From shipping a pizza across the country to a deploying soldier to helping a group of deployed Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers set up a remote location complete with signage and uniforms, it's evident Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza cares about its local military customer base.

And that dedication and customer service has not gone unnoticed in the restaurant world.

The Washington Restaurant Association recently announced Farrelli's as the winner in the medium restaurant catergory of the 2010 Restaurant Neighbor Awards.

Farrelli's, along with three other Washington restaurants, will compete for a chance at the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Neighbor Award, a program that recognizes outstanding community service in the U. S. restaurant industry. National winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., next month to be presented the award during the 12th annual Restaurant Neighbor Award gala dinner and presented with $5,000 to help their favorite charity or community project. The National Restaurant Association and founding partner American Express developed the Restaurant Neighbor Award to recognize outstanding community programs across the country and to inspire other restaurant operators and owners to contribute to their communities.

"We don't like to toot our own horn, but we've been caught doing good," said Clayton Krueger, director of marketing and communications for Farrelli's. "For us, (the award) is an affirmation that our mission statement is working."

Krueger believes the company's efforts serving its military customers is a big reason why Farrelli's was selected for the award.

Farrelli's has five locations in the South Sound (Tacoma, Lacey, DuPont, Sumner and Parkland) in addition to McNamara's Pub and Eatery in DuPont.

The chain recently honored the most recent wave of soldiers returning home from the Middle East with a free meal.

"We're giving back to the people that support our establishments," Krueger said.

The DuPont location recently worked closely with the 555th "Triple Nickel" Stryker brigade to establish a Farrelli's location in Iraq. The restaurant sent a package full of Farrelli's memorabilia including signage and uniforms, which the soldiers used to turned their common break area into a remote Farrelli's location.

"They told us that was what they were going to miss the most while they were deployed," Krueger said. "They took all the stuff and put it up in their tent and sent us back some pretty cool pictures."

In 2008, Farrelli's also shipped a pizza across the country to a former Lewis-McChord solider (who met his wife at the Farrelli's in DuPont) who was getting ready to deploy.

All state winners of the award receive a recognition plaque to display and are profiled for their community service efforts in the NRA's award publication.