Tips for Italian Restaurants That Want to Serve Pizza

Customers often have high expectations when they order pizza from an Italian restaurant. They expect the pizza to be a step above that which they might get at a standard delivery restaurant. And they also expect the experience of eating that pizza to feel special in some way or another. So, if you plan on serving pizza at your Italian restaurant, how can you make sure these expectations are met? Here are a few ideas.

Use an authentic crust.

The crust is such an important component of authentic Italian pizza. When you order pizza in Italy, it generally comes with a rather thin, crispy crust that's similar to those seen on New York style pizza. So, before you start serving your pizza, make sure you get the crust right. This may require that you buy specialized flour, such as 00 flour. You may also find that you need to age the dough for a day or two in order to get that traditional Italian bite. However, the time spent creating great crust is worth it because it will have your customers coming back for more.

Keep the toppings simple.

Pizzas loaded with creative toppings like pineapple and ham have their place, but that place is not in a traditional, Italian restaurant. If you keep your topping choices simple, you can make sure each and every one of those toppings is the best version possible. Your guests also won't feel overwhelmed by too many choices.

Offer classics — like Margherita and Quattro Formaggi.

While it's nice to allow guests to customize their own pizzas, you should also offer some Italian classics on the menu. Margherita pizza, which is topped with simply tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, is one must-have. Quattro Formaggi, topped with mozzarella, gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano, and goat cheese, is another classic. Guests expect to see these traditional Italian options on a pizza menu at an Italian restaurant and might be confused if they're not offered.

Serve small pizzas.

In Italy, most pizzas are intended to be for a single person. So, you definitely want to include small, personal, 9" or 10" pizzas on your menu. You can offer larger, shareable pizzas, too, if you like — but don't skip the traditional small ones. 

Pizza is a quintessential dish to serve at an Italian restaurant, but you want to ensure you're going about it in the right way. Keep the tips above in mind as you embark on this adventure

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