Pezzo Pizza comes to Andover

Andover — According to owner Salvator Bruzze, only the freshest, highest quality ingredients are used at Andover’s newest business, Pezzo Pizza, at 227 Newton Sparta Road. The new pizza parlor shares the same shopping plaza as Bagel Bistro, Cartridge World, Liquor Factory, Dollar Smart and H&R Block. “It’s another exciting opening for Andover,” said Mayor Phil Boyce, who clipped the store’s ceremonial ribbon at their grand opening celebration on Thursday, May 19. Boyce described the stretch along Newton Sparta Road as the township’s Main Street, and said the township is glad to be filling its storefronts. “One store opens, then another, and it’s gradually filling up,” said Boyce. “It’s a great sign.” Bruzze chose the location when passing through Andover while traveling between Blairstown and Sparta for his food distribution business. Bruzze hails from the Calabria area of southern Italy where he learned to cook during his youth. He has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 30 years, and in that time, has opened nearly a dozen pizzerias. He literally builds the businesses he opens from the ground up, including Pezzo Pizza, where he laid the ceramic tiles down himself. Bruzze said he likes the feeling of accomplishment he experiences from physically constructing his restaurants. As for building dishes, Bruzze is described by resident and owner of the Andover Plaza, John Carafello, as a “master at knowing the precise oven temperature and air flow for that perfect pie.” Pezzo Pizza offers dine-in and take-out orders of traditional and Sicilian pizzas, as well as specialty pizza varieties. Bruzze said he heard Andover residents had a craving for more gourmet pizza choices in the area. His specialty pizzas include penne vodka, chicken marsala, bacon and ranch, chicken parmigiana, tortellini, buffalo chicken and blue cheese, Hawaiian (ham and pineapple), white, four cheese, broccoli and spinach, margherita, and everything. The menu is rounded off with a generous selection of appetizers, side dishes, hot and cold subs, wraps, salads, soups, and desserts. The main Italian entrees include veal, chicken, seafood, pasta, baked pastas, and specialty pasta dishes, served with a choice of soup or salad. The restaurant also has a children’s menu where all items are $3.75 each. “He’s going to be one of the most successful pizza parlors in town,” Carafello said. “Salvatore and his family invite you to stop in and experience his love and pride of preparing great food.” Pezzo Pizza is open for business Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays noon to 9 p.m. They can be reached at 973-300-0197 or 973-300-0198.