Durham's Top Chef Unveils New Pizzeria: First Look Inside

A Nostalgic Slice of Pizza in Durham

Stepping into Dino's Pizza in Durham feels like taking a trip back in time. From the red and white tablecloths to the Tiffany lamps hanging from the ceiling, the ambiance is designed to evoke memories of classic pizzerias. The restaurant opened its doors on Friday, July 18 at 5 p.m., located in the University Hill shopping center, taking over the former space once occupied by BB's Crispy Chicken.

Dino's is part of the growing collection of restaurants under Matt Kelly, who has already made his mark in the area with popular spots like Mateo, Mothers & Sons, and Nanas. The new pizzeria is led by chef and partner Tom Cuomo, who previously worked at St. James Seafood and in renowned New York kitchens such as WD-50, Carbone, and Parm.

Cuomo and Kelly aimed to recreate the pizza vibes of their childhoods when they created Dino's. "We are a kind of a throwback pizzeria," Cuomo said, standing in the dining room. "The goal was that nostalgic pizzeria I grew up with in New Jersey and New York, thus the red and white check table cloth, the wood paneling, the red tiling."

The Menu: A Taste of Tradition

All pizzas at Dino's are 16 inches and built on a dough that Cuomo tested for months in the kitchen of Mothers & Sons. The result is a light but structured crust that can be folded if desired. "I call it crispy and chewy," Cuomo explained. "It's a little bit of a thinner crust pizza, but it's got a crisp undercarriage. You lift that piece up, it generally stays pretty straight, but it's still foldable. Technically, I use basically like a New York style dough recipe, but I approach it from a more Neapolitan technique mindset."

Cuomo noted that one pizza should feed two people, or three to four people sharing a starter. Beyond the pizza, the menu aims to elevate Italian-American food in the Triangle. "Italian-American food, it's very easy to do a mediocre version, but it doesn't take that much more effort to do it at an elevated level," Cuomo said. He highlighted dishes like chicken parm, which he believes can be elevated with careful attention to quality ingredients.

Other menu highlights include crispy calamari with fried cherry peppers, garlic knots, Caesar and Italian chop salads, and rigatoni alla vodka. The restaurant also serves Buffalo wings and the Western NY delicacy known as Pizza Logs—egg rolls stuffed with cheese, pepperoni, and marinara sauce.

Drinks and Ambiance

On the beverage side, Dino's features a bright glowing soft drink machine with iconic red plastic cups. Draft beer options include Bud Light and PBR, as well as selections from North Carolina craft breweries. The menu also includes wine, cocktails, and frozen drinks, such as Frose and a spirit-free strawberry daiquiri that can be spiked with rum if desired.

To create the old-school atmosphere, the restaurant sourced key details from online marketplaces. Stained glass lamps were purchased individually from eBay and Etsy, each requiring unique wiring. The walls are adorned with photos of the Rat Pack, The Sopranos, and a Saturday Night Fever poster.

A Personal Touch

For Cuomo, the nostalgia extends beyond design to the overall experience. "I walk in here and like, you know, I get emotional for sure," he said. "For me, the nostalgia is not just in the design, it's in the food that we're doing, but it's also in the overall experience."

The restaurant's name, Dino's, is a tribute to Cuomo's nine-year-old son, named after Dean Martin. Dino's stands out in the Matt Kelly group by being the first with TVs and pitchers of beer, aiming to be a true neighborhood spot. Cuomo hopes it becomes a place where guests feel comfortable and return often.

Hours and More

Dino's will initially be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with plans for lunch service in the future. For more information, follow the restaurant on Instagram.