Russo: 'We're thrilled to grow our international footprint and showcase our elevated upscale casual dining experience in Saudi'

Houston-based fast-casual restaurant chain Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen marked the opening of its fourth eatery in Saudi Arabia late last month, according to a press release. 

A grand opening ceremony was held at the new franchise at Park Avenue Mall in Riyadh on Dec. 19, 2022, more than six months after Russo’s inked a five-unit franchise deal in Qatar.

Per the release, the newest Russo’s establishment occupies 2,300 square feet of space with a capacity of 160. 

Russo's specializes in hand-tossed New York-style pizzas crafted from original family recipes from Naples and Sicily. 

The restaurant, like its Middle Eastern counterparts, is located in a mixed-used district that features a world-class hotel, theme park, department store, cinema and various bars and dining concepts, the release said.

Because Saudi Arabia’s official religion is Islam, the Park Avenue Mall location will have halal options, the release said. 

The opening came on the heels of the opening of Russo’s first Qatar location, which occurred just as the peninsular Arab country of nearly three million people was set to host the 2022 World Cup. 

"We're thrilled to grow our international footprint and showcase our elevated upscale casual dining experience in Saudi,” company founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Anthony Russo said in the release. "We are honored to have the support of our franchisees."

The son of Italian immigrants who originally settled on the East Coast before moving to the Houston area, Russo founded his namesake business in 1992. 

According to the release, Russo's has partnerships with 27 franchisees and more than 50 domestic locations.