Pizza News

Favorite Dallas pizzeria from Marco's and My Family's Pizza fame is back

They were a good pizza in Dallas at a time when there wasn't much good pizza around.

Courtesy My Family's Pizza

A pizzeria beloved to old-school Dallasites is making a return under a new name. Called Pizza Gianna, it's from the family that brought us Marco's Pizza and My Family's Pizza, and will open at 5219 W Lovers Ln.

Co-owner Frank Nuccio confirms that the restaurant will open on October 20.

Pizza Gianna has a legacy that dates back to 1956, when Pizza by Marco was founded at the corner of Preston Road and Royal Lane by Marco Nuccio. It quickly became a neighborhood favorite, supplying top-quality thin crust pizza and pasta, during a time when Dallas didn't have a lot of great pizza.

In 1993, the shopping center owner decided to redevelop the center and the pizzeria relocated to the corner of the center, next to Fish City Grill. That same year, the name "Pizza by Marco" was legally challenged by an Ohio Holding Company for the "Marco's Pizza" name, and Nuccio changed Pizza by Marco to My Family's Pizza.

Alas, the restaurant was part of the wreckage wrought by the 2019 tornado which destroyed the pizzeria and the entire shopping center.

Marco's son, Frank Nuccio, decided to rebuild, and has partnered with John Kinzer, an experienced Dallas restaurateur, to manage the restaurant’s operations.

A long-time patron and fan, Kinzer wanted to bring back "the best pizza in Dallas" and is joined in the venture by James Shull and chef Ray Skradzinski, who will be utilizing their multi-faceted restaurant experience to oversee the business operations.

They plan to open two Pizza Gianna locations in the next year, with this first location on Lovers and Inwood Road and a second in Preston Hollow, plus plans for more in the works.

The pizza will feature the legendary sauce for which My Family's is known, but with a transformation to the pizzeria that gives it not only a new look and feel, but also modern technology to improve the customer experience:

Ordering: Nostalgia is one thing but they want to improve the old routine of calling and getting a busy signal, and will now allow orders to be placed online.
Payment Options: Orders can be paid online or via phone.

One new facet they'll add is delivery, which they never did previously, both via Pizza Gianna drivers as well as Door Dash.

They'll also be selling ice cream by Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, by the pint in several flavors.

Hours will be 3-10 pm.

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Fried Chicken News

Ambitious fried chicken restaurant from Denver lands in McKinney

Birdcall

Fried chicken from Birdcall.

A fast-casual chicken restaurant chain is flying into town: Birdcall, a Denver-based chain that specializes in fried chicken sandwiches and salads, will open in McKinney at 4702 W. University Dr., in a new center west of US-75.

According to a release, the restaurant will celebrate its grand opening on Monday, February 17.

Birdcall's main item is fried chicken sandwiches in nine varieties such as:

Southern with pimento cheese and southern coleslaw
Rancher with bacon onion jam, white cheddar, and Bird-B-Q Sauce
The Nashville hot deluxe with bacon, pepper-jack, tomato, lettuce, and herb mayo

They also do sliders, tenders, nuggets, and salads plus nine sides including fries, tater tots, loaded tots, and coleslaw. In addition, there's a vegan alternative using Meati, a faux chicken made from mushrooms.

Birdcall was created in 2016 by Peter Newlin and Jean-Philippe Failyau, two industry veterans who previously founded Denver-based concepts such as Park Burger and Homegrown Tap & Dough. With Birdcall, their goal was to not only offer a "better" chicken sandwich, but also improve the way fast-food restaurants operate.

There are now 12 locations in Colorado, Arizona, and Texas, with one other location in Richardson which opened in February 2024. (There were previously locations in Carrollton and Frisco, but both are now closed and no longer listed on their website.)

The McKinney restaurant will feature outdoor patio seating, a drive-thru, free arcade games, a bar, and self-serve ordering kiosks. Adding a creative and local touch to the vibrant atmosphere, the restaurant will also display murals by Dallas-based muralist Mari Pohlman.

The new location is part of the company’s goal to open 8-10 locations in the area, but leases have not been signed. All they need are leases and franchisees willing to open locations. Baby steps.

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