Breakpoint

Closed due to notice of seizure. Place hadn’t been busy before it closed. Was a pain in the butt to get into and the service was below par at end as was pizza.

‘Finally found a really good pizza restaurant in Florida, not to mention a fabulous Italian sub place. Had the margarita pizza, and it was delicious, perfectly baked and served in a timely manner. Will have to return to try some of the other enticing items on their menu. Service was impeccable, seating and décor attractive, and great service. Free WiFi, to boot.

The pride shows. Nice surroundings. Real oak fired oven. Friendly staff. Interesting menu. Good food quality and appropriate portion sizes and prices.

Free garlic knots and oil/​spices — yummy! Pizza was awesome!

The food was delicious and reasonably priced, the atmosphere was low-​key, and our server was very friendly and attentive. Loved the fluffy, yet crisp pizza crust, the complimentary garlic knots, and the carrot cake was yummmmmy :-) Thanks!

We have had Breakpoint pizza delivered to our office a few times now. So, I decided to give them a try for dinner and order the pizza fresh and eat it right away. It was really impressive to see the pizza being made from outside of the restaurant, the oven and pizza station are near the glass front window. The wood fire oven looked hot hot hot.
The flavor of the pizza, in my opinion, is a cross between a New York slice and a gourmet wood fired pie. My husband said that the crust has a similar flavor to matzo crackers, which I do not beg to differ. To me, the flavor was slightly bland, even in the charring cooking conditions— and even with paying an additional $ 1.50 for an extra topping.
We ordered three toppings total; fresh mozzarella on the whole pie, prosciutto on half, and pepperoni on the other half. The prosciutto was not cooked, it was gently laid on top of the pizza after it came out of the oven and was not appealing in taste or presentation. If they are worried about burning the prosciutto, then they should put it on at the end of the cook time.
The toppings were sparse, few and far between. The crust is so thin that I could probably eat a whole ½ of an XL pie solo (I know, I’m naughty), which I do not have a problem with, but please add some toppings. On the plus side, the pizza price is about $ 3 – 5.00 cheaper than even the divey-​est of pizza restaurants in Bradenton for this size of pie (chain and local).
Keep in mind that Breakpoint is definitely not a dive, very far from it, when located near the IMG Academy with many tennis paintings on the wall to help lure in the clientele.
The service is where I had the biggest issue. The waitresses appeared to be distracted and annoyed with the fact that they were working at all. Other reviewers mentioned the tasty complimentary garlic knots, which we inquired about and did not receive. The dipping sauce for these knots would have also helped me choke down some of the pizza crust. The waitress seemed annoyed even when I asked about them, saying, «don’t worry, I’ll bring you some.» Yet, still never did.
The handmade cakes in the dessert case are excellent, tall, with many layers and homemade icing. At the time we visited, there was chocolate and carrot— we opted for chocolate and it definitely did not disappoint. The chocolate buttercream icing was heavenly… There were also cakes in jars, but that makes me nervous. Also, there is a freezer case of ice cream made in Sarasota to the left, it was just ok. Note, it is ice cream and not gelato.
There are some high top tables in the front near the kitchen and also a bar to sit at for a more casual atmosphere. The cooler customers were sitting in that area and it was quite full. Where we sat at the tables in the back, there were fewer customers.
From the other reviews, this may be a better place for lunch. I will definitely try out the lunch service and specials in the future and write an update.

I’m sad I didn’t discover this place sooner! The pizza and garlic knots are out if this world. The sauce is the key, it’s delicious. Service is always fast and friendly. I can’t wait to try other items off the menu.

The pizza is quite exceptional. I enjoy the free garlic knots and the olive oil. The dessert of cake in a jar was something a bit different and quite tasty. All and all, it was a good experience. I recommend it.

Went for lunch. Many different choices for either $ 6 or $ 8. A friend had a small salad and huge bowl of baked ziti for only $ 6. I had the chicken caprese sandwich and side of cesar. Dressing was perfect which is hard to find. Would come back again.

