A taste of New York on the streets of Tallahassee comes in a big red food trailer — and you can hardly miss it.
If you haven’t been online lately, then you might have missed the opening of PhillyDeez NYP on August 17.
In just a month of operation, foodies in the capital city are dubbing it as one of the best spots in town for New York-style pizza.
“It’s been great. Little by little, business is picking up, and it’s new people all the time,” co-owner Philip Sollecito said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat. “Of course, Tallahassee Foodies and social media have been huge. We’ve got people coming in like crazy, saying that they’ve seen our stuff online and it’s been good and everything’s been positive. I mean, it’s really great.”
The love this pizzeria has received should come as no surprise. The same family recipes being served from the food trailer on Capital Circle SE, next to Planet Fitness, trace back to Sollecito and the now-shuttered Solle’s, a beloved local institution that his son once operated on Fred George Road.
The former Solle’s location closed its doors in January 2025 and is now home to local pizza shop Brooklyn Pizza.
“He had such a great reputation, and I’m glad that he kind of set the groundwork for us because, I mean, it’s been — I’m telling you, it’s amazing,” Sollecito said, speaking with pride about his son’s operation and the impact it had on him. Now, he’s building a pizza business of his own — a bucket-list dream years in the making.
In doing so, Sollecito continues a family legacy rooted in food, family and community, spanning generations from North Carolina to Georgia to Florida.
Since February, Sollecito and his partner, Darsheet Patel, known as Dee, have been working together to bring PhillyDeez to life.
Before PhillyDeez, the pair worked together in car sales for 14 years.
“This has been like one of the things on my bucket list,” the chef said. “I’ve been wanting to open a food trailer. So we started talking about it, and we ended up leaving the car business together, and we went to the Planet Fitness next door and he said to me, ‘Phil, are we going to do the food truck or what?'”
The rest was practically history. By February, the partners had established their LLC, ordered a custom trailer and nearly finalized the menu. Then, the food truck occupying the spot they had their eyes on along Capital Circle moved.
They were on a roll — literally.
“It’s like a dream come true because it’s been something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Sollecito said, his voice reflecting a deep sense of gratitude. “I was involved with my son’s place, but he was the owner, and I just helped him get it going, but this is something that’s, it’s a partnership with Dee, and I brought the menu part to the business, and it’s just good to see people enjoy what you’re making.”
In the future, they hope to attend local events with their other food trailer and bring back old favorites people may be missing from Solle’s. And there’s no need to rush off after securing your order — customers can enjoy their slices in the trailer’s outdoor seating area.
Highlights of the PhillyDeez NYP menu
The PhillyDeez menu is filled with authentic family recipes, including their authentic New York-style pizzas, hints the name.
Order their specialty pies made with fresh dough, including what seems to be quite popular, the “Manhattan Margarita” made with mozzarella, basil, red sauce and olive oil ($14.88). The “Brooklyn Bridge” is made with pepperonis and Italian sausage ($16.88). The “Times Square White” is another fan favorite made with mozzarella, Parmesan, ricotta, provolone, olive oil and garlic ($18.88).
You can also build your own pie starting at $13.88, where you can pick your own meats and veggies or get it by the slice.
If you’re not feeling a whole pie, which I doubt you’ll be able to pass on after seeing all the Tallahassee Foodies raving about, there are also strombolis made with golden-baked dough filled with pepperoni, Italian sausage, mozzarella and Romano cheese ($13.88).
“New York Hero Subs” are on the menu as well. The “Italian Sausage Sub” is made with marinara sauce, peppers, onions, and provolone cheese ($13.88). They also have cheesesteaks as well.
Pasta bowls that you can customize with proteins, as well as garlic bread, are available for order as well.
End your visit on a sweet note with an order of its cannolis.
If you go
What: PhillyDeez NYP
Where: 1212 Capital Circle SE Suite D
When: 11 a.m.- 7 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday; 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Kyla A Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. New restaurant opening up, special deals, or events coming up? Let me know at ksanford@tallahassee.com. You can also email your suggestions for a future TLH Eats restaurant.
Original Source: Tallahassee Democrat
