A Florida-founded artisanal pizza restaurant chain that has since expanded to other states will soon expand in its home state as well by opening in the Sarasota area.
Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza plans to open in June in University Town Center at 5231 University Parkway Suite #111 in the former space of Yaki Sushi Grill BBQ. After that, another Mister O1 location is set to open in The Marketplace at Heritage Harbour, the Bradenton development anchored by Costco. The restaurant was opened by Renato Viola, who was raised in southern Italy before coming to Miami Beach under the O-1 Visa category for “individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement,” hence its name.
Along with several South Florida locations, Mister O1 can be found elsewhere in the state including Naples and Orlando, as well as currently operating or soon-to-open locations in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. Karif Cohen, operating partner for the UTC and Bradenton locations, discovered Mister O1 while living in South Florida and went on to open locations there, Orlando, and soon the Sarasota area.
“I think one of the things that differentiates this brand is the product quality, but also the experience,” Cohen said. “We are fast casual, we are a pizzeria that you can come in shorts and eat with the family, and you can also come in a button-down and dress up and get a glass of wine with the pizza. It appeals to both sides; it can be both casual and a nice dining out experience.”
What does Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza serve?
Mister O1 offers thin-crust style pizza with light dough that is fermented for at least 72 hours and is served on either traditional pies or star-shaped pizzas with ricotta-filled pockets. The “have to try” item that’s “the heart of our menu,” according to Cohen, is the Star Luca: a star-shaped pizza filled with ricotta, mozzarella, tomato sauce, spicy salami calabrese and basil.
The menu also includes a variety of shareable salads, with topping options such as avocado and tuna, and burrata boards served in varieties such as balsamic glaze and white truffle oil. For beverages, the restaurant has a beer and wine license, with wines chosen to pair with the pizzas, as well as soda and coffee.
For more information on Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza, visit mistero1.com.
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida-founded artisanal pizza chain coming to Sarasota area
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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