Enjoyed an excellent lunch at Breakpoint this week. This was my first visit, but it won’t be my last. The restaurant was clean and inviting, the staff very attentive, and the food simply amazing. I had the Tomato Basil soup — the best I’ve ever tasted — and a couple of slices of pizza. Fresh, plentiful ingredients cooked to perfection in the Brick Oven made this pizza unforgettable. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I can’t wait to go back to try one of the pasta dishes!

Really excellent hand made pizza. The crust was perfect and toppings were plentiful. Great service, good prices. New favorite place!

My wife and I have had pizza here several times before over the last year, but last night’s service was absolutely inexcusable. We called at 8:30 to order one large pizza. That’s it. After first telling my wife before she even placed the order that it was going to take 35 minutes, after she told the person over the phone the order they said it would be ready in «15 minutes.» We arrive at 8:45 and were acknowledged by three different employees that we were there to pick up a pizza under my name. We proceed to wait at the bar for another 25 minutes or so before my wife asks if there is even a pizza in the oven to one of the employees. Sure enough, the man making the pizzas put our pizza in a delivery bag and never said anything to his fellow employees. There may have been a total of 6 other guests in the restaurant, and no less than 4 employees working in the front of the restaurant that were ignoring us. A
After they gave us our pizza (that had been sitting in a delivery bag for who knows how long), I noticed on my receipt that the order wasn’t put in until 8:47! We will never be going here again. Quite possibly the worst service we’ve ever had.

This is our family’s new FAVORITE pizza in the Bradenton area!!! We just moved here from Illinois and have been searching for that «special» pizza place. The margarita pizza was amazing! The crust was soft and sweet. The ingredients were fresh and full of flavor. We loved the fresh chunks of mozzarella melted as a topping. They have these desserts called «cupcakes in a jar,» that are so good, they sell out of them quickly. We tried the carrot cake and it was just like what our grandmother use to make! The staff was very friendly and attentive. They treated our 15 month old daughter like one of their own. We will definitely be back!

After passing this place 100’s of times before I decided to give it a try. My wife dad and I stop in at 12 noon on a Saturday and as we walk in the place was empty which surprise me, anyway we sat down and meet our waitress which by the way was a very nice young lady, and we order drinks. My wife got some kind of salad and dad and me shared a white pizza. Let tell you, I had white pizza many times before but this white pizza was the worse I ever ate!!! First of all it’s a thin pizza and nothing great at all about the look or taste of the pizza. I kinda figure something couldn’t be right seeing this place dead at lunch time. First n last time we ever eat there!

Since I mentioned back in March hearing that Max Mirnyi was an owner here (it’s right next to IMG/​Bolletieri), I realized that I haven’t commented since.
We’re foodies, originally rom the New York /​NJ area, with forays throughout Connecticut and up to Al Forno in Providence, and a lot of time in Europe, including Naples. We tend to know a bit about food, in particular pizza (please don’t even mention that otherwise wonderful food city named Ch***go). We make our own at home often, from scratch, including grilled pizza.
My wife and I (and my brother and his wife, on one occasion) have since then eaten at Break Point three times, all at somewhat odd afternoon hours. Each time, the place has been pretty empty except for a few obvious tennis students at tables toward the back.
And each time the staff has been very, very nice. There seems to us to be a general first-​generation immigrant status there, which we enjoy (fantasizing that they’re Max’s family!), which might explain a couple of the obvious business misunderstandings cited by other posters.
There’s usually tennis on the TV over the bar (and despite being old farts, we’re regular tennis players, so we like that). The wine selection is very limited, but extremely inexpensive, and every bottle of red we’ve tried has been excellent.
The food has been without exception terrific. The pizza, in particular, is – by far — the best Neapolitan style pizza (wood fired oven, quite thin, slightly crispy crust, spare toppings) we’ve found yet in our year living on the Gulf coast. (Pizza generally sucks down here.) Yes, fresh mozz would be nice as an option, but this is not Europe, and that’s a relative rarity in the US.
We haven’t been there in 2 or 3 months, because we live down closer to Sarasota, so if there’s been a change in chef, we’re unaware of that, and will go back soon to check it out. But I would point out that the pizzas are not made in the kitchen, but in the front of the restaurant, behind the bar, where the oven’s opening is, ten feet from the door, right under your big fat stupid nose. Pay attention, watch the show, and if it’s not being made to your liking, you can always open your mouth and request a fix.
Or you can just sit back, drink your Butt Lite, and later whine and bitch on Unilocal.{shrug}.
– Larry

