By Jeremy Walsh
Southern Queens commuters getting back late from work now have an additional witching-hour food choice near their transit hub: New Pizza Fresca at 94-18 Sutphin Blvd. opened at the end of March near the Jamaica Center, offering pizza and other Italian favorites 24 hours a day.
Decorated sparsely with brick and raw pine, most of the energy of the business emanates from the large pizza ovens located just behind the counter. Owner Danny Odato said he invested $150,000 into the restaurant.
“I've been cooking all my life,” Odato said, noting he ran an Italian restaurant on Manhattan's 34th Street 30 years ago. He said he opened his business in Queens because the rent is cheaper and the commute is better.
Odato, who lives in Whitestone, opened his first restaurant in Queens in 1989 at Parsons Boulevard and Hillside Avenue. He said he decided to close it when the MTA moved the E subway line to Jamaica Center, taking away his strongest customer base.
His new restaurant similarly takes advantage of the commuter throngs. Odato said his customers include white collar workers from the nearby courthouse and the city Finance Department service center, as well as local residents and night workers from the Long Island Rail Road.
Odato started his culinary career at Manhattan's old Plaza Hotel at 19. He said his future was never in question.
“The passion for cooking was born with me,” he said. “My wife, she cannot touch the kitchen in my home.”
But his wife, Tatiana, appears to share some of the duties with him at the restaurant. Their young son, Mark, also lends a hand, occasionally answering the phone.
“The passion runs in the family,” Tatiana said, noting Mark remembers all the recipes from Emeril Lagasse's cooking show.
“Everything is homemade,” Odato said, noting he makes his own cannoli and his own spaghetti.
For the newcomer, he recommends the chicken parmesan hero, a foot-long sandwich constructed from a whole chicken breast and imported cheese for $5.75.
Odato also said he hopes to offer a number of services to the community, including training local residents to be pizza cooks.
“It's unpaid at first, but after a couple months, they've got the skills to get a job somewhere,” he said.
The restaurant is also planning a special membership program that Odato hopes will attract some local professionals who could provide free or discounted services like mortgage counseling to other members.
“We will give you so much benefits if you provide your service,” he said.
He also said the restaurant is open to religious organizations for fund-raisers and will have a free food event.
“Once a year, we'll donate to the poor,” he said. “One day, from morning until noon, free pizza, all you can eat.”
New Pizza Fresca can be reached at 718-206-1303.
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
