In Tampa’s Hyde Park, a new neighborhood restaurant is quickly becoming the kind of place regulars visit two or three times a week: coffee in the morning, a deli sandwich at lunch, and pizza and a cocktail at night. Giancarlo’s, at 1532 W. North B St., comes from Travis Kaiser, the owner behind nearby Santoro’s Pizzeria. It brings a lot of New Jersey to South Tampa.
From a Jersey pizzeria to a second Tampa restaurant
Kaiser’s story starts in Toms River, New Jersey. On the Santoro’s About page, he describes spending childhood summers working in pizzerias in a part of the state within an hour of New York, Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore boardwalk, where “Jersey style” pizza took shape. After graduating from the University of Tampa in 2007 and a stint as a police officer in Seaside Heights, he came back to Tampa and spent years in restaurant management before opening Santoro’s on West Cass Street. He named it after his first-born son.
That same page included a hint: “All we’re missing is a second location for our second child Giancarlo!” That location is now open.
Opening in Hyde Park
Creative Loafing Tampa reported that Giancarlo’s opened December 1 (2025), about a half-mile walk from Santoro’s. The paper presented it as a welcome new option for neighbors still missing the beloved diner Goody Goody. Giancarlo’s runs as several businesses under one roof: a fast-casual counter, a full-service restaurant, a cocktail bar and a coffee shop serving Tampa-roasted Wuz Here Coffee.
By fall 2026, Tampa Magazine had included Giancarlo’s in its 2026 roundup of the area’s hot new restaurants. It singled out the spicy rigatoni and the eggplant stack as signatures, and said weekend brunch and community events had made it a neighborhood favorite. In the evening, the magazine notes, the coffee bar turns into Sidebar, an intimate cocktail lounge.
What’s on the menu
According to Creative Loafing, the menu runs all day. The menu includes:
- Breakfast: classic diner plates, plus coffee drinks from the in-house café.
- Lunch: New Jersey-style deli sandwiches on Italian rolls imported from a shop in New Jersey.
- Pizza: crispy, square-cut tavern-style pies, a different style from Santoro’s round Jersey slices.
- Dinner: Italian-American classics built on house-made meatballs and marinara, including the spicy rigatoni and eggplant stack that Tampa Magazine highlighted.
- Drinks: a full cocktail bar, with happy hour daily from 3 to 6 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. to close, per the restaurant’s website.
The team also offers catering for family gatherings and parties, which is worth knowing as holiday hosting season starts.
Why it’s worth a visit
Many new restaurants chase a concept. Giancarlo’s is built around a routine: a place you can stop by at 9 a.m. or 11 p.m. and find something that fits. The New Jersey details, like imported rolls, tavern-style squares and a deli-counter sandwich list, give it a clear identity. Being a family business, named for the owner’s youngest son and sister to a well-liked pizzeria, gives it the warmth that turns first-time visitors into regulars.
For the dinner menu, a red sauce Italian meal calls for a bottle with good acidity: a Chianti Classico, a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or a Barbera. Our guide to pairing wine without guesswork explains why, and if you’re bringing a group, our fine dining vs casual dining breakdown explains why a lively neighborhood room is sometimes the better choice.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Giancarlo’s in Tampa?
Giancarlo’s is at 1532 W. North B St. in Tampa’s Hyde Park neighborhood, about a half-mile from its sister restaurant, Santoro’s Pizzeria. Parking is on W. North A St.
When did Giancarlo’s open?
Creative Loafing Tampa reported that Giancarlo’s opened on December 1, 2025.
Who owns Giancarlo’s?
Giancarlo’s is owned by Travis Kaiser, the owner and operator of Santoro’s Pizzeria. Both restaurants are named for his sons.
What is tavern-style pizza?
Tavern-style pizza has a thin, crisp crust and is cut into small squares instead of wedges. It’s built for sharing over drinks, which makes it a natural fit for a restaurant with a cocktail bar.
Does Giancarlo’s have happy hour?
Yes. According to its website, happy hour runs every day from 3 to 6 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. until close.
Plan your visit
- Address: 1532 W. North B St., Tampa, FL 33606 (parking on W. North A St.)
- Hours (per the restaurant’s website): Sunday–Thursday 9 a.m.–11 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–midnight
- Phone: (813) 851-6646
- Website: giancarlostpa.com
Hours can change, so check the website before you go. Have you been? Tell us what you ordered.
