Picazzo’s: Fusion Approach to Modern Italian

by Chris Disney

Restauranteurs are an adaptable bunch. But last year was a wild ride none of us could have predicted. At Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen, we are fortunate to have a passionate and loyal customer base who continued to support us with takeout orders during the shut-down, and a seasoned staff who rolled with the unpredictability, solving each challenge that came along. I am thankful to say that, today, our dine-in service is ramping up at our five locations across the Valley (Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe/Chandler, Arrowhead and Gilbert), plus our original location in Sedona. 

Picazzo’s has earned a reputation for our dishes featuring clean, whole foods, rich in nutrients and fantastic flavors. We are a locally owned restaurant and specialize in a fusion approach to a modern-Italian cuisine that sprinkles Asian, Mediterranean and Mexican influences into our menu of salads, entrées, pasta and pizza. We recently received two special honors in the Phoenix Magazine 2021 Best of the Valley awards, when we were named Best Italian Restaurant and Best Gluten-free Restaurant in the West Valley. 

Over the years, we have continued to adapt and evolve our menu with the goal of bringing people together through food and compassion. When our guests told us they were looking for gluten-free options, we created new recipes for pizza and pasta that delivered on texture and taste while meeting the dietary needs of our guests. A strong increase in interest for vegan, vegetarian/plant-based diets led us to create an entire vegan menu with salads, entrées, pasta, pizza and desserts, and to provide modifications to suit just about any special need. We are committed to using the cleanest, healthiest ingredients available. We source 95% organic produce and make our sauces and dressings from scratch. We also recently introduced an interactive nutrition portal, loyalty app and online ordering at picazzos.com that guests are raving about. 

Picazzo’s happy hour can be a nice alternative (or addition) to a business “power lunch.” Recently featured as Happy Hour of the Month in Phoenix Magazine and one of the best summer happy hours by Scottsdale Lifestyle Magazine, our “Healthy Hour” is available daily from 3–6 p.m. and includes reduced prices on food options such as the Cheese Bread and Avocado Toast and drinks that range from local drafts to signature cocktails. Other special offers include our popular half-off wine on Tuesdays and Saturdays — a great time to enjoy a meal and try our selection of wines, which includes vegan, organic and biodynamic options.

The newest Picazzo’s opened in Gilbert this June. The new light, bright interior design, which will be rolled out to additional restaurants in the coming months, showcases aesthetically pleasing textures and surfaces on everything from countertops to walls to the patio decking. Our guests are loving the new design cues, as evidenced by the number of photos and video being taken and shared! Picazzo’s Gilbert, located at 884 E Williams Field Rd Ste 102, Gilbert, AZ 85295, features a spacious indoor-outdoor layout with a garage door that rolls up to connect 3,300 combined square feet of indoor and patio space. We thought a lot about our consumer when designing the new restaurant and created a space that can accommodate solo diners, couples and business cohorts as well as large families.   

Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen

Multiple locations Valley-wide (plus Sedona)

Avocado Toast

Toasted focaccia with avocado, topped with arugula salad of olive oil, lemon zest, fresh garlic, tomato, almond, watermelon radish, feta and freshly cracked pepper
$11.95

Aperol Spritz

Aperol, Prosecco, Orange
$11

Plant-Based Vegetable Lasagna Bolognese (Vegan)

Fresh, plant-based lasagna noodles layered with almond-ricotta, marinara, asparagus, spinach, mushrooms and vegan mozzarella shreds baked in Picazzo’s house-made vegan Bolognese
$17.95

Chris Disney is operations manager and co-owner of Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen, an Arizona-based, family-owned and -operated restaurant with locations in Sedona, Scottsdale, Tempe, Paradise Valley, Arrowhead and (newly) Gilbert. 

Speak Your Mind

In Business Dailies

Sign up for a complimentary year of In Business Dailies with a bonus Digital Subscription of In Business Magazine delivered to your inbox each month!

  • Get the day’s Top Stories
  • Relevant In-depth Articles
  • Daily Offers
  • Coming Events