Apizzeria is arestaurant focusing onpizza.
A pizzeria may offer take-away, where the customer orders their food either in advance or at the restaurant and then takes the prepared food with them in apizza box. A pizzeria maydeliver food to the customer's home.
In Italy, pizza was traditionally food for the poor and thus contained few and cheap ingredients. With its popularity after theSecond World War, it became mostly a practical dish that was quick and easy to prepare. Pizza became more accessible whenfrozen pizza and pizza delivery were invented.[1]
Probably the oldest pizzeria in the world to still operate to this day isAntica Pizzeria Port'Alba inNaples, Italy. The restaurant was founded in 1738 as a catering place for merchants, and was converted into a restaurant with tables, chairs, and an upper floor in 1830.[2]
One of the world's first pizzerias was founded in Naples byRaffaele Esposito in 1830. The restaurant, which continues to operate to this day, is nowadays named Pizzeria Brandi. The firstpizza Margherita was baked in 1889 with the colours of theflag of Italy in honour ofQueen Margherita of Savoy who visited the restaurant.[3]
In the United States, sales of pizza started in 1905, whenGennaro Lombardi installed a pizza oven in his shop-café and started sellingpizza by the slice.[3]
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In the late 20th century, the concept offast food caused changes in pizza sales. Food stands offeringpizza al taglio (lit. 'pizza by the slice') started appearing in Italy, baking large rectangular pizzas sold in small slices. These slices are seldom topped with more than two ingredients, not counting tomato and cheese.
