A Fort Worth-based pizzeria concept has opened a location in Fort Worth: Mr Gatti's Pizza has opened a restaurant off Camp Bowie at 2812 Horne St. #100, a space previously occupied by Helen's Hot Chicken, where they're open with pizza, pizza rolls, and their signature ranch dressing.

The location is a franchise owned by Kirk Jefferies, who also owns and operates franchises of Jason’s Deli and Chicken Express. This is his first Mr Gatti’s, but he has more locations planned.

“When people talk about Mr Gatti's Pizza, you can see a spark in their eyes. We love being able to bring that 'excitement' and combine it with our passion for pizza,” Jefferies says in a release. “Mr Gatti's Pizza has been satisfying cravings for over 50 years. It truly is an honor to be a part of this legacy brand that people cherish."

Menu favorites from about a dozen pizza options include The Sampler, The Deluxe with sausage, pepperoni, & smoked provolone, and BBQ chicken. A basic 12-inch cheese pizza with one topping is $12.

There are lunch specials from 10:30 am-3 pm including pepperoni rolls and salad for $10; 8 wings and salad for $13; and a medium pizza with 2 salads for $15.

The chain was first founded in Stephenville, Texas as The Pizza Place, in September 1964. In 1969, founder James Eure moved to Austin and opened the first Mr Gatti’s Pizza, named for his wife's maiden name.

They have a major presence in South Texas but only two in the DFW area: Plano and Allen.

There was a location that opened in Fort Worth in 2016, at 3280 W. Seventh St. in Museum Place, which at the time, was the first to use the Mr. Gatti’s name; the chain had been going by "Gatti's." So many name changes! It closed in 2018. There was also a location in North Richland Hills which opened in 2016 and closed in early 2019; and a location in Richardson that closed in 2018.

Back in the day they had a big buffet as well as a big game room, two features for which many longtime fans are nostalgic. But this location is just about the pizza.

There are now more than 70 locations in states across the Southeast, including Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

An artisanal pizza chain from Miami is expanding its DFW footprint with a new location: Called Mister O1, it'll open at Mansfield, at 1520 E. Debbie Ln. #102. This will be its third location not only in Texas but in the DFW area.

According to a release, it'll open in the fall.

Mister O1 was founded by master pizza chef Renato Viola, who was raised in Southern Italy, and who moved to Miami under the O1 Visa category, for those with "extraordinary artistic ability" of internationally acclaimed fame. He opened the first Mister O1 in 2014 and has since grown to 13 locations.

Bringing Mister O1 to DFW is John LaBarge, a former VP at Corner Bakery Cafe, who opened the first DFW location at Dallas' Turtle Creek Shopping Village in fall 2022. He followed that with a second in Grapevine in spring 2023.

And now, Mansfield.

"Entering the Mansfield market will be a great additional dining destination for those who live and work in the community, and it will also help us introduce the brand to the surrounding drive-market areas in the southern part of the Metroplex," LaBarge says.

He describes Mister O1 as a family-friendly restaurant, convenient for small and large groups, a quick and easy dining experience.

Their pizzas feature a delicate thin crust style with light dough which rests for a minimum of 72 hours before being served. But they're probably best known for their star-shaped pizzas, in which portions of the crust are formed into little pockets containing ricotta cheese, with the result looking like a star.

Menu options include:

• the Scott - mozzarella, lemon chicken, onions, fresh tomatoes
• Star Beckham - star shaped pizza filled with ricotta cheese, mozzarella, bacon, onions, fresh tomatoes, ranch dressing, basil
• Ginger Lilliam - Italian tomato sauce, fresh burrata, Stracciatella cheese, black pepper, organic ginger
• Coffee Paolo - Italian tomato sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola blue cheese, natural honey, coffee, spicy salami calabrese
• Star Luca - star shaped pizza filled with ricotta cheese, spicy salami calabrese, mozzarella, Italian tomato sauce, basil

Plus select calzones, salads, antipasti and dessert pizzas.

On the bar side, Mister O1 offers red, white, and sparkling Italian wines by the glass and bottle as well as Peroni Italian beer.

The pizzeria will go into a 2,200-square-foot space that was previously a location of Rusty Taco, next-door to a Smoothie King. It'll have seating for 56 inside and on the patio.

