8 ½ in The Fan

i'm a regular at 8 1/2 and i can't praise it highly enough. while it is a takeout restaurant, the retro, cozy feel makes me feel like i'm stepping back in time in the best way—and the staff are always warm and welcoming. the red pizza is delicious, but my favorite dish here is the broccoletti pasta (add pine nuts + ricotta!). they even surprised me with a tiramisu recently (i almost cried when i saw it), and it was incredible. this place is 10/10 every time and truly makes me feel connected to the community.

I had the most amazing vegan hero sandwich here! Visiting from out of town, I stopped in here because it was close to where I’m staying and I needed food before I could check in. The girl at the counter was super helpful in explaining the vegan options. The hero sandwich had mushrooms, spinach, potatoes, and very garlicy. Everything was delicious. I also got the lentil soup to bring back with me. Wish they had more seating, but it’s a limited space location. I sat in the corner on one of the few chairs they have.

Got a mushroom, onion, and green pepper pie. Absolutely fantastic. Can't wait to go back!

Absolutely the best pizza I’ve ever had in my entire life. The tang, the spice, the flavor, the char, it’s phenomenal. I’ve been in RVA for three months now and I’m upset I haven’t tried it sooner. Leaving here soon and I will reminisce on a love that was lost. -Phoenix C

Service is good and the food is definitely unique. The meat lasagna had to be the best and most unique tasting lasagna I ever had. Glad I ordered that. Pizza was unique too but not the best pizza we ever had. We did not like the salad at all, it came with some type of balsamic house dressing, ranch was not available. We attempted to order roasted chicken but they were out. We ordered by phone and they told us that it would take 30 to 40 minutes, and they told us that they don't have a parking lot, just need to find a place to park in the side of the street, not in the middle of the street because the street is narrow and this seems to be college town VCU Virginia Commonwealth University. When we arrived, we found a parking spot on the side of the street, called and they brought our food out immediately, no wait time. Curbside pickup, thank you!

When we decided to come here for dinner, we did not realize that there is no option to eat in. It's mostly our fault since we didn't research it much before going, but it's the kind of thing that's helpful to know in advance. We planned on eating there and didn't have anywhere nearby to take the pizza to eat it, so we ate in the car. We had fun, but it would have been good to know. The menu is on the wall on chalkboards on the left when you enter. The staff person at the register was friendly. She took our order quickly and gave us an estimate for pickup, which turned out to be perfectly accurate. We had a cheese and double pepperoni pizza. It was good when we first tried it fresh out of the oven and got better as it rested. I suggest you let it rest for a couple of minutes. The flavors really mellowed and married. There is a strong garlic note, so if you don't like that, you may want to mention it when you are ordering. The sauce has a little kick every now and then, which we both really liked. The crust is crisp and thin but not hard. It still is floppy even with the crispy thinness. They also have a good variety of canned and bottled soft drinks and other beverages in a cooler to the right of the register, and they sell chilled wines by the bottle. I bought a package of filled hard lemon candy from Italy, which was delicious. I highly recommend it. It was by the register. I look forward to going back. I'd really like to try their eggplant parmesan.

Pizza perfection. The perfect dough, perfect spicy sauce, perfect amount of cheese and toppings. You can taste every aspect of the pizza. Delicious!!!! Only downside is there's not seating.

Tasty thin pizza! We bought the pepperoni and a calzone. Our pizza was QUITE greasy, it was dripping. After dabbing it off the pizza was very good! Our calzone was cooked to perfection and came with a generous portion of homemade (?) dipping sauce, we had plenty left over to dip our pizza crust. The calzone ends that didn't have filling were yummy all by itself. Personal preference is there was way to much ricotta in the calzone. A little pricy, but a great picnic splurge. (there is a nice little park across the street that you can sit at to enjoy your pizza on a nice day) Customer service could use a little uplifting. We were able to find parking on a side street, since they have no parking lot or anywhere to wait for your food. It was a nice day so we took a walk during the 30 minute wait.

