PHOENIX (AZFamily) — “Eat Pizza. Save Puppies.” This is the heartfelt slogan at Pizza To the Rescue, a unique restaurant in central Phoenix.
Located near 24th Street and Indian School Road, Pizza To the Rescue opened in April with a mission that goes beyond serving delicious Italian food. The restaurant donates 25% of all pizza sales to Almost There, a local dog rescue organization.
“The idea of pizza and puppies came to us, and we thought, why not? We love pizza and we love puppies, so we figured it could work,” said Hunter Rodgers, the owner of Pizza To The Rescue.
Almost There has been rescuing stray pregnant and nursing dogs, along with their pups, in Phoenix for over a decade. Each year, the organization helps about 600-700 dogs find safe, loving homes.
Pizza To The Rescue’s commitment to Almost There is significant, with a quarter of their pizza sales going directly to the dog rescue. This partnership not only helps fund the rescue efforts but also raises awareness about the importance of supporting stray dogs and their puppies.
The restaurant prides itself on using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Every day, the kitchen team makes pasta, pizza dough, and mozzarella from scratch. They avoid prepackaged items, ensuring that everything is freshly prepared. The restaurant doesn’t even have a freezer, underscoring their commitment to fresh food.
Popular menu items include the margherita pizza, topped with tomato, mozzarella, and basil, and the funghi formaggi pizza, featuring seasoned mushrooms, mozzarella, fontina cheese, shallots, and garlic. Customers can also create their own pizzas with a variety of toppings like pepperoni, meatballs, anchovies, jalapeños, fennel, Calabrian chiles, and pecorino cheese.
In addition to pizza, Pizza To The Rescue offers a range of delectable pasta dishes. These include spicy ‘nduja sausage rigatoni and an impressive 40-layer lasagna made with handmade noodles, short rib tomato sauce, truffle Parmesan cream sauce, and drippings from the braised short rib.
The menu also features a Caesar salad with homemade dressing. For dessert, customers can enjoy a Basque cheesecake with pistachios, a lemon tart with lemon custard and homemade whipped cream, and a secret Nutella dessert pizza that’s not listed on the menu.
Looking ahead, Rodgers plans to collaborate with Almost There to host events in the fall, bringing together pizza lovers and puppy enthusiasts for a good cause. “Anything we can do to support dogs is something that we love and is near and dear to our hearts,” Rodgers shared.
By combining culinary excellence with a charitable mission, Pizza To The Rescue is not only serving delicious food but also making a meaningful impact in the community. Next time you’re in Phoenix, consider stopping by for a meal that supports a wonderful cause.