Local “Gem” Pomodoro Trattoria Unveils Fresh New Look for 10th Anniversary

Riverside, CT – Pomodoro Pizzeria & Trattoria, one of the area’s “best kept secrets,” is proud to celebrate their 10-year anniversary with an updated menu, wine list and new décor at their 1247 East Putnam Ave, Riverside, CT location.

“Pomodoro has had a recent face lift!  We have refreshed our establishment with a new interior and a newly enhanced menu, while still remaining an authentic Italian bistro,” says Mark Mazzotta, founder and co-owner, along with his brother Joe, of the popular eatery tucked between shops at the Riverside shopping plaza.  “We’ve added a veiny white Italian marble wine bar and are now featuring Italian and local Craft draft beer, sleek new banquets, chairs and stools, new uniforms and, most importantly, an upgraded dinner and lunch menu with an approachable ‘sweet spot’ wine list.”

Pomodoro’s high energy, family friendly atmosphere, nestled within a cozy neighborhood bistro, has long made it a target destination for many local families, as well as area celebs and high-end corporate clients. 

As Italian-Americans proud of their Calabrian heritage, Mark and Joe pride themselves on providing that loyal clientele with the rustic, flavorful, fresh generational-old recipes from Italy’s ‘boot’ that they grew up with at home.  Their expansive, ingredient driven menu features a variety of regional Italian culinary treasures, and runs the gamut from multiple selections of authentic Italian brick oven pizza, panini, wraps and tramezzini to homemade soups, designer salads, over 25 great pastas and entrees including chicken, veal, and seafood. Mark “goes out of his way” to source the highest quality premium ingredients. At this time of year he brings in local orchard apples, pears, fall squash or last-minute tomatoes and zucchini from his own garden or Fairfield  / Westchester area farms.

“We honor Italy’s cooking principles by focusing on simple, pure ingredients,” he says. “Our menu screams seasonality and we offer innovative seasonal specials that are posted daily on the website and are always attracting people in to indulge.” 

Mark and his older brother’s foray into the restaurant industry began when both were young. “It’s really a story from the ground up,” explains Mark. “We lost our father, Joseph Mazzotta Sr., the family patriarch, when I was only 5-years-old and to make ends meet after his untimely death, our mother and my brother and I started working for our uncle who owned and operated successful pizzerias in The Bronx and Westchester in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s.” 

Over the years Mark and Joe paid their dues working in restaurants throughout the tri-state area. “We worked from the “front of the house” to the “back of the house;” from dishwasher and potato peeler to busboy and waiter and everything in between before moving onto management and ownership,” says Mark. Along the way they learned every angle and facet of the food industry, and discovered their own innate passion for the fine craft of attentive Italian cooking and wine making, that first began at home among parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Today, along with Pomodoro Pizzeria & Trattoria in Riverside, CT, the brothers also own and run the popular and long-established eatery, Amore Pizzeria & Pasta in Armonk, NY, which opened in 1998.

And today, just as in years past, you can still find Mark and his longtime manager (20 years) and counterpart, Vinnie, in the kitchen, aprons on, preparing their humble food with love and serving the customers they consider part of their family.

Pomodoro Pizzeria & Trattoria is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.  For more information visit www.pomodororiverside.com or call 203.698.7779

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