Coal-fired brick ovens aren’t common in Corpus Christi, which makes Grimaldi’s approach to New York-style pizza stand out immediately.
The restaurant operates at 5488 S Padre Island Drive inside La Palmera mall, making hand-tossed dough in-house daily and cooking pizzas in coal-fired brick ovens that create distinctive char.
Grimaldi’s launched as part of a larger pizzeria chain with roots in classic New York pizza tradition, bringing coal-fired cooking methods and hand-tossed dough preparation to Texas locations.
What Makes Grimaldi’s Special
The coal-fired brick oven creates temperatures and char patterns that standard ovens can’t replicate, giving pizzas that distinctive leopard spotting.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria makes hand-tossed dough in-house daily, maintaining the classic approach while operating within a mall location at La Palmera.
The Slices ASAP lunch deal runs Monday through Friday from 11am-3pm, making coal-fired pizza accessible during lunch service.
The Story Behind the Pizzeria
Grimaldi’s launched with Brooklyn pizza heritage, bringing coal-fired brick oven cooking to locations across the country including Corpus Christi.
The hand-tossed dough made daily and coal-fired brick oven method maintained the traditional New York pizza approach while expanding beyond the original location.
The Grimaldi’s Rewards program and new line of pasta sauces show how the chain has evolved while keeping coal-fired brick oven pizza as the foundation.
Food Highlights
- Caesar Salad: This classic salad provides fresh start before coal-fired pizza arrives. The preparation offers lighter option alongside rich pizza. 🥗
- White Pizza: The no-red-sauce option showcases how cheese and toppings work without tomato base. White pizza demonstrates versatility beyond classic preparations. 🍕
- Pepperoni Pizza: Classic pepperoni on coal-fired crust delivers the traditional New York-style experience. The coal-fired oven creates char on both crust and pepperoni. 🍕
- Antipasto: This Italian starter features cured meats and cheeses before pizza service. Traditional appetizer bridges Brooklyn heritage and Texas location. 🧀
- Tiramisu: Classic Italian dessert provides a sweet finish after coal-fired pizza. The traditional preparation complements the pizza-focused menu. 🍰
- Burnt Pizza: The intentional char from coal-fired cooking creates what some seek specifically. Coal-fired method produces distinctive darkened crust edges. 🍕
Atmosphere
Grimaldi’s sits at 5488 S Padre Island Drive inside La Palmera mall, where a casual-classy atmosphere creates moderate noise levels for groups.
The restaurant provides outdoor seating while operating within the mall structure, accommodating both quick lunch service and dinner groups.
Hours run 11am-10pm weekdays and until 11pm on weekends, with Slices ASAP lunch deal making coal-fired pizza accessible during workday lunch.
Bottom Line
Visit Grimaldi’s Pizzeria because coal-fired brick oven cooking in Corpus Christi means distinctive char and temperatures that standard ovens can’t achieve.
The hand-tossed dough made in-house daily and coal-fired method bring New York pizza tradition to La Palmera mall location through classic preparation.
The Brooklyn heritage, Grimaldi’s Rewards program, and commitment to coal-fired brick oven pizza prove this Padre Island Drive location maintains a traditional approach while serving Texas crowds.
Address: Grimaldi’s Pizzeria 5488 S Padre Island Drive, Suite 1202, Corpus Christi, TX 78411
📞 (361) 980-8600
🕐 Mon-Thu & Sun: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM | Fri-Sat: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Coal-fired brick oven | Hand-tossed daily dough | Slices ASAP lunch deal | Grimaldi’s Rewards | La Palmera mall | Brooklyn heritage