Burano's Wood-Fired Pizzeria of Hallowell

Burano's sits in Hallowell with a view of the Kennebec River and does wood-fired pizza in a casual, clean space. The menu leans into pizza but also offers wings, fried pickles, and chicken strips. Prices run higher than chain pizza joints, but most guests think the food justifies it. Service is a mixed bag: some shifts hum, others stumble.

• River views and patio string lights on calm evenings.
• Solid gluten-free pizza and appetizer options.
• Asian peanut butter chicken strips are a standout.
• Server quality depends on the shift, but best ones shine.

Start with the fried pickles (fresh, thick, homemade-tasting) and the Asian peanut butter GF chicken strips. For pizza, the traditional Backyard BBQ and Dahlia are solid, though ask the kitchen to go easy on the sauce if you prefer garlic-forward flavor. Wings are worth trying, and one guest managed to get a blueberry margarita off-menu, so don't be shy about asking.

Casual and clean inside, with a river-view patio lit by string lights. Can get crowded and loud, especially on weekends. The outdoor seating is the star.

This is a place where a birthday dinner or a riverside date makes sense. Expect to spend money. Timing can be slow if the kitchen gets backed up, and slicing pizza all the way through isn't always a given. Servers range from attentive (Erica, Lily) to checked-out.

Most guests praise the river setting and the care some servers bring to the table. One recent visitor called the Asian peanut butter chicken strips "so good." A few have had slower or inattentive service, and a couple found the pizza inconsistent or overly saucy.