Donatos brings its 'edge-to-edge' pizza to Jacksonville, opening second Northeast Florida restaurant

Teresa Stepzinski, Florida Times-Union
·2 min read
Donatos Pizza opened Tuesday at 9735 Old St. Augustine Road in Mandarin. It is the Ohio-based pizza chain's second Jacksonville-area restaurant.
Donatos Pizza opened Tuesday at 9735 Old St. Augustine Road in Mandarin. It is the Ohio-based pizza chain's second Jacksonville-area restaurant.

Two years after launching its first Northeast Florida restaurant, Ohio-based Donatos Pizza has opened its second restaurant in Jacksonville.

Donatos, known for its trademarked "edge-to-edge pizza," opened Tuesday  at 9735 Old St. Augustine Road at Mission Square Shopping Center in Mandarin. There, the pizzeria joins Layalina Restaurant and Hookah Lounge, San Jose Deli & Grill, Mad O Seafood Caribbean Restaurant and El Castillo Taqueria & Bakery.

Neither franchise owner Justin Sherman nor company officials could be reached immediately for comment.

First of more to come: Donatos Pizza launches Jacksonville Beach restaurant

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More: After 38 years in Mandarin, popular mom-and-pop chicken wing spot Wing-It to close

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Signature pizzas & more

Donatos offers a variety of pizzas with toppings to the edge of the thin, crispy crust. The menu also includes wings, salads, sub sandwiches and calzones, appetizers and desserts.

Signature pizzas such as Mariachi Chicken, featuring sliced chicken breast, freshly cut Roma tomatoes, jalapeños, smoked Provolone, mariachi spice and a side of sour cream, is a customer favorite. There also is a beef version.

Another is the Founders Favorite, with heritage pepperoni, "family recipe sausage," shaved ham, banana peppers, smoked Provolone and Romano cheese.

And there's the Very Veggie, boasting a mini-produce section: freshly cut Roma tomatoes, green peppers, yellow onions, fresh mushrooms, baby spinach, green olives, smoked Provolone and Romano cheese.

"The Works" is one of several signature pizzas offered by Donatos, which opened its second Jacksonville-area restaurant this week.
"The Works" is one of several signature pizzas offered by Donatos, which opened its second Jacksonville-area restaurant this week.

Donatos also is known for its cauliflower crust pizzas, including Cauliflower Heat, a 10-inch cauliflower crust topped with red sauce, smoked Provolone, pepper jack and Romano cheeses, jalapeños, plant-based sausage, and crushed red pepper, according to the menu.

In addition to pizzas, Donatos offers a selection of wings, salads, calzones and subs, including the Big Don Italian sub, sporting shaved ham, sliced salami, smoked Provolone, banana peppers, freshly cut Roma tomatoes, lettuce and house Italian dressing. And then there's the Meatball, made with family recipe meatballs with marinara sauce, smoked Provolone and Romano cheeses.

Calzones offerings include Hot Chicken, Pepperoni and a "create your own."

Founded in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, the pizza chain has more than 375 locations in 22 states, according to its website. Of those, half-dozen are listed as open or coming soon in Florida, including one in Jacksonville Beach, at 1500 Beach Blvd., that opened in June 2020.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Donatos Pizza opens in Jacksonville, offering pizza, subs, salads