Patch's Signature Pizza Pursuit: 'Viana Special Pizza' at Viana Pizza & Pasta in Sleepy Hollow

We asked Frank Occhipinti, owner of in Sleepy Hollow and a resident of Sleepy Hollow, "Which of your specialty pies is the most popular?"

His reply: "It's our Viana Special Pizza, our best seller during the summertime. When the weather turns cold, however, our chicken/bacon/ranch and buffalo chicken pies are just as popular." He continued, "Viana Special Pizza is lighter eating than most other pizzas, a reason why it's particularly popular in warm weather and with diet-conscious customers."

"To prepare this pizza, we bake the dough until it is nearly ready," Occhipinti said. "Then we add fresh mozzarella, arugula and prosciutto, and finish with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. No tomato sauce is used."

The chicken/bacon/ranch pie is baked with a homemade ranch dressing; the buffalo chicken pie combines a homemade hot sauce with chicken cubes. Two sizes, small (16 inches) and large (18 inches), are offered for the pizzas. Occhipinti points out, "that for only one dollar extra, customers receive the equivalent of two additional slices by ordering a large instead of a small pie."

• Viana Special Pizza, $15.75 (small) and $16.75 (large)
• Chicken/bacon/ranch pie, $16.75 (small) and $17.75 (large)
• Buffalo chicken pie, $17.50 (small) and $18.50 (large)

Other Dishes and Deals

A favorite sweet finish for a signature pizza meal is a 12-inch dessert pizza made with chocolate, sliced bananas, cut strawberries, confectionary sugar and whipped cream; it's priced at $10.95.

Viana also offers a great many different pizzas not mentioned above, pasta (including veal, chicken, sausage and eggplant parmigiana), calzones, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, salads, soup, garlic knots and hot dogs (newly added to the menu). Sorry, a hot-dog pie is not on the menu. But Viana serves a 12-inch gluten-free pizza, priced at $12.95.

Occhipinti said that a license for serving wine and beer (including Corona and Coors Light) has been received. Special offers and deals are posted on the walls and the eatery's website and include:

• Monday only: Large pizza, large bowl of pasta, large salad, garlic knots and 2-liter bottle of soda. Pasta choices: spaghetti, linguini, rigatoni, penne. Takeout only. $25
• Tuesday only: Regular slice for $1.50
• Wednesday only: Senior citizens receive a 15% discount on orders of $12 or more
• Wednesday only: This is a newly announced offer. One-half tray of penna vodka pasta, 12 wings, one two-liter bottle of soda, garlic knots, (meal feeds five people). Takeout only. $24 plus tax
• Saturday only: Students receive a regular slice and a small fountain soda for $2

The restaurant is named after Occhipinti's grandmother (her nickname was Viana). It was opened on March 7, 2011 by Occhipinti who is a former assistant building inspector for Eastchester and has worked as a property manager for communities in Westchester County. The staff includes his daughter Nicole, his wife Joyce, and Tino Gonzalez.

Local delivery is free for orders of $12 or more.

Viana Pizza & Pasta, 91 Cortlandt Street, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. Open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and takeout. Metered parking on the street. Phone: 914/333-0066; fax: 333-0088. www.vianapizza.com.