400 Gradi, a Neapolitan-style pizzeria that originated in Australia, will soon open its first DFW location.
Applications filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission indicate that 400 Gradi will make its U.S. debut at 2000 Ross Avenue, and an update to the chain’s website confirms its plans to expand into Dallas. Leasing documents for the 2000 Ross Project specify that 400 Gradi will occupy a 5,000 square foot space at the corner of Ross Avenue and Harwood Street. This marks the first U.S. location for 400 Gradi, which also operates locations in Bahrain alongside multiple Australian outposts and forthcoming locations in Kuwait and New Zealand.
The restaurant first made its debut in Melbourne in 2008, and is known for its Vera Pizza Napoletana-certified Neopolitan-style pizzas. Di Francesco’s pizza skills are apparently so strong that he won top honors in the Neopolitan-style category at the 2014 Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza, a global pizza competition held each year in Italy since 1991.
In Australia, 400 Gradi serves a pretty traditional menu of Italian dishes, ranging from antipasti classics like marinated olives, arancini (fried risotto balls), and fried calamari to classic pizzas topped with San Marzano marinara, aged prosciutto, and spicy salami. Risotto an larger entrees like char-grilled steaks and braised lamb shoulder are also on offer.
Earlier this year, 400 Gradi founder Johnny Di Francesco visited Dallas to scope out the location, and suggested in a Facebook post that he plans to open the outpost in early 2019. Stay tuned for an official opening date.