FAQs
But is it REALLY the original recipe?
Long story short, YES! Tony and Mary Pizzi passed down many family recipes, pizza dough and sauce included. Sure - it’s bound to change a little bit from one person to the next, and we’ll never be as perfect as the generation straight from Italy, but we promise to guard the recipes with our lives, follow our grandparents’ instructions to a T, and pour as much love as possible into each dish.
If you enjoyed Pizzi Cafe between the 1960s and 2018, you would have experienced a slightly different version of recipes based on the taste preferences of the owners at the time. Even if you truly loved the last version created by the Griswolds (circa 1990s - 2018), give our historic and homemade pizza a try. It just might be your new favorite! (It’s certainly ours.)
Why does it take so long to bake a pizza?
If you’re used to a conveyer oven or even a brick-fire style, you’re probably accustomed to a rapid bake. At Grandpa Pizzi’s Place, we still have regular gas ovens which do require a bit more babysitting. Why this type? Quite simply… they were here. We prefer a slow and steady bake, anyway, and it typically results in crunchier crust. Prefer it lightly baked or extra crispy? Just let our staff know and we can perfect your pie however you crave it!
What possessed you to jump into the ‘Family Business’?
Timing, luck, and a MAJOR leap of faith. To be honest, we have no business being in this business. See “The Plan” & How We Got Here for the detailed explanation, but neither Taylor or Karen had any desire to own a restaurant before this endeavor. Too many stars aligned to not give it a try… so, we promise we’re doing our best - and certainly bring any issues up to management - but from time-to-time, we’re bound to make some mistakes.
What’s going on upstairs?
Back when Tony and Mary owned the business, they also lived upstairs. The second level had two apartments in total, and fellow friends and immigrants also shared the space above our beloved pizzeria. It hasn’t served as living quarters for several decades now, but we’re slowly cleaning it up to open to the public for the first time ever! We will soon have additional seating, including a lounge corner and game room, available for overflow seating or to rent out for events.
We are hoping to have the upstairs finished to open in Spring 2026; so stay tuned! If you are interested in renting out the space for an event, please give us a call at (440)599-8666, as we are starting to get some reservations on the calendar. Please note: the upstairs is not ADA accessible, and guests will need to be able to use our staircase, located at the Harbor Street side of the building. During the business hours (still TBD), the upstairs will have its own menu. For rentals that place orders ahead, the full menu from our main dining room will be available.