A little local trivia for anyone who remembers: back in the '90s, this building was a dry cleaner…read morewhere my parents used to drop off their clothes. Fast forward to post-COVID, and it's been transformed into something completely different: Fancy Pizzeria, run by a family with a clear passion for what they do, complete with an oven imported from Italy.
Anytime someone says Safford needs a Chili's, I cringe... not because I don't like Chili's, but because good help is hard to find in a small town. The owners here seem to understand that, keeping things lean and hands-on with very little hired help. As a result, the service from the husband-and-wife team is genuinely great... though when it gets busy, things can slow down. I've experienced that firsthand, and walked out once a couple years ago after a long wait...but I came back, and I'm glad I did.
The food is, simply put, amazing. The pizza has that perfect charred crust you usually only find in bigger cities or on the East Coast. The Italian sodas are excellent. I've yet to try anything, from appetizers to pasta dishes, that didn't hit the mark.
Prices are a bit higher than most spots in town, but the quality absolutely justifies it when it's in the budget.
I've heard the name "Fancy Pizzeria" was intentional: they wanted to set the expectation that this isn't your typical greasy pizza joint... and they deliver on that, consistently. The dining area has expanded quite a bit recently, and the decor is creative and unique, with many of the dishes and utensils sourced from local thrift shops.
All in all, this place stands out in Safford in the best way. I genuinely love everything about it and hope they can continue to operate in the years to come!