Pizzeria

A pizzeria with its staff along Via Depretis in Naples c. 1910
A pizza chef baking pizza in a pizza oven

A pizzeria (Italian: [ˌpitːseˈriːa]) is a commercial establishment specializing in the preparation and sale of pizza. It may offer take-away, where the customer orders their food either in advance or at the restaurant and then takes the prepared food with them in a pizza box. A pizzeria may deliver food to the customer's home.

History

Pizzerias emerged in Naples by the late eighteenth century, following the introduction of the tomato from the New World. The earliest known mention of the tomato as a culinary ingredient in a European cook book appeared in 1692 by Naples-based steward Antonio Latini. In1799, Gennaro Majello petitioned King Ferdinand IV and complained that the presence of French troops prevented him from opening his shop and working as a "Pizzajolo" [sic]. By 1807, a census recorded 68 pizza makers with shops in Naples. Their number increased during the nineteenth century reaching 120 by 1871.The word pizzeria first appeared in a dictionary in Alfredo Panzini's 1905 Dizionario Moderno as "the shop where one makes and eats pizza and other Neapolitan delicacies."

One of the world's first pizzerias was founded in Naples by Raffaele Esposito in 1830. The restaurant, now known as Pizzeria Brandi still operates to this day.

The origin of the pizzeria in the United States has been attributed to Italian immigrant Gennaro Lombardi who opened a pizzeria in 1905. However, advertisements in New York City Italian-American newspapers indicate the presence of pizzerias in the city as early as 1901. Following World War II, the popularity of Italian food increased in the United States, partly due to both servicemen who encountered it in Italy and a new wave of Italian immigrants. In 1949, veteran and oven-repairman Ira Nevin received a patent for a gas-powered ceramic-lined pizza oven, which was easier to mass produce than previous brick-and-coal ovens.

Types

Pizzeria-restaurant

A pizzeria is a type of restaurant that serves pizza with other dishes, including calzones and various fried foods. Customers order from a menu and are served at the table by a waiter. The chef is assisted by a pizzaiolo, who operates the oven and prepares the pizza. It is generally served al piatto, although some establishments offer pizza al metro. Al piatto pizza is also sold for takeaway (take-out).

Takeaway pizzeria

Smaller than a pizzeria-restaurant, it is a venue where pizza is purchased for consumption at home. Pizza may also be eaten on-site, at counters or tables provided inside the establishment. Takeaway pizzerias often have a refrigerator from which customers can also purchase beverages.

Fast food

Pizza al taglio for sale in Rome, Italy

In the late 20th century, the concept of fast food caused changes in pizza sales. Food stands offering pizza al taglio (lit. 'pizza by the slice') started appearing in Italy, baking large rectangular pizzas sold in small slices. These slices are seldom topped with more than two ingredients, not counting tomato and cheese.[better source needed]

Fast food chains

There are also fast food chains that combine speed of service with the widespread consumption of pizza.

Take and bake pizzeria

Take-and-bake pizzas are typically made to order out of fresh ingredients (though the pizzeria may also keep a number of commonly ordered or special sale price pizzas on hand for convenience). Often because the pizzas are made with fresh and unbaked ingredients and not heated in-store, the pizzas can be paid for in some states with food assistance EBT cards.

According to Nation's Restaurant News, take-and-bake pizzerias typically have lower costs because they require less restaurant space and equipment. As a result, they are often able to undercut the national pizza giants.

Pizza is also sold in rosticcerie, bakeries, delicatessens, and hypermarkets.

Home delivery

Home delivery is equally widespread and is sometimes used as a form of advertising; discount vouchers may accompany deliveries as promotional offers. In many countries, a delivery charge and tip is added to the bill. In Italy, it’s usually around one Euro. Delivery generally takes place using small vehicles such as scooters, equipped with special storage boxes.

