---
title: "Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen Opens in Saudi Arabia"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/3641315d-2c1a-4044-aad8-4356bc5d842f
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20221228_russo39s_new_york_pizzeria__italian_kitchen_opens_in_saudi_arabia.html
category: "Pizza"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Pizza"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2022-12-28T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T01:03:30.776Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504674900247-0877df9cc836?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen Opens in Saudi Arabia

**TL;DR:** Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen, a Texas-based brand, has opened its first location in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh. The new location, which opened on December 19, 2022, serves the brand's full Italian menu, including New York-style pizza and pasta.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2022-12-28. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20221228_russo39s_new_york_pizzeria__italian_kitchen_opens_in_saudi_arabia.html).*

## Story

ft., two-story Pizzeria serves Russo's full Italian menu including New York style pizza and pasta. Since 1978, Russo's Founder and CEO, Chef Anthony, has been serving his original family recipes from Naples and Sicily.

He prides himself on utilizing fresh, seasonal ingredients. Of course, those ingredients can be found in his premium, hand-tossed New York-style pizzas, including a giant, signature pie measuring 28 inches known as the party pizza.

Our unique menu items are what sets us apart from the rest. The Russo family promise, "If it isn't fresh, don't serve it," remains as true today as it first did in 1978. We follow the same process in every location, both domestic and international.

We don't have a commissary, and we don't buy premade sauce or premade dough balls. We follow our old family traditions, and the consumer can taste the difference. Our family recipes have not changed over our 60 year history.

Those include our fresh handmade pizza dough, meat sauce, and marinara sauce. Our sauces are made with premium San Marzano Italian tomatoes, hand crushed and simmered for 6 hours. From our salad dressings to pesto sauce to lasagna to fresh baked Tuscany bread to our homemade gnocchi pasta, our menu items are what sets us apart from other pizza chains.

We carefully select our ingredients and select the best premium items to make every dish a flavor to remember.

Our menu includes salads, burrata cheese made from fresh mozzarella, Italian soups, pastas, pizzas baked in brick oven, calzones, and desserts. We also have Halal and gluten free options.

Our new location just opened December 19, 2022, in Park Avenue Mall. The 2,300-sq. ft. space will seat 160 guests and includes an outdoor patio. The restaurant is located in a remarkable mixed-use district. It will join an array of premier global food and beverage concepts in addition to a world-class hotel, theme park, department store, and cinema, where Russo's pizza options will also be spotlighted.

"We're thrilled to showcase our elevated upscale casual dining experience in Saudi. It is an incredibly exciting global market that I have become very fond of," said Russo. "We are honored to have the support of our franchisees."

Russo's parents immigrated from Italy, settling first in New Jersey then moving to the Houston, Texas area.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- franchising (topic)
- international expansion (topic)
- texas (location)
- location opening (topic)
- new jersey (location)
- menu offerings (topic)
- Saudi Arabia (location)
- Italy (location)
- Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen (company)
- Riyadh (location)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20221228_russo39s_new_york_pizzeria__italian_kitchen_opens_in_saudi_arabia.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/3641315d-2c1a-4044-aad8-4356bc5d842f).