We tried this pizzeria’s newest location — and the vodka pesto stole the show
When a pizza shop opens a second — or in this case, a fifth — location, there’s always one question in the back of our minds:
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Will it be as good as the original?
Fortunately for pizza lovers on Charlotte’s southeast side, the answer at Inizio Pizza Napoletana is yes.
The new Cotswold location delivers everything that made the original such a local favorite while giving the neighborhood its own inviting place to gather over wood-fired pizza.
Walking through the doors, the first thing we noticed wasn’t the pair of giant wood-fired ovens — it was the atmosphere. Bright, welcoming and filled with local artwork, the restaurant immediately feels comfortable.
Each Inizio location has its own personality, and Cotswold’s centerpiece is a massive Mount Vesuvius mural by artist Kyle Mosher. Hidden throughout the store are playful dog illustrations, giving guests something fun to discover while they wait for their pizzas.
A carefully curated playlist blends modern music with Italian classics, creating an atmosphere that somehow feels both energetic and relaxed.
We met with Grant Arons, co-owner and self-proclaimed “head dough nerd,” who welcomed Tristan behind the counter for a pizza-making lesson.
Neapolitan dough behaves differently than the New York-style dough we’ve stretched before. It’s softer, more elastic and requires more finesse than force. There’s less tossing and more stretching and slapping as the dough gradually takes shape.
Watching the pizzaiolos work is part of the experience. Every movement has a rhythm: stretch, top, rotate and slide the pizza into the blazing wood-fired oven, where it cooks for just 90 seconds. It’s a process they’ve clearly perfected.
Arons told us a typical Inizio location turns out about 2,500 pizzas each week, yet every pie still feels handcrafted from the moment the dough is stretched until it lands on your table.
Of course, none of that matters if the pizza doesn’t deliver.
Thankfully, it does, as CharlotteFive’s Peter St. Onge recently ranked Inizio’s as one of the best in the city.
The crust strikes the balance that great Neapolitan pizza is known for — light, airy and tender with just enough char to remind you it came from a blistering-hot oven. The center stays soft while the outer cornicione develops the beautiful leopard spotting that pizza fans chase.
We asked Arons what he recommends to someone visiting Inizio for the first time.
“Start with the Margherita,” he said without hesitation.
His reasoning makes perfect sense.
“You can’t hide behind toppings.”
A simple Margherita lets the dough, sauce and cheese speak for themselves.
From there, he pointed us toward two personal favorites: the Pistachio pizza, inspired by flavors he experienced while traveling through Italy, and the colorful Vodka Pesto pie.
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During our visit, we sampled all three.
One thing that immediately stood out was the quality of the ingredients. Many of the restaurant’s key ingredients — including the San Marzano tomatoes, the water for the dough and creamy buffalo mozzarella — are imported from Italy. It’s an investment you can taste in every bite.
Even the cheese reflects that commitment to quality. Every pizza combines three varieties: cow’s milk mozzarella, creamy buffalo mozzarella and Pecorino Romano, creating layers of flavor without overwhelming the pie.
The Margherita showcased exactly what Arons described. The bright crushed tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil proved that simple ingredients, when executed well, are hard to beat.
The Pistachio quickly became one of the most memorable pizzas we’ve had this year. Built on a pistachio pesto base and topped with rosemary, sea salt, ricotta, cow’s milk mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella, roasted garlic and crushed pistachios, it delivered a combination of colors and flavors we weren’t expecting. It’s one we’d gladly order again.
Our favorite of the day, however, was the Vodka Pesto. The slightly spicy vodka sauce paired beautifully with the bright pesto swirl, creating a pizza that somehow felt both comforting and fresh at the same time.
We also appreciated that Inizio continues to think beyond traditional pizza lovers. Its vegan pizza features a house-made cashew milk mozzarella, giving dairy-free diners an option that receives the same attention to detail as everything else on the menu.
We skipped the salads this visit, but don’t overlook them. The Caesar has become one of our regular orders, and the rotating seasonal salads consistently impress.
Then came dessert.
We sampled two varieties of cannoli, both of which we’d happily recommend. But the chocolate gelato completely stole the show. Dense, intensely chocolatey and unbelievably creamy, it tasted more like eating rich chocolate cake batter than a scoop of ice cream.
The new location feels like a natural fit for Cotswold. As the neighborhood continues to grow into one of Charlotte’s dining destinations, Inizio adds another locally owned restaurant that’s equally suited for family dinners, date nights or catching up with friends over a great meal.
Inizio hasn’t reinvented itself for Cotswold, it has simply brought really good pizza to another Charlotte neighborhood.
Location: 282 S Sharon Amity Rd Ste 335, Charlotte, NC 28211
Location: 10620 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 2230 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 816 Brayden Parkway, Fort Mill, SC 29708
Location: 16627 Birkdale Commons Pkwy, Ste E1, Huntersville, NC 28078
Cuisine: Pizza
Instagram: iniziopizza
Tristan Graziano, a Weddington High School student, enjoys golfing in his free time and hanging with his friends. Tristan can be reached on Instagram @tristan_graz03 and @tristanscoops. Jamie Graziano, aka The GrazFather, is a dad who dreams of starting his food review and travel website TheGrazFather.com. Jamie can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @thegrazfather.
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