After two decades serving pizzaat Donald Ross Village, Sal's Express is starting a new chapter.
The Pizza Connection opened Sept. 28 at Donald Ross Plaza in Palm Beach Gardens, unveiling a bright remodeled dining room and an expanded menu while keeping Sal’s owner Fabio Bartolotta at the helm of the business.
While the address may be familiar to longtime customers, much of the menu is new.
Working alongside partner Christie Bellino, who grew up in a family of New Jersey pizzeria owners, the concept is reimagined around classic Italian-American fare and New York-style pizza.
What's on the new menu at Pizza Connection?
Specialty pies include the Hot Honey Goomah with pepperoni and hot honey, the Ridgewood Sicilian and the Undercover Hawaiian, topped with mortadella and pineapple pesto.
Beyond
pizzas, the menu includes garlic knots, arancini, heroes, chicken Parmesan, meatballs with ricotta and pasta dishes such as spicy rigatoni alla vodka and spaghetti with clams.
South Florida chef Louie Bossi consulted on the menu.
The restaurant embraces the colorful history behind its name. On social media, The Pizza Connection says it drew inspiration from the infamous "Pizza Connection" trial, the landmark 1980s federal prosecution that linked Sicilian Mafia members, pizzerias and an international drug-trafficking network.
Foodie central on Donald Ross Road
The opening is the latest foodie find at Donald Ross Village, which is quietly evolving into north county's most notable dining hub.
Hear me out on this: The plaza is home to Michelin Guide-recommended Coolinary and Ela Curry & Cocktails, as well as my frequent go-to Mango Mercado, which is getting a second location at CityPlace in December.
Nori Kai is under construction and replaces Asian Fin, while Bib Gourmand-winning Palm Beach Meats is opening a new butcher shop (its third) in what was Meraki Juice in October. Subculture Group’s second El Segundo is also slated for a fall opening.
Surrounded by neighborhoods that feel like communities and schools that include The Benjamin School, Dwyer High and Florida Atlantic University, The Pizza Connection Takeaway should draw everyone from families seeking easy-peasy dinners to students looking for an after-school slice.
My advice: Order ahead of time.
The Pizza Connection, formerly Sal's Express
Hours: Daily at 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday until 9 p.m.
Details: 4580 Donald Ross Road, 561-493-7116, thepizzaconnect.com
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's food & restaurant writer. Care to share news tips about the local dining scene? Please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Go-to pizza joint gets refresh in Gardens dining hotspot | Exclusive
