30 Vine St, Hamilton, ON L8R 2K8, Canada
Cowabunga Pizzeria's full service restaurant known as Cowabunga+
Cowabunga+ in Hamilton, Ontario, has made waves on the global stage by winning the World Champion Best Cheese Slice of 2024. That accolade, proudly displayed on their wall, immediately puts the pizzeria in the spotlight. Naturally, I had to try it for myself, eager to see if it lived up to the hype. However, I must preface my review by noting that I opted for slices rather than a fresh pizza straight out of the oven. Pizza quality is highly dependent on freshness, and this may have impacted my experience. We ordered two slices: the award-winning cheese pizza and the “1up” pizza. Cowabunga+ is known for its sourdough crust, which typically delivers a shatteringly crisp texture with a slight chew. Unfortunately, the crust on my slice had lost its charm, feeling lackluster and past its prime. Instead of the signature crispiness one might expect, the crust leaned toward mediocrity—perhaps an unfortunate byproduct of sitting in a display case. The cheese pizza had its strengths, particularly the tomato sauce. It was reasonably well-balanced, leaning slightly acidic but rounded out with hints of sweetness and herbs, most notably oregano. The cheese, however, was underwhelming. I expected the kind of texture that creates contrast: crunchy edges encasing a molten, stretchy interior. Instead, it was serviceable but far from world-beating, lacking the exceptional quality I’d hoped for from a title-winning slice. The “1up” pizza was a creative offering with truffle cream, honey, chili flakes, and white truffle. Unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. The truffle flavor was prominent, but the sweetness from the honey overpowered the other elements. A touch more salt could have provided balance, and the chili flakes were so mild they were almost undetectable, leaving the pizza feeling one-dimensional. What should have been an exciting interplay of sweet, spicy, and umami flavors felt muted and flat. That said, I want to emphasize the importance of freshness when evaluating pizza. A freshly baked pie might have told a very different story, and I would love to return and give it another chance. Based on this experience, though, I’d give Cowabunga+ a 3.75/5. There’s potential here, but for now, I’d reserve judgment on whether it truly deserves the title of “world’s best.”
A solid 3.5 I bought 3 cheese pies. I really don’t know what the hype is. Sure, it’s a good cheese pizza but I think it’s a bit exaggerated to say it’s the “world’s best pizza” some places in Toronto can definitely beat this. Great staff! Great service!
I’d like to think I’m a pizza connoisseur and I’ve tried pies from all over Europe and North America and without a shadow of a doubt these guys are top three (maybe even the best). We ordered four different pies and they were all insanely incredible. The crust was crispy and crunchy and the flavours were so good. One of the unique features of this pizza is the sourdough crust which I think is a game changer. Needless to say, I’ll be back.
We first heard of this pizzeria after they were featured in the news for winning best cheese pizza in the world for 2024. The next time we were in Hamilton we decided to visit - good thing we did, because the pizza is indeed phenomenal. We got the cheese pizza, and a second pizza that was half pepperoni+ and half supreme. What makes this 5/5 for me was how well integrated all the flavours are (tomato sauce and cheese), with the sourdough crust being outstanding (crispy on the outside; chewy with a hint of sweet on the inside). Pro tip - the garlic dip is the best, and you can get a pizza half-half if you wanted to try multiple flavours. Would return 100%.
This pizza place is very popular. We ordered their award-winning cheese pizza, but found it a bit salty and lacking in creaminess. Personally, I prefer a creamier texture with a balance of sweet and tangy flavors. We also had fried chicken, which tasted good with a slight kick of spice. I’ll come back next time to try other flavors. Overall, the taste is quite good, and I would recommend it!
Unique and really delicious pizza! The whole concept is great—unconventional and interesting, especially since it’s in Hamilton and not Toronto. I enjoyed everything, and even though it was crowded, there was no issue finding a seat, and everything moved quickly. The staff was great too. Love the variety of pizzas.
Traveled from Toronto to try their pizza and the hype is so worth it! They are the best cheese slice in the world award winner for a reason - the cheese slice was out of this world! Oh and their 1up slice? AMAZING. The honey with the truffle cheese hits all the right spot and makes you crave for more. I wish I could be there every weekend! The service is amazing too even though they’re so busy.
I tried the 1up, cheese, and (a bite of) pepperoni+ slices. They were all really good. My favourite was the 1up. My friend and I were surprised how filling the pizza was which was probably due to the quality of the ingredients. I can see why they've won an award. Bathrooms were clean and the staff were friendly. Definitely check them out.
