Legal answers? Check. Local business love? Double check! While we live to dish out tips on all things law-related, we also love a good restaurant recommendation! Follow along on our blog as we share some of our favourite places to eat and shop around Calgary and Edmonton with our Litco Loves Local series. First up in Edmonton: Royal Pizza.
Founded in 1976, by Larry Litwiniuk, Litco Law is a family-run enterprise that adheres to a simple set of principles– service, trust, hard work, and carb-loading. Okay, so maybe that last part’s not officially part of the slogan, but we think it’s definitely worth mentioning. After all, how can we help our clients receive fair treatment if we don’t treat ourselves? It goes without saying that we’re big fans of Alberta and its amazing restaurants. However, one business stands out in our minds, and it’s been serving great pizza since ’69!
With 52 years of tangy sauce, melty cheese, and soft crusts under their belts (literally), Royal Pizza is no stranger to the pizza game. It all started with Gus Pappas and John Pontikes, who banded together to open the first Royal Pizza in Old Strathcona five decades ago. Believe it or not, they were one of just a handful of pizza restaurants in the city at the time, and quickly gained a rep as pie kings— with plenty of cheese and toppings on each Royal slice.
Mike and Cynthia Hanley purchased the restaurant in 1995, committing to the same quality, traditions and customer service as the founders. Their “Still Making it Great” slogan reflected a change in ownership, but not in pizza deliciousness. Fast forward to now, and Royal Pizza has 13 locations in Edmonton and its surrounding area. They’ve grown substantially and have supported their community along the way, showing love to local charities such as the Ronald McDonald House, Breast Cancer Research, Stollery Children’s hospital, Inn from the Cold, Give Me Shelter, The Edmonton Food Bank and various other YEG initiatives. As strong believers in supporting local, this is something we love to see!
So if you’re hungry for a slice, consider dropping by a Royal Pizza location. Our suggestion? Start with Italian Poutine (you can’t beat golden fries baked with homestyle meat sauce), then order a Fred’s Special with ham, pineapple, pepperoni and mushroom. And hey, if that’s not your style, they’ve got calzones, donairs, burgers, pasta, and tons of other pizzas to choose from! Go forth and enjoy, Edmonton friends! A slice a day keeps the sad away, after all.
Interested in hearing more of our local food suggestions? Follow along with us at the blog, we’re updating it constantly with our Edmonton and Calgary faves.
