Established in New York · 1964
Our Story
It started in the Bronx and ended up on 111 Avenue. Same family the whole way.
Cosenza · the Bronx
How it started.
Tony Mazzotta Sr. started in kitchens in Cosenza, down in the south of Italy, in the late 1940s.
He came over to join family in Canada in 1959. He cooked in Edmonton hotels for a few years, including a stint as sous chef at the Hotel Macdonald, but he wanted his own place.
In 1964 he left for New York to build one. He met his wife there. Her family was in the pizza trade, and that's where he learned to make it. The first Tony's Pizza Palace opened on Gun Hill Road in the north Bronx in 1965.
His daughter Rosanna was born a few years later, then his son Silverio in 1971. By the early ’70s there were three Tony's locations across New York State.
Back to Edmonton
111 Avenue.
Tony opened his first Edmonton restaurant in 1974, at 118 Avenue and Fort Road, while still running the New York shops. Five years later he closed the New York chapter and moved the family to Alberta for good.
His youngest, Anthony Jr., was born here in 1981.
The 96 Street and 111 Avenue restaurant opened in 1986, and 2026 marks 40 years in that same room. Silverio started working full-time in the kitchen with his father in 1990, and Anthony Jr. joined full-time in 1999.
Tony's two sons run the place now. The recipe is the one Tony brought north from Gun Hill Road.
Sixty years on the timeline.
- 1959
Tony Sr. joins family in Canada. Cooks at Edmonton hotels, including a run as sous chef at the Hotel Macdonald.
- 1964
Leaves for New York to build his own restaurant.
- 1965
The first Tony's Pizza Palace opens on Gun Hill Road in the north Bronx.
- 1974
The first Edmonton Tony's opens at 118 Avenue and Fort Road.
- 1979
Tony closes the New York shops and moves the family back to Edmonton for good.
- 1986
The 111 Avenue restaurant opens. Still there.
- 1990
Eldest son Silverio starts working full-time in the kitchen with Tony Sr.
- 1999
Youngest son Anthony Jr. joins the team full-time.
- 2000
CBC features Tony's for its New York pizza.
- 2010
Voted #1 restaurant in Edmonton on TripAdvisor.
- 2016
Condé Nast Traveler names Edmonton one of the world's top pizza cities. Reporters come to Tony's.
- 2026
Forty years at the 111 Avenue room.
From the archive
The photos on the wall.
Press & Accolades
Edmonton's most awarded pizza.
In 2016 Condé Nast Traveler put Edmonton on its list of the best pizza cities in the world, ahead of Florence and Milan. When reporters came to see why, they came to Tony's. The awards go back to 2000.
- Condé Nast TravelerOne of the best pizza cities in the world
- The Globe and MailEdmonton's pizza, an international name
- CBC NewsEdmonton beats out Florence and Milan
- Phaidon — Where to Eat PizzaAmong the world's best pizzerias
The original New York slice.
- 2026
Consumers’ Choice Award — Best Pizza in Edmonton
- 2018
Top Choice Award — Best Pizza in Edmonton
- 2018
“Best Tried and True” Pizza in Edmonton
Avenue Magazine
- 2017
“Golden Fork Award” — Best Pizza in Edmonton
Vue Magazine
- 2017
Top Pizza in Edmonton
ThreeBestRated
- 2016
One of the world's top pizza cities
Condé Nast Traveler
- 2014
#1 Pizza
Top Choice Awards
- 2010
“Golden Fork Award”
Vue Magazine
- 2010
Traveller favourite
TripAdvisor
- 2007
Best Thin Crust Pizza in Edmonton
Edmonton Journal
- 2006
“Best Pizza in Edmonton”
K-Rock
- 2000
Featured for its New York pizza
CBC
Also named #1 Restaurant and #1 Pizzeria in Edmonton.