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Pizza with “real Italian flavor” has arrived on State Street at the site of the former Palazzio Italian restaurant. 

Owner Guido Oppizzi has opened Oppi’z (OH-peas) Bistro and Natural Pizza at 1026 State St. 

Oppizzi, who grew up in Pavia, Italy, about 20 miles south of Milan, opened the restaurant in mid-July. He says he wants to bring Santa Barbara the kind of restaurant it doesn’t have.

“Most of the Italian restaurants in America are Americanized and there is no true Italian flavor,” said Oppizzi, who came to Santa Barbara about three years ago. 

He called it upscale pizza with top quality ingredients, most of which come from Italy.

The dough is prepared a day in advance, and some of the pizza is cooked with “activated charcoal,” where the dough is black. Pizza makes up about 60 percent of the menu.

There is no pasta on the menu, and certainly none of the delicious garlic rolls that Palazzio was known for in its day, but there are plenty of salads on offer, and a selection of 40 Italian wines.

Oppizzi believes he is in a good spot to attract customers. He’s close enough to the tourist-based population that frequently visits lower State Street up to about the 700 block, but also high enough and close to the theaters and other spots frequented by tourists.

“The lower portion of State Street is for tourists and upper State Street is much more for local residents,” Oppizzi said. “We are in between. There is good traffic in both directions.”

Oppizzi encourages people to check out the food and “not be scared of something new.”

“I am very happy,” he said. “It’s very comfortable.”

The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

A Giovanni’s Location Closes

The pizza lords giveth and the pizza lords taketh away.

Giovanni’s on the Mesa, at 1905 Cliff Dr., has shut down. The restaurant opened in 2009. 

“We thank the wonderful community of Santa Barbara for all the business over the years,” the company said in a statement on its website.

The Giovanni’s 3020 State St. location remains open. 

Perfection is Overrated

Imperfect Produce is expanding into Santa Barbara starting next week. The company sells groceries online, sourced from farmers, growers and food purveyors, for a monthly subscription. 

According to the company, 20 percent of all fruits and vegetables grown in the United States do not meet the strict cosmetic standards of grocery stores, which results in 20 billion pounds of produce being unharvested or unsold each year. 

Impefect Produce has recovered 40 million pounds of produce since launching in 2015 and this year, expects to hit 50 million pounds, the company said.

It plans to partner with Pete’s Living Greens in Santa Barbara.

New El Paseo Tasting Room

Barden, an arm of Margerum Wine Company, is opening a tasting room in El Paseo in Santa Barbara.  

Barden wines are made from grapes grown in the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area in Santa Barbara County.

Barden produces several wines, including Barden Vin Gris of pinot noir; Barden Fonte, a blend of old vine chardonnay, pinot blanc and pinot gris; Barden Chardonnay; Barden Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay; Barden Sanford & Benedict Viognier; Barden Pinot Noir; Barden Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir; and the new Barden Grenache and Barden Syrah, according to a news release. 

— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.