PHOTOS: TuscNY Pizzeria Makes Debut with Community Pizza Tasting

Dan Robinson, the former owner of Downtown Tuscaloosa's Cravings, isn't one to slow down. After announcing he would be stepping away from Cravings in October of 2020, many people expected him to retire from his over 40-year career as a local restaurateur.

However, Robinson immediately got to work planning his next concept: a specialty pizzeria focusing on hand-built pizzas influenced by some of the greatest chefs in the country. The restaurant held a special taste test Tuesday for members of the Tuscaloosa community, and according to patrons in attendance the night it was a major success.

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Robinson traveled cross-country from Las Vegas to Chicago to New York this past summer volunteering at different pizzerias learning from the masters.

To those familiar with Cravings, Robinson's pizzas are a welcome return. While he still acted as the owner, Robinson began cooking Detroit, Sicilian and New York-Style pizzas for Cravings and gained a decent following. Since then, he's been constantly trying to improve his formula.

"I'm very happy with the response we've seen up to now, people following our journey online," Robinson told The Thread. "This isn't even the final product. People will have to come back again."

Here's a taste of what folks can expect when the restaurant officially opens later this year: