MANILA – There’s a new Italian restaurant in town.

Early this month, the first Philippine branch of Salvatore Cuomo opened at Uptown Parade in Bonifacio Global City, right beside the party hotpots Valkyrie and Palace Pool Club.

The restaurant is named after a celebrated Italian-Japanese chef who is dubbed as the pioneer of Neapolitan pizza in Asia. After originating in Japan, Salvatore Cuomo opened branches in South Korea, China and Taiwan.

And now, Filipino diners can also enjoy Salvatore Cuomo’s premium Italian offerings, thanks to the Am-Phil Group, the company behind the Chili’s franchise in the country.

“What we offer is the real pizza,” said Cuomo during the grand opening of Salvatore Cuomo, which was attended by selected guests and members of the media. “This is not just a business, it’s also about bringing the culture of our country as the ambassador of pizza worldwide.”

True to the Italian heritage of its namesake chef, Salvatore Cuomo only uses a handful of fresh, high-quality ingredients, which are mostly sourced from Italy and Japan. It took the team three years, for instance, to get the “perfect basil” for their pizzas and other dishes.

Their pizzas are baked in a custom-made oven shipped from Naples, Italy. The result? A thin, perfectly chewy crust.

A video posted by @karenmflores on Jun 1, 2016 at 10:30pm PDT

Even the complimentary bread basket is something to look forward to here. Aside from the familiar focaccia, Salvatore Cuomo serves zeppole, or Italian-style savory donuts. These seaweed-flavored treats are so tasty, one can easily finish an entire basket of it.

The rest of the dishes – from the Caprese salad and the Italian cured meats to the pasta, meat and seafood options – are consistent with the restaurant’s promise of quality.

If you’re looking for over-the-top and flashy executions, you won’t find it here – Salvatore Cuomo is all about Italian food done right, with the occasional Japanese twists.

But if you’re feeling a bit playful, try the restaurant’s colorful fruit drinks which are served in extra tall glasses. Prepare to stand up most of the time to take a sip.

View the slideshow to take a look at Salvatore Cuomo’s specialties: