Great New Atlantic City, NJ, Pizza is Coming: Cooked at 800 Degrees

If you have ever had pizza cooked at 800 degrees,  you already know. It’s fabulous. It cooks fast and when prepared correctly … you are left with a perfect “char” … making the overall texture and flavor just wonderful.

Mark Callazzo has closed both Cuzzie's and Rhythm & Spirits on Tennessee Avenue.

Callazzo has hired food and beverage veteran Sal Spena to create and manage two new Atlantic City, Tennessee Avenue restaurants.

One will be called …

Isabella's Italian Pizza Kitchen, named after Spena’s daughter.

As a “foodie,” I am so excited about this. Spena told us the following about Isabella’s.

"Isabella’s will specialize in authentic Italian cuisine with a modern twist. The menu will feature wood-fired pizzas cooked in an 800-degree Forno Bravo oven, artisanal sandwiches, fresh salads, and traditional Sicilian-inspired sauces made with high-quality ingredients," said Spena.

Since Isabella’s will not open for a few weeks, here is an example of a Peperoni Pizza, prepared by my son, Rob Hurley on his Ooni Pizza oven.

It was cooked at between 700 to 800 degrees. Look at how the oil puddles in each Peperoni cap … and, the perfect char (see below):

Harry Hurley photo.

Don Hurley has made talking about the under carriage of a pizza famous.

When you cook a pizza at between 700 to 800 degrees, the pIzza under carriage is also the perfect consistency.

The Boiler Room at Congress Hall is an excellent example of this style of pizza.

Here is a recent margarita pizza that we had from Curtis Bashaw’s Congress Hall - The Boiler Room.

Harry Hurley photo.

Below, is a great pizza from Mike Hauke, from Tony Baloneys, who describes it as follows:

BURRRRRATA PIZZA! A whole burrata on every slice. pink vodka sauce, dry aged mozzarella, fresh basil, shaved parmegano regiano, calabrian & long hot chili oil! said Hauke.

Mike Hauke photo.

Don’t miss Hauke and his “Mad Mutz” team on ABC national television’s “Shark Tank” on Friday, April 18, 2025.

Hauke will present his next level cheese sticks to a national audience and Hauke will make his sales pitch to the wealthy entrepreneurs on “The Shark Tank.”

ADDENDUM: We just caught-up with Sal Spena. Here are some great pizzas that will be available at Isabella’s:

Sal Spena photos.

Here are some great photos of Atlantic City & Cape May City pizzas from:

Squares and Fares, Rob Hurley, Congress Hall, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Tony Baloneys and Tony’s Baltimore Grill.