Our story
Russo's grew from an Italian-American family kitchen into a chef-founded brand built around New York-style pizza, family recipes and fresh-to-order food.
Founder and chef
The son of first-generation Italian immigrants, Anthony grew up in a New Jersey home where the kitchen was the center of family life. His grandparents' traditions from Avellino, Italy shaped his cooking, and by age 12 he was learning family recipes from relatives visiting from Naples and Sicily.
After the family moved to Galveston, Texas in 1978, he worked in his father's restaurant. He opened Anthony's Pizzeria in Clear Lake in 1990 and introduced Russo's New York Pizzeria in 1992. Franchising began in 1999.
Timeline
It's all about the food
Our family recipes reach back more than 100 years. Fresh pizza dough, the right flour for a true New York-style crust, traditional sauce made with California-grown tomatoes, and 100% mozzarella from a Wisconsin dairy farm go into every pizza.
We cook with extra virgin olive oil instead of seed oils. Premium flour, fresh homemade pasta and scratch-made sauces bring the family recipes to life.
In our kitchens we prepare pesto and marinara, hand-crush tomatoes, chop vegetables, roll meatballs and simmer minestrone with fresh garlic.
Explore the chef & ingredient standards →"If it isn't fresh, don't serve it."
What sets us apart
Russo's is a chef's restaurant first and a franchise second. Two gourmet menus anchor the concept, and one kitchen serves your neighborhood four different ways.
Fresh dough made in-house, the right flour for a true New York-style crust, sauce from California-grown tomatoes and 100% mozzarella from a Wisconsin dairy farm. Thin, foldable slices and chef-created specialty pies set Russo's apart from the typical pizza shop.
Pasta is made fresh and cooked to order, with marinara and pesto prepared in the kitchen and meatballs rolled by hand. A real Italian kitchen gives guests a reason to visit beyond pizza and brings in the dinner crowd.
A welcoming sit-down restaurant for families, date nights and groups.
Fresh pizza and pasta ready for the lunch rush or a family dinner on the way home.
Phone and online ordering that brings a full Italian menu to homes and offices.
Trays and buffet options for corporate lunches, parties and events.
Chef Anthony Russo opened Russo's in Houston in 1992 and has led the system since it began franchising in 1999. His rule: "If it isn't fresh, don't serve it."
The menu comes from Russo family recipes passed down from Avellino, Naples and Sicily to a New York-style pizzeria in Texas.
Operating in Texas, California, Arizona and Oklahoma, with the first international restaurant opened in Dubai in 2013.
Descriptions of recipes, ingredients and operations reflect Russo's brand standards. Franchisee obligations, supplier requirements and results are set out in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Request franchise informationWhat it means for franchisees
Full-service model, ideally 1,800 to 3,500+ square feet, subject to site and market.
At least $250,000 liquid capital and $550,000 net worth.
$35,000 franchise fee and $439,350 to $1,490,000 total investment.
*Based on Item 19 of the Russo's Franchise Disclosure Document, fiscal year 2025. The top 50% of U.S. franchised stores averaged $1,164,000 in net sales; 67% of franchised stores in this category met or exceeded this average. Individual results may vary. See the FDD for complete details.
Review the investmentYour ownership conversation
Tell us how to reach you. Franchise Development will help you explore the concept, your market and the next steps toward ownership.
Prefer to talk? Call our franchise team.
Call (832) 849-0724anthony@nypizzeria.com
Submitting an inquiry does not reserve a territory or guarantee franchise approval. Review the applicable franchise disclosures before making a decision.
Talk through your next step
Choose a time that works for you, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM Central. Bring your questions about markets, ownership, financing or investor visa plans.
Prefer that we contact you? Ask about financing or ask about investor visa plans.
The booking calendar opens in Google Calendar in a new tab. Financing is subject to independent lender review. Investor visa eligibility and strategy require advice from qualified immigration counsel. No financing or visa approval is guaranteed.
