Naples’s Most Famous Pizza Maker Plots Global Expansion

Acclaimed Naples pizzaiolo Gino Sorbillo is taking his Neapolitan pies worldwide. One of Italy’s most beloved pizza makers, Sorbillo opened his first U.S. restaurant in New York City in November. Just two months later, he has a new business partner and plans to expand to Miami, Los Angeles, and, in 2019, Tokyo.

Sorbillo is teaming up with entrepreneur Shintaro Akatsu, who worked with Italian gelato shop Grom and owns multiple Japanese restaurants in Milan. In a press release, Sorbillo said Akatsu’s “extensive experience with fast-growing and innovative companies is tremendous asset to our family.”

Sorbillo is a legend in Naples, both for his pies, characterized by a light, puffy crust and soupy center, and for fighting organized crime in the neighborhood home to his flagship restaurant. He opened three restaurants in his home city before debuting a Sorbilla Pizzeria in New York, where it is successful enough to merit a second NYC location, according to the press release.

In a first look at the New York restaurant, which serves pasta and appetizers along with the famous pies, Eater NY critic Robert Sietsema declared, “We finally have real Naples pizza here.” Stay tuned to find out when other select U.S. cities will, too.

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