I decided to go back and give Via's another try over the weekend and I was quite satisfied. The owner did in fact correct the problem with the "yellow" cheese which was not american by the way. The crust,sauce and toppings were great. Everything was top shelf quality and the cheese was perfectly white with mozerella.

This locally owned business goes the extra mile for customer service and puts out a good quality pizza. I will definately be back for more. Everyone has an off day and my first experience was just that.

I strongly recommend you try Via's pizza if you haven't been there. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable and the food is great. Go over and try it for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

I don't know what kind of pizza you all are used to but this pizza was not even close. The crust is noteworthy and the sauce isn't bad either. What I struggled with was the toppings. I ordered a garlic chicken with mushrooms and black olives. I was lucky if there was one piece of chicken on a slice! What really was the kicker was the cheese. You would have been hard pressed to find ANY mozerella cheese on our pizza. It was topped with AMERICAN cheese. Who puts american cheese on pizza? New York venders would be rolling in their grave!!!!!!!All I can say is they must have to cut corners. I'ts too bad because their pizza has real potential. Anybody that loves pizza knows you don't cut corners on the cheese. Totally dissapointed. American cheese give me a break!

Best pizza without going to New York or Chicago. Worth any wait. If you are in a hurry, call ahead, but try their appetizers and beer. Great to take home for a party too! Do not miss this place. Locally owned and that is your reason to drive a little farther to get their great pizza.

This is the best pizza in Topeka hands down! I just wish I could say the same about the service.
It took us 20 minutes to get our salad, 10 minutes to get silverware, then on top of that they never brought our breadsticks! I would love to go to Via's every week and enjoy their great pizza and great beer selection on tap, but you are better off getting your pizza to go and skipping the crappy service you will probablly receive.
The service is keeping this place from being one of the best places in Topeka to eat!

My family loves Via's. The food is fantastic, I love the crunchy herb crust. The pizza is very fresh and tasty. Calzones are delicious as well. The play area is great My daughter loves it. I have one suggestion about the play place though. Only put people who have young children near the area.

This pizza really rocks. Great pizza made with quality ingredients. Pizza cooked on stones. They have a few crust choices, all I have tried have been wonderful. For about the same money as chain pizza.

I'm a bit frustrated by the previous comments on "The children were too loud." Many people have children, and I think it's a great idea to have a small corner for children to play. The only problem was that we were seated on the other side of the room, and we never saw it until we went to the restroom. The next time my husband, son, and I go there (and we DEFINITELY will) we're requesting the corner with the child play area. If you think it was too loud in there from children, you probably don't have any yourself. Our waiter was VERY attentive. He took his time to explain things to us and get us the best deal that fit our needs.
I tend to judge places too by the cleanliness of the bathrooms, and this bathroom was nice and clean! Very kid friendly, but also nice for adults as well. I would recommend this place! Pizza isn't greasy, and it's actually filling!!! Great place!

Glory Days south Topeka store has for years been our favorite pizza in town; but Via's herb crust and amazing non-greasy pizza has won our heats.

The proffundo Chicago is wonderful, the Opera is great, the atmosphere is lively, the servers are lively, and the food is fantastic.

Sure, it's a little noisy. If you can't stand that, you don't belong here. It's a pizza place, not "Fine Dining." Sure, the menu said fine italian dining, but they didn't mean "Fine Dining" they ment Fine Food....

and it is. And we _liked_ the tv's and the bar, and the entire assembly of what the place was. It's WAY better than the kwik shop that USED to be there!!! HOORAY for someone having the adventuresomeness to open somewhere other that Wanamaker or Huntoon and Gage! ! !

Via's now ranks up with the Goose #1 and Bobo's as a "Topeka" place. You should go there.

--
Rick Boatright

My husband and I decided to give Via's a try one evening. I am always up for a great pizza. Unfortunately that night we did not get that or a good atmosphere or good service. Like another poster, we were bombarded by children in the toy area, since we were seated right next to it, even though there were other empty tables away from it. It seems like we waited forever to get our food and drink refills. Then when we finally did get our pizza, the crust was almost too tough to chew. I am all for a whole grain/wheat crust, but I think that Wheatstate Pizza has the award on that. I have no intentions of ever eating at this restaurant again. If the pizza had been better I would have tolerated the atmosphere a little better, but it was all a big disapointment for us.

I love checking this website and seeing all the comments, both good and bad! It gives us the feedback we need to improve and we are improving every day. As a response to the previous posting, I have taken the batteries out of all of the toddler toys. There was a phone left here by a customer that was mentioned in a previous posting and I have now removed the batteries from it as well. I am afraid there is nothing I can do about the crayon throwing. Sorry!

I read every comment and take everything into consideration that our guests tell us. We are doing some minor remodeling to make our restaurant more inviting to everyone. We are working on ways to speed things up and we are coming up with some new appetizer ideas.

All comments and suggestions are welcome and invited. Please be assured that everything I hear is taken into consideration and changes are made if possible to accommodate your suggestions.

