First-of-its-Kind Panko-Coated Pizza Crusts from Fourth Generation Pizzaiolo & Owner of Famed New York’s Artichoke Pizza, Francis Garcia, Star at his New Concept in Middletown, New Jersey
Panko Pizza, the brand new New Jersey pizzeria debuting an innovative panko-coated crust that gives an extra crunch, has officially opened in Middletown, New Jersey at 1104 NJ-35. Founded by the fourth-generation pizzaiolo and owner of ‘Artichoke Pizza’ and ‘Lions, Tigers and Squares’, Francis Garcia, the new shop exclusively offers his latest and greatest in pizza creations, the panko pizza!
The Panko Pizza menu stars specialty pizzas made with “panko crust” which involves homemade pizza dough, coated in olive oil and then dipped into Panko breadcrumbs, resulting in a crispy crust that adds unique texture and crunch. Finished with a cooked tomato sauce, made in-house daily, that accentuates the mozzarella, Pecorino Romanos cheeses, and additional toppings, this one-of-a-kind in the pizza world can only be found at Panko Pizza! Available for dine-in or pickup, large round pies are available for $9.99 and Sicilian pies are $12.99. The menu also features a selection of Italian classics including heroes, specialty rolls, calzones, and more.
“The opening of Panko Pizza has been a long time coming and was inspired by the restaurant that my family originally opened in Staten Island in 1988,” said Francis Garcia, owner of Panko Pizza. “Making pizza is in my blood and bringing something new into the competitive pizza industry is an exciting opportunity to continue the legacy my family started. We’ve found that after a couple of hours, pizza crusts can lose their crunch or even get soggy, and we wanted to find a solution that not only adds crispness but an amazing texture to the pizza. After lots of trial and error, we found that the panko sears really nicely and creates a great pizza that you can’t find anywhere else. We’re so excited to share Panko Pizza with the Jersey community!”
The Middletown outpost, located at 1104 NJ-35, includes indoor seating for roughly 40 guests and is open seven days a week from 11:00AM to 9:00 PM. For more information or to view the menu visit PankoPizzeria.com. Follow @pankopizza on Instagram and Facebook to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings.
Panko Pizza was opened by well-known fourth-generation pizzaiolo, Francis Garcia in February of 2024. Inspired by the original restaurant that his family opened in 1988 in Staten Island, Francis Garcia has continued the legacy using family recipes that have been passed down for generations. Using a special pizza dough recipe, Panko Pizza combines the freshest ingredients, Italian seasonings, and panko breadcrumbs to serve up specialty pies. Located in Middletown, NJ, Panko Pizza can be visited at 1104 NJ-35 seven days a week from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM. For more information about Panko Pizza, you can visit the website at PankoPizzeria.com.