Great selection of slices and drinks!
I am not a fan of the pizza especially concerning the price. The crust was very dry. We got a variety of pizza styles and I would describe them all by meh. This place is overhyped. I would rather go get another traditional pizza place over this place.
It is an ok place but i would not go for the second time. It could be better. Too much noise, cold, and did not like the quality of pizza.
Came from out of town to try this pizza and the server walked past us 3 times after being told by a different worker to go sit down only to be told that they didn t have any pizza left because they were closing. When we asked why no one could have explained that before making us wait at a table the server made it seem like it was our fault for sitting down before she told us to.
Ambience was good, they have video games which our kids enjoyed. Food - Cheese pizza was perfect, however the 1Up pizza was too sweet and not so good. Service - Our 1Up pizza slices took way too long and the team had to be reminded, however, they offered free cookies to the kids as a good gesture. Overall a great experience. Worth a try.
Too much hype for New York pizza slice
Amazing pizza. The thin crust paired with the abundance of cheese and toppings makes a fantastic combination! We tried to cowbunga - the roasted peanuts, sesame seeds and chicken make it taste like pad thai. We also tried the 1Up and it was mindblowingly good!
Just left this place, went for the first time about a month ago and was amazing! We drove an hour and had one pizza dine in and ordered another to take home. Was told on our first visit the dine in pizzas are a smaller size and the take home pizzas are larger- totally fine! So we had more pizza to take home. Did the same thing today- took over an hour on dine in for our take home pizza to be ready, as well as our server barely taking notice of us, and then she gives us a medium pizza to take home- we thought the pizza was not ours because it was the smaller size, nope. They made a smaller one and did not tell us that it would also be small dine in size. Super dissatisfied with them not specifying this and she said it would be over an hour for us to wait for another pizza- cool. Super disappointed in the service here today. But the pizza is incredible. Just would have liked to have gotten the correct size one to take home.
We really enjoyed the pizza and drinks. Only the sitting area is very tight. Staff can do better sitting arrangement. Other than that 5 out of 5.
Best Cheese Pizza in the world!
The service was good and the pizza was delicious !
Definitely the most overrated over priced pizza place. Nothing special even if say not that good as well... I tried it two times even and both times all I could think about is how much I overpaid for this ..
Food, service, and the atmosphere were great! Family friendly. Thank you.
My lawd this place has amazing pizza. I travel from Welland (1-1/2 round trip) for this place.
Probably one of the best pizza restaurants i have tried.
This was delicious. Best pizza in a long time. Wheelchair accessibility: Not easily accessible as there are a few steps down into the restaurant. Food : 5/5 |
We had a really good experience here, food was great in French like authentic Italian food
Servers are super rude, and will scoff at any questions they deem stupid . They refused to take my order over the phone for pickup (I called 3 hours ahead) and so we ended up just going to the restaurant for pizza because we still wanted to give them a chance. When at the restaurant, after waiting nearly 30 minutes for our pie, the servers seemed confused as to why I was standing there waiting, until they realized they forgot my order, and just handed me someone else s order (it was the same pizza at least). The pizza was so good, but not worth the experience, which to me matters most. Hype is a fad and this place won t last if it stays this way.
Bought a pizza and when I got there they said I can t eat it inside so then I bought a slice just so I can do dine in and then they stopped me from eating the takeout pizza and I was only able to eat the dine in slice indoors. There was many tables open.
First time here, pizza was fantastic!
Best cheese pizza
The 1-up pizza is simply the best!
Its undoubtedly the best pizza place in the world. I went there with my friend, and we had garlic knots and a Margherita pizza. Every bite was so delicious that i can still feel it. Great Ambiance!! Great service!! I ll definitely be recommending this place to everyone and can t wait to come back again!
Love their sourdough pizza dough. They have many different toppings. This place is always busy. I ve been there a few times in the evening on Saturdays or they have a live band. Definitely worth a look.
We are really spoiled with pizza in Hamilton. Shortys, MaiPai, Tony G s, Flora, etc. All are great and unique in their own way. This place started as a smaller shop on the mountain doing takeout only. This location opened where Nique was, they went under when they lost their minds during COVID. Cowabunga expanded and the rest is history. Undeniably great pizza, better than anything in the province. There are different kinds of pizza and I have no doubt this is the best at what it is. It s so good that it garners its own gaggle of people who proclaim it isn t THAAAAT good - Yes it is, you re being pedantic and trying to find flaws. We should be grateful this place even exists nearby. I love Cowabunga so much. They re passionate about what they do and stick to a formula that doesn t sacrifice quality anywhere. Bunch of young dudes just crushing it and it s great to see Hamilton rally behind them. It lives up to the hype. With the hype comes wayyy more people, so I m hoping they can continue to deal with the influx they re seeing and keep things exactly as they are. Long live Cowabunga.
Cowabunga Pizza is an absolute must-try. We got the Our Marg pizza with added pepperoni, and it was absolutely fantastic. The pizza sauce really steals the show rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. We also couldn t resist the Garlic Knots with Vodka Sauce, and let me tell you, they re a must-try. The knots were soft and flavorful, and the creamy vodka sauce took them to the next level. To top it off, we ordered the Garlic and Truffle Parm Dips, and both were equally amazing. Each dip was bursting with flavor, adding the perfect finishing touch to the meal. Is it the best pizza in the world? Im not entirely sure. But when it comes to the Greater Toronto Area, this is hands down the best slice I ve had. If youre local or just passing through, Cowabunga Pizza is worth the trip! In short: amazing pizza, solid service, and a great atmosphere. Highly recommended! Parking: The parking is in the back
i went here tonight after a tattoo appointment that my mom and sister had as we were all hungry. a homeless man came in and i quickly offered to pay for a slice for him as well as a drink and dipping sauce. as soon as i went to checkout, the girl taking my order was extremely quick to shut me down because she knew i was ordering food for the homeless man. she told me he s caused disturbances in the past and that s he s not allowed to be serviced at this restaurant which i understand to an extent. i told the girl i understood, i was polite and cooperative because i didn t want to cause a scene for no reason. i let it go, and the man left. i understand that he s not allowed in the restaurant or to be serviced but i have no idea why she had a problem with me buying it for him. she told me i could buy it and give to anyone else but him which i found extremely hurtful and rude. i asked if he could wait outside and id give him the pizza when i received it but she also said no. it s 2024, let s recognize that everyone has a right to literally eat. even though there s a possibility that he s mentally unwell and has caused a scene before, that doesn t strip him from his rights to eat. she shouldn t have refused to let me buy him food. aside from this situation, i was quite satisfied with the other staff. the pizza was great as i got myself a slice.
Excellent food! Try it if you havent already. Just as good as the mountain location and you can dine in if you want.
3.5 stars. It was good and Id come back to try more slices. Just not something Id travel across the city to eat tomorrow. Glad I tried their 1UP pizza and went down a different path for a slice of flavour to try. Seems like itd be a spot that gets super busy at night and into the evening with groups of people.
Amazing pizza. Best in city.
Great pizza. All in the crust
Pizza is amazing, but seem focused more on large orders, my order was pushed back 30 minutes and during that wait got a parking ticket
Awesome slices . Loved the hot and honey sauce on the pepperoni slice!
Best pizza place Ive ever been to
A little pricy, but worth it.
Really good pizza
Wont be going back to this place. First it took over an hour to even get in. The staff was not pleasant. Then after we finally got seated at 2 seater table when there was 3 of us. It took 20 min for anyone to even come take our drink order and order. Then it was another 30 or 40 min to get the food. Which honestly not the greatest. We got 2 different pizzas. And the garlic knots. Which were hard way over done. This was definitely a 1 and done try for me. Parking: Need more seating and have a more friendly staff. Who come and check on you if you need anything else. I had one drink cause they didnt come see how we were doing once.
Very crispy
This place is BETTER THAN ANY TORONTO PIZZA JOINT. YEAH, I SAID IT!!! COWABUNGA DUDE
Favorite pizza place in Hamilton!
Jesus H. Christ. There are very few pizza s in this world I would travel for. This is one of them. Don t miss it! Parking: There s a couple spots but you ll find something.
We loved this spot.
Food is amazing, incredible slice of pizza! The customer service behind the front is below par. Slow and mopey. Customers feel lost and uncared for when stepping in.
5 stars for the pizza, but 1 star for the abysmal service. We arrived on Sunday late afternoon, and so it was hardly busy as this was before the dinner rush. I d like to point out several issues: (1) It took nearly 10 minutes for anyone to notice us, and then (2) we were sat at a table that was not at all clean with (3) the menus just thrown on the table. Our server didn t even say hello or acknowledge us, just set the menus and left. She came back to ask for our orders but otherwise did not speak to us. She wiped down the table next to us, and also did not appreciate we were cleaning our own table at the same time; there was still grease and crumbs leftover from the last individuals that sat at our table. I try to be as gracious as I can, but honestly this was the single worst customer service experience I have ever had. The one server in the bandana and glasses was working very hard though, she was very friendly and so I wouldn t want this review to be reflected on her; it was the other individual that was not very attentive. Overall very disappointing as we do enjoy the pizza - we may just opt to do takeout from now on.
