Grimaldi's Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria

The worst pizza for the most money in my whole life.  Find an UNO!   Yelp was wrong about this one

Growing up in Jersey, and working in Manhattan for a few years, I've heard a lot about what pizza is supposed to be. I've also heard a lot about how to eat it (put your fork down, Shytown,) but that's another story.

Grimaldi's, from as far as I remember, is not the pizza I grew up eating (or the ones I saw rats eating the leftovers of in Midtown.)

Its a bit smaller, and uses fresher, less greasy toppings. In particular, the fresh mozzarella (please pronounce the "a" at the end, I took the effort to write it) and milder marinara.

But that's okay-- and that may be how they did it back up north too-- but as someone originally from the area, I couldn't help but feel like I was being presented a whole different beast. (As I mentioned, I'm from Jersey so its very likely the good NY pizza places pretended to be closed whenever one of us walked by.)

This isn't those giant greasy saucers that you get $1 a slice for in NYC, this is quality restaurant-style pizza, (try Downtown Pizza in the River District/Downtown Ft. Myers for the former.)

Okay, enough rambling, this place is pretty great, and a good alternative to the also excellent (but very different) Pizza Fusion.

Both the white and red pies are great, and toppings tend to be fresh and generous. The antipasto, while delicious, may also be different than you'd expect (spoiler: it's not a salad with Italian dressing, olives, ham, and cheese cubes.)

Sizes aren't huge, and the prices (unfortunately) can get a little steep (primary reason for 4 stars over 5... in my opinion, Pizza places should be the cheaper choice.)

However, its close proximity to both the movie theater and World of Beer make it part of a deadly three-punch-combo for a date, too.

Came here on first day of vacation.  Great service and pie!  Hand tossed with an array of toppings.  Can't give 5 stars as the toppings menu was limited for a pizza place.  If you like pizza, you'll love this place.