Luca Morabito became a sensation in Greenwich with his superlative coffee and homemade biscotti when he operated Coffee Luca inside Something Natural and then from his popular food truck.
Today he proudly operates Nova Pizzabar in Larchmont, NY, with his partners, Orazio Martorina and Lorenzo Paloscia. All three are Greenwich residents who became fast friends at Morabito’s coffee bar.
“We realized we’re the same people, each with something missing from the other,” Paloscia explained during an interview this week in the outdoor seating area of Nova Pizzabar on Larchmont’s Chatsworth Ave.
Luca Morabito at Nova Pizzabar located at 18 Chatsworth Ave in Larchmont, NY, flanked by partners Lorenzo Paloscia on left and Orazio Martorina on the right. Sept 23, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
He noted that each of the trio each hailed from a different part of Italy and brought different influences to the restaurant.
Morabito is originally from Calabria.
Paloscia is from Florence.
Martorina is from Sicily.
On a warm Indian summer afternoon, Morabito said he, Paloscia and Martorina had become inseparable, driven by the desire to bring authentic recipes and ingredients from Italy to Nova Pizzabar.
In fact, they estimate that 95% of their ingredients – everything from cheese to flour to gelato, and even the dining room plates – are imported from Italy.
What they can’t import, they source locally, organic wherever possible.
The restaurant, which has a full bar and seasonal outdoor dining through September, took off immediately when it opened on October 18, 2024, and has garnered accolades including Best New Restaurant 2025 from Westchester Magazine.
Gambero Rosso, an important Italian food and wine magazine, awarded Nova Pizzabar a 2 “Spicchi” Pizza Score. Spicchi means slice in Italian.
“We got 2 slices. Only 15 restaurants in the world get 3 slices,’” Morabito said. “But we’re poised to earn three next year.”
What’s on the Menu?
Morabito said the menu is mostly pizza, pasta and antipasti, “Italian bites,” with choices such as Burrata, Calamari Dorati, and Formaggi.
“We have specials, but we don’t consider ourselves fine dining. We’re more casual,” he said. “But we are fancy as far as food and service.”
“Nova Pizzabar is typical of Italy – we emphasize attention to detail, but in a warm, friendly environment,” Paloscia said.
The pizza style is Neapolitan, with a thin crust, cooked at a high temperature in a special pizza oven. Morabito explained that the pizza dough is known for its high hydration, lightness, longer fermentation, and high digestibility.
Flavio Garelli sprinkles Parmesan on a hot pizza at Nova Pizzabar located at 18 Chatsworth Avenue in Larchmont, NY. Sept 23, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Luca Morabito with Flavio Garelli outside Nova Pizzabar at 18 Chatsworth Avenue in Larchmont, NY. Sept 23, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
“The mozzarella is from Naples. The Prosciutto is from Parma,” he added as Flavio Garelli, the pizza master from Italy, moved swiftly to shape the pizza dough, add sauce, cheese and toppings at his busy work station.
Morabito said a few months ago Garelli traveled to Las Vegas for the International Pizza Challenge, which is the largest US Pizza-making competition.
“Out of 100 we were in top 25,” he said. “And it was our first year to enter.”
Morabito said that at dinner time, tables full of of family and friends typically share dishes, including appetizers and pizza.
“It’s a fun place to be for people on dates, or business colleagues or friends,” he said. “And we have a lot of good wines and cocktails.”
Restaurants on Chatsworth Ave in Larchmont benefit from an active outdoor dining season that runs through September. Photo: Leslie Yager
As Morabito shared the story of Nova Pizza with his typical enthusiastic smile, a stream of passers-by greeted him with familiarity.
As two women departed from lunch, one said, “We’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Most people come back. They love the quality and vibe here, young spirit, the authenticity,” he added. “People feel like they’re in Italy. They come back from Venice or Rome and say this is the same or better.”
“We welcome all the Greenwich people. A lot already come, especially Italians.”
Luca Morabito (right) with pizza chef Flavio Garelli at Nova Pizzabar. Sept 23, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
“We’ve gotten a lot of support from the people of Larchmont,” Morabito said, adding that he had also been very happy that familiar faces from Greenwich were also popping up.
“I remember when Greenwich people supported me during Covid,” he recalled. “It was a hard year. There were months people bought gift cards to keep me in business.”
Morabito added that for fans of his biscotti, it is available at Nova Pizzabar, but is “restaurant sized.”
Nova Pizzabar is located at 18 Chatsworth Avenue in Larchmont, NY.
Tel. 914 412 0028
Follow Nova Pizzabar on Instagram for mouthwatering food photos and to keep up with events including upcoming wine tastings.
Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Reservations are suggested for weekends.
There is on street parking and a good size municipal lot behind the restaurant.
Their Italian Happy Hour runs Tuesday to Friday from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Patrons will find a selection of spritz cocktail drinks and a selection of small plates of the day.
Note: the outdoor dining season ends at the end of September in Larchmont.
Restaurants on Chatsworth Ave in Larchmont benefit from an active outdoor dining season that runs through September. Photo: Leslie Yager
Restaurants on Chatsworth Ave in Larchmont benefit from an active outdoor dining season that runs through September. Photo: Leslie Yager
Restaurants on Chatsworth Ave in Larchmont benefit from an active outdoor dining season that runs through September. Photo: Leslie Yager
Restaurants on Chatsworth Ave in Larchmont benefit from an active outdoor dining season that runs through September. Photo: Leslie Yager
Dining and Cooking