Great spot for a thin personal two-to-three serving size pie. The crust is light and airy with the irresistible toasty flavor from the authentic pizza oven. Be sure to check out their specials because the soups and hoagies are nothing to sleep on. I was a patron of their Churchill spot before it closed but have noticed no major difference with this OG location. So glad they have online ordering now. Strawberry Street parking is the worst but that will never stop me.

TLDR; best pepperoni pizza we've had in Richmond so far! Be prepared to take your pizza to go. Vibes - quaint little pizza shop on Strawberry Street. Smells DELICIOUS! I felt like I was getting the true local experience being here. There's only a few chairs to sit while you wait but no tables to sit and eat. Service - friendly and quick. We walked in just before 7 PM and were told that our 2 pizzas would be done in about 30 minutes which ended up being accurate! We took our 1 1/2 year old to the park up the street while we waited. Food - the pepperoni pizza was the best we've had in richmond so far! The red sauce tasted more like a pasta sauce than a pizza sauce - which I loved! The pepperonis were also larger and thinner than the traditional size so they were perfectly crispy. We also ordered the Breakfast Pizza with sausage. The flavor profile was more mild but still surprisingly good. We added red pepper flakes to this one when we got home.

This was my first time at this location. I was smitten with my experience at the other location and was hopeful for a repeat. Sadly lighting did not strike twice in this scenario. We ordered take out and was told it would take 10-15 minutes. The order took nearly 45 minutes . I ordered a red cheese pizza, a white cheese pizza and chick pea salad. The pizza crust was good. It's a thin crust with the perfect amount of crispness to it. Things went downhill from there. The cheese was burnt. Very burnt. The flavor profile was nonexistent and the sauce was just ok. The chick pea salad was delicious. I was underwhelmed by this experience and won't return here.

This review is just based on their red pizzas! I would love to come back and try other things on their menu. 8 1/2 is a super charming takeout Italian spot. It's ideal for warm days so you can take your food to picnic in Scuffletown. I've only ever ordered a red pizza here with toppings when I've visited. I had a blast doing this once with my mom and partner. This week, I decided to spend my lunch break with a friend having pizza. We ordered a red pizza with spinach and sausage. Our bill came out to about $26. It took about 35 minutes for the pizza to be ready so we went on a walk while we waited. There were about three seats to sit at too if you prefer to wait in the restaurant. When our pizza was ready, they offered us napkins and red pepper flakes. We took our pizza to the park to enjoy! It's nice to see how fresh the pizza's are. It's slightly greasy, but thin crusted. 8 1/2 also has a lot of delicious Italian pantry goods for purchase as well as wine. It's a pretty small space on the customer end, which is fine for a takeout spot! If you don't mind that things are on the pricier side, this is a nice spot to get take out for a scuffletown picnic.

Hands down my favorite pizza place ever! There's no beating this pizza! It's definitely a to go experience since the place is small basically an Italian grocery store with a kitchen that makes the best pizza! A must try if you are in the RVA area, staff is great, the phone is always answered when you call for pick up!

3.5 stars. I'm on the search for the best pizza in Richmond, so wanted to give this place a try! Mostly because i've had the pleasure of smelling their pies every time I pass to get some scoops ice cream. Once inside, this place is solely for takeout. There possibly might've been a chair, but I cant be 100% sure. I ordered a pepperoni pizza with arugula salad to take home. Pizza was about ~$17 I think. Pizza was that thin, more Neapolitan style that I usually like. Flavor was pretty good. Arugula salad was just that. A take out box of arugula which made me feel a little silly for ordering. I think if you rank it among take-out places, it's a good pizza. But for the how overpriced it is and the fact that you don't really have the option to sit there and eat it, I think i'm still on the search for a better pie in Richmond! I might come back to try some of their other items though.

