A charming brick storefront with white columns and covered porch in a quiet small town setting under clear blue sky.

Il Nonno Pizza

I’m always on the hunt for some good pizza and other Italian dishes in the area, so I was really excited to get to try out a place I had never previously been to called Il Nonno Pizza.  This spot is right on the edge of the Eastern Panhandle, located on Williamsburg Pike in Falling Waters, right before the Maryland state border.  What we found in there was one of the best pizza pies in the area.  Not only are they serving true authentic Italian dishes, but their portion sizes are nothing to complain about.  You can feed your whole family with just one pizza at this spot!

Price 💲💲out of 5

Like most Italian restaurants in the area, the menu is absolutely massive.  They have all kinds of pizzas, subs, pastas, appetizers, salads, and calzones.  In addition, Il Nonno makes homemade bread for their paninis, which include sandwiches with mortadella and prosciutto.  I was blessed to grow up in an Italian household, and my great-grandparents came over here from Italy so I have had plenty of traditional Italian meals during my childhood.  I can always tell when Italian food is authentic, and this spot delivers.  The pricing is fair and comparable to other places in the area.  As I said before, the portion sizes guarantee you will not leave here hungry!

An overhead view of an open restaurant menu displaying various sandwich options, appetizers, and beverages with food photographs and descriptions.
An overhead view of an open restaurant menu displaying various sandwich options, appetizers, and beverages with food photographs and descriptions.
An overhead view of an open restaurant menu with a Coca-Cola sign and condiment bottles visible on the table.
An overhead view of an open restaurant menu with a Coca-Cola sign and condiment bottles visible on the table.
A restaurant menu displaying various food items with photographs, descriptions, and pricing information in a flat lay overhead composition.
A restaurant menu displaying various food items with photographs, descriptions, and pricing information in a flat lay overhead composition.
A collection of printed event program materials and information cards laid out flat, featuring green and red branding with contact information and event details visible.
A collection of printed event program materials and information cards laid out flat, featuring green and red branding with contact information and event details visible.

Ambience 🧑‍🍳🧑‍🍳🧑‍🍳🧑‍🍳 out of 5

It is very nice and clean inside Il Nonno, and it looks like most of the pizza parlors in the area with bright Italian colors all around.  It is a rather small place, so there isn’t a ton of area to sit and eat.  When we went there wasn’t really anyone else in there, so we had the whole place to ourselves.  The owner and staff were extremely friendly and attentive (what you would expect from Italians) and I felt like I was back in my great-grandmother’s kitchen with how many times they checked in on us to see if we were enjoying the food.  That kind of hospitality warms my heart!

A charming brick storefront with white columns features a vintage entrance, display windows, and vintage furniture suggesting a small-town shop or antique store.
A charming brick storefront with white columns features a vintage entrance, display windows, and vintage furniture suggesting a small-town shop or antique store.
A brick storefront entrance features decorative signage and yellow artwork mounted on the exterior wall.
A brick storefront entrance features decorative signage and yellow artwork mounted on the exterior wall.
A modern food service counter with a wooden facade, glass display case, and pendant lighting in what appears to be a commercial kitchen or restaurant setting.
A modern food service counter with a wooden facade, glass display case, and pendant lighting in what appears to be a commercial kitchen or restaurant setting.
An institutional workshop or break room with a work table, appliances, and bulletin boards on the walls under fluorescent lighting.
An institutional workshop or break room with a work table, appliances, and bulletin boards on the walls under fluorescent lighting.
A retro-style small cafe or diner interior with yellow walls, vintage Coca-Cola signage, a beverage cooler, and classic soda fountain counter.
A retro-style small cafe or diner interior with yellow walls, vintage Coca-Cola signage, a beverage cooler, and classic soda fountain counter.
An empty casual dining room with warm orange walls, wooden furniture, and vintage-style decor including a large wall clock and decorative signage.
An empty casual dining room with warm orange walls, wooden furniture, and vintage-style decor including a large wall clock and decorative signage.

Food 🥩🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5

Let’s get down to the dishes we tried!

Garlic Bows – I love garlic, and these things were absolutely drenched in garlic butter.  They were filling and baked to perfection.  I also love dunking that dough in their homemade red sauce.  I am a huge critic of red sauce, and theirs was spot on.

A decorative yellow plate with herb patterns holds four cooked meatballs with a small bowl of red sauce in the center.
A decorative yellow plate with herb patterns holds four cooked meatballs with a small bowl of red sauce in the center.

Pizza – we ordered a pie topped with pepperoni, green peppers, and mushrooms.  Two things really stood out about this pizza that many other places just can’t match.  First, the crust was the perfect mixture of crispy on the bottom but not overcooked.  Might be the best crust I have tasted in the Eastern Panhandle yet.  Second, I loved that they actually roasted their peppers before putting them on the pizza.  So many places just put raw peppers on pizza (which is fine, I’m still a fan, but the roasted peppers are a staple of Italian households and again, really made me feel like I was back in my great-grandmother’s kitchen).  All in all, I would say this is the best pizza I have tried yet in the Eastern Panhandle!

A freshly prepared pepperoni pizza with mushrooms and green peppers sits on a plate in an indoor kitchen setting.
A freshly prepared pepperoni pizza with mushrooms and green peppers sits on a plate in an indoor kitchen setting.
A freshly served pepperoni and vegetable pizza on a white plate with a person's hand visible at the bottom of the frame in an indoor setting.
A freshly served pepperoni and vegetable pizza on a white plate with a person’s hand visible at the bottom of the frame in an indoor setting.

Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

I will absolutely be going back to Il Nonno Pizza soon.  I want some more pizza, but also want to try one of their paninis.  I think I would probably get it to go next time just to ensure we don’t get there and there are no seats to sit at.  Shout out to Il Nonno for making me feel like I was back home!

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