Great pizza, only one size option Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly environment Food : 5/5 |
Very busy pizza place, waiting time is longer than expected. Pizza is fresh and delicious.
Heard about this place a while back and decided give it a shot since we were in the area. Place was busy the whole time we were there. Still service was good and we got our food in decent time! We had two pizzas.... For starters, the dough was thin, airy and crispy... In other words perfect! One was the GG (garlic and greens) and it was our favorite! It was loaded with a garlic creme, charred broccoli and kale (usually not a fan, but this made sense). The other was half pepperoni+ (jalapeno and spicy honey drizzle) and half cheese. That pepperoni+ was what every pepperoni pizza needed that you didnt know needed. The cheese pizza (they won an award for it) was fine, but I think since we started with the loaded pies, this one felt a bit bland... May have appreciated it more if it was our first bite!
Nice and delicious pizza each time, but atmosphere is a little chaotic. They run out of slices too frequently and nobody can ever give an estimate when a next batch will be available.
Best Pizza around. Pure fire!
Great service and really tasty pizza.
We loved our order. We ordered two slices each. One slice had pepperoni and Jalapeños, which was a nice bite, and the other was cheese, with fresh grated parmigiano on top. They put this deliciously sweet oil on top of both slices, and it compliments the savory flavours perfectly. We will definitely be going back soon.
One cheese pizza not sure on the name was excellent!
Been here 5 or 6 times ans everytime time the food is amazing and the service is great. Anytime I visit Hamilton, we make a point of stopping here and grabbing some pizza. Highly recommend if you havent tried it yet!
I agree with the articles. Best pizza in Hamilton.
Picked up a few slices tonight. Extremely disappointed with the Hawaiian slice Where are the toppings?!? Food
Great pizza slices and love the truffle Parmesan dipping sauce
Best Margarita pizza Ive ever had, hands down killer
Dont Settle for Bad Pizza! Try Cowabunga Pizza in Hamilton Instead and you will like the Cowabunga Pizza. Restaurant, staff, the vibe of Cowabunga Pizza and pizza also. I ordered their famous Cheese Pizza and R Marg Pizza which is their take on Margarita Pizza. Pizzas took some long time to come to our table. I did noticed that they do not have a specialty oven, its just that they are taking a lot more care and love when cooking pizza. They have open kitchen which is really nice and you can see your pizza being made. I think for this establishment all the passionate people who really like to make good pizza came together and created this place. See the full vlog on my YouTube channel- PVCRAZYFORFOOD
Solid pizza and garlic knots. I can see what all the hype is about. Would definitely come back. Our server was so great to and accommodating given we had two young kids.
Great pizza, and great service. The cowabunga pizza was our fav but we also loved the 1UP and Canadian!
The food was pretty good but the servers were somewhat disorganized and it was very loud ( even louder than most East sides) once we were seated the food wast quite nice
I really wanted to love this place because their sauce is delicious but everytime we get pizza the bottom is burnt and that s all we can taste. We ve tried 3 separate times and nothing has changed :(
Great pizza, reasonable prices and convenient location. They also have a small patio and plenty of parking near by.
This place has the reputation of being the best pizza in Hamilton and I have to say, it s well deserved. The pizza is some of the best pizza I ve ever had! I d recommend the GG, The Marg, and the 1Up. They also have a wide variety of alcoholic drinks. Vegetarian options: The menu mentions that they have vegan substitutions available.
First time in Hamilton in a LONG time and my friends and I decided to eat here. The menu was pizza centric, with a decent selection of shareables. The pizzas were think crust style, akin to how its made in Napoli. 12 inch pizza so its easily shareable but can also be eaten by one person with a large enough appetite. I ordered a cheese pizza due to dietary restrictions, but many of the other ones looked great visually and the people who ordered them had no complaints. In terms of alcoholic drinks they dont really have cocktails, its all cans, bottles, shots or on tap. So i did want a tequila mixed drink but not from a can. So that was the only drawback for me. If in Hamilton again I wouldnt mind visiting again.
Good pizza, good staff. On the pricy end but good nonetheless. Food
worth having their pizzas
Above evaluation .
Staff were very friendly, good music, wait time was short, the food was amazing. Recommend their waffle fries and awesome house made ketchup.
