The fast-casual pizzeria Slice House by Tony Gemignani is opening a second San Diego County location in Carlsbad at 6981 El Camino Real.
The new Carlsbad restaurant, in the Plaza Paseo Real shopping center, will be owned by franchisee Shayan Rajabi. The Carlsbad location is expected to open by Summer 2026. Customers can expect Slice House’s full menu of regional pizza styles, including New York, Sicilian, Grandma, and Detroit, along with salads, meatballs, garlic bread, and vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Rajabi tells What Now that he is also targeting the La Jolla/UTC location area for his 3rd location, but there likely won’t be any new movement or news on that one until after they have stabilized both the Little Italy and Carlsbad locations.
Slice House was founded by 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani, who launched the franchise in 2022 after establishing his flagship Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco. The concept emphasizes counter ordering with quick service, dine-in, and takeout, delivering a neighborhood-friendly, fast-casual pizza experience.
The brand has more than 140 locations currently open or in development across California and other states. The Little Italy location marked Slice House’s San Diego County debut, and the Carlsbad expansion is part of broader growth plans for the region. Additional locations in the county are anticipated but not yet finalized.
The Carlsbad site will join other Slice House locations offering multiple styles of artisan pizza in one place. Each pizza is made with handmade dough and fresh ingredients, showcasing Gemignani’s Neapolitan-influenced techniques alongside creative takes on classic regional styles.
Gemignani has earned recognition on the 50 Top Pizza USA 2025 list, with #3 for Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco and #33 for Pizza Rock by Tony Gemignani. The fast-casual Slice House franchise continues to expand, offering a proven business model for new locations while maintaining the quality and craft of its founder’s award-winning pizzas.
