing spectacular but they know there flavors and food best pizza and homemade pasta in year.

My family loves this place. We go probably twice a month and every time it is great. I love that the pinsas have better ingredients and less sugar. I'm hoping to try the lasagna one of these days, but every time I see the pinsa the decision is made.

This place is a hidden gem! And I mean hidden literally. We had a hard time finding it, nestled in to the surrounding shopping center. The place was bustling, but we were seated immediately in their covered outdoor patio. Our waitress was kind and the pizza was perfect! Just one bit of advice: don't order a margarita!

We began coming to Pizzicata at the very beginning of the restaurant way back in 2019 or so? The pinsa dough was excellent. A very nice product. Calamari great as well. The service was always wanting, but in the last few yers, it has become especially poor. My wife wanted to eat there yesterday at lunch time, and so we drove up. We were seated and that was it. We waited for a while and then decided to leave, as there was a birthday party, and it appeared to take up the one server's entire attention. You have to have servers or you can't run a restaurant properly. We will likely never return, and it breaks my heart. Lars Hesse at Carefree Coffee Roasters recommended that place to us at its inception, and we loved it at first. But as I stated earlier, the service just continued to decline, to the point where it was frustrating eating there. Per your response, Federico-- My wife and I are both half Italian and we understand well the rhythm of Italian dining. My maternal grandparents came from Calabria, my wife's paternal grandparents from Umbria. We are not strangers to Italian "pace." Your service is slow and has been for a long time.It gives me no pleasure to say this. For the record, our son and his wife had their wedding party at your establishment in 2021. We have been fans of yours without doubt. But I think it is a legitimate concern that we express. We wish you success moving forward.

Loved the food. Absolutely will be back. Cute and cozy place. Service was good. Ate inside this time but patio area is dog friendly. We'll be returning with our dogs in the near future

A nice detour from the steakhouse next door. Good food, fun patio, will return again.

Sat outside for lunch in a beautiful day. Highly recommend this spot and we took all of our servers recommendations and we were not disappointed. The food was fresh and savory. Great lunch spot.

Me and my sisters ordered Bruschetta and the Meat Eater's pizza, medium size. All I can say is WOW, the Bruschetta was mind blowing...6 pieces of bread all topped with delicious and fresh ingredients. We were surprised at the size of the appetizer and decided to take some of it home as we still had our pizza to eat. The pizza was not greasy pizza and had an amazing crust. Because we ate so much of the appetizer we opted to take half of the pizza home to consume at a later date. We were seated quickly and placed our order soon after being seated. We sat inside as the weather was cold on this February day. Our server was excellent. We highly recommend this place and we will be returning soon with other guests. Thank you for such a wonderful dining opportunity.

We celebrated the holiday and my son's 24th birthday! What a charming restaurant! We loved the pizza and calamari. The wine was delicious and regional. Our server was delightful and very helpful. She was attentive too! I will be back. It was a tad hard to find, it's tucked into the mall so don't give up. You'll find it!

Delicious Pizza. We went twice to this place on our very short trip. Both indoor and outdoor seating available

Very good Italian food! Great Service with indoor and outdoor seating! Pizza is excellent and Pasta is very good!

We came here for our monthly ladies who lunch group on a Friday. I had read a review that suggested reservations were needed. Not on a weekday apparently. I was excited to try the pinza as I'd never even heard of one. So I got the pepperoni lunch one that came with fries. A friend got got the margarita one, and we had a sandwich and regular menu one. Our server was delightful. He was not only amused by our rowdy group, but also amusing. We got cheesecake for dessert and another slice to go for later. If it were closed I'd be here more often.

