Bringing Pizza to the Mountain

La Piazza Allegra has been the backdrop for many special moments for us Hamiltonians. We go to celebrate big occasions, private moments, and everything in between. La Piazza has been a Hamilton landmark since Mark Farrugia opened its doors 19 years ago. Not too many places can say they’ve been around for that long. “There was myself, Lo Presti’s, La Cantina, and Shakespeare’s. That’s really it …” Mark thinks. “… and Bronzie’s!” There are reasons why La Piazza has stood the test of time. For anyone who has enjoyed its food, they know it comes down to high-quality food, exceptional service, and staying in tune with the ever-changing market. As an independent restaurateur, Mark is able to change up the menu and adapt quickly to demands.In those 19 years, Mark has seen the city change. La Piazza has withstood downturns in the economy and increased competition. “When we first opened, within a couple years, there were some restaurants that would pop up here and there,” he says. “But they were fly-by-night. They kind of gave the industry a bad name in the downtown core. So we saw a lot of people who were hesitant to try an independent restaurant, and they would go back to the chains because at least they knew what they were getting. Now, with the guys out there, they’re quality. People know they can go anywhere, and they’re going to get good food, good service. It’s a lot better now.”

In those 19 years, Mark has seen the city change. La Piazza has withstood downturns in the economy and increased competition. “When we first opened, within a couple years, there were some restaurants that would pop up here and there,” he says. “But they were fly-by-night. They kind of gave the industry a bad name in the downtown core. So we saw a lot of people who were hesitant to try an independent restaurant, and they would go back to the chains because at least they knew what they were getting. Now, with the guys out there, they’re quality. People know they can go anywhere, and they’re going to get good food, good service. It’s a lot better now.”

Using all of the knowledge he’d gained from his years at La Piazza, Mark wanted to be the first out of the gate again. This time, he set his sights a little higher—geographically speaking. He headed to the land of chain restaurants and pre-made food: the escarpment. “The mountain is dominated by chains. People said to me, ‘Are you sure you want to tackle these guys? They have lots of marketing dollars, they’re big.’ But we bring something to the table. We make food in-house.” He is bringing his culinary talent to the table in a new form: pizza.

Sasso is located on the corner of Upper James and Rymal, in the heart of chain restaurant land. It serves as a fantastic option for people wanting quality food made from scratch. Mark designed this restaurant with the demographic in mind. “Up here, there are a lot more families, young families starting up It’s hard to leave the kids behind and go out for dinner. Here, you can bring the kids and feel very comfortable.”

When you walk into Sasso, your eye is drawn to the big red giant in the corner. This Forno Bravo wood-burning oven is made in Italy and assembled in California. It can get up to 1300 degrees, but usually runs around 700. It not only anoints the place with a delicious smell, but can cook your pizza in 80 seconds! How’s that for efficiency?

Mark has a long history in Hamilton, dating back before La Piazza opened. Born and raised here, his passion for this city and its people is clear in the way he talks, but even more obvious in the way he acts. For Mark, that means giving back. “There isn’t a single day that goes by, in front of La Piazza, that someone is not asking for money, asking for spare change. Almost every single day, I go out there, and we offer them food. We give them hot soup, hot beverage, a full meal, and at least I know they’re taken care of for the day. I don’t want these things to happen to someone on my watch.”

If you asked Mark to offer some advice to his neighbours, he wouldn’t hesitate. “I would strongly suggest that every Hamiltonian go and visit an inner city food bank. Talk to the people. You realize they don’t want to be there either. This is what happened to them, this is not what they chose. You feel a sense of obligation and responsibility. Four years ago, I got very ill, and when I came through [the 5-week ordeal], it didn’t matter whether I was dirt poor or a millionaire. This was happening to me. Having things doesn’t change who you are, it’s what you do with the time you’ve been given. It’s something I stress with my boys, and my wife is very good at giving back to the community. It’s our philosophy here at the restaurants as well. It’s great that we’re helping people overseas and from other countries, but this is happening in our own backyard. It shouldn’t be happening here.”

Speaking of positive contributions to Hamilton, you can expect to see more Sasso locations popping up across our city in the future. “This one has taken off and done really well. I know the difference between new and sustainable growth. What’s coming through the door is sustainable. It was designed to be replicated.”

The LaPiazza/Sasso family brings passion, excellence, and quality to the table each and every day. With a passion for Hamilton, Mark and his team will undoubtedly continue to create great culinary experiences here for years to come.

TRY IT YOURSELF!

Sasso Pizza Bar and Market
1595 Upper James St., Hamilton
(905) 526-4848
www.sassopizzas.ca