Tucson locals know the Trident name and have come to expect the best from this beloved family of restaurants. So when owners Nelson Miller, Danny Gallego, and Jason Machamer opened the doors to Trident Pizza Grill on December 17, 2018, expectations were high.
“Trident has a fantastic local following,” said Ted Graunke, General Manager of Trident Pizza Pub. “And of course, they expect the service standards of our other Trident restaurants.”
Trident Pizza Pub transformed the former Grimaldi’s Pizzeria space
Hoping to capture the “neighborhood bar” feel of their other locations, Trident Pizza Pub transformed the space that formerly housed Grimaldi’s Pizzeria and now features a walk-up window for takeaway pizza, roll-up windows, and plenty of seating both inside and out. Notably absent is the nautical, Navy-inspired decor of the other locales.
“We offer a completely different menu from the seafood-based offerings of the Trident Grills, and we wanted the decor to reflect that,” noted Graunke.
Instead, the focal point of the restaurant falls to the wood-fired brick oven, painstakingly rebuilt from the rubble of Grimaldi’s previous oven.
Here, hand-tossed, house-made dough is expertly baked by their award-winning pizza chef, Eric Corbin, with pecan and mesquite logs contributing a wood-fired flavor to Trident’s signature crust.
Pizza of the month and other standout options
One of those brick-oven offerings you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere is Trident’s Pizza of the Month, the New Haven White Clam. Topped with fresh clams, chopped bacon, and a trio of cheeses, this specialty pie offers a nice balance of textures that’s perfect for adventurous eaters who want to step outside the proverbial pizza box.
Another standout is the Sausage Bianco, a savory pizza featuring dollops of creamy ricotta, fresh mozzarella, and subtly spiced sausage—all complemented by the slight sweetness of caramelized onions.
Other crowd pleasers include the Crispy Cauliflower appetizer, lightly fried and moderately dressed with tangy buffalo sauce; the S.P.O. Hero with spicy sausage, peppers and onions; and the Centurion Pizza, described by Graunke as a “meat lover’s dream,” thanks to generous portions of sausage, pepperoni, ham, and soppressata.
“We love Tucson folks and serving the local community,” said Graunke.
Located near the University of Arizona, Trident Pizza Pub sees its fair share of both students and regulars alike.
“We love Tucson folks and serving the local community,” said Graunke. “People that go to the original Trident, to Trident II and III, hear that we opened a new restaurant and that brings them right over. We couldn’t do it without them.”
Trident Pizza Pub is located at 446 N. Campbell Ave. Ste. 100. Keep up with Trident Pizza Pub on Facebook. For more information, visit tridentgrill.com/pizzapub.
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