Pagliacci Pizza Broadway

Voted Western Washingtons Best Pizza 20072008 and 19972004 by Evening Magazine KINGTV A Taste of the Pagliacci Story My brother my cousin and I all Italians opened Pagliacci Pizza on the Ave in the University District in 1979 It didnt have a cash register or a safe It would be more than a year before we would get around to putting up a sign It was not a very businesslike business We just wanted a place where we could get good pizza It was as simple as that The place did make good pizza just as we knew it would It became popular just as we had hoped It even made a profit and that was nice If that is all that had happened it wouldnt be much of a story What surprised us was how much people cared Pagliacci became this odd place where the customers and the employees lobbied incessantly on behalf of what they said was the soul or the personality of the place We had never experienced anything like it I became curious and started spending my lunch hours there then my evenings then weekends I got caught up in whatever it was that was affecting the customers and the crew I learned I loved the place I loved working with the employees and serving the customers I too got in touch with

Pagliacci Pizza Broadway is a Seattle, Washington pizzeria rooted in the simple idea of serving great pizza. The story began in 1979 when family members opened Pagliacci Pizza on the Ave in the University District—an early setup without a cash register or safe, and even without a sign for more than a year. What they wanted was straightforward: a place where people could enjoy good pizza. From there, the restaurant grew in popularity, built by the same passion that shaped its start. Over time, Pagliacci became known for more than just its food—customers and employees alike became deeply invested in the “soul” and personality of the place, creating an energy that the founders had never experienced before. That community momentum helped Pagliacci flourish, and it also earned recognition from local media, including Evening Magazine votes as Western Washington’s Best Pizza (2007–2008 and 1997–2004) and features highlighted by KINGTV’s “A Taste of the Pagliacci Story.” Today, Pagliacci Pizza Broadway remains a go-to choice for diners in Seattle looking for a restaurant with an authentic legacy, a strong connection between staff and guests, and a pizza experience built on long-standing local pride.