Uno Pizzeria launches first major menu overhaul in decades, and it has landed in Dayton

‘Love All, Feed All’ offerings add 50 healthy choices, but deep-dish pizza hasn’t left

UNO Pizzeria & Grill has unveiled its first major menu overhaul in decades, adding more than 50 new items that have received a warm welcome from diners at Uno's downtown Dayton location.

>> IS THE HYPE REAL? Our tasting panel tests fried-chicken sandwiches, and crowns a winner

The "Love All, Feed All" offerings are designed for those with special dietary restrictions, although fans of the restaurant’s deep-dish pizza need not worry: the restaurant chain’s signature dish and its traditional menu are still available.

“In recognizing the different ways today's consumers are eating, UNO restaurants nationwide will now offer this supplemental menu — with options for calorie-counting, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-sensitive, dairy-free and carb-conscious eaters — in addition to its regular menu, making it easier than ever to satisfy the whole family,” according to an UNO release.

>> Four prominent Dayton-area restaurants may get new ownership

More than 20 of the new menu items contains less than 600 calories, including thin-crust pizzas such as Fresh Spinach, Creamy Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onions; Wild Mushroom and Aged Cheddar; and Roasted Eggplant, Fresh Spinach, Pesto and Feta. The new menu includes five vegan items, 15 vegetarian choices and 15 gluten-sensitive dishes.

Customer reaction has been positive, Joe Kiley, general manager of the downtown Dayton Uno’s, told this news outlet.

>> FREE VETERANS DAY MEALS: Which local restaurants are offering special deals?

“We’ve had great reviews from guests on the lighter flatbreads that we spin out fresh each day, all of them under 600 calories,” Kiley said. “The Beyond Burger, a plant-based meatless burger, has gotten high marks.”

The new menu, Kiley said, “allows us to stay true to Chicago deep-dish heritage and cater to the healthier options. We have always had some healthy options, but now we can celebrate with those looking for specific items that are easy to see and find in the menu.”

>> Ghostlight Coffee announces opening date for second location

The Dayton restaurant opened in 1999 next to the Victoria Theatre at 126 N. Main St., and has survived Dayton’s booms and busts that forced several nearby restaurants to shut their doors over the past two decades. Uno Pizzeria & Grill also operates a restaurant in West Chester.

"This is a drastic modernization and expansion of our menu and its first major overhaul in decades," Jim Ilaria, CEO of UNO Pizzeria & Grill, said in a release. "While we are famous for inventing the deep-dish pizza and have served it to generations of fans since 1943, we are thrilled to now offer a wider variety of options so everyone can walk through our doors confident they will enjoy a tasty meal regardless of their dietary interests."

>> K99.1FM's Radiothon: How to help countless Dayton-area children with a phone call

Boston-based Uno includes 100 company-owned and franchised UNO Pizzeria & Grill restaurants in 19 states and four other countries.

About the Author