Disappointed and Overpriced - Worst Calzone We've Ever Had We were really excited to try this place because of all the high reviews, but were sorely disappointed. I ordered the calzone, which set me back $20, and honestly, it wasn't even that big. The biggest letdown was the filling--it was absolutely stuffed with ricotta and barely had any mozzarella. When I cut into it, there was zero cheese pull, just a bland, flavorless mess of ricotta. The marinara sauce that came with it was delish, but it was way too oily imo. The bread had an okay taste, but the texture was a huge fail--it was soggy and soft, not crispy at all. It seriously felt like it had been microwaved. Given how busy the restaurant was when I arrived, I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened. I don't understand how this place has such high ratings. This was hands down the worst calzone I've ever had. I plan on reaching out to the restaurant to see if they'll make this right, because $20 for this was just ridiculous. Edit: We reached out to the restaurant, the manager was very polite, understanding, and listened to my concerns, which i greatly appreciate, and he refunded the order

Richmond classic. Small but mighty. The pizza is delicious and I always crave it. There's also so something so charming and hip about it. I just love the place so much - been going for over a decade. The red pizza with pepperoni, sausage, onion, and spinach is what I recommend or the vegan pizza. Yum now I want some again... lol

A quirky little no seat restaurant has possibly the best specialty pie in the area. Enjoy enjoying a red pizza at 8 1/2 is like first trying to drink coffee. It's almost an acquired taste. The pizza sauce is very dark and smoky. A very unique experience in pizza . I Would highly recommend anyone looking for something a little bit different, little bit edgy, but a whole lot of yummy give 8 1/2 a try.

I've been coming to 8 1/2 for over 12 years and it's always wonderful. Anything you try, it's going to be amazing! The pizzas are incredible and I'm obsessed with the arugula salad. I didn't get the lasagna this time, but that is also absolutely delicious. give it a try!!

The Establishing is very rustic and homey. I love the area because it'a a great place to grab a bite and walk around. The pizza not only looks good but is very tasty. Their carbonara was a little bland but overall it was a great dining experience.

The vegan pizza at 8 1/2 is so unique and I absolutely love it. The dough is both soft and crunchy, the broccolini is chopped up making each slice easy to bite into and there's even a little kick! I usually call in for pick up and they make the food quickly. The shop itself is super cute and has a bunch of authentic Italian products for sale!

Best pizza in Richmond I finally found it! Arugula salad is pretty good - mine was slightly dry so maybe dressing on the side.

Oh my LAWD child. Best pizza in Richmond? Best pizza in Richmond. I'm driving 50 minutes from the country to pick this up today - it's that good.

Small and expensive pizza. Staff was friendly. Cute shop in trendy area. Not much more to say

Pizza is real Italian/European style with a zesty red sauce. It's a bit of a wait as everything is made fresh and they are very popular!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Best pizza in Richmond hands-down. The pasta is delicious as well as the roasted chicken, and the heroes. This is clutch Italian food.

I had this pizza several years ago and have been longing to have it again. So happy that my cousin showed me this place and will always make sure I get it when I'm in town. They are perfect size to share with one other (or if you're me it's a personal pizza).

Terrible service. Person taking orders with a rude demeanor and attitude, making me not want to come back here ever. Plenty of other quality places with good service in the area. Avoid.

The recipe changed... the red pizza is not as thin, greasy, crispy anymore. What happen?

The pizza was on the thinner side and was really good. I got peppers, onions and mushrooms. I wasn't a huge fan of the penne with meat sauce but that was a personal preference.

Friendly service, good crispy crust. Not quite Neapolitan style, but I'd definitely go back.

Love this place! Everything we've tried so far has been great. Definitely recommend trying the pizza and pasta with meat sauce. The salad was kind of disappointing though. There's a ton of lettuce with very sparse salad toppings, and it's the price of a full salad - not a side salad. I was pretty much eating mostly lettuce. Other than that- everything else has been so delicious!

Still the best pizza in Richmond. Crispy crust. Ugh so good. Can't blame the business for the pricing. Everything is expensive nowadays.