Pizza delivery by motorcycle inspired the video game Radikal Bikers.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Valdès, Gabriele (9 November 2016). "15 things to know before opening a pizzeria" (in Italian).
  2. ↑ Gentilcore, David (2009). "Taste and the tomato in Italy: a transatlantic history". Food & History. 7 (1): 125–140.
  3. ↑ Mattozzi, Antonio (2015). Inventing the Pizzeria: A History of Pizza Making in Naples. Bloomsbury Academic.
  4. ↑ Guido, Valli (2026-08-19). La vera Pizza - The Soul of Naples: A Slice of Italy's History, Heart, and Table (in Italian). La Nuova Luce Edizioni. ISBN 979-12-247-1833-8.
  5. ↑ Guido, Valli (2026-08-19). La vera Pizza - The Soul of Naples: A Slice of Italy's History, Heart, and Table (in Italian). La Nuova Luce Edizioni. ISBN 979-12-247-1833-8.
  6. ↑ Daley, Jason (February 8, 2019). "The Father of American Pizza Is Not Who We Thought He Was". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
  7. ↑ Burns, Kendall (February 5, 2019). "Lost Forefathers of Pizza in America Discovered". United States Pizza Museum. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ Martyris, Nina (May 9, 2015). "GIs Helped Bring Freedom To Europe, And A Taste For Oregano To America". NPR. Retrieved October 27, 2026.
  9. ↑ Arthur I. Fader and Ira Nevin, “Pizza Pie Oven,” U.S. Design Patent D152,952, issued March 8, 1949.
  10. ↑ Hogness, Peter (1995-01-25). "At the Nation's Table: New Rochelle, N.Y.; Cooking With Gas, Or Is It Wood?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
  11. ↑ Serra, Chiara (23 July 2013). "Savona, 5mila euro di multa per due pezzi di pizza" (in Italian).
  12. ↑ Sacchetti, Prisca (8 April 2016). "Lo chef è sopravvalutato: fate i pizzaioli" (in Italian).
  13. ↑ De Luna, Lara (29 January 2018). "Milano, la pizzeria nella quale il conto lo scegli tu: marketing o rivoluzione?" (in Italian).
  14. ↑ "Pizza, business made in Italy un fatturato miliardario" (in Italian). 2 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "Giordania, la prima pizzeria al taglio italiana, gestita da rifugiati iracheni" (in Italian). 27 October 2017.
  16. ↑ "Come fare per vendere bevande in una pizzeria da asporto?" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "Pizza al Taglio". TasteAtlas. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  18. ↑ Burchia, Elmar (22 August 2010). "Burger King lancia il superpanino-pizza «Ma è meglio mangiarlo in compagnia»" (in Italian).
  19. ↑ Wallis, Jessica (March 13, 2009). "Pappa Murphy's Pizza". Taft Independent. Archived from the original on 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  20. ↑ Berkowitz, Matt (June 2003). "The wiles of Wilson: WWE Diva Torrie Wilson reveals all—her secrets to success, that is". Wrestling Digest. Vol. 5, no. 1. Archived from the original on 2004-08-14. Retrieved 2019-02-12 – via FindArticles.
  21. ↑ "Pane, pizza e impasti all'avanguardia a Monza. Il Forno del Maestro ed Era Pizza" (in Italian). 13 July 2017.
  22. ↑ Iacobucci, Dawn (2001-06-18). Kellogg on Marketing. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-05404-7.
  23. ↑ Gioiello, Sandro (25 August 2016). "Il drone che consegna la pizza a domicilio è l'invenzione più importante di sempre" (in Italian).
  24. ↑ Pincher, Dr Penny (2014-12-15). Pinch Like You Mean It! 101 Ways to Spend Less Money Now. Dr. Penny Pincher. pp. 84–86. ISBN 978-1-310-31497-1.
  25. ↑ "Ma la consegna a domicilio conviene?" (in Italian). 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  26. ↑ "Consegna pizze in scooter, fermato contromano: trovata droga" (in Italian). 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  27. ↑ "Radikal Bikers". Retrieved 28 September 2016.