Dining Out: Perfetto pizza at Nonno’s

Meet one of Third Avenue’s newest residents – Nonno’s Pizza.

Run by Danny Rita and Tony Cristiano, Nonno’s is a no-nonsense pizza joint with all the right ingredients.

“We were looking for a while to find the best location and dynamics that we wanted and stumbled across this place,” explained Rita, who is a native of Marine Park. “We saw that it had potential and we know that Bay Ridge is a great neighborhood.”

Nonno’s – which is named after Cristiano’s late grandfather who had a big influence on the restaurant but died during the process of opening the pizzeria – features authentic brick oven pizza and uses fresh ingredients from local distributors.

“We definitely have a different product from normal pizzerias due to our ovens and prep,” Rita said.

And what fabulous pizza there is!

Thanks to the brick oven, all of Nonno’s pizza has a perfectly crispy thin crust with a slightly chewy top. It’s some of the best we ever had.

First, I tried a slice of Grandma Pizza ($3.50 for a slice, $16 for a pie). The delightful aroma of garlic and basil hit my nose before I took a bite. The crispy bottom was a great base for the sweet marinara sauce (which can be bought for $5 a pint or $8 a quart) and fresh mozzarella.

Then we tried one of their specialty slices, Caramelized Onion and Mushroom ($3.50 for a slice, $16 for a pie). It was almost buttery, thanks to the previously sautéed onions and mushrooms, which sunk into the mozz for a slightly salty but rich pizza without being too heady.

The Marinara Pizza ($3.50 for a slice, $16 for a pie) really highlighted the wonderful marinara sauce, with fresh mozzarella and that awesome crust. Hats off to the chef!

Rita said that he is constantly experimenting with different toppings and is “looking for feedback,” so stay tuned for some other yummy combos.

We also tried the Lasagna ($9 for a wedge). Served piping hot from the oven, it featured silky layers of noodles, creamy ricotta and mozzarella, marinara sauce and sprinkles of sausage. It tasted just like it should, familiar and comforting.

Nonno’s also makes totally addictive Pepperoni Bites (three for $2) which consists of soft dough rolled up with pepperoni and mozzarella. It’s delicious and not dripping with grease, as most products with pepperoni are.

The menu also features salads, soups, heroes, focaccia bread sandwiches and Italian ices.

We can’t wait to come back to see what new offerings Nonno’s Pizza will cook up!

Nonno’s Pizza

8816 Third Avenue

718-238-6200

Open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Free delivery

Curbside pickup and catering available