Loved their cheese pizza and oneup pizza and would highly recommend to all the pizza lovers
This was a nonstop culinary masterpiece. I had cheese and 1UP. Amazing. Vegetarian options: Four veggie pizzas on the menu, all can be made vegan. Recommended dishes 1up Pizza Slice
Great food and even better service. Shoutout our server Ky for being accommodating of our large group at the last minute!
Utterly disorganized and unreliable. This was the 2nd time we visited Cowabunga with a call in order. First time they lost our order so I assumed mistakes happen, fine no big deal. But on the 2nd time on Saturday Sept. 28 exact same problem. I called our pickup order in at 4:00pm and was advised it would be ready for p/u at 5:30pm. When we arrived there they didnt have our order, and also advised it would be around 7:00pm before it would be ready. So at that point I told the girl that was totally ridiculous and unacceptable especially since it was the 2nd time in a row this has happened. While there I noticed the kitchen behind the counter appeared to be in chaos. About 6-7 people bumping into each other all the while majority of tables had nothing on them. 1 table did have a couple dine in size pizzas and they totally looked nothing like what Cowabunga pizza is known for. Cowabunga is being poorly managed and they literally cant keep up with orders let alone even reliably taking them. The pizzas theyre making during Saturday evening is nothing like what all the advertising is about. I would strongly advise anyone to avoid Cowabunga on a Saturday evening unless you wanna risk going there for nothing, or getting a pie thats totally nothing like what they offer during slower days.
Went to cowabunga last night, Saturday, at 5:40. It was already busy. We were a group of nine. The young hostess said it could be up to an hour, we agreed to wait, and gave our name so she could call when our table was ready. We waited close to an hour and then began to notice that people who had arrived after us we being called up. When I went to the hostess for an explanation she said it was because we were a group of nine, I replied, put two tables of four together for eight and we ll squeeze one more in. She responded she couldn t do that, when questioned why not,she defaulted to. That s what the manager told me to do, I m just following orders . Wow! The wait she said was going to be another hour. After not being forthright with us, we decided to leave. Why do award winning restaurants that are very popular put somebody out front to greet customers that have an IQ of a plant. I feel we got treated poorly and regardless of how good the pizza is, will not return
Been going here since last year and, I recon that Cowabunga has the best Pizza in the country. They have the award winning Best Cheese Slice in the World, and it was absolutely incredible. Whether you get a single slice or a full pie, they always deliver top tier quality pizza. The staff here is friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant has a warm atmosphere with a great view of the open concept kitchen. Must visit spot every time I pass by Hamilton.
Great pizza, the best cheese slice is a stretch
We got the Canadian, the pepperoni and jalepeno, and cheese and the truffle and parm dipping sauce. Everything was delicious. Some of the best slices Ive ever had.
The pizza is so good!!! Truly a pizza champ! The owner is super sweet and thoughtful. Congrats again for winning the best cheese pizza slice IN THE WORLD!!!
Best marg and cheese pizza, bunga bites and garlic dip is delicious!
Amazing pizza, great price, wonderful service
Good pizza. Some specific flavours that are not my preference. Well cooked and good vibe.
Excellent pizza...amazing crust. Loaded with toppings. An all around extremely tasty pizza for a great price. Cowabunga!!
Tried 2 slices. The cheese and Marg. Both were delicious. Crispy and firm crust and under carriage. On the Marg the sauce was tangy but not overwhelming, and the jalapeno pesto added a nice touch/balance of flavor. Cheese slice had a very dense cheesy flavor in a good way.
Truffle pizza are extremely good
The hype is definitely well deserved! First visit and I kept it simple with a slice of pep and salted toffee chocolate chip cookie. Theres no question that Ill be back! Thank you for making my day
The cheese slice is good but try their 1up pizza if you have the chance. Even better fresh out the oven.
Very good tries a Canadian pizza and Hawian and the 1up fries sooo good..crust is nice and thin! Sauce was the best part! Server was very friendly and did a good job making my friends and I welcomed! Definitely lives up the hype!
Good place to visit, dont skip if you are in neighborhood. Good pizza, interesting combinations of flavors. To the management : the washrooms needs to be cleaned more often, definitely. Also would be great if you start serving tea or coffee. Food : 5/5
Great pizza, fresh and unique. The prices for alcoholic drinks (beer) are outrageous. $9 for 375ml can is crazy.
