Salvito’s Pizza Bar – Authentic Italian Pizza
Often considered one of Italy’s most memorable dishes, beloved pizza is an ultimate comfort food and has become an ever-growing obsession around the world. Is there anything more enjoyable than a really good pizza? Pizza is a dish that we so often associate with Italy, but it is now found in pretty much every corner of our globe. A googling of pizza yields over 1,800 billion hits.
Italy in general and Naples, in particular, are known to be the place of pizza’s roots; the fact remains that tomatoes – one of the main ingredients in pizza – originally came to Italy from America. Italian emigration to Nelson extends back as far as the 1860s, and in the early decade of 1920, the Wood became known for its tomato gardens, many of them owned by Italian families. At its height, there were more than 40 growers in The Wood Nelson’s own Little Italy.
At Salvitos Pizza Bar on Hardy Street, you can step back in time as across the interior walls, there are photos and inscriptions detailing the story of the family’s life and time to the present day. The Esposito family’s connection to the city began in 1890 when 26-year-old Pasquale Fiatarone set sail from Naples in search of a better life on the other side of the world. Pasquale’s great-great-grandsons Salvi and Vito, after whom the pizza bar is named, are on board with their father, John (Giovanni) Esposito in running the business, having grown up learning the art of pizza making at home and at Club Italia. Salvito’s Pizza styles and ingredients adhere to tradition, although the names have been altered to honour those who had gone before. For example – the flagship Neapolitan pizza with homemade tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, dressed with fresh basil, grated Grana Padano and extra virgin olive oil – that’s a ‘Frank Monopoli Margherita’.
There is nothing like authentic Italian pizza. There are chains that serve pizza in all their glory, but Italian pizza is a hard-to-beat alternative. Authentic Italian pizza is often characterized by a crispy and thin bottom, with fresh ingredients and good choices of topping. John chooses raw materials with care and has a great customer focus. – Our pizzas are very much appreciated as we make them in an authentic Italian way. What drives us and gives joy are satisfied customers. When customers praise the food and say that it is the best they have eaten, you get really happy, says John.
Pizza, simple, unpretentious but at the same time incredibly varied, tasty and absolutely wonderful dish has taken place in the hearts of so many people around the world.
John Esposito and his sons want to honour that heritage and welcome you into a world full of flavours, aromas and sheer pleasure. Welcome to an Italian dining experience.
Such delicious pizza!!