When we reported in February that Pizza Di Famiglia was coming to the former Jimmy John’s at 2242 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. in Bay View, we had no idea it would be opening so soon.
The new venue, which specializes in New York-style pizza, by the slice or full pie, opened quietly over the weekend. And, as of today, it is operating at full capacity, serving up pizzas, calzones, stromboli, salads and house-made desserts.
Pizza Di Famiglia’s owner is Besart Bajrami, who grew up in the restaurant business. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, he spent years working in restaurants with his father and brothers in the industry. He came to Wisconsin nearly two decades ago to help run his brother’s restaurant in Madison.
"I met a girl, got married and started a family," Bajrami says. "In the meantime, I decided that I really liked it here."
Pizza Di Famiglia features more than 10 types of pizza, all of which are made in house with handmade ingredients and Wisconsin cheeses. The dough and sauces are handmade, says Besart, and the sausage is custom-prepared by a local purveyor to his specifications.
The menu includes the "house pizza," Grandma’s, a recipe named for Bajrsmi’s grandmother.
"It has seven cheeses, fresh garlic, basil and marinara," says Bajrami, "It’s based on a pizza that my grandmother would make for us when we were kids."
Other options include standards like cheese, pepperoni and sausage, along with more specialty pizzas such as a white pizza with spinach, chicken bacon ranch pizza, macaroni & cheese and buffalo or barbecue chicken. Slices are available for $3-3.95 each and whole pies are available in both 14-inch and 18-inch for $11.99 to around $24, depending on toppings.
There are also salads (priced $4.99-11.99), calzones and impressively sized stromboli (priced $7-9.99, with additional toppings available for $1-$1.50 each).
Desserts include cannoli with housemade filling, cheesecake and tiramisu, priced at about $3.50 per piece.
The fast-casual restaurant features counter service and booth seating for about 40 guests. Both carry-out and delivery are also available through EatStreet. For more information, as well as details on specials, you can follow Pizza Di Famiglia on Facebook.
Pizza Di Famiglia is open Sunday through Wed 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
