Brothers with family ties to Sicily open 7th pizzeria, the first for west Bradenton
Local restaurant chain Rico’s Pizzeria & Pasta House recently opened its seventh restaurant, and its first in west Bradenton.
Brothers Sal, Gregory and Maurice Dentici own the restaurant at 5408 26th St. W., in the Saddle Creek Plaza.
The Dentici brothers grew up in their father’s restaurant business in New Jersey and New York. They thought they would go into the trades, but started working together and building their own restaurant business in Florida in 1996.
The family is originally from Sicily. Naturally, the emphasis is on a southern Italian style of cooking.
“We do hand-tossed, thin-crust pizza,” Sal said this week. “I cook every day, and prepare our orders fresh from start to finish.”
In addition to a variety of 12- and 18-inch pizzas, Rico’s offers stromboli, calzone, hot subs, cold subs, soups and salads, appetizers, pasta dishes and baked dishes.
Pizzas are available by the slice or by 12-inch or 18-inch pie. Selections include cheese, margherita, gluten-free, white, arugula, veggie, Sicilian, buffalo chicken, works and meat.
All strombolis come with mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage and peppers with a side of sauce. Calzones come with ricotta, mozzarella and ham with a side of sauce.
Among pasta dishes offered are spaghetti or penne, pasta alfredo, pasta con pesto, pollo picanate (grilled chicken), broccoli con pasta, aglio e olio (pasta with seared garlic olive oil, spinach and spices) and penne ala vodka.
Baked dishes include stuffed shells, pollo alla parmesan, ravioli, carciofi parmesan (oven-baked artichoke hearts served over pasta), melanzana alla parmesan (breaded oven-baked eggplant served over pasta), baked penne, vitello alla parmesan (oven-baked breaded veal served over pasta), lasagna and eggplant rollatini.
Isabel Bravo — who started at Rico’s as a sever and learned to cook there — said her favorites from the menu include the pepperoni-mushroom pizza, the eggplant rollatini and the shrimp piccata.
All the Rico’s are casual, family restaurants. The newest restaurant seats about 35 and offers dining in, takeout, delivery and catering.
The other Rico’s are located at
- 5218 State Road 64 E. in Bennett Plaza, Bradenton
- 14435 State Road 70 E., Lakewood Ranch
- 322 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
- 5131 North Tamiami Trail, near Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
- 1902 Bay Road, Sarasota and 6547 Gateway Ave., Sarasota.
“We like this location. It brought a lot of people to us. There are a lot of people, houses and apartments in this area,” Sal said.
Rico’s is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, and is still hiring. For more information, visit ricospizzapie.com or call 941-777-7426.
