Tavola Nostra Pizzeria E Cucina, an Italian restaurant specializing in the owner’s family recipes, is celebrating three years of serving delicacies including an ancient style of pizza called Pinsa Romana.
“I dreamt all along to bring recipes and my family heritage from Sicily,” said Jeff Oliveri. “I would sit at the table with my mother and (say) ‘One day, I’m going to have a restaurant.’”
Meaning “our table” in Italian, Tavola Nostra opened in 2020 at 1040 University Drive, after Oliveri left his corporate career of 25 years to pursue his life-long dream of owning a restaurant.
Growing up in a family that owned pizzerias, he said he was inspired to bring a modern touch to his family’s favorites.
His full-service restaurant specializes in Pinsa, an ancient style of Roman pizza prepared with fresh ingredients, some of which are imported straight from Italy. Oliveri — who learned how to make Pinsa in Rome — says the pizza is unique, as it requires three different flours that take nearly 4 days to ferment. A labor of love, the result is airy and crispy.
Other menu standouts include Arancina or Sicilian rice balls made in house, caponata Siciliana, an appetizer with sautéed eggplant, New York-style pizza, pappardelle alla bolognese, and other Italian specialties. Happy hour is from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. The venue is also large enough to host private events with catering.
After three years in Hillcrest, Oliveri says the neighborhood, including the LGBTQ community, has been so ive.
“They always tell me, ‘Don’t leave’ and that they love the food,” he said. “It’s about the consistency…building, growing and evolving.”
Visit tavolanostrapizzeria.com and follow @tavolanostrasd on Instagram.
Roxana Becerril is a freelance writer.