Pizza is absolutely top notch. We came on a very busy day after monster jam in the summer. I think the whole arena came after the event. It was over an hour wait for the cheese pizza. Justin came out to warn everyone about the crazy wait times. To say we settled for pepperoni plus would be a disservice. I ve never had a better walk in slice ever. And we got in an out in like 20/30 minutes. The jalapeños weren t that spicy and added the perfect amount of kick.
Excellent pizza, reminds me a bit of Badiali Pizza in Toronto. The white pizza had some Honey or sweetness in it, very different and delicious. Tried it on my way from Niagara Falls to Toronto area, well worth the 15 min detour into Hamilton downtown. My sister thought it was good as well.
I didnt eat in so I cant really give you like a dine in review. But from what I saw the staff were nice and the inside was also ok so im giving a 3 because thats the middle like its not good or bad. The food on the other hand. We got a white truffle pizza which tasted unique. The truffle wasn t overwhelming which is very nice and the undercarriage was so nicley baked that it wasn t hard and crunchy but instead light and crispy. Closing statement: Pretty good pizza place but you have to eat the pizza when its hot. It loses its texture and value when it gets cold.
It was my first time there. I heard about them, winning the award in Vegas. Went with colleagues from work. We all got different pizzas. I just a little shocked that they had nothing else on the menu. But the atmosphere was kind of cold inside. No heat was turned on. We all did enjoy the pizza.I would go back for the food alone. Food
The pizzas here are delicious, with a proper crust and great flavor. I preferred the Perroni+ over the Cowabunga. However, it s definitely on the pricey side. The Parmesan fries were a bit underwhelming, as they didn t have much Parmesan. While the bench-style seating is a cool concept, it s not very comfortable. I ll probably opt for takeout next time.
Delicious piazza and chicken bites, friendly service, nice spot.
one of my favourite pizza places in the city! I always go for the pepperoni+!
Amazing pizza. Try the one up
Definitely the best margarita pizza weve had, and weve traveled... The cowabunga pizza was pretty good too. I definitely want to come back and try other pizzas next time
Excellent place! Pizza was great! Atmosphere and service was awesome. Highly recommended!
Too much PR, lacks customer service principles. I dont review places but I had to this time. We went in and sat at a table that was available, we were given menus and a pitcher of water came for our table. Since our group of 3 likes different types of pizzas we though ordering slices would make more sense. We ordered $50 worth of pizza slices from the slice bar and while ordering slices our water and menus were being taken away. We were told we cannot dine in if we dont order a whole pie. At this point we are spending more money compared to ordering one large pizza from the menu which cost $20-$30. Talked to the manager and were told that slices cant be ordered for dine in and that it is against their principles and that if we dont like it we can leave. While I appreciate a business with service principles, I cant respect a business that goes as small as removing three people from their table and taking away their water in front of other guests. Absolute zero vision. It makes you think if this is their mentality towards customers to their face, I wonder what happens behind the counter? The principle the manager seems to be talking about has to be about treating customers right and designing a service model that puts guest benefit first. We ordered $50 of slices, we were going to eat and leave in probably under 10 minutes - which gives them a faster turnover time and less effort for the kitchen. But no, we asked for a refund and walked away to never come back because of their disrespect. This is why certain small businesses fail and complain about the economy and big companies.
The food was fantastic. Best pizza I ve ever had by far. I suggest the hot honey pepperoni slice, it s popular for a reason. Service was a bit slow possibly due to employee training and the atmosphere is solid. The restaurant is clean and the scenery is very nice inside.
One of the best pizzas I ever had and the customer service was top notch. Would definitely recommend.
Amazing pizza
I think Cowabunga has some of best pizza in Hamilton. My biggest issue with this place is the size of the dine in pizza. It was the perfect size when they first opened then they decreased the size. Way too small and the crust is huge on it. Service is good depending who you get. The people who work the takeout counter are very rude. They won t even look at you. I still have to give them 5 stars because I think their pizza is incredible. I hope they start making the dine in pizzas bigger again
on Thursday, October the 17th at 8:10 p.m. I called cowabunga+ and a young female answered the phone, I asked if they took reservatiom, the young femaled sounded annoyed with the question and responded, No, we dont and hung up on me. I was about to ask another question, nobody was there. I called right back. The same person picked up the line and just and hung up. So for that, Ill make sure never to go there and give bad reviews for this place. Terrible customer service.
Overated spot. Over expensive.
Parking: Careful parking on the street. Parking enforcement check the area very frequently. Got a ticket within 10 minutes of parking. Also the meters are very confusing. Food
Food is really good, but the staff don t seem to know what s going on. Terrible service.
