Handcrafted New York-style pizza and calzones anchor the concept with familiar, high-demand choices.
Chef-Driven Italian Restaurant
Own a Chef-Driven Italian Restaurant Franchise
Russo's gives qualified owners a full restaurant platform built around New York-style pizza, fresh pasta, Italian entrees, family recipes, catering, and hands-on culinary training.
Beyond Pizza
A Full Italian Menu Creates More Guest Occasions
The restaurant can serve a family dinner, a quick takeout order, an office lunch, a catered event, or a delivery occasion.
Fresh pasta, sauces, Italian entrees, salads, sandwiches, and desserts broaden the menu beyond pizza.
Dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering give operators four ways to serve local guests.
Family Recipes Since 1978
A Restaurant Story Led by Chef Anthony Russo
Chef Anthony Russo grew up in a New Jersey home shaped by Italian family cooking. After the family moved to Galveston, Texas, he learned restaurant work and recipes connected to Naples and Sicily.
He introduced Russo's New York Pizzeria in Houston in 1992. The system began franchising in 1999. Today, the brand brings that culinary heritage into training, operations, food standards, and hospitality.
Russo's uses premium ingredients and extra-virgin olive oil in designated recipes. Food is prepared to order under established brand standards.
Restaurant Operations
What Franchisees Learn to Operate
Training addresses dough, sauces, pizza, pasta, preparation, food safety, and recipe execution.
Owners prepare for dine-in hospitality, takeout accuracy, delivery handoff, catering, and community relationships.
Operating systems may cover ordering, vendors, labor planning, local marketing, reporting, and ongoing coaching.
U.S. Franchise Financial Reference
Review Franchise CostInvestment and Candidate Qualifications
- Total Investment Range
- $439,350 - $1,490,000
- Liquid Capital Requirement
- $250K
- Net Worth Requirement
- $550K
- Initial Franchise Fee
- $35,000
- Top 50% Average Net Sales*
- $1.164M*
*The top 50% of U.S. franchised Russo's stores averaged $1,164,000 in Net Sales for fiscal year 2025 according to Item 19 of the FDD. Individual results vary. Review the current FDD for complete details.
Single-Unit, Multi-Unit, and International Growth
Russo's reviews qualified single-unit owners, multi-unit operators, area developers, and international groups. Candidates should explain their local market knowledge, capital, management team, real estate plan, and restaurant experience.
Territory status is always subject to confirmation. A landing page or inquiry does not reserve a market.
Useful Franchise Resources
Franchise Questions
Italian Restaurant Franchise FAQs
How is Russo's different from a pizza-only franchise?
Russo's combines New York-style pizza with pasta, calzones, salads, sandwiches, Italian entrees, desserts, catering, dine-in, takeout, and delivery.
What culinary training is provided?
Training may cover dough, sauces, pizza, pasta, kitchen operations, food safety, ordering, guest service, catering, and local marketing as described in the current franchise documents.
Does every Russo's restaurant use the same menu?
Russo's protects its core recipes and brand standards. Market and location needs may be reviewed with franchise development, subject to approval and applicable operating requirements.
Can an Italian restaurant franchise support catering?
Catering is one of Russo's four core sales channels, alongside dine-in, takeout, and delivery. Actual catering demand and results vary by market and operator.
What is the investment range?
The current U.S. total investment range shown on this website is $439,350 to $1,490,000. Candidates should review the current FDD for complete details.
Next Step
Bring Russo's Italian Kitchen to Your Market
Tell the franchise development team where you want to open and how you plan to operate. Qualified candidates can review the concept, market, investment, and next steps.
Submitting an inquiry does not reserve a territory or constitute a franchise offer.