Allegro Pizzeria - Carmel

I stop by Allegro Pizzeria every time I visit my parents in the Monterey area, and I've been meaning to write a review for a while. Today is finally the day! I have a gluten intolerance, and they offer the best gluten-free pizza I've ever tasted. I usually order it to-go and enjoy it at a nearby beach. Even for takeout, the staff are always incredibly friendly and helpful. I plan to dine in someday soon. I highly, highly recommend this place!

This restaurant is decent, but not exceptional. The prices are typical for Carmel, which can be a bit high. On the plus side, the portion sizes are generous. The food is generally tasty, especially if you're not overly particular. The lasagna is incredibly cheesy, while the pizza is loaded with toppings. The complimentary bread is delicious, although it has a slightly stale texture. However, the overall taste and texture of the dishes feel a bit off from being fresh. The lasagna, while cheesy, had a hint of a freezer-burned flavor, and the pizza was somewhat tough, suggesting it had been reheated several times. The ranch dressing was also disappointing. It's an acceptable option if you're in a bind, but given the prices, I probably won't return. I deducted a star for what I perceived as an unprofessional response to feedback. I thought it was acceptable to express opinions here; it was odd to imply that only certain customers should be asking for managers.

As someone who has enjoyed both non-vegan and vegan pizzas, I know that classic pizza dough typically consists of just flour, water, salt, and yeast, sometimes with the addition of olive oil for a chewy texture. This dough benefits from a long, slow rise to develop flavor; however, Allegro adds milk to theirs. I appreciated the server’s honesty, so I opted for the Bruschetta Pomodoro, which, according to Allegro's website, includes tomatoes, olives, garlic, and basil—without any mention of cheese. When the bruschetta arrived, I was disappointed to see cheese on top of each plate. The server kindly brought me an extra bruschetta and had another made without cheese. While I can't comment on the flavors of the other dishes, I noticed that the other diners seemed to enjoy their meals. To the team at Allegro, I appreciate your efforts to accommodate plant-based and vegan customers, but it’s important to deliver these options accurately and transparently. As a graduate of CHS, I have experience working in the restaurant industry in Carmel, and I have been a vegan for the past six years. I would be more than willing to assist you and your team in crafting truly vegan options for your diners. Given your location, ambiance, and commitment to traditional recipes, it’s a fantastic opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.

I went and got pizza after my husband ran the Marathon. He would not walk at all, to be expected. Ordered online, quickly made. Went to pick it up at the window, cashier was friendly and gave us all the utensils bc we were at a hotel. We got the meat lover pizza, Mediterranean salad and a cannoli. Meat lovers pizza 10 was perfect size, not too big, a little salty. The mediterranean salad was big, chicken was a little dry but lots of veggies and sauce on the side was great. They even put olives on the side when I requested. The cannoli was good, maybe too much chocolate sauce but it was going to be messy to eat either way. Maybe try to dine in next time. They have plenty of seating indoor and some outdoors and the plaza is just fun to explore.

I love eating at Allegro Pizzeria! Their food is top-notch and made fresh and by hand daily. On a recent visit, the owner, whom I had never met, came to our table to ask how we were enjoying our food and ended up sitting with us, chatting, and answering my many questions. They have so many options to try and I've loved everything I have tried so far! This place is a gourmet restaurant, not a hole-in-the-wall place, or a franchise. Support local, support freshly made foods.