One whiff after walking into Stage 201, the newest addition to downtown Plant City’s food scene, and it’s apparent that something special is happening in its kitchen. One bite of its artisan pizzas confirms it.
Located at 201 E. Martin Luther King Jr., the restaurant is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Frank and Wenda Trunzo, who envisioned a downtown restaurant where families and friends could gather, be entertained and devour authentic and delicious pizza and Italian delicacies.
Perfecting the menu was an intensive, long, tedious and at times frustrating process, said Frank “We wanted a recipe that created a light, fluffy, crunchy flavorful crust and it didn’t come easy,” he said.
To achieve this level of pizza perfection, Frank went to school. Pizza University, to be exact. Located outside Baltimore, the immersive and hands-on training helped him form the perfect dough, sublime sauce, crispy crust and to identify only the best ingredients to produce the most authentic, delicious and healthy pizza. He also learned from some of the most famous pizzaiolos (pizza makers) in the world.
One of those pizzaolos, who he has on speed dial, is Tony “Tony G” Gemignani, a restauranteur who has won 13 world titles in pizza making. “He’s the Tom Brady of the pizza business and he was teaching at Pizza University,” he said. “We went there and learned firsthand from him.”
While he keeps his coveted recipes close to his chest, the pizza crusts are made using a combination of Caputo 00 flour milled in Italy combined with unbromated, unbleached flour.
“I wanted a crust with a robust flavor and my wife says I nailed it,” said Frank.
The journey to create the restaurant’s interior was also met with the same exactness as the recipes. The building, a former archery store and events center, was rife with termite and water damage but had “good bones.”
“The first year we did nothing but gut the building and think about how we were going to put it back together,” said Frank.
Every detail was thoughtfully considered and installed, from the stained glass windows to the comic books lining the hallway to the restrooms. The space offers a modern and inviting atmosphere with cozy setting, warm lighting and a rustic aesthetic that creates a welcoming ambiance. Diners can watch as chefs deftly shuffle pizzas in and out of the oven. Competing with the open kitchen is a stage where one day soon family-friendly performers, from local musicians, magicians and ventriloquists, will entertain diners.
Plant City resident Jeremy Culver was impressed when he first visited the restaurant last week. “The place is absolutely beautiful, Plant City needs this, it’s a place where you’ll want to hang out and spend time with family and friends,” he said.
He ordered the MoTown. “The flavor profile was incredible, there’s a sweetness to it but also a lightness,” he said. “I didn’t feel heavy afterward.”
His wife, who has gluten intolerance, ate it without any complaints. “I attributed it to the high-quality ingredients and the fermentation of the crust,” he said. “They certainly approach their food from an artisan perspective and they deliver on that.”
Stage 201, open Tuesday thru Saturday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., now has an expanded menu and is offering dine-in and carry-out. In addition to its MoTown, it also offers traditional and cracker crusts. In a nod to its musical heritage, signature pizzas include The Temptations, The Four Tops and The Jackson Five.
As the restaurant evolves, so will its menu. One day soon, all their recipes, including focaccia sandwiches, Stromboli, calzones, Tony G meatballs, spaghetti torta and more, will be on the menu.
The Trunzos invite the community to see what all the fuss is about. “We want people to feel as thought this is one of the very best pizza restaurants they’ve ever been to,” said Frank. “We want to be recognized as being one of the best, not just in Tampa.”
For more information visit its Stage 201 Facebook or Instagram page or call (813) 704-4548.