Our Story

Crafted With Fire & Passion

Since 1996, Punch Pizza has brought the authentic taste of Naples to the heart of Minneapolis — one wood-fired pie at a time.

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Inside Punch Pizza restaurant — wood-fired oven and warm dining atmosphere

Since 1996 Minneapolis, MN

Who We Are

A Naples Dream, Born in Minneapolis

It started with a single trip to Naples. Founders John & Stephanie Soranno tasted their first authentic Neapolitan pizza in 1995 and were forever changed. They returned home determined to bring that same simplicity, fire, and soul to Minnesota.

Punch Pizza opened its first location on Grand Avenue in 1996. Armed with a hand-built wood-fired oven, imported San Marzano tomatoes, and an obsession with technique, they set out to prove that truly great pizza needed nothing more than exceptional ingredients and real fire.

Authentic Wood-Fired Technique

Our ovens reach 900°F, cooking each pizza in 90 seconds for perfectly blistered crusts.

Certified D.O.C. Ingredients

Imported Italian 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and fresh fior di latte mozzarella.

Community at the Core

Minneapolis-born, community-raised. We source locally wherever tradition allows.

28+ Years of Craft

6 Locations

500K+ Pizzas Served

12 Awards Won

Our Values

What Drives Every Slice

These aren't words on a wall — they're the standards we hold ourselves to in everything we do.

Authenticity

We honor the Neapolitan tradition in every dough fold, every fired crust, and every simple, honest topping combination.

Quality Ingredients

We never compromise on what goes into our pizza. From imported Italian flour to local Minnesota produce — only the finest.

Community

Punch Pizza grew with Minneapolis. We support local farmers, partner with neighborhood organizations, and feed our city with pride.

Excellence

Every pizza that leaves our kitchen is held to the same standard as the first one we ever made. High expectations, every time.

Our Journey

28 Years in the Making

From a single oven on Grand Avenue to becoming Minneapolis's most beloved pizzeria.

1996

The First Flame

Punch Pizza opens its doors on Grand Avenue, St. Paul, with a single hand-built wood-fired oven. The line stretches around the block on opening night.

2001

Award-Winning Recognition

Minneapolis Magazine names Punch Pizza "Best Pizza in the Twin Cities" — the first of many accolades that put us on the national pizza map.

2004

Second Location Opens

Demand drives expansion. Our Northeast Minneapolis location opens, bringing the wood-fired experience to a whole new neighborhood of pizza lovers.

2009

AVPN Certification

Punch Pizza earns official certification from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN) — one of only a handful of U.S. restaurants to achieve this honor.

2015

Growing the Family

Four additional locations open across the Twin Cities metro, each featuring custom wood-fired ovens and our commitment to the original recipe.

2024

Still Fired Up

28 years on, we're still hand-stretching every dough ball, still sourcing the finest Italian ingredients, and still serving Minneapolis with the same love we started with.

The People

Meet the Team Behind the Fire

Our passionate team of pizza artisans, managers, and kitchen crew make every visit to Punch Pizza extraordinary.

John Soranno

Co-Founder & Head Pizzaiolo

John spent months training in Naples before bringing his craft home. His obsession with the perfect Margherita is legendary — and delicious.

Stephanie Soranno

Co-Founder & Operations Director

Stephanie's sharp eye for hospitality and community building transformed Punch from a great pizzeria into a Minneapolis institution.

Marco Ricci

Executive Chef

Born in Naples and trained in Rome, Marco joined Punch in 2008. He oversees our seasonal specials and keeps our dough recipe exactly as it should be.

Maya Chen

Guest Experience Manager

Maya leads front-of-house operations across all locations, ensuring every guest leaves happier than when they arrived — which is saying something.

Ready to Taste?

Experience the Punch Difference

Come taste what 28 years of passion, fire, and craftsmanship taste like. We'll have a pizza waiting for you.

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