Rossopomodoro Owner Launches Fast-Casual Pizza Chain

Joining the slew of new fast-casual pizza restaurants to hit New York City recently — &pizza, Martina, Blaze — is Simo Pizza, a spinoff Neapolitan-style pizzeria from the owners of Rossopomodoro.

Rossopomodoro chef/owner Simone Falco is coming in hot with not one, but two locations already squared away for the restaurant, which will serve four different pies daily for $10 or under. The first Simo will launch in the Meatpacking District at 90-92 Gansevoort Street, with a second to follow over the summer at 300 Livingston Street in downtown Brooklyn.

Apart from a classic margarita, Simo will offer a vegan marinara with garlic, oregano, basil, San Marzano tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil; another with spicy soppressata; and a fourth pie with cremini mushroom and arugula. There will also be two salads — one with arugula, Pecorino Romano, and lemon vinaigrette, and the other a classic caprese — plus gelato for dessert on the menu.

Falco grew up in Naples, and decided to go the fast-casual route because he thinks the prices of Neapolitan-style pizza are getting “out of control” in NYC. He plans to keep his prices no more than $10, without a “compromise on size or quality.” He’s already looking for a third space in Chelsea or near NYU.

Falco enters a group of fast-casual pizzerias that debuted recently around NYC, most notably with hospitality titan Danny Meyer’s Martina. Others include the LeBron James-backed Blaze Pizza in Staten Island and conveyor belt-produced &pizza. Beyond fast-casual, pizza restaurants have flooded the city with the introduction of Sorbillo, Emily, Piatto LIC, and more. There is certainly not a shortage of the food in NYC.

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