Good food, good vibe, and good service. Pretty awesome place.
Love the pizza, and pop
I tried their other location the other day and it was soooo good I got another cheese pizza at this location and it was definitely not as good, also I like char but it was burnt!
Overhyped and super overrated pizza, this is their burnt GG which we never ordered burned
Hard to get a pizza as they are always sold out.
Great spot if you love pizza! Make sure to grab yourself a slice or two if you can!
The employee who was taking orders at the cashier did not know what customer service was. There were 3 people in line including me, and he was rushing people and seemed frustrated when people were ordering. We have never been to this pizza spot before, so I asked him what one of the pizza s was, because I did not know what GG means as shown on their menu, and he seemed more frustrated and looked at me like he did not want to be there. People like this need to be trained on what customer service is and realize that nobody is forcing you to work there. If you don t want to be professional and have a good attitude, then quit. :)
Fantastic! We had two apps and two pizzas and everything was so delicious. This will definitely become a regular place.
Great pizza, will come again in the near future
Best pizza around
Its been a slice.
The buzz around the #1 pizza slice in the world had set my expectations sky-high, and I m thrilled to say it exceeded every single one of them. This wasn t just pizza; it was a transcendent experience. The moment I took that first bite, I knew something had changed. The flavors were so perfectly balanced, the crust so impeccably crisp yet chewy, that it felt like I d been transported to a different plane of existence. I ve been making pizzas for a while now, and after this, I m seriously considering hanging up my apron I ll never come close to recreating this masterpiece. I had it at 11:30, and here I am, five hours later, still savoring the memory of every bite. It was more than just a meal; it was a moment of pure culinary joy, one that I ll be thinking about for a long, long time. W/TGTG
Pizza is amazing. Well done cowabunga+ on winning best cheese slice in the world, it definitely doesnt disappoint!
Never got a chance to try the pizza here- as they forgot about our order! While we waited a whole hour to pick up our pizza. So frustrating, not worth the efforts.
It ok pizza. Not worth the hype
BEST NYC style pizza I have ever tried. Perfect cup and char, exceptional service and great toppings. Highly recommended
Great pizza definantly the best in all of the GTA
Unreal. Unreal. Unreal.
After watching an Instagram reel, I decided to visit this place for the first time. It was good. We ordered Kavabanga special pizza. Felt little hard with less sauce and less cheese. The fries were decent. The best part about the food was a garlic dipping sauce that was fantastic. I could not try any other pizza since we reached their little late. Because of weekend, the place seemed little noisy. But overall a nice experience.
Best pizza in Ontario.
Food is aaaaamazing hands down best pizza in the hammer.. I started to hate puzza bcuz it was alll the same until I found this place only pizza I eat is from here. The servers tho arent very helpful they just point at a sign dont rlly explain whats on the pizza.
The food is amazing but the service can get better.
Like other Hamiltonians, I was curious to see what the hype was. Especially after seeing the news of them winning the award. Suffice to say, I was let down by my meal. Which was a shock. I do give Cowabunga credit for the lavish interior. Compared to other Pizza Parlors, it does look fancy and high end restaurant like. But thats where things start to fall apart. Trying to order a slice took waaaaaaay longer then I imagined. Especially since the Pizzas were already behind the glass and even fully stocked. Not sure if the Cashier just wasnt moving fast enough or if they need an extra person to help out in that area. And it wasnt that busy either. The line was just 2 people. The Pizzas themselves also looked severely burned. I get that using a stone oven is meant to add to the flavor, but when the food starts to resemble dark charcoal, it might be overdone. For the taste test, I did get both a cheese and pepperoni slice. Again, my reaction was I had expected much more. Especially after it came to $11 for both. It tasted exactly like another Hamilton Restaurant. Power Pizza, but they charge far less for what this place does. So I dont know what to say. Again, the presentation of the restaurant was impressive, but its hard to support a business if it doesnt actually satisfy the reason you buy food. I was almost tempted to buy their cookies from them too but I saw it costed $3 for just ONE. If the Pizza slices were disappointing, I have a feeling that would have been another sad tale as well...
Great pizza slices, I loved that pepperoni with jalapeño and spicy honey, the Margarita slice is also amazing, the green dressing is a little spicy so I liked it too, amazing place, I love it.
Fantastic pizza! But to be honest, don t love the cheese only!
