I met Jim Zimmerman owner of Pizzino this week.  I stopped by his new pizza place after an earlier event.  He was about to close, but Jim gave us an enthusiastic welcome and a full run down of his food and drink assortment.  He’s an easy going guy with a compelling desire to make an authentic, mouthwatering pizza.

In business for nearly two months, the causal lunch spot specializes in simple Italian food made from scratch and served in a fast, casual setting.  Jim told us that the menu was inspired by his visits to a small town in Tuscany (his wife is from Italy) and photos of the beach village line the walls.

One look at the menu with its array of designer pizza toppings and you knew that Jim has taken pizza making to another level.  Along with the regular, pepperoni, sausage, and Mozzarella offerings, there was arugula pesto, goat cheese, roasted artichokes and fennel, caramelized onions, pecorino, Capicola ham, and Calabrese salami.

We took Jim’s suggestion and ordered the Augustus Pizza, that was displayed in the show case alongside several paninis, a Caesar salad, a very appealing house salad, and a dessert panna cotta.

Jim takes pride in using only the best ingredients:  San Marzano tomatoes for his sauces, fresh, oven-roasted vegetables, and all homemade salad dressings and soups that rotate regularly  Jim explained that the focaccia-style crust, crisp and thin, is grilled first, toppings are added and the pizzas fired in a 650-degree oven for three minutes.  The combination, along with Jim’s passion for producing a fine product, pays off with an authentic pizza, rich with the scents of Tuscany.

Vichy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies looked inviting, as did the ice cream from Serendipity in Webster Groves.  Yet two more good reasons to drop by Pizzino anytime during the day.

Pizzino:  7600 Wydown Blvd. (Around the corner from Protzel’s Deli).   Open: Mon.-Sat. 11a-8p. UPDATE: Pizzino is now out of business.