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NY-Style Pizza Parlor Opens

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: February 25, 2009

Tommaso's Pizza has officially opened its doors in Land O' Lakes, delivering what its owner says is quality food at good prices.

The 6765 Land O' Lakes Blvd. restaurant opened late last year, serving a small selection of salads, pastas, hoagies and traditional New York Neapolitan-style pizza. Owner Tom Brady said, as time goes on, he plans to continue to build on the menu with the help of the surrounding community.

"We plan to keep five or six entrees as staples, but the menu will continue to evolve over time," Brady said. "I have about 80 to 90 recipes just off the top of my head I plan to rotate through the menu. We now have a pasta of the week, but that is only the beginning. We plan to find out what the neighborhood likes and use it to evolve our menu."

Brady said in addition to his top quality ingredients, he also is constantly working on his sauces to make them the best they can be, like his Trojan horse meat sauce that has been developed over a decade of experimentation.

"I am the only one who knows what is in it," Brady said, who admits cooking is a lifelong passion. "I have always loved to be in the kitchen. I love to try different spices and to put different ingredients together. I use only the best ingredients in my sauces and there is no water in my sauces at all. This place will never stop improving."

Ron Dicicco of Land O' Lakes recently brought his daughters Ashlen, 3, and Devin, 10, to the restaurant for a large pizza. He said he likes the large pizza at the restaurant because it is a 20-inch instead of a 16-inch large like most other restaurants serve.

"It is good pizza and at the right price," Dicicco said. "It is a real New York pizza joint and the food is so much better then at the local chains. I also really like the customer service and how big the pizzas are."

Brady said it is his goal to remodel the restaurant to make it feel like an Italian pizza parlor.

"I want this to be a nice neighborhood place where kids and families can come to get a slice of pizza and a soda for a good price," Brady said. "I plan to always have specials to help families out like the special I have now for a large pizza and drinks for under $20."

The restaurant offers dine-in, carry-out and free delivery. For information, call (813) 995-9100.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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