Iconic Midwest Pizza In Bonita

I love a good pizza. So when a friend kept raving about an iconic restaurant now serving their Midwest pizza in Bonita Springs, I had to go. He was right and Gatsby's Pizza is this week's Fabulous Find. For Buckeyes fans, it is connected to the famous Gatsby's in Columbus, Ohio.

Gatsby's opened in 1977, in an old home. The city of Columbus grew around it and the restaurant has become an institution, famous for it's pizza, pub food and fun. The original owners eventually sold and moved to Naples where they opened a smaller Gatsby's.

Over the years, it changed locations then closed following Hurricane Ian.

Robynn and Tim Douthit had lived in Ohio and were Gatsby's fans. They bought and resurrected the restaurant in 2023, carrying on the Midwest tradition. Fans of the original are applauding.

The Homemade Cheese Balls are a delicious signature appetizer. See how stretchy the cheese is and more with this short video.

After purchasing the SWFL Gatsby's the Douthits went to the mothership in Columbus, to perfect some of the recipes like the cheese balls, and connect with the food purveyors.

Smoked mozzarella and provolone are added to a food processor with Ezzo pepperoni. Once blended, they are formed into balls, and breaded. Finally, they're cooked until the cheese is melted and the breading is nice and crisp. We fought for the last one.

Next up, the stars of the show. The pizza! It is Chicago tavern style thin crust and it's cut into squares. The crust is perfectly crisp. Gluten Free is also available.

Similar to many pizzerias, the menu has a few signature pies. In addition, there is a long list of ingredients allowing you to create your own.

Gatsby's is famous for the Buckeye Pizza. It is loaded with pepperoni, sausage, capicola, black olives and banana peppers. It's not a combo that would be top of my list. However, I am now a happy convert. There is some spice from the meats, a zip from the peppers and that creamy cheese. Yes please.

This white pizza was perfect for a hot summer afternoon. Margherita-style with fresh garlic EVOO and basil. The Douthits grow their own basil in the Gatsby's garden. They make all of the sauces and dough from scratch daily.

Also made in house is the decadent cannoli filling. It features two kinds of ricotta cheese with orange zest for a fresh hit. The shells are stuffed to order and then topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and a sprinkling of crushed pistachios.

Robynn and Tim not only serve good pizza, fresh salads and more, they serve a super-sized portion of Midwest hospitality. "We want to bring that hometown feeling into the pizzeria," Robyn says. "We love our customers and they feel at home here."

The restaurant is offering deep discounts on food and beverages the rest of the month. Check the specials tab on their website for details. They also have big screen televisions and are a gathering place on game day, especially when the Buckeyes are playing.

Gatsby's is in the Hidden Lakes of Bonita Springs plaza on US41.