Baldinucci Pizza serves pizza by the slice including the Nonna with mozzarella, fresh crushed tomatoes, garlic, Romano cheese, oregano, basil and extra virgin olive oil ($6). Patrons can also order the antipasti salad with fresh vegetables, peperoncinis, mortadella, Genoa salami, spicy soppressata, provolone and kalamata olives ($16). (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
Baldinucci Pizza Romana, a West Lake Hills staple, recently expanded to serve pizza, heros and more to North Austin customers in August. The restaurant is known for its authentic ingredients, Roman and New York style pizzas and multigenerational family legacy.
The history
Baldinucci Pizza Romana is owned and operated by twin brothers Gabriel and Salvatore Baldinucci, along with Sal’s wife Patricia. The pizza place is not the first Baldinucci family restaurant. Gabriel and Salvatore’s father, Enrico, from Naples, Italy, opened the family’s first pizzeria on Long Island in 1977. The brothers started working there at 7 years old, folding boxes, rolling dough balls and learning the family business.
Gabriel Baldinucci co-owns the pizza place with his family members. Menu offerings and recipes are inspired by the family's original New York restaurant which operated in the 70s. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)(Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
Years later, the twins opened several restaurants of their own before Gabriel Baldinucci went to pursue higher education. Salvatore Baldinucci stayed in the pizza business and continued opening new restaurants alongside his wife. When Gabriel Baldinucci relocated to Austin in 2020, he convinced Salvatore and Patricia Baldinucci to move to Texas to start a new family concept.
“It's nice to be in the business again with family,” Gabriel Baldinucci said. “It's a nice feeling—and to have that next generation of my nephews and nieces working in it as well.”
Craving Pizza?
Patrons at Baldinucci can choose between two kinds of pizza: New York-style or Roman-style. Roman-style pizza is made using a “high-hydration dough that rises up to 72 hours and produces a tall, airy crust” with a crispy base and fluffy interior, according to the restaurant’s website. The pizzas are then served by the slice or “al taglio,” to customers.
“We're probably one of 30 places in the United States that makes a truly authentic Roman style pizza al taglio,” Gabriel Baldinucci said.
Baldinucci Pizza offers slices to individuals on Rock Rose Avenue. Soon the restaurant will extend its hours to close at 3 a.m. in order to serve the nearby night life district, Gabriel Baldinucci said. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)(Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
Baldinucci Pizza offers something for everyone, Gabriel Baldinucci said, from gluten-free bites to vegetarian and vegan slices. Flavor combinations include fig and arugula, mushroom, chicken parmesan, buffalo chicken and potato.
“We have our display case and we have over 20 pizzas in there by the slice, but we really focus on gourmet topping combinations,” Gabriel Baldinucci said. “So, in our store, you will find one of our most popular pizzas is our crumbled sausage with honey.”
Other menu items include salads, pastas, hero sandwiches and involtini, which feature Italian ingredients folded into the restaurant’s New York-style dough. Patrons can also order small dishes, including the meatball, eggplant or chicken parmigiana.
The drink menu
Baldinucci Pizza Romana serves exclusively Italian beers and wines. The pizza spot offers two beers, one of which is sourced from the oldest brewery in Italy, Menabrea Brewery, which was founded in 1846.
For dessert, patrons can also order affogatos, made with the restaurant’s gelato and house-brewed espresso.
Baldinucci Pizza expanded to the North Austin area to be closer to many of the resturant's regular patrons, Gabriel Baldinucci explained. (Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)(Katlynn Fox/Community Impact)
What makes it special?
The restaurant uses family recipes made with ingredients imported nationally and internationally. Baldinucci Pizza Romana imports the flour and baking trays that the pizzas are cooked on from Italy. The cheese is sourced from Wisconsin and the tomatoes are from California.
While the Baldinucci family aims to bring Italy closer to their customers, they have also started bringing their customers to Italy, Gabriel Baldinucci explained. This year, the family launched a new venture where they bring individuals on a food tour through Italy. Baldinucci Culinary Tours offers a week-long immersive tour through Italy’s notable food regions for groups of 10-18 travelers, according to the website. The inaugural tour took place in early October to the Emilia-Romagna region.
“It's inspiring, it's educational and it also gives our community customers the opportunity for us to introduce them to the source of some of the great things they find in our restaurant,” Gabriel Baldinucci said.
Through the tours, the Baldinucci team is also coming up with new recipes and pizzas to feature in-store, Gabriel Baldinucci explained.
What’s next
The second Baldinucci Pizza Romana location opened at Domain Northside on Aug. 17. The grand opening took place while the brand’s West Lake flagship store was under construction. The West Lake location temporarily closed starting Aug. 10 to expand the dining room from 12 seats to 54 seats.
The flagship store is slated to reopen around Thanksgiving, Gabriel Baldinucci said. The restaurant will also be getting an espresso machine to serve affogatos.
11501 Rock Rose Ave., Ste. 146, Austin; 3300 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 110, West Lake Hills