Jessica Schell

I had noticed the comments posted by some already, and I'm just not sure they get it. In Vias you have a locally owned restaurant that has created an enviorment that encourages community. They (while perhaps not intentional) have abandoned the usual business of moving towards Wanamaker for a location that sits cradled around a great park and neighborhood. Walking in you see a foos ball table, and bar which showcase local micro brews, this is a good thing! They promote principles of good stewardship with the enviorment this is a goo thing as well! You are greeted with people who geniuenly want you to enjoy the food and time at the Vias. I have worked in the food industry for 8 years and when I came in I noticed flaws here and there in the production and product. But, I am completly ok with that, because with a new adventure comes the chance to fumble and make mistakes. If they are a good business they will refine those issues through time. But to demand absolute perfection seems a bit ridiculous. Food connects communities whether it be through Church pot lucks, grilling with friends at a park, Sunday dinners, or block parties. When we break bread we come together as a community, and I believe that Via has created an enviorment that encourages that! Topeka needs more locally owned eateries that invest back into the community. Thanks Via!

I've been to Via's twice so far. The first time was soon after they opened and I enjoyed myself for the most part. They had a great pizza that we ordered - some chicago-style thing - and it was wonderful. The next time I went was slightly disappointing. The pizza I had enjoyed so much on my first visit had been blackened off the menu with a marker and I'm not sure why :( We ordered a deep-dish pizza that was on the specials board which was very good, but I noticed that while it was loaded with cheeses, the actual toppings (even the two we paid $1 each for extra) were pretty skimpy. However, it was still very good and I don't mind the long wait because it gave me and my friends time to talk. BUT! There comes the issue - and yes, I'm going to comment on the "atmosphere". When my friends and I walked in (all of us adults), we were led over to the foosball side and sat at the closest table to the games that there is and the restaurant was empty at that point besides an older couple sitting at the next nearest table. Within ten minutes, a family with three children walked in, were sat on the other side (I like to call it the "quiet side" now), and their kids promptly ran over and began playing foosball. Then another family walked in and they, too, were sat on the quiet side and their kids came over to the second foosball table. Our table was so close to the foosball game that I had kids bumping into my chair and the waitress had to get the kids to move a few times while walking around our table to take different orders. I don't mind the foosball... I mean, it's a great idea having a place for kids to run and play while waiting for the food. But if a group of adults comes in, why are they sat right by the games and if a family comes in, they are put on the side without them? I would think it would make more sense to subject the parents of these kids to the clacks and bangs of the foosball than three adults who want to have a decent conversation. If you are going for the first time and you do not have kids with you, I would recommend asking to sit on the left side of the restaurant - I know I will next time.

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are offering daily drink specials Monday - Thursday. We also offer food specials Monday - Thursday: 2 15" single-topping pizzas for $25 or 1 single-topping 15" pizza with 2 salads and 2 sodas for $20.

On Friday and Saturday we offer any 2 15" pizzas for $30. This also include our Greek Pizza, Chicken Bacon Ranch, and Barbeque Chicken pizzas.

Hope to see you soon!!
Jessica

"Order Carryout" commented in their review that Via's menu defines the establishment as "fine Italian dining"!!!!

If I wanted to stay home & order Domino's, I would.

I agree that children need a safe place to play, but, must it be at the expense of adults who are trying to relax & converse while awaiting their pizza?

To Via's:

Thanks for being in Topeka serving the best and most original pizza in town. I have ate at your place about a dozen times ... the last on Saturday with your $3 off coupon ... and have always left amazed that I can get such great pizza in Topeka. Now that Papa Keno's in Lawrence is no more, you might be the best pizza in Kansas.

And for the people below who want a more subdued atmosphere for a pizza place: stay home and order Domino's. By the looks of the crowd every time I've gone, Via's looks like they are having no trouble finding plenty of hungry customers.

I was VERY disappointed when I entered Via's for the 1st time for their "fine Italian dining" I found it to be VERY noisy due to the ANNOYING foosball game being played by a hollering preteen. There was no carpeting to help muffle the clack-clack-clack of the game. The staff member who was responsible for seating the patrons was away frrm her station for quite awhile, making my wait painful. The seated patrons were having to lean forward & speak VERY loudly in order to be heard over the NOISE!!! It was my misfortune to have to be seated right next to this ANNOYING NOISE, then, to add to the insult, I would have to wait AT LEAST 30 min. for the pizza. I understand that good pizza takes awhile to cook---that wasn't the problem. After looking @ the menu & hearing the continual NOISE, I knew that I couldn't stay for 1 more min. let alone over 30 min. No pizza is worth the AWFUL atmosphere of Via's. I went elsewhere for my dinner. If your family home life is this NOISY, then, you will enjoy the same @ Via's.

We were there only once. The waitress chased us out the door after we paid our bill, for no apparent reason. The bill was not legible, and the difference was about zero cents. Not a good way to impress customers !

I went there with my four children and was happy to have a place for my kids to play while I waited for the pizza to come out. I did not see on the menu Fine Italian dining. It is a family restaurant that happens to cater to the adults with their fantastic beer selection. Two thumbs up on this new addition to Topeka. I enjoyed the blues music that was playing and did not hear the TV's as they were muted. Great job Via's keep up the good work.

The pizza's good, the service ok and the atmosphere is terrible. This restaurant has an identity crisis. It can't decide if it wants to be an upscale Italian eatery, a family-friendly restaurant or bar. I went there to enjoy a dinner with friends...couldn't hear between the blaring disco music, the big screen TVs and the kids yammering away on the foosball table. Funny as their menu defines the restaurant as fine Italian dining.