Gianni's NY Pizza is located in Tyrone Gardens Shopping Center, just down the street from Tyrone Mall. One of my friends knows her architectural history, and tells me that this was one of the first malls in St. Petersburg. It is showing its age a little bit -- a tad scruffy but hey, you want International Marketplace, go across the Bay. Scruffy, yes; but a busy neighborhood hub: you betcha.
Gianni's is tucked away in a line of nondescript businesses in Tyrone Gardens, just around the corner from the ultra-busy Chuck-E-Cheese, which also purports to sell pizza-like substances. Fine with me, let the kids eat their cardboard pizza and I will go to Gianni's.
It's owned by a large Italian family and Gianni really works there. Before you even go through the door, you can smell the aroma of hot, freshly baked bread and spicy tomato sauce. Walk in, and you pass by red vinyl-covered banquettes and round, family-sized tables, all occupied by boisterous and happy eaters. At the end of the room is a counter with pizzas displayed and behind that are the huge, hot pizza ovens. Order a slice of pizza from the case and off it's whisked to the pizza oven where it soon emerges, bubbling with a crispy crust. Or, order a whole pie.
They have two styles of margherita pizza (one with fresh Italian mozzarella and heavenly fresh basil, or get your margherita American Style, which is still good), or you can build your own pizza from an assortment of toppings. The menu also includes sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. Don't leave without ordering a dozen or so of the garlic knots, addictive little twists of fresh-baked dough swimming in a buttery sea redolent with fresh chopped garlic.
I could happily eat a half dozen of the garlic knots with a salad and be done with it. But then I would miss the pizza, which is decidedly neither the lumpen, leaden mass of doughy dough nor that greasy, obscenely "stuffd" imposter pie that you can order from some of those franchise guys. Think crispy, substantial, tastebud-poppingly fresh pizza.
Prices at Gianni's are reasonable. They are not located in an upscale neighborhood by any means, and the neighborhood seems to love this place. The carryout business is brisk, and the informal atmosphere welcomes couples and little league teams alike. My more cosmopolitan friends tell me that the sign does not lie: It is genuine NY pizza right here in steamy Florida.
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