
Zoli’s NY Pizza — Fort Worth’s Greatest and Most Humble New York-Style Pizza Joint, Where World Pizza Champion Lee Hunzinger’s Obsessively Crafted Round and Square Pies, Ridiculous Sandwiches, and a Shaded Kids’ Playground Make 3501 Hulen Street the Most Fun Pizza Destination in Cowtown
Named after a dog — the best possible reason to name a restaurant — Zoli’s NY Pizza at 3501 Hulen St. arrived in Fort Worth in late 2019 as the western outpost of one of Dallas’s most beloved pizza institutions, and it has been packing in families, pizza obsessives, and devoted regulars ever since. The brainchild of Cane Rosso founder Jay Jerrier in collaboration with World Pizza Champion Lee Hunzinger and chef Jeff Bekavac — whose culinary tenure spans Town Hearth, Neighborhood Services, and Off-Site Kitchen — Zoli’s is the perfect antidote to precious, rules-obsessed pizza: no apologies, no small food, no tweezers. Fort Worth Weekly called it emblematic of all the off-beat and serious foodie precepts of its creator, noting that the laid-back atmosphere and down-home cooking belie an obsessive level of labor that goes into every dish. The Fort Worth location is a full-service sit-down East Coast Italian-inspired restaurant with 14 candy-colored barstools, Star Wars murals, a wall of pizza paddles, an oversized patio with a shaded kids’ playscape that turns every family dinner into an event, and a walk-up window from sister ice cream shop Cow Tipping Creamery for the inevitable dessert run after the meal.
The pizza program runs two lanes: traditional 14-inch or 18-inch New York-style round pies with a thin, crispy, perfectly charred crust and a satisfying fold on every slice, and a 12×12-inch Sicilian square pan pizza with a thick, focaccia-like interior and crackling bottom crust that has earned its own cult following. The Honey Bastard — hot honey, salami, ricotta, chili flakes — is the fan favorite that reviewers call an absolute must, while the Johnny Bananas on thick crust with bananas, prosciutto, and honey draws its own passionate devotees. The monthly rotating special pizza always draws attention — from the smoked brisket and green chile bechamel served Friday and Saturday nights to the Bowl’d and Famous with fried chicken, brown gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and cheddar that captures the TikTok imagination every time it appears. Beyond pizza, Fort Worth Weekly praised the 1855 chuck-brisket-short-rib meatballs with ricotta crema and tangy marinara, the Lil’ Bastards Brussels sprouts with bacon marmalade, and the house-made cannoli with sweet ricotta and mascarpone dipped in candied pistachios as among the strongest dishes on the menu. Ridiculous sandwiches including the Kung Pao chicken sandwich and a smash-style double patty burger, fresh pastas, Caesar with Brussels, zucchini fries, and the most garlicky garlic knots in existence round out an Italian-American menu that rewards every return visit. Full bar, happy hour, $4 mimosas and $3 frosé at weekend brunch, and nationwide shipping via Goldbelly complete the experience.
Zoli’s NY Pizza Fort Worth is located at 3501 Hulen St., Fort Worth, TX 76107, a few blocks south of Central Market, and is open Monday through Friday from 11am to 10pm, Saturday from 10am to 10pm, and Sunday from 10am to 9pm, with weekend brunch specials from 10am to 3pm. Dine-in, curbside pickup, delivery via DoorDash, online ordering, catering, private events, and gift cards are all available. For more of Fort Worth’s best pizza and neighborhood dining, explore the Fort Worth restaurant guide on Selling the Fort.
