Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

A real piz-za work, the Margherita Fresca is in popular demand at this charming St. Armands Circle restaurant. Owner, Joseph Casadio was born and raised on the Italian coastline in Sestri Levante, a beautiful tourist town on the Mediterranean, with similarities to Sarasota. Today, 15 South Ristorante remains a family-owned and -operated hot spot, as it wines and dines guests with a heavily inspired Northern Italian menu of boot-shaped specialties and imported wine for dinner nightly.

With an elegant formal dining room, as well as casual outdoor seating and a lively piano bar, you can have your pick of ambiance as you bite into the crunch of this homemade staple. The thin pizza crust is made to order, then baked in a wood-burning oven from Italy. Mozzarella di bufala (fresh mozzarella cheese), freshly diced tomatoes, parmesan cheese and basil make the Margherita Fresca a wholesome delight for the whole family. Want to create your own pizza? 15 South Ristorante lets you customize exactly how you like it. That’s Italian hospitality at it’s finest.

15 South Ristorante is a member of Nosh, SRQ media's content marketing program for local restaurants.

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

15 South Ristorante, $14, 15 South Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, 941-388-1555.