Blaze Pizza — Restaurant in Florida

Pizza is alway good and you have to try their cheese bread yummy. Awesome service from all the staff, especially John. I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled to share something deeply personal about my experience with John P at Blaze Pizza.

When I walked into the restaurant that day, I was in an incredibly dark place. What I expected was just a quick meal -- nothing more. What I received, however, was a moment of unexpected kindness that reminded me that people still care, even when you least expect it.

John greeted me not just with a smile, but with genuine warmth -- the kind that can't be faked. He took the time to talk to me like I mattered. He noticed something in my expression, asked how my day was going, and listened -- really listened -- with no agenda, no rush. That short interaction, that simple act of humanity, truly touched me. It gave me a moment of hope in a time when hope was hard to find.

It might sound small, alike his height, but it wasn't. It was enough to make me pause, to reconsider, and to remind myself that the world still has people like John in it -- and maybe that's reason enough to stay.

John, thank you. You didn't know what I was going through, but your kindness helped me hold on when I needed it most. You made a difference in my life just by being who you are. Blaze Pizza is lucky to have you -- and so is anyone who gets the chance to meet you.

He didn't just slap ingredients together like it was a routine. He asked thoughtful questions about what I liked, made suggestions, and built it like he cared -- like he was crafting something special for me. Every movement, from spreading the sauce to placing the toppings, had intention. There was heart in it. Passion. Love.

And that love -- as simple as it sounds -- reminded me that I was worthy of care, even from a stranger. It made me pause. It made me feel seen. And in that moment, it genuinely helped me decide to keep going.

John, thank you. You made more than a pizza that day. You made a difference.

To Blaze Pizza: John P is more than just a great employee -- he's the kind of person who changes lives, even if he doesn't realize it. Please recognize him. He saved...

Visited Sarasota last week and arrived too late for a heavy dinner. Decided that a pizza would do the trick. I ordered the "Art Lover's" pizza. The description says it includes "artichokes, mozzarella, ricotta, chopped garlic and red sauce dollops. Limited substitutions." The menu actually limits you to two substitutions before forcing you into the "build your own" process.

I wanted mine with roasted garlic instead of chopped and added chicken. The young woman who answered the phone said she was new and didn't know how to take an order and asked for my patience while she got someone who could help me.

To say the person who arrived to take my order didn't have a clue would be an understatement. I gave him the order and he asked me three times to repeat the substitution of the roasted garlic for chopped and the addition of chicken. In my experience, your order is doomed when that happens. My fears weren't unfounded.

What I got was the Art Lover's pizza with NO ARTICHOKES AND NO CHICKEN. The artichokes are the reason we ordered that pie. Of course, I was charged for the chicken. They did get the garlic substitution right. I intended to call the store the following day but decided that, without the evidence, there was no point. In hindsight, I should have taken a quick photo before we ate it out of desperation.

Aside from the order being grossly incorrect, this particular pizza was nothing special. I hope that's not indicative of the rest of the menu.

My final comment relates to Blaze's website. Why on earth to you NOT provide a direct link to the menu so potential customers can decide if they want to order something. Every link I tried forced me into the...

I came to check out a gathering of the local vegetarian group. Being that pizza is probably 3rd, (after the donut & potato chip), among the least healthful vegetarian foods you can eat, I found a pizza joint a baffling choice of venue. I was even more puzzled at the choice of noon for the time. Traffic was as berserk as the wall-to-wall crowd inside.

The place is easy to miss from the street, if you're occupied with heavy traffic, and my GPS plotted it a block away, (though Google nailed it) - it literally took 15 minutes to circle the block & park. Conversation inside the restaurant was out of the question over the din of the friendly lunchtime crowd.

All that said, if you want good pizza, this IS the place, (and vegetarian & vegan choices are no problem)! They also have gluten-free dough for the asking, though they make a disclaimer about possible cross-contamination with non-GF flour. The place was clean, well-maintained, and smelled delicious. I was surprised how quickly they got me served, and my vegan pizza correct on the first try. (Bravo guys!)

Service was friendly, quick & capable. The wait staff was attentive almost to the point of being invasive. The food was clearly fresh, well-managed & perfectly prepared. For $9, I had a delicious vegan pizza, ("no vegan diet - no vegan powers!") that filled me up without making me feel over-fed. (I've got a pretty healthy appetite - I'm 6'/175 with a quick metabolism. Your mileage may vary! ) By 1:15, traffic was back to sanity, and the restaurant was maybe a bit less than 50% capacity.

If I was in the vicinity, and in a junk food mood, I'd return to Blaze in a heartbeat!...