Amici Pizza, a small family-owned restaurant in Mesa, Arizona, has gained national attention after going viral on social media, drawing customers from as far away as Boston and New Hampshire.
The pizzeria, located in a strip mall near Dobson and Guadalupe Roads, has become an overnight sensation, thanks to TikTok. The couple behind the restaurant, Kateri Cusumano and Vinny Pante, have been running the business since 2018. Cusumano manages the front of the house while Pante handles the kitchen.
“We specialize in hand-tossed New York-style pizza,” Cusumano said. “It’s just a small little dining room—only about 13 or 14 tables. People love the small, mom-and-pop feel.”
What was once a local favorite has turned into a must-visit destination for pizza lovers nationwide. “I took a nine-hour flight,” said Kemilly Pinto, a customer who traveled from Boston. “TikTok was going crazy about this place all the way in Boston.”
In recent weeks, the restaurant has seen a surge in customers, thanks to its TikTok presence. Cusumano started posting videos on the platform last year, and the response has been overwhelming. “We started seeing people come in every day from TikTok,” she said. “It went from a few tables here and there to lines out the door from open to close, seven days a week.”
Cusumano’s TikTok account has now amassed over 138,000 followers, and her videos, which document the daily life of running a pizza restaurant, have received more than 10 million likes. “It feels like it happened overnight,” she said. “I just put my phone up and record everything I’m doing. When I go home at night, I spend hours editing, but I knew being consistent would eventually pay off.”
The TikTok attention has sparked interest from customers across the country. “The way she described the restaurant, her personality, and the food looked amazing,” said Ashley Miner, who traveled from New Hampshire to try the pizza. “I couldn’t wait to try it.”
Amici Pizza’s rise to fame has led to an increase in customer-generated content. “Everyone was talking so positively about the place,” Pinto said. “The comments were full of praise, saying, ‘They’re the nicest people ever.’”
The rapid growth has brought some challenges for the small restaurant. “We’re doing crazy volume with a small staff and limited space,” Cusumano said. “No matter how many people we hire, there’s only so much we can handle. But it’s been amazing to see Vinny’s food get the recognition it deserves.”
Despite the challenges, Cusumano and Pante are grateful for the support of their loyal customers. “We’re doing our best to keep up with the demand while still making sure we provide the same great service,” Cusumano said. “Between Vinny’s food, my service, and the team we’ve built, we’ve created something really special here.”
As the restaurant continues to thrive, Cusumano and Pante remain grateful to the original regulars who continue to support them, even as it gets harder to find a table.
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