Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

ADDRESS: 9788 W. Northern Ave., Suite 1440, Peoria, in Park West.

PHONE NUMBER: 623-486-4455.

HOURS: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

MANAGER: Rich Seidner.

CUISINE: Pizza, salads.

SEATS: 400, including the patio.

OPEN SINCE: April 21.

WEB SITE: www.grimaldispizzeria.com.

SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE: Pizzas, baked in a coal brick oven.

POPULAR APPETIZER: Caprese salad; antipasto, made without lettuce "like you'd get in Italy," Seidner said.

POPULAR LUNCH ITEM: Caesar salad with chicken or pizza.

POPULAR DINNER ITEM: Same as lunch, with larger portions.

POPULAR DESSERT: New York-style or Oreo cheesecake; blueberry cobbler; cannoli; tiramisu. All desserts are made in house.

AVAILABLE FOR: Dine in, take out, catering (no delivery).

PRICE RANGE: $5 to $50, depending on the pizza's size and amount of toppings (toppings are $2-$4 each).

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW: The owners are 100 percent Italian, Seidner said. The chain, which is the second-oldest pizza establishment in the United States, began in New York and expanded to Nevada, Texas and Arizona. Grimaldi's has been in the Valley for six years, but the Park West location is the first in the West Valley.

UNIQUE TIDBITS: Frank Sinatra and many other celebrities have been frequent visitors to the original Grimaldi's, Seidner said.

FUTURE PLANS: "We're still building clientele at this location," Seidner said. "People who used to drive across town are finding us, and we get lots of movie business since we're across from Harkins." The pizzeria plans to open 10 to 15 locations, including one in Gilbert, over the next two to three years, Seidner said.

SLOGAN: "The pizza that made the Brooklyn Bridge famous."

Do you know of a great restaurant in the West Valley you'd like to see in our Dining Out feature? Call Brittany Woodruff, 623-876-2527, or e-mail bwoodruff@yourwestvalley.com.