A Pizza Story set to open in days: Neapolitan style

A Pizza Story restaurant (7278 Manchester Road) is only days away from opening, according to co-owner Muhammad Alhawagri — maybe the end of next week, he said.

They’ve passed the building inspection, with only the health department inspection to go — on Thursday. Wednesday morning he was on the lower level checking that no light shows around the edges of closed doors — not allowed by the health department.

With that inspection on Thursday, if anything needs attention following after that, Alhawagri doesn’t want to make a promise to be open for Taste of Maplewood, on Saturday.

The two-page menu, featuring wood-fired oven Neapolitan pizza has been finalized. Items are named for story genres, like epic, mystery, parody, weird fiction and space opera. The appetizer plates are the heroes and villains.

Alhawagri said his gelato is made by a recent immigrant from Rome, Italy, who also makes it for Piccione Pastry, in University City, and others.

“Every menu item was created individually,” Alhawagri said. “The Mystery (pizza — tomato sauce, mushrooms, red pepper, oregano and pecorino cheese) we changed the cheese because we tried it many times. Every one here went through extensive work.”

He said his chefs will study the menu and try it over and over. “We’re not starting with a complicated menu. Every item is well chosen,” he said. “Every item is open. If we think we can substitute an ingredient that will make it better, we do it.”