🍕 Justin Piazza’s newest project has arrived. Grandioso, the dive bar and pizza concept from the La Piazza Al Forno founder, quietly opened its doors this week on the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and McKinley Street in the heart of Phoenix’s historic Grand Avenue arts district.
The soft launch has been exactly that. Grandioso sold out of pizza within a few hours on each of its first two nights, a sign that Piazza’s reputation – four ‘‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’’ appearances and nearly 18 years of devoted Glendale regulars – has followed him to the new spot, even after the ups and downs of pandemic-era closures in downtown Phoenix and Avondale.
The pitch here is a genuine neighborhood dive bar wrapped around a serious pizza program: four distinct styles – New York, Roman taglio, Detroit pan, and tavern-style thin crust – pulling from techniques Piazza has spent years refining across his various concepts. It’s an ambitious range for a bar this size, and early word suggests he’s not cutting corners to hit it.
For now, hours are limited while the kitchen finds its rhythm: 4-10 p.m. today and Thursday, 4-11 p.m.Friday and Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Given the early sellouts, showing up right at open (or calling ahead, if that’s an option) is the smart move.
Grandioso’s official grand opening is set for Oct. 2, when you can expect a fuller rollout.
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