A new specialty pizzeria is making its way to Tuscaloosa.

Dan Robinson, the former owner of downtown Tuscaloosa's Cravings, is giving the beloved bagel shop’s Detroit, Sicilian, and New York-style pizzas a new home. Those local favorites will be accompanied by a new array of classic Italian entrees like fresh hand-made pasta, calzones and sandwiches.

“Everything is made in-house,” Robinson said. “We make our own dough and sauce with real, whole ingredients.”

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The restaurant, cheekily named "TuscNY" combines Robinson's love for the Druid City with his flair for high-quality Italian fare.

On top of their authentic Italian menu, TuscNY will also include a small bar as they hope to draw in families and the college crowd with the University of Alabama's fall semester quickly approaching.

Before TuscNY opens, Robinson will go through a “staging” process. In culinary terms, this is where a hopeful chef goes through a type of shadow program with other chefs in different restaurants to learn the ropes of the food business.

Currently, he is in Las Vegas training with cooks at Metro Pizza and Esther’s Kitchen.

In the coming months, Robinson plans to travel to Pauly Gee’s Logan Square and Daisies in Chicago. He will also be training at Patricia’s of Morris Park in the Bronx.

Come August, Robinson will be back in Tuscaloosa, armed with a new set of Italian cooking skills. After working with the chefs at these eateries from across the country, Robinson hopes to gain a better understanding of how an authentic Italian kitchen operates so he can replicate his newfound skills in the City of Champions.

“What’s important to me is really, really good food,” Robinson said.

Make sure to follow TuscNY on their official Facebook page and stay connected here for more updates as they become available.

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