Tortugas Cafe hopes to open by October in the location of the former Neighborhood Sports Grille, owners said today.
Dawn Galiano will be the owner and operator of the Trussville location. Gagliano brings experience in the restaurant business not only from the popular Tortugas Cafe on Highway 280, but from other restaurants from Birmingham to Louisiana.
“You have to love it,” husband Paul Gagliano said. “And she does.”
Paul said the couple had been looking at Trussville for their second location for a while. A Harley rider, he found himself in the city often visiting the local motorcycle dealership.
“It’s a great place,” Gagliano said. “We looked at three locations in Trussville before settling on this one.”
Tortugas specializes in homemade Chicago style pizza. The restaurant also offers calzones, salads, and full appetizer menu, as well as beer and wine.
The local favorite comes to town highly decorated having been named as “Birmingham’s Best Pizza” by City Scene, winner of Turner South’s The Blue Ribbon Show Best Pizza (2004), and is listed as “100 Dishes to eat before you die” by the Alabama Tourism Department.
The announcement of the Trussville location was met with enthusiasm by readers on The Trussville Tribune Facebook page.
“Oh this could be bad! Awesome pizza so good! Great salads also,” Tribune reader Krista Deason posted.
Gagliano said the Tortugas Cafe 280 concept, which not affiliated with Tortugas Pizza in Hoover, is available for franchise opportunities.