“You kind of need to maintain some of the old, dingy, fun stuff that was here - the charm that was in Sugar House forever.” For Jimmy and Jordanna Brown, bringing Fiddler’s back to life and opening Sugar House Pizza beside it was never simply about owning a bar or a pizza place. It was about honoring a corner of Sugar House that had meant something to generations of people, including Jimmy’s own family. It was about creating a gathering place where longtime regulars, new neighbors, sports fans, families, clubs, and friends could all find their way in. And perhaps most of all, it was about building something together.

“When someone chooses to walk into my restaurant, that is someone who came to visit me in my house, and I need to feed them and entertain them.” Ricci Rondinelli, owner of Villaggio, does not speak quietly, move slowly, or tell a story in a straight line. He is Bronx through and through - funny, blunt, generous, opinionated, sentimental, and full of memories that seem to tumble out faster than he can sort them. He has lived many lives, worn many hats, and worked more jobs than most people could imagine fitting into one lifetime. But behind the stories, the humor, and the unmistakable New York rhythm is a man who has returned, again and again, to the thing he knows best - feeding people.

“I grew up eating pizza like this,” Marco said. “You walk in, you see what is coming out of the oven, and you take a slice and keep going.” With Via Veneto Pizzarium, Marco and Amy Stevanoni have created something that feels rooted in that memory. Just down the street from VENETO Ristorante Italiano, their new space is a more casual expression of the same values that have always guided them - a focus on quality ingredients, a respect for tradition, and a genuine enjoyment in sharing food.

“Main Street in Midvale is on the verge of becoming something really special,” said David Gardiner, co-owner of The Bambino, the wood-fired pizza spot tucked beside Cactus & Tropicals. “The city has been so committed to reviving it without ruining it.”

“We found the building before we knew what we were going to do in it.” Andrea Tree and Nate Silverstein like to tell the story that way, because it captures how Taverna came to life in Salt Lake City’s Marmalade neighborhood. They wanted a place where their children could actually be present, where families could gather, and where a well-made cocktail and a great slice of pizza could exist in the same room without anyone feeling shut out. When a motorcycle shop close to home appeared with a hand painted “For Rent” sign and a phone number scrawled across the fence, they called, stepped inside, and started imagining what it could become.

“It is my own little playground with really good pizza.” Stacy House grew up just south of Chicago in Coal City, a small town where pizza ruled the restaurant scene. “The only restaurant, to be honest, that I ever wanted to own was a pizza place,” she said. “Because I grew up south of Chicago, and I have a very specific pizza type and flavor that I love, and I’ve had a very hard time finding it in the West.” That dream finally became a reality with Millcreek Pizza House, the restaurant she and her family opened in 2024.

“It gets me emotional when I see people having a good time. When the place is packed, I think - wow, we really built this. It’s an honest feeling. There’s nothing better,” reflected Zach Wade as he walked through the dining room of Cosmica, his restaurant in West Maven, on a Friday night. "It still gets me. We’re here to serve - to create a space where people can come together over food and wine and have a fabulous evening."

“There’s never a day I walk into the brewery and do not smile - no matter what’s going on in life, when I walk through those doors, I light up,” beamed Mark Medura, owner of Level Crossing Brewing Company.