For 15 years, Joey’s Pizza and Pasta House has been sharing their love of food and family with Marco Island. The look of the restaurant has changed through the years, but the food and the family friendly atmosphere has remained the same.

“It’s our family, this is our legacy,” said Santo Gentile, stepson of owner Joey Oliverio. “If we have a bad restaurant we have a bad name around here.”

Many come for the pizza, Joey’s is one of the only places where you can find both Chicago and New York Style pies done well. The dough, toppings and cheese are fresh and the pizzas are made to order. For those not in the mood for pizza, the fresh pasta dishes and big subs are crowd pleasers. The chicken Parmesan sub will fill even the largest appetite, and many may need to split it. For something that you can’t find anywhere else south of Chicago, many get the Chicago’s Famous Scala’s Italian Beef. Priced at only $7.95 this sub will fill you up without breaking the bank.

For a real treat, try the Joey’s Way Calamari which is fried calamari sauteed with garlic, olive oil and hot peppers. Then top it off with NaNa’s Italian Ricotta Cheescake.

“This is true Italian cheesecake made with ricotta,” Gentile said. “That is my grandma’s recipe, she had a big influence on my mom and the way she cooked.”

Doreen Oliverio is not afraid to go into the kitchen and show the staff how she wants things cooked. She is responsible for many of the recipes and shares her inherited love of food with her customers.

Besides coming for the food, many come to watch sports and meet up with friends. Joey’s remodeled three years ago to include an open air bar and outdoor patio area. There are six TVs playing every major sporting event that happens.

“We get the football package, baseball, hockey; people can come here and watch any sport that they like all year long,” Gentile said.

Joey’s is a place where you can heckle your friends and rivals a bit while enjoying a cold beer and some hearty Italian food.

Guests won’t find a happy hour at the full bar because Joey’s maintains a family-friendly atmosphere, but they will find reasonable prices. A domestic draft runs $3 while premiums such as Landshark and Samuel Adams are $4 a glass.

Joey’s is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 7 days a week all year except for Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day and Easter and is located at 257 N. Collier Blvd. on Marco. Information www.joeyspizzamarco.com or 389-2433.

What: Joey’s Pizza and Pasta House

Where: 257 N. Collier Blvd. Marco Island

When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 7 days a week

Information: www.joeyspizzamarco.com or 389-2433