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Los Angeles’ food scene just got a major dose of ’90s nostalgia with the opening of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed pizzeria in the heart of Santa Monica.
Foodies are already buzzing about the premium prices — with full pies ranging from $39 to $54 — but the bigger question is whether the experience is worth the shell-out.
Walking into the venue feels like stepping straight into a comic book.
The immersive space is packed with TMNT memorabilia, a full bar serving Turtle-inspired cocktails including the Jolly Rancher and Shell Duty, and a merchandise section stocked with custom skateboard decks, action figures and even vintage VCRs playing episodes of the original animated series on VHS.
The attention to detail is so obsessive that visitors may find themselves repeating Michelangelo’s immortal line from the 1990 movie: “Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza.”
The California Post was given an exclusive preview ahead of Saturday’s opening.
A true ’90s throwback
Patron Johnny said the restaurant captures exactly what fans would imagine the Turtles’ underground hangout would look like.
“It feels like you’re kicking it where they would be kicking it,” he said.
“If they got a chance to make their own little place in the sewers, I feel like this is what it would look like.”
The nostalgia extends to every corner of the venue, from a slime-covered New York subway-themed restroom to a classic TMNT arcade cabinet ready for anyone with a pocketful of quarters.
The taste test
The prices may be steep for pizza night, but the food backs up the theme.
Among the standout pies are Raphael’s Pepperoni Bash and Rocksteady’s Meat Smash, both loaded with toppings and served on crisp New York-style crusts.
“I thought it was really good,” said diner Luke Covarrubias. “I had the pepperoni and the mushroom.”
Another customer, Ashley, admitted she worried the restaurant would lean too heavily on the gimmick.
“But the food really is really good,” she said. “Honestly, it’s like a dream come true. Huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan. It’s just incredible. I love it.”
The pizzas deliver exactly what fans want from a great slice: crisp crust, rich sauce and quality ingredients. The themed setting may get people through the door, but the food gives them a reason to come back.
The Post would even go so far as to say it’s one of the better New York-style pies we’ve tasted recently.
A boost for the Promenade
The venue’s energetic, late-night atmosphere could also be a welcome addition to Santa Monica’s struggling Third Street Promenade.
Its arrival coincides with the city’s new Entertainment Zone, created under California’s SB 969 law, which allows visitors to purchase alcoholic drinks from participating businesses and legally carry them throughout designated sections of the Promenade.
The open-container program is designed to boost foot traffic and nightlife, giving attractions like the TMNT pizzeria a unique advantage as city leaders work to revive one of Southern California’s most famous shopping districts.
The verdict
For Ninja Turtles fans, this place is an easy recommendation.
Even if you skip the pizza, the themed drinks, arcade games, memorabilia and wall-to-wall nostalgia make it worth a visit. But if you plan on ordering dinner, be prepared to spend like a sewer-dwelling superhero.
Cowabunga doesn’t come cheap.
