For nearly 30 years, the Cannoli Kitchen at the corner of Northeast 20th Street and Federal Highway in Boca Raton has drawn a local and loyal crowd. The casual Italian restaurant is known as the type of place where you can enjoy a fast family meal, load up on desserts for a celebratory occasion, or order takeout pizza and pasta.

Now, the longtime establishment beloved for its simple Italian classics, is growing.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the recent name change to Cannoli Kitchen Pizza, part of the restaurant’s shift to a new franchise-focused experience that aims to transform a local favorite to a fast and fresh experience.

In 1996, Boca Raton resident Arturo Gismondi opened Cannoli Kitchen off Federal Highway. The restaurant was later sold to Palm Beach County residents George Larivee, Christiana Kavadas, Costa Maltezos, Mersina Maltezos, and John Kavadas. Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story misidentified the founder of the restaurant.

The brand has grown to multiple locations over the years. Two stores continue to operate in Boca Raton alongside additional restaurants in Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Deerfield Beach.

Italian restaurant franchise grows out of Boca Raton’s Cannoli Kitchen

As a nod to their ongoing success, the family hoped to expand the concept further, approaching West Palm Beach-based United Franchise Group (UFG) president Austin Titus. Rather than assist the original family with plans for local expansion, Titus partnered with them instead, creating the Cannoli Kitchen Pizza franchise in 2023.

Titus says championing local brands is important to UFG, which includes a food division known as Big Flavor Brands that also operates fast-casual chain The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill and charcuterie board caterer Graze Craze.

“I lived across the street from the original location, and have great memories of the food and experience. When they approached us, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” Titus tells the Palm Beach Post. “Now, customers can expect a totally different experience — a full-service Italian restaurant with fast-casual efficiency offering full dinners and specialty desserts along with high-quality pizza.”

Those pies — a menu of both New York- and Grandma-style pies — continue to be among Cannoli Kitchen’s most popular menu items, and part of the decision to add “pizza” to the name. The restaurant offers a number of specialty toppings that mirror the restaurant’s top-selling dishes, with favorites like the eggplant special, chicken alla vodka, and chicken parmesan.

There’s also the desserts, including the brand’s namesake cannoli.

“People definitely know us for our Italian desserts, be it the tiramisu and cheesecake, or the full range of Italian cookies by the pound,” says Titus.

According to Titus, making the move to a franchise model won’t change what customers have come to love about Cannoli Kitchen. Nothing on the menu has changed, and not a single item will be removed.

Cannoli Kitchen,  2001 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. Open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.  (561) 338-2929; Information: cannolikitchen.com