Been back four times. Probably won’t be a fifth. Very inconsistent and there are too many places out there to waste our money here.
Last night we ordered the usual salad, pizza (with an extra crispy crust) and then tried something different by ordering the Bolognese. Salads were slow in coming and they were over dressed. Bolognese arrived but no pizza. Tried to hold off on eating the pasta until everything was served but it was growing cold waiting. The server explained that since we ordered it ‘well done’ it was taking a bit longer (then, hey… don’t serve the pasta!!). When the pizza arrived it was a runny gooey mess — you can even pick up a piece it is so wet.
We were offered a new pizza however it was so late by that time so it was declined. We were told there was a new cook in the kitchen and that he thinks he used too much sauce. Really? This restaurant has swung and missed two out of the four times we’ve visited.

Great pizza, wooden with thin crust, over all great menu, you can find about anything, will came back for sure!

Just moved to the area. Looking for something quick for dinner. Ordered over the phone for take out: a caprese sandwich and a cannoli. Menu on line (and also on the wall in the place) says 6.95 for a caprese sandwich. Man on phone says 7.95. When I tell him what the menu says, he says no, it’s 7.95 but he’s cutting me a break (??) Says it’ll be ready in ten and after I had to repeat 3x that I wanted a cannoli also, he promptly hung up. I arrived 15 minutes later to a half empty place. No one at the door or sign to tell you where to pick up take out. So I walked up to the bar and waited a full ten minutes before any of the 4 people in the place even acknowledged me. Finally got to say I was there for a take out order. Another 5 min before getting it and the check. $ 11.15 was the total and I handed them a $ 20. Another 5 min while they searched in all their pant pockets for change. then the one guy, I’m assuming an owner ran out to his car and came back with a ten. Then he sets it on the counter, without acknowledging me again. Another 5 min pass while the other guy sees me still standing there and now the two of them have to have a conversation about why did he bring in a ten when I need $ 9 in change. He finally throws the ten down on the bar to me. Now for the food… caprese sandwich: shouldn’t be that hard. NO FLAVOR WHATSOEVER. Just 3 pieces of dry mozzerella, 2 slices of mealy tomatoes and 1…1! piece of basil. cannoli was made who knows when, so the shell is completely soft and bland. Major disappointment
I do plan to go back for a regular sit down dinner and to try the chicken piccata and to give it one more chance.

Several months ago we were looking for a good, wood-​fired pizza place in the area without having to drive to Sarasota or St Pete… we found a couple of brick oven places, but no wood-​fired. Today we get a mail coupon package that had one for Breakpoint and that made dinner decision easy! When we walked in we were greeted briskly and talked to who we expect was the owner. He said they’ve been open about three months. We’ve driven by here a dozen times and totally missed the huge sign on the front of the restaurant — or just didn’t realize what it was! But, since it is right next door to IMG Academy it is a logical name, but it doesn’t really spell out Pizza!!! But, once we ordered and got our drinks and Sonja got her salad (both of which came promptly) we enjoyed the Italian music and an otherwise empty restaurant. And, then, it happened… an amazing and wonderful pizza pie was delivered to our table. It was light, tender, the sauce was excellent, there was lots of pepperoni and sausage, and the flavor was incredible. I have a new favorite pizza place in town. We really had the place almost to ourselves, and I don’t understand it — the menu if great with lots of variety and options from appetizers, salads, Italian favorites, and, of course, Pizza! They even have French Onion soup! How great is that! Alas, there was one problem with the place… they don’t have root beer any more. I’ll still go back, I’ll just whine about not having root beer. We highly recommend this place!