In the heart of Peoria, Arizona, a passionate Italian chef named Fabio Ceschetti is turning up the heat — and the whole West Valley is showing up for it. 🍕🔥
Fabio on Fire | Pizzeria Italiana isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a love letter to Italy, handwritten one wood-fired pizza at a time.
Since opening its doors in 2013, this family-owned gem has become one of the most talked-about Italian dining experiences on the Phoenix West Valley food scene.
Every dish, from the bread to the pasta to the tiramisu, is made entirely by hand, using recipes passed down from generation to generation in the Ceschetti family.
How Pizzeria Italianna Won Peoria’s Hearts
Chef Fabio Ceschetti was born in Domodossola, a small town at the foot of the Italian Alps, and his story is as rich as his sage cream sauce.
His maternal grandparents, Rocco and Marianna Persio, owned restaurants and passed down their prized family recipes — originating from the Puglia region of southern Italy — to young Fabio.
After 12 years cooking aboard Princess Cruises and several more managing the family restaurant back home, he married Jennifer, moved to the US in 2005, and launched Fabio on Fire in 2013.
One of the most remarkable things about this award-winning Peoria pizzeria is the pizza dough itself.
“People love the pizza; the dough is made with a ‘starter’ that my grandfather made, and I brought over from Italy when I opened the restaurant,” Chef Fabio has said.
That 900-degree brick oven — the soul of the restaurant — fires each pie to perfection, producing a crust that is light, airy, and famously easy on the stomach. 🍕
Word-of-mouth proved to be the restaurant’s most powerful marketing tool, with diners calling it “the best Italian in Peoria and maybe even Phoenix.”
The Ceschetti family crest proudly displayed on the back wall says everything: this isn’t just a business — it’s a family legacy being shared with an entire community.
In 2024, an October segment of “Best Bites” on the Phoenix New Times lauded Fabio’s lasagna as a “multi-layered masterpiece seriously worth the trek across metro Phoenix to find.” 🌟
From a wood-fired pizza oven imported straight from Italy to a mobile catering unit that brings the party to your backyard, Fabio Ceschetti has built something truly special in the West Valley.
It is the kind of place that reminds you why family-owned restaurants are the heartbeat of every great food city. 🫶
Food Highlights
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Margherita Pizza: A timeless classic featuring vibrant tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil on a perfectly chewy, wood-fired crust
- Bufalina Pizza: Built on a base of San Marzano tomato sauce and loaded with imported bufala cheese, oregano, garlic, arugula, reduced balsamic vinegar, farm-fresh sweet tomatoes, and extra virgin olive oil.
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Pizza Bianca: A white pizza finished without tomato sauce, showcasing the quality of the dough and toppings.
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Pizza Diavola: A spicy crowd-pleaser loaded with fiery salami and chili-kissed toppings — diners who crave heat call this their go-to order every single visit. 🌶️
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Pizza Quattro Stagioni (Four Seasons Pizza): A beautifully divided pie representing the four seasons with artichoke hearts, olives, mushrooms, and prosciutto cotto.
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Pizza Napoletana: Anchovy, capers, olives, and tomato sauce come together in this bold, briny, authentically Italian classic. 🍕
- Sausage and Mushroom Pizza: Savory Italian sausage, fresh mushrooms, tomato sauce, and mozzarella.
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Tiramisu: Made in-house from Grandmother Ceschetti’s secret recipe using real espresso coffee from Italy. ☕🍰
Atmosphere
Fabio on Fire radiates a warm, family-friendly energy the moment you walk through the door, greeted by the crackling glow of a 900-degree brick oven that serves as the restaurant’s beating heart.
The open kitchen design lets you watch the chefs in action, adding a theatrical, dinner-show quality to your evening that feels both intimate and exciting.
The decor offers a contemporary spin on traditional Italian aesthetics — think homey and welcoming rather than fussy or formal, the kind of place where you linger long after dessert.
The Ceschetti family crest on the back wall ties it all together, reminding every guest that they aren’t just eating a meal — they’re being welcomed into a family tradition that spans generations and continents. 🇮🇹
Bottom Line
Fabio on Fire is a once-in-a-visit kind of authentic Italian restaurant in Peoria, AZ — from legendary wood-fired pizzas made with a century-old dough starter, to handmade pastas, award-winning tiramisu, and house-made gelato.
It is family recipes, Italian passion, and 30 years of expertise on one unforgettable plate. 🔥🍕
Address:
8275 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Suite 101, Peoria, AZ 85382
📞 (623) 680-5385
🕔 Open Tue–Sun, 4 PM–9 PM | Sat & Sun Lunch 11:30 AM–2 PM (Closed Mondays)