Alta Pizzeria & Restaurant hasn’t even thrown its official grand opening, and already, the restaurant is overflowing with crowds.
This “soft opening” phase has lasted two weeks so far. Owner Anthony Altadonna is still fine-tuning a few details (as any new restaurant does), but when it comes to the food? He never compromises. Every dish comes out the way his family taught him: with care, tradition, and a lot of love.
Anthony’s story traces back to Sicily. “I started out in Carini, a little town where my parents grew up. They moved to Brooklyn when they were young, carrying dreams, recipes, and a deep love for cooking—especially pizza and pasta. That kitchen I grew up in? Sauce always on the stove, fresh dough rising, a table full of family and friends. I watched my parents transform basic ingredients into something everyone remembered. Those old recipes, those big Sunday meals, that obsession with honest, real food—you’ll find all of it in our menu right now. Every pizza, every plate of pasta is straight from that tradition: rustic crust, handmade noodles, flavors that have been around for generations. For me, this is more than dinner. It’s a slice of Carini, served up with Brooklyn soul.”
What happens when you just switch on the neon ‘Open’ sign and let people wander in? Anthony found out: “The first day we opened, we didn’t advertise at all. No big announcement. I flipped the sign, and people just started showing up. It’s like word got out instantly, and they kept coming.”
Of course, there are hiccups along the way. “The AC worked fine at first,” Anthony says, “but once the ovens fired up, things changed. Now I’m fiddling with the air, the website—trying to get it all right. And the customers? They’re already lining up. We haven’t even cut the ribbon yet.”
He’s aiming for perfection before the official opening, which is just weeks away. “I want everything to be right for everyone. It’s been non-stop, every single day.”
Pizza isn’t just a job to Anthony; it’s what he’s always done. “Pizza has been my life since I was a kid. That’s all I know.”
He knows things aren’t perfect yet. “We just opened. We’re going to bring the best food and service to this area. I really care about Englewood and this community.”
And once the dust settles, Anthony’s already thinking about the future. He wants Alta to be known not just for pizza, but for generosity. “Once we’re up and running, we plan to give back—free slices to police and firefighters, community events. I want this place to be a beacon for Englewood. Taking care of people, showing how much I appreciate their support—that’s what matters most to me.”
Click here for more information.
Alta Pizzeria & Restaurant
1951 S McCall Rd, Englewood, FL 34223
941-474-8781
