This Fort Worth restaurant serves New York pizza with New York style
When the popular Ruffino’s Italian restaurant closed in 2011, chef Asdren Azemi said he’d be back.
It only took 15 years.
Azemi’s newest venture is smaller but no less ambitious.
Ozzi’s Pizza,. 6249 Altamesa Blvd., is a tiny New York-style pizza stand near the Quail Ridge and Tavolo Park neighborhoods along the Chisholm Trail Parkway.
When Azemi — nicknamed “Azi” or “Ozzi” — came home from years in New York, he longed for the craftmanship that goes into real New York pizza.
So Ozzi’s Pizza serves big pizzas by the slice, like other familar restaurants.
But Azemi’s pizzas are different.
The dough is made with a 48-hour fermentation. The toppings include soppressata, prosciutto and pepperoni cup, along with burrata or basil. More toppings are on the way.
Azemi was recognized as one of North Texas’ best chefs at Ruffino’s, co-founded by his father, the late Franco Albanese, and Asdren’s uncle, Bobby Albanese of Piola.
He could easily have opened a white-tablecloth Italian restaurant like Piola.
But “we wanted to bring something super unique to Fort Worth,” he said.
The long fermentation makes the crisp pizza crust lighter and gives it more flavor. The gourmet toppings and fresh pecorino Romano lift Ozzi’s above other pizza-and-pasta shops.
“All the pizza spots are great here — we’re just trying to do something different,” he said.
(His family is still connected to Picchi Pacchi Pizzeria downtown, a long-standing classic at 411 W. Seventh St.)
Azemi plans to serve calzones, meatballs and chicken Parmesan.
But for now, Ozzi’s is only serving a very limited choice of pizzas and only for takeout, after about 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
There’s no bar. Don’t expect table service. There’s only one table, plus Azemi and an employee baking pizzas to go.
“We’re just going slow and making sure we can handle it all,” he said.
A menu, tables, chairs and website are coming in the new year, he said. A grand opening will be scheduled then.
For now, Ozzi’s Pizza is open for take-out dinner only. Azemi said he may add Tuesday night hours; 817-709-8494.
