Indiana Pizza Joint Serves Lasagna So Good, It’s Already A Local Icon
Tucked away in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, there’s a pizza joint with a delicious secret hiding in plain sight. Giorgio’s Pizza has been serving up cheesy slices and Italian comfort food since 1990, earning its reputation as a go-to for a quick, satisfying bite.
But here’s the twist: it’s not the pizza that has locals buzzing. Many say it’s the lasagna that deserves just as much attention.
Somehow, this humble side dish has stolen the spotlight, turning a cozy pizzeria into a full-blown local legend and giving Hoosiers one more reason to say, “Forget the slice, I’ll take the pasta.”
A Slice Of Old-World Italy In The Heart Of Indianapolis
Walking into Giorgio’s feels like stepping through a portal straight to Naples. Technically, the restaurant’s founder, Giorgio Migliaccio, hails from Ischia (an island near Naples) but the old-world charm remains. Red-and-white checkered tablecloths cover every table, and the smell of bubbling tomato sauce and fresh-baked dough wraps around you like a warm Italian hug.
Right off Monument Circle, this downtown institution has been serving up classic Italian comfort since 1990. The décor is simple and welcoming, with touches of Italian nostalgia that fit perfectly with its longtime downtown setting.
Staff greet regulars by name, and newcomers are treated like long-lost cousins. It’s the kind of place where you immediately feel at home, even if it’s your first visit.
The Lasagna That Outsmarts The Pizza
Sure, the sign says “pizza,” but regulars know the real MVP is hiding under a golden, bubbling layer of cheese. Giorgio’s homemade lasagna is stacked high with ricotta, mozzarella, and a slow-simmered meat sauce that tastes like Sunday dinner at Nonna’s house.
Each portion could feed a small army, and the cheese stretch? Legendary. That perfectly baked top layer has just the right amount of crispy edges and gooey center.
While Giorgio’s is best known for its pizza, many diners have discovered that the lasagna is every bit as satisfying, a true comfort-food surprise in a pizza shop. It’s the ultimate plot twist, a sleeper hit that quietly became the star of the show without even trying.
Family Recipes, Passed Down And Perfected
Giorgio Migliaccio didn’t just open a restaurant, he brought a piece of his soul from Ischia, Italy to Indianapolis. When he founded Giorgio’s, he carried with him recipes that had been perfected over generations in his Italian family kitchen.
The lasagna recipe? Zero shortcuts, nothing frozen, all heart. Every layer is assembled the old-fashioned way, just like his grandmother taught him decades ago.
While other restaurants chase trends and modern twists, Giorgio’s stays true to tradition. That commitment to authenticity is exactly what keeps people coming back, bite after nostalgic bite, year after year.
Downtown’s Secret Comfort-Food Sanctuary
Office workers sneak away from their cubicles for a midday escape. Families celebrating birthdays crowd into corner booths. Tourists exploring Monument Circle stumble in and never want to leave.
Giorgio’s attracts every type of hungry human, all united by one craving: serious comfort food. Locals have dubbed the lasagna “a midday hug in a baking dish,” and honestly, that description couldn’t be more spot-on.
In a city that’s constantly rushing forward, this little sanctuary offers something rare—a chance to slow down, savor every bite, and remember what truly matters. Sometimes you need more than food; you need comfort.
A Menu Full Of Classics (But One Dish Steals The Show)
Hand-tossed pizzas? Check. Calzones stuffed to bursting? Absolutely. Stromboli that could feed three people? You bet. Giorgio’s menu reads like an Italian greatest-hits album, with every classic you’d expect from a beloved pizza joint.
But scroll through online reviews or chat with anyone who’s been there, and one dish dominates the conversation. The lasagna regularly earns praise from reviewers and regulars alike—even in a restaurant that built its name on pizza.
It’s the underdog story nobody saw coming, a pasta dish outshining pizza in its own house. That’s not just good; that’s iconic-level delicious.
Local Love And Loyal Regulars
Some restaurants have customers; Giorgio’s has family. Regulars have been walking through those doors for decades, and they’re greeted like the old friends they’ve become.
Online reviews glow with praise: “Best lasagna downtown, hands down.” “I’ve been coming here for 20 years, never disappoints.” “The staff remembers my order before I even sit down.” High ratings on Google and Yelp tell only part of the story.
The real magic happens in those small moments, servers who remember your kids’ names, extra garlic bread without asking, genuine smiles that aren’t just for tips. Loyalty like that can’t be faked.
Why Giorgio’s Endures In A City That Keeps Changing
Indianapolis’s food scene has exploded with trendy spots, celebrity chefs, and Instagram-worthy plates. Restaurants open with fanfare and close just as quickly, chasing whatever’s hot this month.
Yet Giorgio’s remains, now under the ownership of Elif Ozdemir and George Stergiopoulos, quietly serving the same style of homemade lasagna and pizza it’s perfected over three decades. Though ownership has changed, the spirit and recipes that built its reputation remain. No gimmicks, no flash, just honest food made with love and shared at small tables with people who matter.
In a world obsessed with the next big thing, Giorgio’s reminds us that sometimes the best meals are the simple ones. Authenticity never goes out of style, and neither does a really, really good lasagna.