Bruno's Pizza Downtown - South Bend

We had been planning our wedding rehearsal dinner at this restaurant for over six months. However, when we arrived that evening, we were informed that we would have to split the room, even though my mother-in-law had put a lot of effort into decorating it. The service was abysmal. While our one server did her best, it was simply not enough for a group of 50 people. She was clearly overwhelmed, and we felt terrible for her. We waited hours for drinks and food. When I asked the kitchen to add ten quick appetizers to our bill, they took 45 minutes to arrive. We ended up having to pay for cases of beer just to have something to drink, since they ran out of cups. Overall, it was a dreadful experience. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. A manager should have stepped in to assist the poor server or at least apologized for the situation. We were extremely disappointed and definitely won't consider returning, even for casual dining.

Bruno's ended up being a last-minute choice for my graduation dinner with my friend Kathy, replacing our original plan to go to Elia's. It wasn't exactly what I expected, but it pleasantly exceeded my expectations in some ways. The vibe feels reminiscent of a very old carnival—not dilapidated, but definitely vintage. I have a soft spot for restaurants with such unique atmospheres, so I think I can say I love Bruno's. The pizza is pretty good, but it's also quite heavy. I have a tendency to overindulge, which isn’t always a pleasant experience, but there are times when I’m willing to embrace that feeling—whether I’m starving, craving a big meal, or treating myself in a slightly self-punishing way. I did just that at Bruno's: I even loosened my belt before the meal. The food coma afterward was exactly what I anticipated. While my time at Bruno's didn’t quite define my experience in South Bend or leave me with a standout memory, it was enjoyable for what it was, and that’s definitely a victory in my book. (You might have noticed that I tend to be disappointed quite easily and often.)

Fantastic pizza and atmosphere in South Bend! I love the pizza ovens right by the front door. The original location on Prairie Street is definitely the best.

There is no beating this pizza in the South Bend area end of story. We have tried so many places and tried to figure out what makes it for us I think it is the sauce and the cheese they use. Our fav is always the pepperoni and mushroom thin crust but if you like crust, just get their original and you won't be disappointed. It is thick though I prefer the thin just to get more of the topping taste than crust. We have tried 4 of their locations and all of them are wonderful. We were thrilled when they opened one just down the street from us in Osceola now our favorite is a mere 5 minutes away! Remember Bruno's does not take credit cards so if you are dining in or picking up carry out, be sure to bring your cash. And if you visit the Prairie Street location, be sure to tell Mama we said hello! Another word of warning while I LOVE Bruno's, we mostly get carry out so if you actually eat at the Prairie Street location, it is getting VERY run down and needs to be updated desperately. The ladies bathroom near the bar is frightening so try and use the one in the back or upstairs if you can.

Used to go here with family every time we got together... unfortunately, it has gone down hill the past couple of years and even though it's the closest to us, i wouldn't bring our family here at all. Needs some serious health cleaning issues and their bar is a joke. So sad to see this place fall apart.