This Pizzicata location is hidden inside a golf course in Mesa at 6210 E Mckellips Rd Mesa AZ 85209. This is the second location for this authentic Italian restaurant. Everything we tried was amazing. Packed full of fresh ingredients, full of flavor and made with love. What an experience you'll have once you step foot into the dining room. Family style seating, open spacious floor plan. Very nice patio area with view. Impeccable service and authentic eats. Fredrico has really mastered this dining concept for this east valley area. Be sure to get down to Pizzicata and give them a try! You won't regret this one follow us for more good eats on IG @azn8tive.eat.drink.play

This place is worth your drive if you don't live in Cave Creek. It'll be your new favorite Italian restaurant. Perfect for casual date night or grabbing a bite with friends. You can sit on the terrace or inside. Inside is smaller and if it's not too hot out I recommend sitting on the terrace to soak in the Italian terrace vibe. They have pinsa and pasta. Pinsa is a style of pizza and it's all about the crust. It's nice and crunchy on the outside, but soft and airy on the inside. They are on a the smaller side. Small is 4-5 slices. Large is 8-10 slices. Each slice is around 3.5". We had the amatriciana pinsa, homemade lasagna, caprese salad, tiramisu. Amatriciana does have a lot of bacon if you're into that. The lasagna had many layers to it, literally. The tiramisu was unlike a tiramisu I've ever had. I normally don't get tiramisus because the overbearing rum taste, but holy hell this isn't take like a normal tiramisu. It was creamy as hell. GET IT. We will definitely go back. Next time we'll be getting the carbonara and try another pinsa. Carbonara looked bomb and it was a mountain of pasta. Any who take a crack at this place. ENJOY!

This is a cool little place in the Spanish Village of Carefree. We had popped in here for a drink and a light snack as dinner was going to be quite late tonight. I don't drink a lot, so rather than have alcohol, I decided to have an Italian soda. The had orange, so orange it was. Tasted a lot like the Fantas that I've had in Europe. I do wish they had other flavors. I also had a half of a meatball, which was tasty! The patio area was spacious and lovely. The best part of this experience was our waitress. She was really quite funny.

DO NOT GO HERE!! ESPECIALLY FOR HOLIDAYS. We had a reservation for Christmas Eve for 6:15, we ordered pretty quick and did not get our food by 8:00 PM!!! UNBELIEVABLE. We ended leaving soon after with no hope. The service and hospitality was AWFUL, zero empathy from the server and manager, UNREAL. We got few updates, and ZERO REFILLS. Worst service of all time, the appetizers we did get near the beginning also weren't worth going here anyway!! 0 apologies, 0 attempts to make it right when we displayed unhappiness. AWFUL

We stopped here for a quick appetizer and something to drink before the dinner crowd turned up. Luckily they had a table that was open for an hour so we grabbed the opportunity. Although other members of our group ordered meatballs (excellent), all I wanted was a beer. I got the Menabrea amber, an Italian beer. It was delightful. I will be back to sample their food.

The folks at Pizzacata deliver a one of a kind pizza crust, beyond attentive & friendly service. Would highly recommend

The food was extremely yummy ! Best pizza I have had in a long time . The owner was nice , my server was great ; my only complaint is the hostess ! She's extremely rude and unprofessional. She should not be in this kind of work . My husband and I almost left due to her rudeness . The owner did reach out to let me know that he did let that employee go

Awesome vibes! The owner comes around checking in on everyone, he would then go and play some live music which is nice. Food is great! Good selection of pastas and pizzas. Not many GF options for our friends but they were very accommodation and where able to enjoy a pasta with their homemade Fettuccine pasta. They patio is large, they have some shaded tables with umbrellas and dogs are welcomed to sit with you outside.

Pizza is amazing and although pricey, still worth it. The crust is perfectly chewy and substantial without being overwhelming. Moisture level and thickness of inner crust and crunch and crispness of the edge crust are perfection. Cheese is fresh, flavorful and not too salty. Pepperoni is definitely high quality with crisp edges. I also had the Tiramisu...let me start by saying this is my favorite dessert by a landslide and I try it every time it is in a menu. I had high hopes after loving the pizza. Sadly, I was VERY disappointed!! This is no better than of my child had made it at home. Tasted like cheap pudding, definitely not marscapone, and drip coffee soaked Hawaiian bread. I will give call edit as these were lady fingers, however the coffee was weak and so soaked that it seeped out and made the dessert watery. The cocoa powder on top was too heavily dusted. At $10 this is a HARD PASS.

