close

Surf Pie: This small pizza shop’s packed with a big personality and huge slices

4 min read
1 / 2
Surf Pie, the new little pizzeria on Old San Carlos Boulevard, has opened up in a big way, offering fresh-made pizzas, calzones and stromboli day in, day out. Above, owners Lorie and Tony LaValle along with Jace and Cole LaValle, Ken Jordan and Eli Moore are eager to offer hand-made Italian goodness made fresh to order from all-natural ingredients. Read on for their specials. Photo by VANDY MAJOR.
2 / 2
Surf Pie owner Tony LaValle tosses the handmade dough in the air. Photo by VANDY MAJOR.

Serving up hot, fresh New-York-style Italian goodness fresh to order day in and day out, the all-new Surf Pie pizzeria has been welcomed into the Beach community with open arms.

Since opening the little shop in early February, owners Tony and Lorie LaValle and their all-new Surf Pie quickly brought on a regular crowd of repeat customers with their daily-made, all-natural pizza, calzones and stromboli not to mention the beach bread.

“We make everything ourselves two to three times a day from the marinara sauce to the dough,” Tony said. “We even grate our own cheese the best cheese we can get our hands on.”

“My dad taught me the key to a great pizza is great ingredients,” Lorie said. “Life’s too short to eat mediocre pizza.”

Lorie said their New-York-style pizza’s crust is thin enough, but thick enough to hold the slices up when going in to take a bite.

Fresh ingredients

Whether it’s mushrooms, peppers, onions or jalapenos you’re requesting on your handmade pizza or just tomatoes for the fresh-made marinara sauce Surf Pie buys all homegrown produce from the Fort Myers Beach Farmer’s Market every weekend.

“We love the Farmer’s Market,” Tony said. “Everything’s always so fresh.”

Everything is hand-sliced and made to order, leaving you with nothing but a fresh slice of hot goodness to enjoy.

On the menu

You’ve got four main choices when reading over the Surf Pie menu:

Pizza: Order it by the slice or by the pie (14-inch or 18-inch). Slices go for just $3.25, and as Tony puts it, “They’re bigger than your head.”

But seriously, these slices don’t even fit fully on the plate they’re so huge.

Calzones and stromboli: Put whatever you want in there it’s all good. These babies go for $8.50.

Beach bread: Yummy garlic bread covered with ricotta cheese, tomatoes and mozzarella.

Lorie says their Beach Bread has already become a local fave.

Choose from at least 15 toppings on the menu, and don’t forget even the cheese is hand-grated to order.

Specials and specialties

All who work on Fort Myers Beach immediately get a free topping with every order. That’s a day-in, day-out special offered around the clock.

And even though they’ve only been in business for a few months, beach locals Lorie and Tony said their salad pizza has become a hot specialty item, offering a special price for them every Friday.

“There’s a little sauce, no cheese, we cook it nice and crisp, put a tossed salad right on top and add some secret spices. It’s delicious,” Tony said.

Free delivery and parking

Don’t worry about rushing out to get your order. Surf Pie offers free all-island delivery service, which includes San Carlos Island to the south end of Estero Boulevard.

As Tony puts it, “We basically deliver from Val’s Lounge down to Flippers on the Bay.”

“We also deliver by bicycle and by longboard (a long skateboard) within a one-mile radius, so we’ll get your orders to you even sooner,” Lorie included.

If you choose to come by and pick up your order, or to hang out and enjoy your food under the covered, outdoor dining area, free parking is available along the side of Surf Pie’s building.

And although this may be a small beach business operation, these guys can handle the heavy ordering, so lay it on ’em. Don’t be afraid to call in an order for a large party or business function.

Just last week, Tony and Lorie said they popped out an 18-pie order in no time.

Open every day

Hours to the all-new Surf Pie are:

Monday to Wednesday: 4 to 10 p.m.

Thursday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to midnight

“This is just a great neighborhood,” Lorie said. “The business owners have welcomed us with open arms, and this is just a great place to be. We’re so happy to be here.”

To place an order, call 765-PIES (7437)