Photo provided by Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana and Pastaria, 27 Fletcher Ave., Sarasota, 941-552-9131.

The West Florida-based, Southern Italian-inspired eatery focuses on traditional Neapolitan pizza and homemade pasta for carb-loving epicureans. Having created a loyal cult following within Tampa and St. Petersburg already, now it’s Sarasota’s turn. Hand kneaded with tradition and integrity, the Bavaro family moved to the Tampa Bay area to open its doors and Italy-imported gold-domed oven in 2009, as the first traditional Neapolitan pizzeria in the state of Florida. Now determined to share their sacred family recipes as far and wide as possible, Dan Bavaro, his wife Anna-Maria and their five children make up the immediate family, but their Italian philosophy remains that anyone who works or dines there, is just as much considered part of la famiglia.

Bavaro’s coveted wood-fired oven came overseas, handmade by a family in Italy that owner Dan Bavaro stayed with when he studied the crucial and authentic elements to Neapolitan-style pizza-making. Seeking a (941) pizzeria to call home, he acquired the neary 100 year-old building across from Regal Hollywood Stadium in downtown. With table dining close enough to watch the open kitchen make magic in the larger-than-life oven, two inside bars, a covered patio and an outside bar with a custom fireplace, the newly-renovated building showcases an Old-World and industrial cocktail of Mediterranean architectural/design styles.

The ‘from scratch’ pizza involves live yeast culture for the dough, strained and dated back over 100 years to an old bakery in Napoli, Italy. Try the thin crust delicacy on Friday, May 17, 11:00am-11:00pm and onwards—marking Bavaro’s official opening day.

Photo provided by Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana and Pastaria, 27 Fletcher Ave., Sarasota, 941-552-9131.

Opening Day details here.