Fort Worth gets a piece of the pie with area's first Grimaldi's location

The Shops at Clearfork has scored the first Fort Worth location of popular pizza giant Grimaldi's Pizzeria. Originally from Brooklyn, Grimaldi's is known for its coal-fired brick-oven pizzas, calzones, house-made salads, and in-house-made desserts.

"We are very excited to be opening our first location in Fort Worth," says Grimaldi's CEO Joey Ciolli. "We've had locations in Dallas for years and are thrilled to add another Grimaldi's in this vibrant community. The open-air experience at The Shops at Clearfork brings together some of the country's most recognizable stores and restaurants, and we are proud to join the already impressive collection."

Authenticity is key at Grimaldi's, and has earned the eatery more awards than any other pizzeria in the country. It also boasts more celebrity sightings than most five-star restaurants, and Zagat has voted its crispy and smoky thin crusts the best year after year.

The open kitchen allows diners to watch their pizza being made (yes, the chefs will toss the dough if there's room), and they can see the fresh ingredients going into each meal. "Secret recipe" pizza sauce, handmade mozzarella cheese, and a 100-year-old dough recipe form the basis for the traditional pies, which are reminiscent of how they were originally made in Naples, Italy.

The coal-burning ovens are heated by 100 pounds of coal per day, reaching temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees.

There's also a full bar with a rotating list of specialty drinks, craft beers, and a robust wine list, including the Mille Gradi red blend that's created especially for Grimaldi's by Rocca delle Macìe winery in Tuscany.

The new, 3,900-square-foot location, which is located at 5276 Monahans Ave., pays homage to old-school New York through black-and-white photography, rustic decorations, handcrafted hanging wine bottle chandeliers, and Grimaldi's signature red and white gingham tablecloths. A covered patio can seat nearly 30.