HOLY CANNOLI (but seriously, their cannolis are great) this place is incredible. I like me some pizza, and this place is my absolute favorite pizza spot not just in Richmond, but it ranks up there with my all-time favorite pizza spots across the US. Their breakfast pizza is made of dreams and unicorns. I literally dream about it sometimes, it's that good. I've tried their red sauce pizzas also, and they are very very good too if breakfast pizza is not your jam. I can't wait to work through more of their menu, but this place is absolute fire. If you live in Richmond and have not eaten here, stop reading this review and GO NOW. One tip: This is not really a "show up and order your food" kind of restaurant. They are a SUPER small establishment with no seating there, so the best way to eat there is to call ahead with your order and then go pick it up. This is a take your pizza to-go spot. If you mess up (like we did our first visit, haha), or just like, don't want to plan ahead, you can always check out the little ice cream spot that's almost next door! :)

Some of the best pizza in Richmond! A cute, eclectic shop that is take-out only, but with a delicious menu that they back up with a great product. I personally love the breakfast pizza, with the mortadella! One of may fave "go-to" spots here in a Richmond. Where else can you get a fried egg on a pizza??

Great at what they do, it's a to go place so you're going to get good food--to go. If you crave a good sub, arugula salad or za check them out.

We were looking for a good Italian take out restaurant when we found 8 1/2 on Yelp. After reading the reviews we went for it! So delicious!! We had meat lasagna, white pizza, arugula salad and cannolis! Perfect Italian meal! Try it! You'll be glad you did!

I carried out from this place on a Tuesday night and despite the pandemic and the weekday- the place was busy! I just walked up and ordered at the door- which was doable but it resulted in me waiting outside for about 35-40 minutes while my order was being prepared. Therefore, I walked down to the little ice cream store while I waited and had my dessert first. I got the veggie lasagna to go. It was amazing! The lasagne was baked in the pizza oven and a nice caramelized cheese crust with gooey mushrooms, eggplant, basil, and ricotta inside. I think the best part of the lasagne was the red sauce it came with which was slightly spicy, slightly sweet, And flavorful. I wonder if this is the same sauce they add to the margarita pizza? I bet it is and can't wait to get a pizza next! Quality ingredients resulting in quality food. Wish they would open a sit down restaurant post pandemic and expand their pasta menu. Hands down, the best tasting pizza in Richmond.

Happy Pi(e) Day everyone!! Decided to check this place off the bucket list since "its the best pizza in Richmond". I knew going in it was going to be expensive for what I was getting compared to a chain "large for 7.99 deal". Call ahead, super easy and on point with the waiting time. The staff could not have been any nicer. The place is tiny and super cute. Only a take out service, on this tiny road with an amazing grocery store and ice cream parlor next door. Red Pizza w/ Pep: amazing flavor with a good crust. little spicy from the pep's. overall i can dig it White Pizza: again amazing flavor with a good crust. a little funky from some of the different types of cheeses. overall i would get again but i liked the red better. Calzone: THIS IS THE REASON I WOULD COME BACK. the amounts of cheese and ricotta they put in this was insane. well worth the money. my sister needed more bread for the ratio to be better but i was in heaven. great saltiness from the meat along the sweetness from the ricotta. Well done 8 1/2. Best pizza in Richmond?? No however you can definitely hold your own.

8 1/2, part of Mamma Zu's, is a small Italian market that also serves up sandwiches, soups, pastas, and pizzas. The hubs and I picked up a pepperoni pizza here, and it was just SO GOOD! The pizza is made fresh to order, and it came out super piping hot! The crust was thin, had a little crisp on the edges, and the toppings were generous with the yummy tomato sauce, the cheese, and the delicious pepperoni slices. I'm not a crust person, but I ate all the slices up whole! No need for any extra Parm or chili flakes, either! Most seem to call ahead and do a carry-out; there are also a few tables and chairs to dine-in. I'd love to come back and try their other pies, their pasta dishes, as well as their sandwiches. Friendly staff, and such a delicious spot! +delicious pizza! +friendly staff! +limited residential parking

Love doing evening walks to this pizza place and usually go on Friday nights and the pizza is amazing. Wait time is a bit long tho

Recently had the cheese pizza with red sauce from here and fell in love immediately. All the elements (crust, sauce, cheese) were perfect and what made it so special is I think that their oil is flavored too. Garlicy, a hint of spice, cooked to just the right level. It's a thin slice, personal pizza. I somehow managed to not eat it one sitting and it tasted good even when I tried the cold leftovers the next day. This place is run by the same owners as Edo's Squid which has very good pasta. 8 1/2 has pasta too but haven't tried that yet. I don't generally love things so quickly but this was exceptional and also why I ended up taking a picture after devouring half of it. Just with one experience, this is now my go to spot. This is a must try pizza place.

