From deep dish to Margherita, everyone loves to put their spin on the beloved pizza. One of America’s most treasured varieties is New York-style pizza, which Capo Pazzo Pizzeria is serving up in Gulf Gate. The eatery just won gold for best pizza and an honorable mention for best pasta in SRQ Magazine's annual Best of Competition. 

“We came down here about three years ago and knew there was something missing in regard to the pizza in the area,” Steven says. “There was a need for New York-style pizza in Sarasota. We had some good ideas and good partners in New York who were willing to come down and help us.” He and his wife Melissa relocated to Sarasota from New York and last September opened Capo Pazzo, which has become a local favorite for pizza, pasta, salads and more. Steven runs the restaurant along with Eric Montpetit, and Melissa heads up social media and marketing. The Sarasota-based team also works with business partners Rino Bresciani and Stephen Menna, located in New York. “Our pizza has a thin crust and a sweet sauce, and we use the best ingredients in regard to our flour. It’s double-zero Italian flour. We use Grande, which is the best mozzarella cheese that you can buy. If people know pizza, and they know that you’re serving Grande, you can’t buy any better than that,” he adds. The restaurant is committed to ensuring freshness and quality in every bite. “There’s extra work involved in everything we do,” he says. “It’s not like we’re getting it in a bag or can; we’re cooking it in-house.”

When diners enter the restaurant, they’ll be transported to New York City. As an introduction, Steven recommends guests try the Classic NY Style Pizza or the Margherita, which are more traditional options. After getting their feet wet, many guests opt for specialty pies, like the Prosciutto Arugula with Parmigiano Reggiano, lemon and truffle oil, or the Donnie Brasco, which features pepperoni and spicy sausage. Pastas such as the Potato Gnocchi with white truffle cream sauce and Penne Alla Vodka are crowd pleasers as well. From the appetizer menu, the Arancini Rice Balls, filled with melty mozzarella, are a standout. “That has the most love that we put into any appetizer because it’s a very slow process, especially cooking with risotto. I would say that’s the most labor-intensive,” he says.

Onsite diners will enjoy their meal in a setting evocative of the Big Apple, but guests can also order delivery via the Capo Pazzo app, which is available for Apple and Android products. For their first order, they’ll receive a 20 percent discount. “We brought it back to an old-school pizza parlor in New York. I have a lot of customers who are in their 60s and 70s and feel like they’re brought back home to Queens and the Bronx and the smells. It’s a black-and-white traditional place, we have pictures of Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren and Pavarotti,” Steven adds. “There have been a couple of times where people have mentioned or they walked in and said ‘Wow, I feel like I’m back home,’ and they’re referring to New York City.”

Capo Pazzo Pizzeria, 2053 Reynolds St. Sarasota, 941-487-8677, capopazzo.com. Visit Capo Pazzo Pizzeria on Facebook and Instagram for menu updates and specials.