Joey Basile couldn’t help but smile as he spoke about his family’s legacy.
“People often say I come from a pizza dynasty,” said Basile, the co-owner of Little Sicily, a popular Fort Myers pizza restaurant, during a recent Friday afternoon break. As he balanced checking on customers and darting back to the kitchen, it was clear that family pride ran deep.
In fact, “dynasty” might be an understatement.
Basile’s father, along with his five brothers, founded Nino’s in Fort Myers, a legendary Italian restaurant that first opened in the late 1970s on U.S. 41. One of his uncles, Sal Basile, is a renowned local restaurateur, having previously owned Taste of New York, Bella Rosa, and the original Two Meatballs in the Kitchen. He now partners with his son, Alex, at The Saucy Meatball.
The family’s culinary influence extends even further. Joey’s cousin, Sal Basile, opened the iconic Artichoke Basille’s Pizza in Manhattan and co-hosted the Cooking Channel’s “Pizza Masters.”
Joey’s father, Marco Basile, expanded the family’s restaurant empire with locations in Golden Gate, Lehigh Acres, and Sarasota before relocating to Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. There, he owned Paese Mio for nearly two decades.
Now, Joey has a new achievement to add to the family’s long list of successes.
2025 Best Pizza in Lee County
Little Sicily, which Joey opened in August 2023 alongside his uncle Pierre Carvello, has been named the best pizza restaurant in Lee County for 2025, according to The News-Press’ Bracket Challenge.
The restaurant, which was seeded No. 4 in the competition, triumphed over 3 City Pizzeria and San Matteo in the earlier rounds. In a stunning victory, it defeated the top-seed Uncle Rico’s in the Final Four. Little Sicily then faced off against Pezzo, the Cinderella story of the tournament, and emerged victorious in the final round.
For Joey Basile, it’s another proud moment in a family legacy that continues to thrive in the Fort Myers area.
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