Il Focolare Pizzeria 2150 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201

"Best pizza in Columbia! The spicy double pepperoni pizza is the best thing on the menu, but everything is delicious! They have limited seating, so make a reservation or go on the off-times, or order to-go. They do not let you leave a tip, as they pay their staff a living wage, so the price you see is the price you pay. Need more of this in Cola. We make Il Focolare our go-to pizza place! Five stars overall because of the quality of the food, but I only gave 3 stars for "Service" as their wait-staff can be a little "snooty" at times, but other than that, no complaints whatsoever. Support a great local business and buy some pizza here. You won't be disappointed!"

"Long overdue visit to this local wood-fired pizzeria. EXCELLENT and fresh, il Focolare puts most other pizza to shame. The crust has a great chew, slightly charred but tender. We had an amazing white pizza (hadn’t had a decent once since I was a kid in SW PA) and the double spicy pepperoni. Both were gorgeous and delicious. We started with yummy olives and a huge shareable salad. All of the servings are generous. Please note, gratuity is included in the prices so this place is actually reasonable."

"We had a GREAT first experience at IL Focolare on a Wednesday evening. It's a cozy environment and even on a weeknight was quite crowded. So you probably should go early or make a reservation. It is definitely worth it! Since it was our first time, we ordered three pizzas for the three of us, far too much food but we wanted to sample more than just one. All pizzas were amazing. You can't beat the standard pepperoni with their delicious little pepperoni "cups". The roasted mushroom pizza was also delicious as was the spicy double pepperoni. The crust has an amazing chew, perfect on the bottom and the edges are wonderfully chewy. We also shared a chopped salad that had lots of "extras" in the lettuce (pepperoni cubes, at least two different cheeses, olives, etc.). Nicole was a fantastic server. This place is a hidden gem! It is a small dining room so be prepared to get there early or you might not get a table. It's worth your visit. No gratuity policy is refreshing and we were happy to pay slightly higher price in lieu of the additional tip. We will definitely be back."

"This was a great little pizza place. The food was delicious, our waiter was attentive and kind, and the atmosphere was really laid back. We loved the pizzas and the olives."