✦   Our Heritage   ✦

The Soul Behind
La Fiamma

Three generations of passion, tradition, and the relentless pursuit of the perfect pizza.

Our wood-fired oven
Family Recipe
Since 1987 Three Generations
✦ The Beginning

A Story Written
in Flour & Flame

In 1987, Salvatore Conti — a young Neapolitan pizzaiolo with flour on his hands and fire in his soul — opened a small corner restaurant in Manhattan. He brought with him a single suitcase and a handwritten recipe passed down from his grandfather in Naples.

That recipe, guarded like a family jewel, became the foundation of everything La Fiamma stands for. Salvatore believed that pizza was not merely food — it was an act of love, a ritual, a conversation between the earth's finest ingredients and the sacred heat of the flame.

"My nonno said: 'Salvatore, the oven does not lie. Give it the truth and it will give you perfection.' I have never forgotten those words."
— Salvatore Conti, Founder

Today, La Fiamma spans 12 locations across North America, but the soul remains unchanged. Every single pizza still begins with that 1987 recipe — still fermented for 72 hours, still baked in stone ovens that touch 900°F.

✦ Our Journey

Milestones of Excellence

1987

The First Flame

Salvatore Conti opens La Fiamma on West 46th Street, Manhattan. Just 14 tables, one stone oven, and an unbendable philosophy.

1994

Michelin Recognition

La Fiamma earns its first Michelin Bib Gourmand, cementing its place as New York's premier Neapolitan pizza destination.

2003

Family Expands

Salvatore's son Marco joins as head chef after training under Enzo Coccia in Naples. A new generation breathes fresh life into timeless tradition.

2011

Nationwide Expansion

La Fiamma opens its 5th location in Los Angeles, beginning a national journey without ever compromising on the original formula.

2018

World Pizza Champion

Marco Conti wins the prestigious Campionato Mondiale della Pizza in Parma, Italy — validating four decades of dedication to the craft.

2024

The Legacy Lives On

12 locations, one unwavering philosophy. La Fiamma continues its mission to bring the truest expression of Neapolitan pizza to the world.

✦ What We Stand For

Our Core Values

Passion First

Every pizza is an expression of love. We pour our hearts into the dough, the sauce, and every ingredient we choose.

Purity of Ingredients

We refuse shortcuts. Only the finest DOP-certified Italian ingredients touch our dough — nothing artificial, ever.

Artisan Craft

Our pizzas are hand-stretched, never rolled. Each one is unique — shaped by human skill, not machinery.

Respect for Tradition

We honor the millennia-old Neapolitan tradition while allowing our creativity to evolve within those sacred boundaries.

Sustainable Sourcing

Our ingredient partners are selected for ethical farming practices. We believe great pizza begins with a healthy planet.

Community & Family

La Fiamma has always been more than a restaurant. It is a gathering place — a second home for those who love great food.

✦ The Artists

Meet Our Master Pizzaioli

Marco Conti

Marco Conti

Executive Head Chef

World Pizza Champion 2018. Trained under Enzo Coccia in Naples. Marco has dedicated 25 years to perfecting his father's vision while adding his own artistry to every pie.
Sofia Russo

Sofia Russo

Head of Pastry & Desserts

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of Italy, Sofia creates our unforgettable dessert pizzas and seasonal specials that have become legends in their own right.
Luca Ferrari

Luca Ferrari

Dough Master & Head Baker

Luca's 72-hour fermentation technique is considered one of the finest in North America. He oversees every batch of dough across all 12 La Fiamma locations.

Recognition We're Proud Of

Honored by the world's most prestigious culinary institutions

Michelin Guide

Bib Gourmand 1994–2024

World Pizza Cup

Champion 2018, Parma

NY Times

"Best Pizza in America" 2022

James Beard Award

Outstanding Restaurant 2020

Zagat

#1 Italian, New York 2023