Restaurant Opening: Pesto Italian Eatery

Pesto Italian Eatery, the state’s first build-your-own pasta concept, will open its first fast-casual restaurant in Chandler this fall. The authentic Italian eatery will give guests the opportunity to enjoy fresh, homemade pasta and sauces in a casual environment at an affordable price point.

The restaurant is led by Cosmo Magliozzi, who is bringing his passion for high-quality Italian cuisine cultivated by his father, now-retired celebrity chef and restauranteur, Antonio Magliozzi, who gained recognition for his popularity amongst well-known clients such as Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone.

“We want to inspire our customers and allow them to express themselves while enjoying a meal with their friends and family,” Magliozzi said. “This is my way of sharing my father’s famous Italian recipes with the world. As he’s known for saying, ‘It’s no secret – it’s olive oil, garlic, onion, oregano, fresh basil and all of my heart inside the sauce.’”

At Pesto Italian Eatery, guests will have the opportunity to choose between several different varieties of pastas including a gluten-free option. The main pasta options will include two long noodle variations and two short noodles, made fresh on-site every day.

Pasta enthusiasts will then choose from several homemade sauces, including the restaurant’s signature marinara and pesto, as well as specialty rotating options such as lobster cream and the famous Italian tuna red sauce. A variety of proteins and vegetables will also be available to add to the pasta, including meatball, sausage, chicken, pancetta, grilled artichoke and eggplant, to name a few. From there, every bowl will be topped with Pesto Italian Eatery’s specialty blend of cheeses and fresh basil, then served with a traditional Italian breadstick.

Additionally, Pesto Italian Eatery will offer several grab-and-go salad options including a mixed green salad, Caprese salad and an Italian tuna salad made from the family’s traditional recipe. Dessert options will include classic Italian favorites such as torta della nonna, cannoli and sfogliatella.

Pesto Italian Eatery is located at 2780 W. Chandler Blvd. Suite 6, Chandler. The restaurant’s hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information about Pesto Italian Eatery, visit pestoeatery.com or follow on Facebook.