The pizza at this Myers Park spot was ‘good but messy.’ Here’s what I got for $25
I was fortunate to have my own private corner to sample the pizza at Zio Casual Italian Wednesday evening, because no one should have been subjected to the spectacle of me trying to eat it gracefully. But at least one person was.
Zio is in Myers Park, off Providence Road. According to Zillow, the average home value in the 28207 ZIP code is just north of $1.65 million, so I felt right at home pulling up in my 15-year-old Nissan Maxima that doesn’t always start on the first crank. I was hungry.
The family-owned restaurant has been serving Charlotte since 2005, though many of its recipes date back to the owners’ family’s restaurant in upstate New York, which opened in 1946. It shares its building with Primo Prime, an upscale Italian eatery offering a more formal option just steps away from Zio’s casual fare.
It felt more like a neighborhood trattoria rather than a trendy Charlotte hotspot. Inside, the dining room was cozy, with warm lighting, exposed brick accents, dark wood furniture and shelves lined with wine bottles. Framed artwork and Italian-inspired decor adds character without feeling overdone.
The restaurant’s courtyard patio was just as inviting, with string lights and plenty of greenery. But it was 90 degrees outside, so it was empty.
I quickly sat down and ordered a Coke from my server. James Taylor’s “Carolina on My Mind” played over the speakers as I scrolled on my phone. The next song was “Takin’ it to the Streets” by The Doobie Brothers, followed by Elton John’s “Levon.” Whoever was in charge of music knew their audience.
My server appeared soon after and gave me a quick rundown of the menu.
“Our hot pies are what we’re known for,” she said. “That’s gonna be your New York-style crust.”
That was all the convincing I needed.
Here’s what you need to know about Zio Casual Italian.
What’s on the menu at Zio Casual Italian?
The menu at Zio Casual Italian centers on classic Italian comfort food, with homemade pastas, chicken and seafood entrées, thin-crust “hot pies,” grilled pizzas and longtime favorites like chicken Parmesan, lasagna, shrimp scampi and penne alla vodka. You can start with appetizers such as toasted ravioli, meatball Parmesan or calamari, while lighter options include fresh salads and vegetarian dishes.
Most appetizers range from $8-$15, pizzas and pastas fall between $15-$22 and most entrées cost about $18-$25.
Here’s what I got for $25 (including tax and tip):
- A Hot Pie ($15) with pepperoni and Italian sausage ($1.89 each): A 14-inch pie made with rich tomato sauce, oregano and cheese blend
The pizza looked gorgeous when it arrived. The gooey mozzarella was enclosed by a crisp thin crust, and the pepperoni curled into crispy little cups that held pockets of grease.
I only had three pieces, but the first one came with its own set of obstacles.
My first mistake happened when I was cutting the pizza. It came with a slicer, but the cheese was so viscous that half of it slid off when I tried to put a piece on my plate. But that just meant the next slice would have extra cheese.
Picking up the pizza wasn’t easy, either. I tried to eat it like a New Yorker — gently pinching the sides together lengthwise, allowing the slice to naturally fold in half like a taco. The inner crust was too flimsy, though, so even more toppings fell off on my first attempt to lift it as the tip drooped toward the plate.
I folded the tip in and created a pizza pocket, which held everything in place long enough for me to bring it to my mouth. It was packed with flavor. The gooey cheese, salty pepperoni, herby Italian sausage – everything worked. I struggled to finish the first bite slurping up a seemingly endless string of mozzarella.
That’s when my server appeared.
“How are we liking everything?” she asked. I had cheese protruding from my mouth, and I’m sure it was glistening due to excessive amounts of grease. All I could muster was an “mhmm,” but I glanced up at her and she was smiling.
“It’s good, but it’s nice and messy, huh?” she said laughing. I assumed that was rhetorical, since I would be out of commission for at least the next minute or so.
I learned my lesson from the first piece and applied it to the second. I scanned the dining room to make sure my server wasn’t coming before shoveling it in my mouth.
Don’t judge me, but I ate the third piece with utensils. I was tired of having greasy fingers. The toppings stayed in place, but it took me double the amount of time to eat it since I was having trouble slicing it with my knife.
I probably could have finished the entire thing, but my body was still recovering from eating two weeks worth of sugar on my birthday the week prior.
The pizza put up a fight, but I’d happily lose that battle again.
Zio Casual Italian
Location: 116 Middleton Dr, Charlotte, NC 28207
Cuisine: Italian
Instagram: @ziocharlotte
