About
Welcome to Johnny Tomatoes, a gem nestled in Monroe, North Carolina, at 5250 Old Charlotte Hwy # A. This delightful eatery has quickly become a beloved destination for those seeking authentic, New York-style pizza and hearty Italian-inspired fare. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or settling in for a leisurely meal, Johnny Tomatoes offers something to satisfy every palate.
From the moment you step inside, the warm ambiance and friendly staff make you feel right at home. Renowned for its generous portions and affordable prices, this restaurant invites you to dive into a menu bursting with flavor. Diners rave about the jumbo wings and myriad sauces, with the Carolina Gold being a particular standout. The buzz around the local community reflects the positive experiences shared by patrons, who often leave with happy hearts and full bellies.
The menu at Johnny Tomatoes showcases a fantastic array of appetizers, including their famous garlic knots and mozzarella sticks, perfect for sharing or enjoying solo. For salad lovers, the restaurant offers fresh and vibrant options like the Spring Salad and the hearty Antipasto Salad. Each dish is crafted with quality ingredients that emphasize freshness and flavor.
One of the highlights of Johnny Tomatoes is undoubtedly their pizza. The crust is a perfect balance of crisp and chewy, with a delightful array of toppings that pay homage to New York-style tradition. Regulars have praised the creativity found in specialty pizzas, like the unique clam pie and custom options that bring together a perfect harmony of flavors.
But it’s not just the pizza that shines. Customers have expressed appreciation for the fried pickles—crispy and perfectly paired with ranch dressing. The spaghetti sauce, too, has earned accolades, surpassing expectations from previous dining experiences. It's these small touches that elevate Johnny Tomatoes above the usual dining experience.
Overall, Johnny Tomatoes delivers not just food, but a slice of the community spirit in Monroe. Whether you are a local or just passing through, this pizzeria promises flavors that will linger long after your meal. So gather your friends and family, and prepare to savor the rich tapestry of tastes that make Johnny Tomatoes a must-visit destination. You won’t be disappointed! Your taste buds deserve this delightful adventure.
“ Ate there for first time about a week ago and loved it. Food had generous portions (took quite a bit home for later meal), well priced, and everyone was friendly. Oh, and the food was delish! Had wings and more. Wing sauces were great--Carolina Gold was our favorite. And the wings were Jumbo sized--not regular sized small wings. Looking forward to next time we can go. ”
“ Omg this was amazing. If your looking for a new York style pizzeria this is the place to go. It is just like my favorite pizzeria from when I lived in central New York, feels like I am back home. I'll go back to this place weekly it's that good. The pizza is exactly everything you see as New York style pizza flavor, look and mouth feel. I got baked ziti to take with me to work and it looks sooo good I can't wait to dig in. Check this place out you won't be disappointed ”
“ Amazing food, and fast service! I had the pepperoni pizza and it was amazing, I also had the white pizza and it was okay but I don’t really like ricotta cheese. Food: 10/10, Service: 8/10, Atmosphere: 9/10, 9/10 would definitely recommend! ”
“ I went here recently and I think that it is the best pizza anywhere around. I went to Joes pizza in New York which is supposed to be really good but I thought that Johnny Tomatoes was just as delicious. I feel that one of the closest contenders in the area taste wise is Brooklyn pizza which is very good but in my opinion not as great as Johnny Tomatoes. ”
“ So first off I want to stress that the food was great, the service even better. Fun Fact? Loved the music they were playing - 80s! It was so cool to watch the young staff bopping around to the music as they prepared food. Seriously really made our wait a lot of fun (walk down memory lane!). We were there maybe only 20 minutes so they were spot on with how long it would take to prepare our food. No issues on our part at all, because again - music! The restaurant, like so many places in our area, are extremely short staffed. They were up front about it when we walked up to place our order. There was a sign too. Basically they couldn’t do any of the fancy pasta dishes on the menu. That was totally fine with us because that wasn’t what we were there to try out. This was our first time visiting after hearing a lot of excellent reviews. Short Review: We will definitely be back. Long Review: We ordered two small personal pizzas made to order. Really enjoyed the crust, the variety of toppings and creativity of the pizza menu as well! Specifically- they have a clam pie which I suspect could be similar to clam sauce just on a pizza which I think is a fantastic idea. We will do another review because I think that’s what we’re going to order at our next visit along with wings. In any case we ordered a buffalo chicken and a sausage peppers onions roll. Both were absolutely fabulous! In fact, I have to say those were probably our favorite of the entire meal. Really good texture, good ingredients, crust was great. We tried the fried pickles and I actually liked the fact that these were really crunchy instead of chewy. Dipped in ranch they were excellent. Enjoyed the garlic knots a great deal, they were dense vs. light, but really good. My pizza had artichoke, ricotta, broccoli, and spinach. My only recommendation? Drizzle a balsamic glaze on it, or another complementary flavor (and one I think is an even better one) saute Garlic and drizzle it lightly! The only reason I mention changing it up - the pizza was bland. The ingredients on their own were quality, no doubt about that, but the artichokes were the mild ones not those marinated in vinegar. The texture of all the ingredients, you could taste each vegetable individually, but it just lacked a bump up in flavor. What I did was I dipped my pizza in the garlic that was at the bottom of the pan of garlic knots. Bingo! Perfect! I also have balsamic glaze at home and put a little bit on that and again - bingo! It just set the pizza off really well. Perhaps if they modify the pizza slightly, either soak or saute some of the vegetables in garlic before making the pizza or perhaps use a marinated artichoke. One other suggestion that is an easy one to help some of the pizzas or dishes that have a really creamy texture? Sprinkle a quality Parmesan cheese over it! It’s got enough salt to kick up ricotta cheese which can be very creamy and bland on some of the white pizzas. Again it’s great, this is a personal preference only, I would definitely get the pizza again. The other pizza was custom ingredients by my fiance and it was perfect just the way it was. I want to say he had peppers onions mushrooms and I think he had a meat on it as well. It was great! Lastly, really like their spaghetti sauce. We had eaten months ago at Buca and couldn’t stand the sauce. It was a shame because the food was decent but the spaghetti sauce was not good. Johnny Tomatoes spaghetti sauce? Really good. Lastly, we had the rice balls. They were good, be aware they are not like Arancini. These were - again I think because of the ingredients bland, but excellent portions. They are very large. Note: I did end up realizing that I expected them to be like the Arancini with meat - versus this type which was more rice-based. Once I realized it was MY expectation that was wrong? I would tell folks to try it absolutely! Just know that it is a different dish. It is creamy, and it literally is a rice ball. I think Parmesan cheese, sausage in it, would be great. We will be back!! ”
“ Jersey native here, and let me just say beautiful! That penne and vodka reminded me of home. The pizza and knots has been our families favorite in the area, hands down. ”
“ One of the best pizzas I have ever eaten. So freaking delicious. I just ordered one slice and I'll be back to get a full pizza and everything else they have... ”
“ If you know pizza... New York pizza, that is...you have to eat here. We were so happy to have the real deal so close to home, we order take-out just about every week. Fast service, hot and fresh, great staff. Try the stromboli ! ”