‘We ran out of food.’ Popular pizza place opens new Palmetto location to high demand
A new pizza place is open in Palmetto.
Gianni’s Pizza Express opened last week at 4927 96th Street E. next to Corporate Ladder Brewing in a shopping center also home to American Honey Creamery and Coffee Co.
Gianni’s replaced TK Grill and Barbecue, which closed in June according to a Facebook post, in the plaza just south of Moccasin Wallow Road and west of Interstate 75.
It’s the third store under the Gianni’s name for Manatee and Sarasota counties. The original, Gianni’s Pizza and & More, is located at 4925 E. State Road 64, and Gianni’s American Trattoria is off University Parkway at 6392 Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota.
The Palmetto location is already seeing high volume.
“We actually opened briefly Thursday night for a few hours and then we were open Friday and had to close down early because we ran out of food,” owner Todd Surdez said. “We opened up Saturday, we restocked Saturday morning, opened up a little later on Saturday once we restocked and nearly sold ourselves out again. So we’ve been very well received.”
Pizza is the main driver of the Gianni’s Pizza Express menu, but Surdez said they also do baked wings rather than fried ones and have a few extra appetizers compared to the Bradenton location.
“Corporate Ladder Brewing is next door and a lot of people it seems already want to take stuff next door and eat over there while they’re enjoying one of their beverages,” Surdez said.
Some pizza highlights include:
- Gianni’s Works (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions and green peppers)
- Italian Margherita (mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, basil, olive oil and Pecorino cheese)
- Burrata (like the Italian Margherita, but topped with creamy Burrata cheese)
- The Godfather (Basil pesto, mozzarella, provolone and ricotta topped with Genoa salami)
Specialty pizzas are $18 for a 12-inch pie and $28 for an 18-inch pie. It’s $13 for a 12-inch and $19 for an 18-inch create-your-own pizza.
The Bradenton location featured Barstool Sports founder and owner Dave Portnoy reviewing one of their pizzas. The Palmetto spot has limited seating, and delivery capabilities are two weeks away, Surdez said. However, they’re open for takeout.
If you go
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday to Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Phone: (941) 981-3051
Address: 4927 96th St. E. Palmetto, Florida 34221
