Nestled in between the many skyscrapers and upscale restaurants sits a small pizza joint more reminiscent of a neighborhood shop in New York or New Jersey than downtown Bellevue.

Topolino’s has sat in the same building on the corner of Northeast Eighth Street and 106th Avenue for 10 years, and it isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

The small restaurant owned by Caryl Abergel and Zack Msaih has a minimal staff with a big work ethic. Every morning fresh bread and dough is made. The restaurant strives for the look of a rustic New York City pizzeria with the fresh ingredients and myriad of choices typical in Northwest restaurants.

The inside of the restaurant is a snapshot of New York. Red walls and chairs reminiscent of the city can be seen through the large glass window that is flanked by a metallic counter space where customers can eat and watch what’s happening in the bustling Bellevue streets. The unique nature of the place has been key to its success, and the formation of a loyal clientele over the years.

“We’re not a generic corporate place,” Abergel said. “We have people from all walks of life that come in here. Attorneys in suits sitting next to construction workers.”

Topolino’s has carved out its identity as one of the go-to lunch spots in downtown. Featuring specials where customers can get either a small personal pizza (no individual slices), calzone or sub sandwich and a drink for $7, the restaurant has become a draw for many downtown Bellevue’s staples. They get customers from Microsoft, the city of Bellevue, Expedia, and even chefs of other nearby restaurants.

The freshness of ingredients and the demand doesn’t hold up customers either. Msaih said he tries to get meals out to lunch customers in a matter of minutes, as they have places to be.

“Time is important for people coming out for lunch,” he said.

The emphasis on time leaves little room for customers to dilly dally.

The owners ask rapid-fire questions when customers step up to the counter to make sure there’s no delay for others waiting for lunch.

The diverse menu makes the decisions all the more difficult.

The menu features 14 different pizza specialties, nine calzones, 12 subs, and 11 types of pasta. They also recently added vegan pizza options.

Some customers are savvy enough to know to avoid the lunch rush.

Kurt Steinhilbert has been coming to Topolino’s since 2005. As a long-time New Jersey resident, he knows real East Coast pizza. To him, Topolino’s is the real thing. The difference lies in the spices. They can accentuate the flavor of the pizza, something that some restaurants don’t always do.

“It’s a little more on the spicy side,” he said. “It’s not bland like other places can be.”

For those who don’t have the time to come see the shop in person, they do delivery as well. Prices are negotiated on the phone with a minimum order starting as low as $20 to places in downtown Bellevue. The farther away, the higher the minimum order.

The restaurant was first located on Third Avenue in downtown Seattle. Msaih, who grew up in France, has an extensive restaurant background. He’s brought that knowledge, and the move to Bellevue has solidified the business.

Much like other businesses, Topolino’s was impacted by the economy, but in somewhat different ways. Their building was set to be redeveloped, which would have necessitated a move. This could have hurt the business as it may have lost its unique appearance many of the customers enjoy. The deal fell apart, and they were able to stay in the same location. The owners then took advantage of the economy by introducing their lunch specials.

Abergel said they have thought about expanding to other locations, but they worried that the atmosphere would be lost. At least one of the restaurant’s owners is working at all times, something that may not continue with multiple locations.

“You’ve got places in New York that are the same for 40 years, and that’s their plan, to keep it the same,” she said.

Topolino’s Pizza

10621 N.E. Eighth St.

425-637-7770

http://www.topolinopizza.com/