Overview
Round Table Pizza is an American pizza restaurant brand founded in California in 1959. It is known for made-to-order pizzas, an Arthurian naming theme and restaurants that serve families, groups and local communities. Its positioning places greater emphasis on toppings, product preparation and the restaurant experience than on competing solely through the lowest advertised price.
The business combines franchised and company-operated restaurants, with individual locations offering different combinations of dine-in, takeaway and delivery. Some also provide games, party facilities or an expanded beer selection. This variation matters when assessing the brand: a large suburban restaurant with group seating is a different operating proposition from a smaller outlet focused on off-premises orders.
History and growth
Bill Larson opened the first Round Table Pizza in Menlo Park, California, in 1959. The name and subsequent branding drew on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Over time, the company developed a recognisable identity through its medieval imagery, named speciality pizzas and longstanding association with the phrase ‘The Last Honest Pizza’.
Expansion established the chain particularly strongly in California and neighbouring western states. Franchising enabled growth beyond the original business while retaining a common menu and brand identity. Global Franchise Group acquired Round Table Pizza in 2017. In 2021, FAT Brands acquired Global Franchise Group, bringing Round Table into a larger restaurant portfolio. Those ownership changes are important context, but do not mean that the individual brands share identical franchise agreements or operating systems.
Global footprint
Public brand descriptions placed Round Table Pizza at around 400 restaurants as of 2024. Its commercial centre of gravity remained the western United States, particularly California. It is therefore better understood as an established regional American chain than as a worldwide pizza network comparable in geographic reach with Domino’s or Pizza Hut.
A precise current country count is not consistently presented in public brand summaries, so historic references to international locations should not be treated as a verified present-day footprint. Restaurant totals also change through openings, closures and transfers. Prospective operators should distinguish the overall estate from the number of franchised outlets, and ask which territories are actually available. A large existing presence can indicate familiarity with the brand, but may also limit the most attractive development opportunities.
How the franchise model works
Franchisees operate restaurants under the Round Table Pizza name using the franchisor’s menu, brand standards and operating requirements. They take responsibility for running their businesses, including staffing, premises and day-to-day execution, within the terms of their franchise agreements. The relationship includes initial training and continuing support, although applicants should establish the precise scope of assistance rather than assume every service is included.
The estate includes traditional restaurants and the Round Table Pizza Clubhouse concept, which adds emphasis on group dining, entertainment and beer. Format availability and specifications require confirmation for each proposed development. Franchisees must also understand approved purchasing arrangements, technology requirements, promotional participation and ongoing charges. The relevant franchise disclosure document and agreement, rather than a headline recruitment page, provide the detailed framework for these obligations.
Investment and requirements
Round Table Pizza has publicly advertised an initial franchise fee of US$25,000. That figure is not the total cost of opening a restaurant and should be checked against the latest disclosure documents. Construction, leasehold improvements, kitchen equipment, furniture, signage, technology, opening stock and working capital can make the overall commitment substantially larger.
There is no single investment figure applicable to every site. Restaurant size, property condition, local construction costs and the chosen format all affect the budget. A current, site-specific total is not publicly disclosed as a universal price. Prospective franchisees should request the latest franchise disclosure document for the published investment range, royalty and advertising charges, financial qualifications and any development commitments. They should also establish whether the opportunity concerns a new opening, a conversion or the purchase of an existing restaurant.
What franchisees should consider
The central operating question is whether local demand supports the brand’s price positioning and restaurant format. A dine-in business needs suitable access, parking and sufficient customers to justify its seating and occupancy costs. Takeaway and delivery introduce different pressures, including order accuracy, collection flow, packaging and the economics of third-party delivery platforms.
Pizza production also depends on consistent preparation, staffing and ingredient control. Franchise candidates should investigate labour availability, waste, equipment maintenance and the effect of discounting on restaurant-level margins. For an existing outlet, historical sales alone do not establish future profitability: lease terms, refurbishment needs and the surrounding competitive market also matter. Discussions with current and former franchisees can help clarify the practical demands of the system and the support available when performance falls below expectations.
Competitive landscape
Mountain Mike’s Pizza and Shakey’s Pizza are relevant comparisons because of their Californian heritage and association with family or group dining. Domino’s and Pizza Hut compete for many of the same pizza occasions, although their scale, format mix and value propositions differ. Papa Murphy’s is another competitor for household pizza spending, despite its distinct take-and-bake model.
Round Table also competes with independent pizzerias and local delivery specialists. Its established recognition in western markets can be useful, but recognition does not remove the need for reliable service and a locally acceptable price. Franchise comparisons should therefore examine customer occasions, territory strength and operating demands, rather than simply comparing initial fees or total restaurant counts.
Outlook
Round Table Pizza’s prospects depend on maintaining its established customer base while meeting expectations for convenient ordering, collection and delivery. Its family-dining heritage offers a point of distinction, but larger restaurants must generate enough business to support their space and staffing requirements.
Ownership within FAT Brands places the chain inside a broader franchising organisation, without guaranteeing the outcome of any individual restaurant. For prospective franchisees, the most useful assessment remains specific: the proposed territory, property, required investment, contractual obligations and evidence of comparable restaurant performance. The brand’s long history provides context, not a substitute for examining the current opportunity.
Round Table Pizza franchise: frequently asked questions
How much does a Round Table Pizza franchise cost?
Round Table Pizza has publicly advertised an initial franchise fee of US$25,000, but this is only one part of the opening cost. Premises, construction, equipment and working capital add substantially to the commitment. Prospective franchisees should request the latest franchise disclosure document for the current investment range, ongoing charges and financial requirements.
How many Round Table Pizza locations are there?
Public brand descriptions placed Round Table Pizza at around 400 restaurants as of 2024, with its strongest presence in the western United States. This is an approximate, dated figure rather than a live count. Applicants should request an updated breakdown of franchised and company-operated restaurants, together with information about recent openings and closures.
Who owns Round Table Pizza?
Round Table Pizza became part of FAT Brands when that company acquired Global Franchise Group in 2021. Global Franchise Group had acquired Round Table in 2017. Ownership of the brand is distinct from ownership of individual restaurants: the network includes franchised businesses whose operators run their outlets under agreements with the franchisor.
Where did Round Table Pizza start?
Bill Larson opened the first Round Table Pizza in Menlo Park, California, in 1959. The brand subsequently expanded, especially across the western United States. Its name and medieval imagery draw on King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, an identity reflected in its branding and speciality pizza names.
What restaurant formats does Round Table Pizza offer?
The network includes traditional Round Table Pizza restaurants and the Round Table Pizza Clubhouse concept, which places additional emphasis on group dining, entertainment and beer. Individual locations differ in seating, amenities and service mix. Applicants should confirm which formats are currently available and the property, equipment and investment requirements for their proposed territory.
Latest Round Table Pizza news
Our news engine monitors Round Table Pizza announcements. New reports will appear here as they are published.
Figures are approximate and based on publicly reported information as of 2024. Franchise costs and terms change; prospective franchisees should obtain the brand’s current disclosure documents and take independent legal and financial advice. Profile updated October 2026.