Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Pizza Joe, the iconic restaurant that locals and visitors enjoyed from 1988 to 1995, has reopened its doors, bringing a wave of nostalgia with its hand-tossed pizzas and classic pasta dishes.
Founded by Joe and Claire Guarniere on December 21, 1988, with a humble eight tables on Ignacio Vallarta, Pizza Joe quickly became a Vallarta favorite. In 1989, it relocated to what is now Galleria Dante (269 Basilio Badillo), where it thrived for many years, known for its delicious pizza and pasta.
“We opened Pizza Joe in 1988, and it is still talked about,” Claire said. “We always decorated Pizza Joe with art and sold art in two adjacent rooms to the garden, but after 350 dinners per evening for eight years, we needed to slow down. So Galleria Dante was opened in 1995.”
And now, Pizza Joe 2.0 has returned under the guidance of Claire and her daughter, Gena Guarniere, on the rooftop of Galleria Dante and Di Vino Dante Wine & Tapas Bar, where it opened on December 21, 2024.
“December 21 is a very special day for the family here at Galleria Dante,” Claire explained. “Joe, a very small Gena and I, opened Pizza Joe on that day in 1988. Pizza Joe 2.0 is a tribute to this original Vallarta Favorite and our beloved Joe.”
On the opening night customers enjoyed music by Vanessa Amaro, an opera singer from Mexico City who performs in the main concert halls and auditoriums of Mexico City.
With almost every table full, patrons enjoyed eating al fresco with sweeping views of the Vallarta mountain, while selecting items from the original menu that Pizza Joe had, along with some special items.
“It is a true family business,” Claire said. “Even though Joe passed in 2020, he will always be part of the decisions we make, as his loves are our loves.”
Di Vino Dante Wine & Tapas Bar, which opened in 2013, will continue to operate on the second floor of the building, while the art gallery – one of the largest in Puerto Vallarta, operates on the first floor.
For more information, call 322-223-3734 or visit the Pizza Joe 2.0 Facebook Page.
Written by Jerry Jones for Out and About PV.
