Owner of award-winning Russo’s New York Pizzeria and Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen, Anthony Russo, recently announced expansion into the UAE after awarding exclusive territory rights to Dubai-based Prime Hospitality.

Group general manager for Prime Hospitality, Murad Al Nassur, has now started to scout for top locations to open the first Russo’s in Dubai, said a statement from the company which is a division of Ghobash Trading & Investment Company.

Areas that the company is looking to open the first Russo's kitchen, which is set to become the flagship store in the region, are Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Beach Road, The walk, and high-end shopping malls in Dubai.

“For street-side locations we require premium spots of between 2700 to 5600 sq ft, which is either free standing or in office/residential buildings; with ample parking space and high foot traffic. It is not a matter of opening as soon as we can, but a matter of finding the right location,” Al Nassur said.

“The focus at Russo’s is not on quantity, but on quality; it’s all about the passion for food. Every Russo’s that has opened its doors is still in business, and very successful. Anthony and his team take a great pride in this and Prime Hospitality is committed to continue the same,” he added.

Russo’s Coal-fired Italian Kitchen offers authentic Italian food passed through generations from the Russo family. It also features a coal-fired oven for baking its pizzas. According to chef Anthony Russo, what distinguishes a coal-fired oven from a wood-burning or a gas-fired oven is the coal oven’s intense heat. “Coal just takes the flavor up a notch and truly separates us from the competition. When paired with the freshest ingredients and our homemade dough and sauce, it’s absolutely delicious.”

At its current locations in the US, Russo’s has succeeded in turning a very discerning clientele into loyal customers; and has received many awards for its combination of real New York-style pizza, authentic Italian food, and a sophisticated, yet warm and inviting, design at each restaurant.

The March 2010 issue of ‘Every Day with Rachael Ray’ magazine featured a search for America’s best pizza and Russo’s Coal-fired Italian Kitchen pizza made the cut! Other awards that the eatery has received include ‘Best Pizza’ in Houston, ‘Best Calzone’ in Dallas and ‘Top 120 restaurant franchise’ by US published Entrepreneur magazine, the statement said.

Known for his authentic Italian cuisine, characterised by premium all natural ingredients and regional influences, Russo personally stands behind the family standards and devotion to quality. “We work directly with dairy farms, flour mills, tomato growers and an olive oil producer and are getting our products directly from the source. No matter where our restaurants are located, all of them will have the same high quality products,” Russo said.

The menu also offers great options for the more health conscious consumer offering a gluten-free pizza option and multi-grain pasta choices.

The first store will be the flagship location for the Middle East, and will also serve purpose as the training store for other future locations, the statement said.

“I have recently returned from a trip to Houston after sampling the food first hand. Russo’s is certainly going to change the way people think about pizza as such great quality is not found in this region,” Al Nassur concluded. – TradeArabia News Service