The food was ok. Everything was appropriate temperatures. The ambience was very nice with a very good guitar playing doing nice music. The wait staff were very good. I think the food could be just a bit better

The staff are really great. Very friendly and personable. The food is incredible!!!! I've had the gnocchi and have just tried the pizza. Wow. Best of both I've ever had.

What a great pizza if I can rate a 10 star I would. The staff were amazing and so friendly and welcoming. Their Travolta recommendation we spot on. A must visit place for sure.

Fantastic Food, a must try! Patio is great and service was on point. We will definitely be back again soon!

Their food used to be good enough to ignore the price they charge. It's not anymore. Bummer.

So GOOD! Hidden in the historic courtyard. Plenty of outdoor seating very nice size bar & about 10 tables indoor.. I cannot tell you how good this is but I'll try.. I got the large Atomica: is kinda a flat bread style but thicker crust that's very light & buttery topped with onions, sausage & more great flavor! When you get here, ask for Conner, he's terrific & knows his pizza.. Great feel restaurant, cozy, local & wonderful layout.

Went for pizza and was blown away!!! Had the pepperoni and it was on a crispy "special" crust and loaded with flavor. Very reasonably priced. Our server was top-notch. Such a cute venue....we'll definitely be back!

This restaurant is my favorite to stop by when I'm in Carefree/ Cave Creek area. I have tried most things on their menu and they are all fantastic. The service is great and the outside seating area is very pleasant.

My daughters and I were staying in Carefree and wanted a nice relaxing dinner.. I had the house made gnocchis with pesto.. pillowy tiny bites of deliciousness Equally delicious was the spaghetti and meatballs.. generous serving on both these entrees and enough to share! We capped our meal off with desserts.. tiramisu is divine!!! The night we were there we were serenaded y live music.. nice!!!

When my fellow foodie, Italian NY buddy told me about this place I could not wait to try it. I was not disappointed. This is one of nicest eateries in the valley. Since it is always packed we decided to go for a late lunch. I want to say right away the owner is from Rome. This is an AUTHENTIC Italian restaurant that serves AUTHENTIC Italian food not Americanized dishes. One of those dishes is Pinsa. Do not go with Americanized attitudes and misconceptions what Italian food is and then write a bad review out of ignorance. My friend and I both ordered Pinsa since it is the only place around that makes the authentic Pinsa from Italy. It is not Pizza. Pinsa is different. It was amazing. My friend has eaten here several times and has tried several of them and says they are all great. Today we ordered the Boscaiola Pinsa and my friend had the Pizzicata. They were both so delicious but to be honest I liked hers even better. OMgosh, that sweet taste with the blend of fresh ingredients and the honey was just a blend of amazing heavenly, Yum! The setting is great. It is a cute building in a wonderful Spanish village style courtyard. It is still a little too hot to be sitting outside. But man that patio. Gorgeous courtyard with cool statues. I can imagine dining under the stars here nightly. Gorgeous surroundings. With that said, the inside is super original and cute too. We had no problem with the server. I am not sure what the other reviews were all about. Our server was delightful and the owner even waits tables. I am also not sure what the high cost reviews are about either. Last night I had 6 wings and a small desert fry bread that cost 21 dollar and a fast food meal costs 15 dollars now. So??????? Pizza in town is all pretty much about the same price. Well..... maybe if you eat at Peter Piper or Little Ceasars but then, well, you know. I plead the fifth. Again, this is not American pizza. it is a higher quality item using all fresh ingredients. I found the price pretty reasonable for that and not much more than lower quality and taste corporate chains. We will be back often.

My sister and I had a delightful lunch on the patio today after my neighbor recommended Pizzicata. Mateo, our wonderful server was so informative and friendly and I could listen to his beautiful Italian accent all day. We split a large Bufala Pinsa and salad and while the pizza was pretty small, it was the perfect amount of food for us. The crust was light and chewy with just the right amount of crisp. The salad was pretty basic but very fresh with a wonderful balsamic vinaigrette. We had an Affogato with vanilla gelato for dessert and it was also divine. The bill was $50 before tip which nowadays seems about right with this inflation. I would rather pay a little more for quality ingredients and I feel Pizzicata delivered that.