Two years after launching its first restaurant in Northeast Florida, Ohio-based Donatus Pizza has opened its second restaurant in Jacksonville.
Donatus, known for its “edge-to-edge pizza” brand, opened Tuesday at 9735 Old St. Augustine Road in the Mission Square Shopping Center in Mandarin. There, the pizzeria joins Layalina, Hookah Lounge, San Jose Deli & Grill, Mad O Seafood Caribbean, and El Castillo Taqueria & Bakery.
Franchise owner Justin Sherman or company officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
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Special pizza and more
Donatos serves a variety of pizzas with toppings on the edge of a thin, crunchy crust. The menu also includes wings, salads, sub sandwiches, calzones, appetizers, and desserts.
Signature pizzas like the Chicken Mariachi, which features sliced chicken breasts, freshly sliced Roma tomatoes, jalapenos, smoked provolone, mariachi seasoning, and a side of sour cream, are a customer favorite. There is also a beef version.
Another is the founders favourite, with heritage pepperoni, “family sausage,” shredded ham, banana peppers, smoked provolone and romano cheese.
And there’s the Very Veggie, which has a small section of produce: freshly chopped Roma tomatoes, green peppers, yellow onions, fresh mushrooms, baby spinach, green olives, smoked provolone cheese and Romano cheese.
Donatos is also known for its cauliflower crust pizza, including Cauliflower Heat, a 10-inch cauliflower crust topped with red sauce, smoked provolone cheese, pepper jack, romano cheese, jalapenos, vegan sausage, and crushed red pepper, according to the menu.
In addition to pizza, Donatos offers a selection of wings, salads, calzones and subs, including a Big Don Italian sub, shredded sport ham, sliced salami, smoked provolone, banana peppers, fresh Roma tomatoes, lettuce, and homemade Italian dressing. Then there’s the meatballs, which are made from family meatballs with marinara sauce, smoked provolone cheese, and romano cheese.
Calzones offerings include spicy chicken, pepperoni and “make your own”.
According to its website, the pizza chain was founded in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, and has more than 375 locations in 22 states. Of those, half a dozen are listed as open or soon to be rolled out in Florida, including one in Jacksonville Beach, at 1500 Beach Blvd. , which opened in June 2020.