Absolutely worth it! Note- They offer bigger pizza for takeout, that is a better deal! Food
Great atmosphere great food great service Ill go back anytime
Wow, genuinely one of the best pizzas I have ever had - definitely top 3 and that is inclusive of pizza I had in Naples. We tried the GG pizza, which sounded delicious, and I had made the inclusion of adding pepperoni to my half of the pizza. First of all, the pie is absolutely massive, it didn t fit on my passenger seat and I had to physically hold it down while driving, it lasted 2 days. Super delectable and I deeply enjoyed it
Cheese pizza is worth the hype, and they really deserve the world championship it won.
Love the 1UP pizza!
Visited this restaurant recently. The pizza and garlic knots are delicious but unfortunately the service is atrocious. Once we were seated, it took the servers around 10 minutes before taking our order. After our order was placed, the garlic knots arrived shortly after but the pizza which was 1UP took 30 minutes to arrive. A table that was at after us by approximately 10 minutes after our garlic knots arrived got their pizza first. Overall would order take out again but wouldnt plan on eating in due to the lack of service.
Stopped by for Super Crawl last night, delicious pizza and equally delicious dip. Highly recommend the jalapeño ranch :) Food
Was absolute chaos. Went to the location on upper wellington to stand around for 10 minutes before someone even acknowledged our existence, was then told it would be over an hour to get a pizza!! So we went to this downtown location on Vine st. Not any better of an experience. Due to the event going on downtown, we couldnt even get a medium or large pizza, only slices! So, at least we got to try the pizza.... Over a disappointing $20 for 4 slices! Greasy, meh flavor. Solid dough though. Whats more sickening is their large pepperoni is $24, we paid that for just 4 slices with no other choice! Much better experience, and taste from Mr. Grande!
Wowzas! Im weak for the supreme, olives on 1/2 and roasted garlic on all of it!! Its like my cravings are running the show here! First meal of the day? More like first obsession! SO GOOD!
Greatest Garlic slice Ive ever eaten (G G)! Pepperoni+ was really good too!
This pizza is fantastic, amongst my all time favourites. Big high five to the optional dips. In a city full of killer pizza joints (Flora, Bardo, Shortys, now Blondies, etc) - this is the spot. Bonus points for the staff being great; met the owner this weekend. Very humble, chill fellow.
Outstanding pies...will be back forcsure!
There was a pizza with spicy honey its not really honey-y and we hate honey on food but we tried it cuz were foodies and dayummm it was good. We didnt like the flavour combo on the Cowabunga named pizza I guess the peanuts are not for everyone but we later got a box of assorted slices and it was very good.
Great place
Pizza was delicious.
Visited on Sat, Aug 10 around 3PM for a late lunch - dine in. Didnt try the famous cheese slice but we did try the Our Marg pizza and yes this place is worth the hype! Would absolutely come here again. (Almost hate that there isnt one in Toronto haha). Perfect for Sharing - 6 slices, 3 slices each between 2 people. Unless you eat A LOT of pizza or want leftovers. I also really enjoyed their Truffle parmesan dipping sauce. Highly recommend if youre in the area~ Cant wait to come back and try other pies. Honestly would drive all the way here for this pizza lol rip my wallet for gas haha Was also recommended the Hibiscus Limeaid tall can. Definitely recommend this too~ if you like fruity tart drinks.
Margarita pizza and Garlic knots must try Vodka sauce was really good Food : 5/5
Its not the same!!! I wish they never won the award for best cheese slice! Went there today and the one in pizza is smaller. We usually get a pizza and chicken bites between the wife and I. Always take 2 slices home from that pizza. Not today! Ate the whole pizza and bites and still left hungry! Food was still good but a 3 star for the size. Always praised and told everyone! $50 bucks! Will not be back! What a shame!
Amazing g place and out of the world pizzas
Lives up to the hype!
Excellent pizza. This is a take-out location only. They don t sell individual slices at this location. You need to call early in the day to play an order. Keep trying and don t be a jerk to the staff. They were friendly.
Pretty good pizza! Stopped by on our way back from Niagara for a bite.
Voted best cheese slice in Vegas? Of course I wanted to try. The first time we had their pizza was takeout from their other location after that I had to disagree. However we wanted to give them another chance so we went to their dine in location. We came at the perfect time we were able to get a seat as people were piling up behind us. Now the pizza itself is delicious the sauces were a great touch. We have already came back twice (and we live in Richmond hill) probably coming back this weekend Thank you to the amazing staff that were such a pleasure and the amazing food!
I know its rated the best pizza, and it was pretty close. I wouldve loved it if they served slices when you dine in.