PIZZA MAKERS HOPE TO ROLL IN THE DOUGH IN TAMPA

January 30, 2016

Pie Five is planning to open 20 restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. Pie Five’s artisan pizzas are created and served in under five minutes. Provided by Pie Five.

Russo’s New York Pizzeria has more than 30 restaurants with a huge presence in Texas. This one is in Spring, Texas. Provided by Anthony Russo.

Anthony Russo displays one of his pizzas. His Russo’s New York Pizzeria has signed a five-unit developmental deal for locations across Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Photo provided by Anthony Russo

TAMPA – We don’t have a Little Italy, and this area doesn’t merit mention in the great New York-Chicago Pizza Debate.

Nonetheless, a trio of pizza makers have set their sights on major expansions in the Tampa Bay area. Bavaro’s Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria, Russo’s New York Pizzaria and Pie Five Pizza Co. have all recently announced plans for new restaurants here this year.

“I think the culinary scene has changed a lot since we opened the restaurant,” said Dan Bavaro, who launched his flagship at the corner of Franklin and Twiggs streets in downtown Tampa in 2009.

“We opened and nobody knew the Neapolitan style. We were getting yelled at for the first 60 days: ‘What is this? I can’t get a slice? I have to buy a whole pie?’ It was a horror show,” Bavaro said. “I told my wife, ‘This is kind of scary.’ But then the patrons just started to adapt to it, and now that more pizza concepts and foodie concepts in general have opened over the last seven years, it’s like the palate has changed. We have a big following.”

Big enough to have opened a second restaurant in Winter Springs near Orlando last summer, with a third to come in April in downtown St. Petersburg. Another Tampa site is planned for May, a Bavaro’s opens in Tampa International Airport in August, a second will come to the Orlando area in September and sites are under consideration in Ocala.

Before he opened the first restaurant, Bavaro traveled to Italy to learn the art of the Neapolitan from third-generation family bakers. The restaurants feature wood-fired brick ovens imported from Naples.

“I wanted to do something original, but something that had tradition to it,” he said. “So we dialed back to 1830, and we’re creating the pizza the same way they did then.”

A pair of Texas-based chains are also getting in on the Tampa Bay pizza action.

Pie Five Pizza Co., a leading brand in the rapidly growing fast-casual pizza space, has signed a development deal to bring up to 20 new restaurants to the Bay area.

“I’d say that in the last five to eight years, Tampa looks like it is experiencing the type of growth that would lend itself to our type of venture,” said Jeffrey Parker, franchise development partner with DP5 Investments. “You’ve got good demographics, places that are going through what I’d call urban renewal, suburban areas really showing significant growth.”

Pie Five offers individual artisan pizzas that take less than five minutes from order to first bite. Customers choose combinations of toppings, and there are also handmade salads.

“I think that as this technology has developed, especially with Pie Five and the faster ovens, people like the idea of getting an individual pizza,” Parker said. “Before, you’d have to get several people to agree what the pizza’s going to taste like, order, and then wait 15 minutes. I’m an anchovy lover. You can’t get a pizza with half anchovies. It spills across the center line. This way, I can get what I want, the kids can get what they want, and everybody’s happy.”

First introduced in the Dallas area in 2011, Pie Five now has more than 80 locations in 24 states and the District of Columbia. It has more than 400 franchised and company-owned units under contract, including 28 in South Florida.

When discussing the Tampa Bay market, Anthony Russo, founder of Russo’s New York Pizzeria, gets downright boastful.

“We need good-tasting New York-style pizza in that market,” the New Jersey native said. “We need real pizza. The real deal! Our stuff is made from scratch. It’s all family recipes. It’s true Italian New York-style pizza, and the Florida market really needs it.”

Russo called the demographic profile of the Tampa Bay area “perfect,” especially due to former East Coast residents settling here.

“There’s a lot of people that live in that market who miss the good food you get in New York, they miss that little mom-and-pop place where you can get pizza and pasta in one place,” he said.

Russo opened the first New York Pizzeria in Houston in 1992. Today, he has more than 30 locations from Hawaii to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with most in Texas. He signed a five-unit development deal for locations in SoHo in Tampa, downtown St. Petersburg and the Clearwater Mall, with two more sites to be determined.

Is there room for all this dough, sauce and toppings in the same market? Russo said he’s not concerned about competition, especially from all the new growth. Pie Five, Bavaro’s and his own mom-and-pop upscale Italian are targeting different audiences.

Pie Five’s Parker concurs.

“We see a lot of other corporations – not necessarily food-related – that are expanding into that market, as well,” he said. “We’re going to go where the people are going.”

