Thanks for all the hints on this place, guys...I think I'll stick with driving to Tutta Bella. It's the most genuinely Italian pizza there is in Seattle.

Ate there tonight at prime Ballard time. Place was all but empty except for 3 people at the bar and one other couple. We awkwardly stood around waiting to be greeted. Finally, casually one of the staff told us to "pick a seat". We waited several minutes before the next interaction where the waiter was awkward and was not familiar about the menu.

A few minutes later another couple awkwardly stood around and eventually sat down, but left about 5 minutes later, and the the guy making pizzas ran after them and asked why there were leaving, they said "they were hoping for something faster". The guy did not look happy and went back to his staff and made big gestures and retold the story sarcastically in Spanish.

We only ordered a Margherita pizza. The had a good sauce and fresh mozzarella and basil but the crust was much to think, doughy and soft.

We will not be returning. There is just too many other places to get a good pizza. I don't see this place making past 2008.

We ate there few days ago. Nothing special, the server didn’t nave a clue about of the size of the pizza (it’s about this big). We ordered margarita; the pizza sauce tasted and looked like it came straight out of a can. Well it’s kind of Tutta Bella knockoff.
The owner is far from Italian, some former Russian state. They may be better off making some pirogues.

Missed Motorhead in 97, but I was at Dio around that same time.

We ate there a week or so ago. It just wasn't very good. The crust on the Pizza was far too doughy and they used waaaay too much basil (which was easily removed.) I was disappointed.

The meat and cheese plate was all right, though.

Ballard doesn't need another pizza place.

We ate there on Friday. Not only was the service less than stellar, but the pizza was mediocre at best. The crust wasn’t exactly thin or crispy and the sauce looked like it came straight out of a can. Yes, it was made in a wood fire oven, but it’s not close to the same league as Veraci, Tutta Bella or Via Tribunali (or Zagi’s which I’m still sad about losing). In addition to spelling mistakes on the menu, they grouped pizza and pasta together (maybe just annoying to me) and there wasn’t a list of ingredients for “make you own pizza” (and the waitress didn’t have a clue). With all the other pizza places in the neighborhood, I don’t think we’ll go back.

Ate here Friday 7/18. All 3 of us ordered vodka drinks and they were strong and tasty! Also had the caprese salad- very good twist with pesto sauce. House salad was terrific too.
We asked our waiter how big the pizzas were and he said 10-12". Margherita pizza was great- really fresh ingredients and nice crust. Italian meatball pizza- eh. We thought there'd be several small meatballs on each slice, but instead there was a one giant meatball glopped on each slice. (Reminded me of that scene in Wedding Singer when the old lady pays for the lessons with a handful of meatballs.)
Food was great overall, but the service was extremely slow. As mentioned above, I'd give it another try in a few months to see if they could get the service on par.

Ate here last night for dinner. The one server did not know anything about what was on the menu. I asked what size the pizza was and he made an "air circle" on the table stating "it's about this big". Asked if there was pepperoni and he said "if it is not on the menu, then we probably don't have it". Right on. No pepperoni at a pizza place...? Whuh duh fuh? Got the Italian meatball pizza instead. It was pretty tasty. Need drink menu and a more elaborate food menu in my personal God given right of an opinion...

Spelling mistakes on the menu? Seriously? That's almost too dumb to believe.

So far, I've been scared away by the many spelling mistakes on their menu (and they've already changed it twice): if you can't spell spaghetti and lasagna, there's something fishy in Via Verde, and it ain't lutefisk.
I'll rant another time on the unfortunate choice of name..

Just ate there tonight. We had a pasta and a pizza. The food was great! The service needs a little work, but it seems like they are still working out their flow. I'll definitely give them another try in a couple months once they've had a chance to figure it all out. Again, the food was good!

OMG - that's my problem too!!I can't go to the Hi-Life without flashing back to some not pretty times -- including the bathrooms upstairs :(

And don't forget Hit Explosion on a regular basis!

How 'bout wood fired pizza in a more intimate setting? Hi-Life has a bad vibe for me. It's just too big and still looks and sounds like a converted performance space. Maybe it's just me, but I can't sit down and eat wood fired pizza in the same space I saw Motorhead perform back in '97.

Did any one else out there see that show?

I thought wood fire pizza was one of the big attractions of the Hi-Life?

Did I miss something?

I like having a wood fire pizza place around to. They had one where I lived previously and I miss it! I'll have to venture up to Via Verde on my lunch one day.

I'm glad to see a "wood fire" pizza place, though! I loved the wood fire pizza place up in B-ham - La Fiamma.

When is someone going to open up a Greek restaurant on Market or Ballard Ave?

No shortage of pizza and pasta in the neighborhood. Yawn...

Good to know, 'cause it doesn't look like something special from the outside.