Free Pizza Party at Flash Fire Pizza Grand Opening Today in Fort Lauderdale

Someone finally made all our pizza dreams come true and created South Florida's first fast-casual build-your-own-pie restaurant.

It's called Flash Fire Pizza, and co-founder Jason Frese — also behind the Copper Blues concept — is one of the masterminds driving the new Chipotle-like establishment that lets customers customize their own pizzas and salads in assembly line fashion.

Flash Fire Pizza may be fast, but it's not fast food, Frese says, featuring a menu that provides more customizable options than any other fast-food pizza chain. The restaurant will have a number of diet-friendly and health-conscious options like gluten-free dough, hormone-free chicken, local organic vegetables, and GMO-free greens — as well as premium local and globally sourced cured meats.

Starting at $7.95, customers can build their own pizza — one that's guaranteed to be pulled from the wood-burning stone oven in three minutes or less. The customizable creations are near limitless with more than 40 selections that allow customers choose what type of dough (there's a gluten-free option), sauces (pesto and garlic oil sound intriguing), toppings (bison sausage anyone?), cheese (artisan mozzarella is crafted by an in-house cheese monger), and finishing items (sea salt and live herbs) they'd like on their pie. Dessert will include several selections of authentic Italian ice, and craft beers and wine are also available.

"The philosophy is 'farm to fire in a flash' — artisanal pizza done fast and fresh," said Frese. 

Don't feel like making your own masterpiece? The menu also offers 13 signature pies, salads, and charcuterie boards.

To celebrate its grand opening, Flash Fire Pizza will host an opening day pizza party at its new location located at Fort Lauderdale's Federal Marketplace from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, August 21. Part of the festivities includes a free pizza party at the new 100-plus seat restaurant that features indoor and outdoor seating, exposed-brick walls, elegant white marble, and black chalkboard menu displays. 

Flash Fire Pizza will be open for lunch, dinner, and late-night dining (weekends only). The restaurant is located at 2949 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-440-2426, or visit flashfirepizza.com.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.