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Why Russo’s Is a Healthier Pizza Chain and Italian Restaurant Choice

May 28, 2026
Today’s guests are paying closer attention to what they eat. They still want pizza, pasta, and classic Italian food, but they also want better ingredients, fresh preparation, lighter choices, and meals that do not feel overly processed. That is why Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen is becoming a stronger choice for guests searching for a healthier pizza chain, healthy pizza options, and fresh Italian food made with real ingredients. We operate in the United States and internationally, but the kitchen philosophy has stayed simple. Fresh dough, scratch made sauces, premium ingredients, family recipes, and made to order Italian food come first. Founded by Chef Anthony Russo, the brand was built on authentic New York style pizza and Italian cooking inspired by recipes passed through generations. Instead of relying on frozen shortcuts, Russo’s focuses on fresh daily prep, clean ingredient choices, and real flavor. A Healthier Pizza Chain Starts With Better Ingredients A healthier pizza does not mean removing everything people love about pizza. It starts with how the food is made. At Russo’s, the pizza starts with house made dough prepared fresh daily using premium all natural flour. The sauce is made in house. Fresh mozzarella, fresh garlic, herbs, vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil are used throughout the kitchen. That matters because many guests today are reading labels and asking better questions. They want to know what is in their food, how it is prepared, and whether the restaurant uses fresh ingredients or heavily processed shortcuts. Russo’s gives guests a better way to enjoy New York style pizza without losing the taste, comfort, or quality they expect. Fresh Pizza, Pasta, and Italian Food Made Daily Russo’s menu is built around fresh preparation. The kitchen uses scratch made marinara sauce, slow simmered meat sauce, house made dressings, fresh salads, premium beef, all natural chicken, seafood, and brick oven pizza made fresh to order. The menu also includes pasta dishes, chicken entrées, seafood pasta, salads, calzones, and Italian classics prepared with traditional cooking methods. This gives guests more than one way to enjoy a meal. They can choose a fresh pizza, a salad with protein, grilled salmon, chicken, seafood, pasta, or a lighter Italian entrée based on what fits their appetite. Healthier Pizza Options Without Losing Flavor For guests looking for healthy pizza options, Russo’s focuses on freshness, quality, and customization. Guests can enjoy hand stretched New York style pizza with fresh toppings, premium mozzarella, scratch made sauce, and brick oven baking. They can also choose gluten free options, lighter toppings, fresh vegetables, salads, or protein focused menu items when available by location. The goal is not to turn pizza into diet food. The goal is to serve pizza made with better ingredients and fewer shortcuts. That is what makes Russo’s different from many large chain pizza restaurants. Better Choices for GLP 1 and Wellness Focused Guests More guests are now thinking about portion control, protein intake, fresh vegetables, and balanced meals. This has become even more common as GLP 1 lifestyle habits and wellness focused dining continue to grow. Russo’s menu naturally gives guests more flexibility. A guest may want a smaller portion, a salad, grilled chicken, seafood, fresh vegetables, or a protein balanced Italian meal. Another guest may want authentic brick oven pizza made with fresh dough and real ingredients. Both guests can find something that works for them. That is why Russo’s can be positioned as a healthier pizza and Italian restaurant choice for modern diners who still want comfort food made better. Authentic Italian Food With Family Recipes Russo’s is not only a pizza restaurant. It is an Italian restaurant built around Chef Anthony Russo’s family recipes, fresh ingredients, and scratch cooking. The menu includes New York style pizza, fresh pasta, seafood dishes, chicken entrées, salads, calzones, and Italian comfort food made with care. Many of these recipes come from Italian family traditions. That gives the food a more personal story and helps guests understand why Russo’s focuses on fresh preparation instead of mass produced shortcuts. A Healthier Pizza and Italian Restaurant Choice Across the USA and Beyond Russo’s serves guests across the United States and internationally. Even with national and global operations, the brand continues to focus on fresh dough, made to order pizza, scratch made sauces, and authentic Italian recipes. For guests searching for the healthiest pizza choice, a healthy pizza chain, fresh Italian food, or a family friendly Italian restaurant, Russo’s offers a menu built around better ingredients and more flexible choices. Guests can dine in, order takeout, schedule pizza delivery, plan catering, enjoy lunch specials, or visit their nearest Russo’s location for fresh New York style pizza and Italian food. Fresh Choices Guests Can Order at Russo’s Russo’s menu gives guests several fresh and balanced options, including brick oven New York style pizza, fresh salads, grilled chicken dishes, seafood entrées, salmon, chicken Saltimbocca, burrata salads, pasta dishes, calzones, and classic Italian entrées. Guests can also customize many menu items based on appetite, preference, and lifestyle. This helps make Russo’s a strong choice for families, office lunches, group meals, takeout nights, and guests who want Italian food made with fresh ingredients. Find your nearest Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen location and enjoy fresh New York style pizza, scratch made pasta, salads, seafood, and authentic Italian entrées made with better ingredients. Frequently Asked Questions Why is Russo’s considered a healthier pizza chain? Russo’s focuses on fresh ingredients, house made pizza dough, scratch made sauces, premium olive oil, fresh vegetables, and made to order Italian food instead of relying heavily on frozen or overly processed ingredients. Does Russo’s serve healthy pizza options? Yes. Guests can choose fresh vegetable toppings, lighter pizza options, salads, grilled chicken dishes, seafood entrées, gluten free options at select locations, and customizable menu items based on their preferences. What type of pizza does Russo’s serve? Russo’s is known for authentic New York style pizza baked in a brick oven using hand stretched dough, premium mozzarella, scratch made sauce, and fresh toppings. Is Russo’s only a pizza restaurant? No. Russo’s is also an Italian restaurant serving fresh pasta, seafood dishes, salads, calzones, chicken entrées, catering options, lunch specials, and family style Italian meals. Does Russo’s operate outside the United States? Yes. Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen operates across the United States and internationally while continuing to focus on fresh ingredients, scratch cooking, and authentic Italian family recipes.

