The Secrets of Stone Oven Baked Pizza

It's not hard to find good pizza in Atlanta. But when you’re looking for the best pizza in Atlanta, you’ll need to head to Smyrna. Locals agree: Zucca Bar and Pizzeria is the number one spot for authentic New York pizza , and it's all thanks to our hot stone oven. Built with special bricks that store and release intense heat, our stone oven is the heart of our kitchen and the secret to our award-winning pizza.  

 Made from stone or brick, and occasionally lined with terra cotta, stone ovens have been traced back as far back as the ruins of Pompei. Almost unchanged from today's brick ovens, historians have documented that these ovens were well-designed for use in small retail food shops. Stone pizza ovens have also been found throughout medieval Europe. They were commonly found in Tuscan farmhouses, where some are still in use today. 

 These ovens all worked similarly to the stone ovens of today, which are heated by a fire underneath. The stone floor of the oven cooks the pizza from the bottom, while the top gets perfectly melty and golden brown thanks to embers and refractory heat from the brick above.  

 The key to baking great pizza is heat, and our stone oven pizzeria has mastered the art with this ancient cooking method. Stone ovens are incredibly efficient at holding and releasing heat. While conventional ovens can reach a maximum temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, brick ovens can reach as high as 700 degrees or more. Once the stones are hot, they radiate heat evenly, so every pizza is cooked uniformly every time. And because of the intense temperatures, a full-size pizza can be fully cooked in a matter of minutes. The high heat in the stone ovens rapidly draws moisture away, leaving the crust crisp and crunchy on the outside, and fluffy and delicate inside. 

 Brick oven pizza has an authentic Italian texture that just can’t be replicated in a standard oven. The hot bricks instantly puff the dough and crisp the bottom, adding flame toasted flavor to that perfectly crunchy crust. Refractory heat cooks the toppings from above, melting the cheese and lightly caramelizing vegetables and meat. With piping hot toppings, melty cheese, crispy-chewy crust, and that signature stone oven taste, you just can’t beat the flavor and texture of an authentic NY-style pizza. And once you’ve tasted it, you’ll never go back to regular pizza again!

 Zucca Bar and Pizzeria has been serving up the best pizza in Smyrna for nearly 20 years. The secret is in our stone oven, where our homemade dough transforms into the perfect crust. Crisp on the outside, chewy and light inside, it’s never soggy or limp. Our homemade tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and toppings of your choice are the final touch. With only the freshest ingredients, our stone oven pizzeria creates delicious, authentic Italian food seven days a week. We’re famous for our New York style pizza, but don’t forget dessert! Homemade tiramisu and NY-style cheesecake are the perfect creamy complement to any meal.