Artichoke Basille's Pizza Takes Over the Kitchen at Ricky's on South Beach

Ricky's, an all-in-one bar, restaurant, and arcade on 16th Street, is about to transform into South Beach's newest pizza joint.

Next Thursday, July 20, New York’s Artichoke Basille's Pizza will take over the kitchen at Ricky's, swapping the joint's carnival-inspired fare for pies and slices topped with tomato sauce and cheese.

The venue, created by Menin Hospitality — a group known for other Miami Beach spots such as Bodega, Pizza Bar, Radio Bar, Bakehouse, and Halves & Wholes — opened about nine months ago. It has drawn customers with its sprawling bar, a large stage, massive couches, and an array of old-school arcade games such as Terminator, Dance Dance Revolution, and air hockey.

The menu was equally eclectic, offering smoked corn dogs, chicken nachos, loaded fries, waffles stuffed with mac 'n' cheese, and deep-fried Milky Way and Snickers bars.

But soon the whimsical eats will be replaced with authentic New York-style pizza.

"When working in the nightlife industry, you have to stay on top of trends and create new ones to meet guests' demands," Menin's Jared Galbut says. "Welcoming Artichoke Pizza and rebooting our cocktail program is a natural step for Ricky’s."

Artichoke Basille's, owned by cousins Francis Garcia and Sal Basille, is famous for attracting hourlong lines in the middle of the night and has been a staple in New York since its opening in 2008. The pizzeria's concept inside Ricky's marks the second outpost outside New York (the other is in Berkeley, California). Besides running their successful chain, the cousins are also known for Pizza Masters, a series on the Cooking Channel.

When Artichoke Basille's opens inside Ricky's, customers can expect a selection of the brand's signature pies, such as the Sicilian pizza, a twice-baked pie topped with olive oil, plum tomatoes, and fresh basil; and the classic Artichoke slice, with artichoke hearts, spinach, cream sauce, mozzarella, and Pecorino-Romano cheese. In New York, slices cost around $5 and pies average about $20 to $25.

Artichoke Basille's menu will take effect at Ricky's July 20. Hours will remain the same. For more information, visit rickyssouthbeach.com.