{"id":231629,"date":"2026-05-14T17:09:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T17:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/231629\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T17:09:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T17:09:17","slug":"fort-lauderdale-is-finally-getting-nyc-slice-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/231629\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Lauderdale Is Finally Getting NYC Slice Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tA New York-style pizza slice shop called Pizza Queen will open on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale this winter 2026.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Falsetto Hospitality rendering<\/p>\n

Fort Lauderdale\u2019s restaurant boom<\/a> is not slowing down anytime soon. <\/p>\n

Between splashy steakhouses, luxury lounges, chef-driven restaurants, and major hospitality groups investing heavily in Broward<\/a>, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years the city\u2019s dining scene has seen<\/a> in decades. Now, Marc Falsetto and his group, Falsetto Hospitality, are adding another concept to the mix. This time it\u2019s centered around one thing Fort Lauderdale has quietly been missing for years: a true New York-style slice shop.<\/p>\n

This winter, Falsetto Hospitality will open Pizza Queen<\/a> at 1217 E. Las Olas Blvd., the former home of Damiano\u2019s Caf\u00e9 and Bistro. The 1,000-square-foot spot will bring oversized New York-style pizza slices, whole pies, espresso, Italian sodas, and classic grab-and-go slice culture to the heart of Las Olas.<\/p>\n

According to Falsetto, the idea came from living in the neighborhood himself. \u201cI live on Las Olas, and I noticed over the years you just can\u2019t even grab a slice,\u201d Falsetto tells New Times. \u201cThere was no slice culture. We thought it was a perfect opportunity for locals, passersby, and workers in the area. There\u2019s just nothing like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"L\u2019industrie is a famed New York City slice shop that is a bit more refined than the average NYC slice joint<\/p>\n

Pizza Queen Will Bring NYC Slice Culture to Fort Lauderdale<\/p>\n

Pizza Queen is designed to feel more like the artisanal slice shops currently dominating New York City than a traditional sit-down pizza restaurant. Falsetto points to popular New York spots like L\u2019Industrie<\/a> and Mama\u2019s Too!<\/a> as inspiration for the concept.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re doing what\u2019s called artisanal New York-style pizza,\u201d he says. \u201cTraditional New York slices with cool ingredients on them. We\u2019re specifically going to do slices and whole pies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The restaurant itself will be compact. Expect limited indoor counter seating and a handful of outdoor tables for guests who want to linger over a slice and an espresso. The primary focus, however, is speed and accessibility. \u201cIt\u2019s mostly grab your slice, eat it, and go, just like New York slice culture,\u201d Falsetto says. \u201cNot everybody wants to spend $50 or $60 on lunch. People want a slice that travels well, something quick, something good.\u201d<\/p>\n

That casual approach separates Pizza Queen from many of the Italian restaurants currently dominating Las Olas. Most of these tend to lean more toward full-service dining and Neapolitan-style pies. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of sit-down restaurants,\u201d Falsetto says. \u201cBut people kept asking us, \u2018Where can we just grab a slice?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Pizza Queen is designed to feel more like the artisanal slice shops currently dominating New York City than a traditional sit-down pizza restaurant. <\/p>\n

Falsetto Hospitality image<\/p>\n

Focused on Doing Pizza the Right Way<\/p>\n

Pizza Queen is built around dough designed to recreate the texture and flavor of classic New York pizza. The dough begins with imported Italian flour free of bromates. It then undergoes a long fermentation process meant to create a lighter, crispier crust with deeper flavor.<\/p>\n

The restaurant will also use a specialized water-controlled system to balance mineral levels. This will replicate the conditions needed for authentic New York-style dough. Then, pizzas will be topped with imported Italian tomatoes alongside fresh local ingredients.<\/p>\n

For Falsetto, the slice shop is a natural extension of his longtime success in pizza. His Fort Lauderdale restaurant, Pizza Craft<\/a>, earned an 8.1 rating from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy<\/a>. Ever since, it\u2019s become one of Broward\u2019s most recognized gourmet pizza spots.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe own Pizza Craft, and our customers kept asking for slices,\u201d Falsetto says. \u201cThis is completely different. This is full New York slice culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Pizza Queen is being developed by Marc Falsetto (pictured here), alongside Falsetto Hospitality\u2019s corporate chef and partner, Robbins Martinez, and Pizza Craft\u2019s general manager, Jaziel Perdomo.
\nThe Team Behind Pizza Queen<\/p>\n

Pizza Queen is being developed alongside Falsetto Hospitality\u2019s corporate chef and partner, Robbins Martinez, and Pizza Craft\u2019s general manager, Jaziel Perdomo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve opened 18 restaurants together,\u201d Falsetto says. \u201cThis is really a collaboration between all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The menu is still being finalized. However, guests can expect everything from traditional cheese and pepperoni slices to more over-the-top creations. One concept already in development is a lower-carb option called the \u201cSkinny Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n

And when asked about the inspiration behind the name, the answer is personal. \u201cThat\u2019s my wife\u2019s nickname,\u201d he says. \u201cShe lived in New York. She\u2019s obsessed with slice culture. She\u2019s known as Pizza Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Falsetto Hospitality\u2019s restaurant and lounge, Caviar Club, will open this winter 2026 ahead of Pizza Queen\u2019s opening. <\/p>\n

Falsetto Hospitality rendering<\/p>\n

A New Era for Las Olas Dining<\/p>\n

Pizza Queen will arrive shortly after the opening of Caviar Club<\/a>, Falsetto Hospitality\u2019s highly anticipated American restaurant, steakhouse, and martini lounge slated to debut in October.<\/p>\n

Falsetto describes Caviar Club as a plush concept inspired by places like Polo Bar and the St. Regis, complete with a martini lounge, a private-members component, and, eventually, an off-site cocktail-bar expansion.<\/p>\n

Together, the two openings signal something much bigger happening in Fort Lauderdale right now.<\/p>\n

For years, Miami dominated the conversation around South Florida dining. Increasingly, however, Fort Lauderdale, especially Las Olas, is becoming a serious hospitality destination<\/a> in its own right. New restaurants are opening at a rapid pace, major operators are betting heavily on Broward, and the city\u2019s dining scene feels more ambitious than ever.<\/p>\n

Amid all the caviar, martinis, and luxury concepts headed to Las Olas this year, Pizza Queen aims to bring something more casual to the neighborhood: a classic New York slice shop built for locals, late nights, and people who simply want to grab a really good slice of pizza.<\/p>\n

Pizza Queen. 1217 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Opening Winter 2026.<\/p>\n

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