MADISON – SaZa Serious Italian! is opening their second location across from Toyota Field at Town Madison this summer, and co-owner Jeff Tharp says North Alabama is getting its own signature dish — a 10-layer eggplant dish built like a lasagna and features their own traditional, secret-recipe marinara sauce.
“It’s amazing and special for here in Madison,” says Tharp.
This will be in addition to the SaZa favorites featured at their original location in Montgomery like the Rigatoni Bolognese made with a rich meat, vegetable and cognac sauce roasted for five hours, and their bestseller, the chopped lobster, shrimp and spinach over angel hair pasta dish.
SaZa Chef Joe Dimagio, Jr. calls the cuisine extreme peasant Italian and says about 90% of the recipes are from his grandmother.
Pizza is another SaZa menu highlight. Their crispy pizza crust originates from their special dough made with spring water in Utica, New York by Dioro’s bakery. Tharp says traditional pizza, as well as specialties, will be offered, like the Kafta Lamb Pizza with lamb and Cardamom curry, feta cheese, mint oil and curried yogurt sauce.
The dishes range in price from $15 – $29 dollars, and pizzas start at $15 going up to $22 for specialty varieties according to Tharp.
In addition to homemade, traditional Italian dishes, SaZa will also be serving up a welcoming, friendly setting.
“As soon as you walk into the door, you see the open kitchen, the amazing smells hit you, the chefs working, and the pizzas being made,” Tharp shares. “We will also be displaying artists, providing a home for their art or to sell.”
The restaurant features two levels of dining as well as an extensive outdoor area.
“We have a mezzanine here with an additional upstairs bar that will allow for private events and parties,” says Tharp. “And while we have an outside bar and outdoor dining in Montgomery, the outside bar here has been new and improved with an expanded outdoor dining area.”
Tharp says they looked at opening a SaZa location in Auburn or Birmingham, but they chose North Alabama because of the growth and fell in love with Town Madison on a visit to the area.
“I feel like we have the best location in Montgomery and visiting here, seeing Town Madison and Toyota Field, it was a perfect location for our second SaZa.”
SaZa Serious Italian! is set to open this Summer at Town Madison.
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