Overview
It was revealed earlier this year that metre-long pizza joint Toto was being put into liquidation, leaving a handful of rectangular pizza makers with nothing but a resume listing. The metre-long revolution has been revived thanks to a new Auckland pizzeria with deep connections to the company.
Chef and owner of Presto Group, Mitchell Ross, has pizza sauce in his blood. He was raised watching his father Mike Ross manage hotels and apartments, as well as some of Auckland's best-known Italian restaurants, including Waiheke Island's Poderi Crisci, Ponsonby's Farina and Auckland CBD's Toto Pizza. After spending the last 12 months refining his dough making skills he has launched the new Pizza Presto in Auckland.
Joining Ross at the new outfit is a crew with more than 20 years of experience in the pizza business. Most of the staff are ex-Toto, Sal's and Farina. The goal is to provide affordable, quality pizza in a jiffy.
Presto is currently delivery only, though you won't find the company amongst the masses on Uber Eats — Ross is keeping things simple for the moment with his own a call centre and a fleet of seven vehicles on the road. A drop-in takeaway space won't be far off; Ross plans to open physical stores as early as February 2019, covering Auckland CBD before extending to Saint Heliers, Remuera and the North Shore — which has already started construction. He says the openings will be a new concept for pizza stores in New Zealand.
Pizza is the headline menu item, available as ten-inch circular pies or by the metre. The Tre Formaggio comes topped with mozzarella, feta, parmesan and basil; the Boscaizola features gorgonzola with mushrooms, spinach, pine nuts and parmesan; and the Salsiccia arrives with pork fennel sausage, broccoli and chilli. Also on offer is a range of breakfast pizzas including classic combinations like bacon, egg and cheese, or cold-pressed salmon with spinach, egg and hollandaise. Each pizza is priced in line with the last digits of the company's phone number (0800 37 47 57) and the estimated delivery times. To fill out your feast, there's saffron arancini risotto balls, chicken nibbles, and calzone filled with chocolate hazelnut.
Pizza Presto is currently open seven days from 8.30am to 10.30pm. deliver to the wider Auckland central region from Freemans Bay to Newmarket, Parnell, Orakei, Mt Roskill, Northcote Point.