KATY, Texas, Dec. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- "Mangiamo!
Let's eat."
The phrase heard around the world in Italian family kitchens
will soon be on the tip of Katy
residents' tongues as Russo's New York Pizzeria readies itself to
serve authentically Italian meals for lunch and dinner.
Local resident Eduardo Haas has
signed a franchise agreement with Russo's Restaurants to open a
Russo's New York Pizzeria in Katy.
The well-known, Houston-based
Italian restaurant that brings to life old world charm and
hospitality will open in late 2015. This will be Katy's fourth New York Pizzeria – existing
locations are on Echo Lane, Westgreen Road and Cinco Ranch.
"There's no denying the demand for quality Italian dining
options here in Katy. We offer
original Italian recipes that visitors and local residents will
fall in love with," said Chef Anthony
Russo, founder and CEO of Russo's Restaurants. "As the city
grows, the community seeks newer, fresher concepts that are fun for
the entire family. We can't wait to give our loyal fans even more
of what they crave – delicious, New York-style pizza and
handcrafted Italian recipes in a cool and trendy interior that is a
cozy, family-friendly atmosphere."
The Russo's name has become synonymous with coal-fired New
York-style pizza and authentic Italian meals. The family-centered
restaurant surrounds diners with warm, inviting décor to enjoy
crisp coal-fired pizza cooked in a 1000-degree brick oven in just
three minutes. Beyond the brand's specialty pizzas, menu items
include fresh salads (insalata), soups (zuppe) and homemade pastas.
Authentic Italian cannoli, fresh seafood, chicken, veal and
flatbread sandwiches are just some of the distinctive dishes on the
menu. The full Russo's New York Pizzeria menu is available for
viewing at: www.nypizzeria.com.
"If it's not fresh, we don't serve it," said Russo. "The
emphasis on quality food is apparent from our menu creations to our
open kitchen concept. We want our guests to know that serving great
food is our number one priority."
The majority of Russo's Restaurants locations are in south
central Texas. There are
additional multi-unit franchise opportunities throughout
Texas, in the Greater Houston market, as well as
San Antonio, Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth.
"We are advancing our strategic growth plan in the beginning of
2015 with plans to add 20 to 30 restaurants in the next three
years. The new phase of franchising will more than double our
number of U.S. locations," said Jim
Carr, newly appointed director of franchise development for
Russo's Restaurants. "In addition to the U.S. markets, we have
targeted international territories as well, and are in early
discussions with developers in Canada, Mexico, the
Philippines and China."
Highlighting the performance of Russo's New York Pizzeria, and
its sister brand Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen, is the nearly
24 percent average net profit, which includes average food costs of
less than 21 percent, a figure well below the national average for
the fast casual pizza/Italian sector. Plus, the brands' average
unit volume surpasses $1 million. The
most recent Russo's opening saw weekly sales income between
$35,000 to $60,000. Russo's branded
restaurants are profitable during their first year of
operations.
For proven restaurant operations teams and driven entrepreneurs
interested in pizza franchise opportunities, most commercial loans
require a low down payment of 20 to 30 percent of the total
investment to launch a restaurant. Moreover, Russo's works with a
collection of preferred third party financing sources to support
its franchisees.
Russo's New York Pizzeria and its traditional Italian recipes
trace their origins to a tight-knit family where the kitchen was
the center of all activity. As a young child, Anthony helped
his grandmother roll dough for cannoli, carefully wrapping it
around four-inch wooden broomsticks in order to perfectly shape the
traditional Italian pastry. By the age of 12, Anthony
was learning authentic Italian recipes. Earning the
Chef's distinction at the young age of 18, Anthony honed his
skills as a culinary expert working in his parent's fine Italian
restaurant and then opened his own pizzeria just a few years later.
He then opened Anthony's Pizzeria in Clear Lake, Texas, and later two restaurants in
Houston; one named Café Anthony
and the other named Russo Café Anthony, an upscale
Italian restaurant.
Today, Russo's New York Pizzeria and Russo's Coal-Fired Italian
Kitchen have garnered a cult-like following for their truly
authentic and delicious Italian dishes made from the freshest
ingredients and its New York-style pizza. The restaurants blend
premium recipes with the magic created around a homemade Italian
meal.
About Russo's Restaurants
Russo's Restaurants is a
36-location national and international franchisor of the fast
casual and casual dining brands Russo's New York Pizzeria and
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen. Based in Houston, Russo's Restaurants are composed of a
mix of corporate and franchised locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and Hawaii. Russo's has entered international
markets as well, with locations in Dubai, Abu
Dhabi and Sharjah in the
United Arab Emirates. There are an
additional 20-plus units in development both in the United States and internationally. Chef
Anthony Russo has created his
concepts from years of applying his unique, family recipes
featuring New York-style pizza along with a broad variety of
handcrafted pasta creations, calzones, salads, sandwiches, soups
and desserts, reflecting his commitment to his New York roots where food and family come
first. To learn more about Russo's franchise development
opportunities, visit www.russoscoalfired.com or contact
Jim Carr, director of franchise
development at j.carr@nypizzeria.com.
Media Contact: Amy Lecza,
Russo's Restaurants, 847-897-7470 x. 482,
alecza@allpointspr.com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141218/165297
News distributed by PR Newswire iReach:
https://ireach.prnewswire.com
SOURCE Russo’s Restaurants