Pizza Place Got Call to Make $300 Order of 18 Pies. Once Owner Realized It Was a Prank, He Donated Them to a Local Hospital

A light-hearted prank has led to an act of generosity by a popular pizza restaurant in Cheyenne, Wyoming. L’Osteria Mondello received an unexpectedly large order for 18 pizzas, valued at approximately $300, only to discover that the whole request had been a joke. Instead of wasting the food, the restaurant’s staff decided to donate the pizzas to a local hospital’s emergency room, hoping to brighten someone’s evening.

The unusual order arrived at L’Osteria Mondello on Friday, August 14. According to a post on the restaurant’s social media, staff members prepared all 18 pizzas in good faith. However, when they attempted to confirm the order, they discovered the prankster was merely having a laugh, and nobody was coming to collect the food. Realising the situation, the staff swiftly decided that the best course of action was to turn the frustrating experience into a positive one.

In their Facebook update, the restaurant expressed their hope that the pizzas would “make someone’s night a little better.” They noted that the decision to donate the food was an effort to ensure nothing went to waste. The pizzas were subsequently delivered to the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Room, where the grateful hospital staff posed for pictures with their unexpected dinner.

Owner Dave Agovic shared details of the hectic evening with Cowboy State Daily, indicating that the prank order was received during a particularly busy period for the restaurant. At the same time as the prank order, L’Osteria Mondello was processing other legitimate orders, including one for 12 or 13 pizzas and another for seven or eight. The kitchen became increasingly hectic, resulting in the establishment temporarily halting new orders and informing callers that they would face a wait of one and a half to two hours.

After preparing the large prank order in around 40 minutes, the staff attempted to reach the person who had placed the order. To their surprise, when they called, the individual denied any knowledge of the request. Faced with the dilemma of what to do with the surplus pizza, Agovic suggested to his team that they deliver it to the nearby hospital.

As luck would have it, Ryan Lemley, a former employee who had spent over two years working at L’Osteria Mondello, stopped by the restaurant that day. Upon learning of the situation, he volunteered to help deliver the pizzas. Agovic was quick to commend Lemley for his willingness to assist, referring to him as his “hero” for stepping up in a moment of need.

This incident is not the first time that L’Osteria Mondello has experienced a prank order like this, according to Agovic. He mentioned that something similar had occurred only once in the three-plus years since he took over the restaurant. In addressing the prank order, he said it was the trust they place in their community that led them not to ask for payment in advance. “Cheyenne is a small place, and it’s filled with wonderful people. We really try to make sure we maintain that trust with the local community,” he emphasised.

The act of donating the pizzas has garnered positive attention on social media, with many expressing their gratitude for the restaurant’s thoughtful response to an inconvenient situation. The community has rallied around L’Osteria Mondello, reaffirming the bonds between local businesses and the people they serve.

In the age of fast food and instant gratification, this story serves as a timely reminder of the importance of kindness and community spirit. Through their actions, both the staff of L’Osteria Mondello and the hospital workers illustrate how even a moment of frustration can be transformed into something meaningful that touches the lives of others.

Such goodwill initiatives can play a crucial role in creating a sense of community, especially in challenging times. As L’Osteria Mondello continues to operate in Cheyenne, it is clear that their commitment to serving the community goes well beyond just providing delicious pizza.