Travis Kaiser, owner of the popular pizza spot Santoro’s (1329 W Cass St.), will debut another restaurant called Giancarlo’s Cafe. While exact dates are TBD, Kaiser tells That’s So Tampa that Giancarlo’s (1528 W North B St) will officially open sometime between fall and winter 2025. Leonard Construction is completing the build-out.
Giancarlo’s will offer elevated diner-style fare at affordable prices, making it a perfect spot for families. Indeed – the restaurant is even named after his youngest son, as is his other, Santoro’s. Regarding Santoro’s, Kaiser says, “I think we positively impacted the neighborhood. And they support the hell out of me.”
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Kaiser intends to improve on the successes of Santoro’s, while keeping things simple and affordable. “You don’t have to beat people over the head with price. Overpricing yourself out of the market is a bad thing, in my opinion. The way I grew up, the way I ate, I never went to expensive places…relatability is important to me. And we love this neighborhood.”
Santoro’s owner brings a taste of New Jersey to Tampa
To accomplish that feel of relatability, Kaiser is focusing the new restaurant around quick, personalized service, which includes a community table that will bring dinners together, with the staff always available and topping off your coffee before you need to ask. “The food’s good. We treat people good. We aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel,” says Kaiser.
Much of the inspiration behind the respective restaurants comes from the neighborhood spots Kaiser frequented in New York and New Jersey, places that, like Giancarlo’s, served tavern-style pizza, coffee, no-frills breakfasts, and casual, relatable options.
As we eagerly await the debut of Giancarlo’s Cafe and Spirits, Santoro’s is slinging tasty New Jersey slices. Check out Santoro’s online.
