Pizza Bruno

Originally born as a food cart, this brick and mortar pizzeria in the Conway area west of downtown draws people by word of mouth from all around. Pizzas are of the personal size variety and wood fired, so come up out with a slightly smoky taste and bubbling on the edges (so so good). Interesting versions like New Haven Clam Pie, with clams, bacon and cream, and the house favorite Crimson Ghost, with Fresh mozzarella, soppressata, basil, Mike's Hot Honey.

Poczekaj’s pick for best pizza in Orlando is Pizza Bruno (pizzabrunofl.com, 3990 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, Florida, 407-270-6833), which serves naturally leavened Neapolitan pies and authentically Italian pasta, and has a good selection of craft beers on tap and a popular weekend brunch. Condé Nast Traveler called this “the place for people who are serious about their pizza.” Another casual spot for breakfast, lunch, or brunch that Poczekaj likes is The Glass Knife (theglassknife.com, 276 S. Orlando Ave, Winter Park, Florida, 407-500-CAKE). Whether you go for avocado and egg toast, shakshuka, a salmon Niçoise salad, or a cheddar biscuit sandwich, be assured that your meal will be Instagram worthy.

Arguably Orlando’s most popular and buzzed-about pizzeria entices with “neo-Neapolitan” pies: fermented dough and creative flavor combinations fired in a Ferrari-red Pavesi oven (it’s a beaut). Traditionalists can have a field day here, for sure, but the adventurous can employ such ingredients as hot honey, charred peaches, blueberries, maple syrup and the like on their fast-blistered pizzas. Garlic knots with “too much garlic” are practically a must – enjoy them with the ricotta meatballs prior to pie-eating.

Orlando, in many ways as a hub for national and international travelers and transplants, is the ultimate American melting pot. One prime example is Pizza Bruno, a convivial Italian operation from Bruno Zacchini, who developed a verve for pizza while spending summers on the Jersey shore. He brought that passion home to Florida with Pizza Bruno, a Jersey-meets-Napoli hot spot slinging excellent hand-stretched Neapolitan pizza, shareable snacks like garlic knots and wood-fired octopus, and a sterling wine list.

Pizza Bruno is the only one on the list that I personally haven’t been to but have heard great things about. I think this place deserves a nod for doing something different here in Orlando, as they specialize in Neapolitan-style pizza. These pizzas offer simple dough, fermented at cold temperatures for up to 48 hours – and when they’re ready to be cooked, it happens in about 90 seconds in temperatures upwards of 1,000 degrees in a wood-fired oven that’s fed with a kiln-dried red oak.

Bruno grew up in Florida and spent summers on the Jersey shore where he first stepped into a kitchen at the age of 13 slinging pizza slices & cheese steaks to the beach goers & boardwalk crowds. Having moved to Orlando in 2002 for culinary school and thus began his culinary career. Working with many notable local chefs & developing his craft, he eventually opened up the legendary food cart, Bruno’s Bites.

The owners at Pizza Bruno are truly passionate about the art of making pizza pies. These Neapolitan-style pizzas are a pure delight, made with only the highest quality ingredients, yet emphasized with simple flavors that you won’t just find at any pizza restaurant in Orlando. You may notice more sauce than cheese on Neapolitan pizzas, but that’s just how they roll; trust us–they’re delicious.

Only 10 minutes from downtown Orlando in the Curry Ford West district, Pizza Bruno invites you to choose one of their creative and uniquely named pizzas or customize your own. You can pair your pizza with one of their delicious homemade desserts or even stop by one afternoon for some brunch and mimosas. Pizza Bruno also has a location in College Park Main Street.

I visit Pizza Bruno more than any other restaurant in Orlando. Located in the blossoming Hourglass District, this wood-fired pizza spot has a hip "dive" vibe and is wildly popular with locals. Its cozy outdoor patio and snug interior, both decorated with string lights, make this a go-to spot for laid-back date nights and evenings out with friends.

Satisfy your appetite for Neapolitan-style pizza at Prato and Pizza Bruno. Prato is a stylish Italian-inspired eatery on Park Avenue where you can dine al fresco, sip wine, and have a traditional multi-course Italian meal. Cacio e pepe, gnocchi, and gelato are all on the menu, as is a lineup of drool-worthy pizzas from the piping hot pizza oven.

For carbs that are really worth it: Pizza Bruno has our favorite pizza in Orlando, and I know I’m not alone. They have a long-standing stellar reputation in Orlando for good reason. On this entire list, it’s the most inconvenient and farthest location but it’s always worth it for their garlic knots, meatballs and Crimson Ghost pizza.

Another great spot in the Hourglass District is Pizza Bruno. This restaurant in Orlando was opened as a Neapolitan style pizzeria, and locals come from far and wide for the Pizza Bruno garlic knots. This pizza joint has recently expanded to partner with the microbrewery Orange County Brewers in downtown Orlando.

Inspired by the boardwalk cheek steak and pizza slinging of the Jersey Shore, Pizza Bruno is now home to a variety of homemade pasta, stuffed hoagies, and classic and specialty pies. The menu items are classic and hotly desired. Grab some chicken parmesan with spaghetti pomodoro or casarecce alla vodka.

Nestled between Rise Above Tattoo and Public Storage, the new Slice by Pizza Bruno will offer single pizza slices on Mills Avenue. The location will offer a limited menu and will specialize in pizza by the slice. Pizza Bruno has two locations currently, one on Curry Ford Road and another downtown.

In a world where pizza joints fall into classic tropes and lack personality, Pizza Bruno stands out as an eccentric and artisanal take on good Neapolitan-style pizza. “Great pizza, great times, and good tunes. That was the plan from the start and still rings true to this day almost 8 years on!

Pizzeria | $$ | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (407) 270-6833. You can’t put together a list of the best eateries in Orlando without highlighting the favorite local pizza restaurant. Chef-owner Bruno Zacchini opened Pizza Bruno after operating his food truck and working for top local joints.

Okay, so it's not the usual lead for a blurb about a local pizza joint, but we're local, so take our word. Chef Bruno's wine-glazed, wood-fired octopus is the stuff even your kids (well, assuming they're adventurous eaters) will scarf down. And before the pizza arrives, too.

Pizza Bruno is one of the all-time greatest pizza restaurants in Orlando, FL and they’ve made my lists before, so you already know they have great food. Their pizza is on another level, though. They serve the classic Neapolitan style pizza here, the one that started it all.

While Pizza Bruno is not vegan or even a vegetarian joint, we have to include it on our list of best places to eat vegan in Orlando. Because as vegans know, finding a suitable pie is no easy task. This is a great vegan-friendly restaurant in Orlando.

Going on a pizza date is another one of the most romantic things to do in Orlando for couples. One of the best places for a pizza date is Pizza Bruno. You can get high-quality pizzas at this place that I'm sure you'll both love.

3990 Curry Ford RdOrlando, FL 32806(407) 440-3894 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Pizza Bruno, established in June 2016, is an Italian pizzeria and local favorite.

3990 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL 32806Phone: (407) 270-6833 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Pizza BRUNO (@official_pizza_bruno)

3990 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL 32806Phone: 407-270-6833 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Pizza BRUNO (@official_pizza_bruno)

One particular highlight is Pizza Bruno, which is the best pizza in Orlando. (I’m honestly surprised this didn’t earn the Bib Gourmand distinction.)