I ordered the red pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms and it was delicious! I was in the neighborhood and just ordered from the counter; ready in 30 minutes and was still hot and delicious after a 15 minute walk home. This is a takeout only place with some other items as well, that all looked great!

Some people like their pizzas thick. Some people like their pizzas chewy. Some like it deep. Some like it thin. I like my pizza perfect. This was absolutely one of the best pizzas I have had in a very very long time. I had a red pizza with sausage and mushrooms. The sauce was robust, the cheese was bubbly, and the bottom crust was perfect. You bite through with the toppings, cheese, sauce- followed by the perfect crunch of the pizza itself. The pizza didn't droop, a flow of scorching hot cheese with all the toppings falling off, like some brick oven pizzas spots- the pizza slices held its form. The pizza had perfect amount of ratio I liked on the pizza. I'm okay with the price and I'm okay with the simplicity because this has quality written all over it. I can't wait to come back to RVA and have more.

Been here twice they don't miss. Got the Meatball Sub and it was prefect. Then got the Italian Hero and probably one of the best Italian subs I've had in a while. The potatoes that come with it are amazing. Great little small place will be back.

I went to 8 1/2 several years ago and hadn't been back since. My boyfriend and I were in the area and decided to drop by for lunch. We went right when they opened, so it was not very crowded. Their menu is short, so it did not take us very long to choose. We decided on a red pizza topped with onions and sausage, as well as a calzone. Our order ended up taking about twenty-fives to prepare, so it is definitely not the best place if you are in a big hurry. There is also not much seating inside either, so don't plan on eating lunch there. The quality of the pizza was phenomenal and definitely better than I remembered. The pizza crust was thin and crunchy, which was complimented by a flavorful red sauce on top. The sausage was very good as well, but the red onions were a bit on the raw side. The calzone was pretty good, but not as good as the pizza. It was stuffed with ricotta cheese, which didn't have too much flavor. There was also supposed to be ham in there, but there was so little that we thought they had forgetten to add it until we discovered a few small pieces in the center. Bottom line: 8 1/2 is a great spot for thin-crust pizza, but I would recommend getting it to go.

THE BEST MARGHERITA PIZZA IN RICHMOND!! 8 1/2 has the best pasta and pizza ever. I've gotten the pasta with butter and Parmesan since I was 7 and Ive never not gotten it when I've gone here or to Edo's because it's so good. The pizza has the most amazing crust and sauce. Would highly recommend!! I love eating my food in scuffle town park right around the corner, especially during COVID. The store only allows one customer in at a time, so they are being very safe!

Hands down the best pizza I've had in Richmond. Each pie is prepared to order w qual sauce, cheese, etc. worth a trip!

We love love love this place! The sauce is so incredibly fresh and the cheese just melts in your mouth. The crust is so buttery and crispy and flaky, yet perfectly doughy in the middle. We give it a solid 9/10!

3.5 stars One of my grad school cohort members told me I had to try the vegan pizza at 8 1/2. Some say a pizza with a white bean base is not a pizza, but I say anything on a crust counts. I finally tried it after visiting Idle Hands on Strawberry Street, and it was decent but I don't know if I'd call it a "must try" like my friend. While the restaurant menu describes it as "cannelllini, beans, and broccoletti," it fails to menu another one of its main ingredients, garlic. Yes, the pizza has a very strong garlicky taste, which I do not mind because I love garlic, but some might. Another reason one might not like this pizza is because of its dryness. I was expecting more of a hummus-like paste to replace the marinara, but that was not the case. This is why I liked instead of loved the pizza.

Always great. Food is amazing, staff is friendly and helpful. Will always have 8 1/2 on my short list if I'm venturing to the Fan for takeout.