An artisanal pizzeria is returning to Fort Worth: Fireside Pies, which previously had a location on Crockett Row for more than a decade, is opening a new location in the Left Bank Shopping Center, at 628 Harrold St.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open on March 24.

Fireside Pies was a catalyst that elevated the pizza scene in Dallas-Fort Worth when it debuted in 2004 in a funky cottage on Dallas' Henderson Avenue with pizzas boasting a puffy crust and artisanal toppings such as chunky slices of fresh tomato.

The concept was originally created by Dallas chef Nick Badovinus and his then-partner Tristan Simon and has been owned by Golden Tree, which also owns the Golden Chick chain, since 2018.

There are two other locations, in Grapevine and Dallas' Lake Highlands. The location on Crockett Row closed in early 2022.

The new Fort Worth location goes into a vibrant area that also includes Snooze an A.M. Eatery and Akarii Revolving Sushi, where it will serve Fireside Pies classics such as spinach-artichoke dip and signature pizzas such as Triple Roni, BBQ chicken, spicy sausage, and prosciutto & parm.

They also have a selection of pastas such as the simple but comforting Butter Noodles tossed in butter, Parmesan, and parsley; and pappardelle with house-made Bolognese. A separate menu for brunch includes chicken & waffles, frittatas with bacon & avocado or Mexican chorizo, and a bacon & egg pizza.

In a statement, Fireside Pies director of operations Joe Bozarth says they've been all hands on deck to get a Fort Worth location.

“We have been anticipating our return to Fort Worth for a while, but wanted to make sure when we did, it was to a spot that would truly support our brand,” Bozarth says. “Our whole team has been hands-on in the process to return to this city, and I can’t thank everyone enough for their diligence while we’ve worked on getting our doors open. We are truly excited to be getting back to serving our loyal Fort Worth customers the delicious, wood-fired pizzas they know and love.”

A new take-out pizzeria is bringing deep dish pizza to a neighborhood in need: Called Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, it's opening at the Green Oaks Plaza in Arlington, at 4407 Little Rd. #610, where it will serve Chicago's favorite style pie as well as a few other Windy City classics.

Chicago Deep Dish is from Ashraf Ghousheh, a veteran on the Chicago-style pizza front who previously opened Chicago Pizza Las Colinas back in 2009 (which he sold last year).

"I was taking a break from the pizza business, but there's no Chicago-style pizza in this part of Dallas-Fort Worth, and I found this spot in Arlington that's close to where I live," Ghousheh says. "Pizza is what I know."

If all goes well with construction and permitting, he anticipates that this new spot will open in March or April.

His menu includes 15 specialty pies, each named for an element of Chicago culture. There's one called the Chicago Bulls with pepperoni, salami, sausage, and bacon; and another called the Great Chicago Fire with sausage, sport peppers, garlic, cilantro, and mozzarella cheese.

His pizza with Alfredo sauce, fajita chicken, red onion, bacon, and jalapeno is called the White Sox, while the John Dillinger has BBQ chicken, red onion, and smoked Gouda cheese.

He offers five vegetarian options including one with spinach and olives, and the "Sears Tower," with "veggies stacked high as the sky."

While deep dish is the trademark, he'll do a thin-crust option as well. He makes his own tomato sauce using Bonta Brand tomatoes and Grande brand mozzarella. There's also pesto sauce, alfredo, barbecue, and olive oil.

Sizes begin at 6-inch for an individual, starting at $7.99, and top out at 16-inch, with a basic cheese pizza going for $19.99.

Other Chicago specialties include an Original Chicago hot dog topped with pickle, celery salt, red onion, mustard, sport peppers, tomato, and green relish; and an Italian roast beef sandwich, sliced wafer thin.

There's also a meatball sub, Greek salad, antipasto salad, wings, garlic bread, cheese bread, and pesto garlic cheese bread, a sourdough baguette topped with basil pesto and mozzarella, with a side of marinara.

One thing that drew him back into the restaurant world was the post-pandemic trend of being a place that does delivery and takeout only. His location does not have a dining room or dine-in option.

"Staffing is still an issue these days, and this means that I can put my focus on the kitchen," he says.