Russo’s Quietly Opens Anthony’s New York Italian, an Elevated Houston Dining Experience

May 25, 2026
Russo’s NY Pizzeria has long been known in Houston for New York-style pizza, casual Italian favorites, and a welcoming dining experience. According to a CultureMap Houston article, the Russo name is now connected to a new restaurant concept called Anthony’s New York Italian, which quietly opened with a more refined approach to Italian dining. While Russo’s NY Pizzeria remains a go-to spot for pizza, pasta, calzones, and family meals, Anthony’s introduces a more elevated side of the brand. Anthony’s New York Italian appears to offer a more elegant and personal restaurant experience compared to the fast casual style Russo’s is best known for. Instead of focusing primarily on quick, casual New York-style pies, the new restaurant creates a setting better suited for date nights, special occasions, and guests looking for a more polished Italian dining atmosphere. The concept gives the Russo brand a chance to showcase a more upscale interpretation of New York Italian food while still staying connected to the recipes and hospitality that made Russo’s recognizable. For fans of Russo’s NY Pizzeria, the quiet opening of Anthony’s New York Italian is an exciting step forward. It shows how the brand continues to grow beyond its well-known pizzeria roots while still honoring classic Italian flavors. With a more elevated and elegant dining experience, Anthony’s New York Italian adds another layer to the Russo story and gives Houston diners a new way to enjoy the flavors of New York Italian cuisine.  Source: CultureMap Houston https://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/popular-stories-betelgeuse-betelgeuse-arrest/

Russo’s NY Pizzeria Calzones Earn Attention for Big Flavor and Classic Italian Comfort

May 25, 2026
Russo’s NY Pizzeria is getting attention for one of its most satisfying Italian favorites: the calzone. A recent Chowhound article highlighting impressive chain restaurant calzones points to the continued popularity of this classic folded pizza-style dish, and Russo’s NY Pizzeria is a natural fit for the conversation. Known for New York-style pizza, fresh ingredients, and hearty Italian menu options, Russo’s offers calzones that deliver the kind of comfort food experience guests expect from an authentic neighborhood pizzeria. A great calzone starts with the right balance of dough, cheese, fillings, and flavor. At Russo’s NY Pizzeria, calzones are made with the same Italian-inspired approach that has helped the brand become recognized for its pizza and pasta. Each calzone gives guests a warm, baked, handheld meal filled with rich cheese and savory ingredients, making it a great choice for lunch, dinner, takeout, or a casual family meal. For customers who love pizza but want something a little different, a calzone offers the perfect mix of crispy crust, melted cheese, and classic Italian flavor. As more diners search for flavorful alternatives to traditional pizza, Russo’s NY Pizzeria calzones continue to stand out as a filling and memorable menu option. Whether ordered on their own or paired with other Italian favorites, they reflect what Russo’s does best: serving approachable, satisfying New York-style Italian food with quality and consistency. For anyone craving a hearty calzone from a trusted pizzeria, Russo’s NY Pizzeria remains a delicious place to start. Source: Chowhound https://www.chowhound.com/2173521/impressive-chain-calzones/
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