Nice little place with unique and high quality pizza offerings if you're willing to pay the price. I went with a lady friend when it wasn't terribly busy and we ordered at the counter (the gentleman was very polite). They quoted 25 minutes, though it came out much faster than that (which was great, since the awesome smells were driving me crazy). While asking if they could give us cups if I bought a spring water to drink (every purchasable drink is bottled, no fountain here), a young lady working there was so kind as to simply give us cups of regular water at no charge. The pizza was amazing, definitely unlike any of the other offerings I've had in Richmond (though I still have a few left to try). I liked the cozy atmosphere of the place, though I didn't realize when going that this place is just for take out food, almost no space for dining in. If I were looking to impress an out-of-town friend with a great authentic pizza, I'd be inclined to order it from here. Overall: 4.0 stars --------- Pros: -The white pizza was great! Very unique flavor to it. -The staff members were extremely kind/friendly. -Service was speedy at a non-peak hour. Cons: -Pizza was pretty pricey considering its small size. If you are looking to get full, a pizza for two won't cut it. -Since there are only two two-seater tables, it's pretty much just for take out. I wasn't made aware of this prior to going.

Our favorite pizza in Richmond! Love the crisp thin crust and the spicy red sauce. Add the arugula salad and a bottle of red wine and you have the perfect date night. The eggplant park is also outstanding.

Typically my husband and I would take the kids out for dinner on Friday and Saturday night as it's something we like to do on the weekends. When I'm not on maternity leave I work from home so come the weekend I like to go out to eat dinner. Anyway since I decided to check out Taziki's today on my own with my baby boy... I thought maybe we could order take out somewhere. My husband suggested 8 1/2 which we haven't had in awhile and my first thought when I heard his suggestion was MEAT LASAGNA!!!! 8 1/2 owners also own Mamma Zu's, Edo's Squid and Dinamo. If you love Mamma Zu's lasagna as much as we do you will love 8 1/2's lasagna because it is the exact same thing. Hands down this Meat Lasagna is the best lasagna I have ever had. They don't use ricotta like most restaurants do... instead they make a bechamel sauce... all I have to say is amazing. If you don't normally get lasagna because you dislike the excessive creaminess that ricotta usually causes then you must try this as I promise you, you will not be disappointed. I've suggested friends visiting from out of town to order this Meat Lasagna and not every time they visit they crave the Lasagna. It could really be a real addiction... a lasagna addiction. You will probably refuse to eat any other lasagna once you try this. Though if you don't like peas... yes peas this is not for you... sounds odd that lasagna has peas but it really works! Anyway, we ordered one Lasagna to go (this is huge... you will have leftovers if you eat like a normal person haha, my husband figured we could split it) and a White Pizza (this is the same white pizza you can order at Mamma Zu's as well... tidbit... Mamma Zu's makes pizzas for its customers but it's not on the dinner menu. The white pizza is thin, Crispy and has a hint of spiciness. This is not your typical white pizza with ricotta... all I have to say is you just need to try it you will fall in love with it. Originally I was going to mark 4 stars because it is takeout but as I am writing this I am reliving my delicious dinner and I have to give it 5 stars... it's that good. Don't hesitate... try 8 1/2 out and order the Meat Lasagna and the White Pizza you will thank me... takeout meals will be forever changed for the better:)

8 1/2 is hands down some of the best pizza your tastebuds will experience. As the name suggests, each pizza is 8 1/2" which is a perfect size. Fresh, fast, great service will hit you as soon as you step in the door. Pizza not your thing? Well, they have other options such as pasta, soup, dolci, antipasta, and heroes. What are you waiting for? Get to 8 1/2 and experience all of the deliciousness they have to offer.

This was an excellent pizza experience. High quality all around. Great service. A bit pricey but it's worth it. You can tell it's well sourced ingredients. Hence the price point. I would come back here again in a heartbeat.

The sauce they use is very garlicy, and spicy. I know I have a ridiculously sensitive pallet when it comes to spice, but I got a cheese pizza and it was too spicy to finish for me.

Always excellent! All the pizzas are perfect. Especially love the spicy pepperoni. Meat lasagna is so worth it! Carbonara my family fights for!