Charlotte’s Top Dining Destinations: Prosciutto’s Pizzeria & Pub
The Owner: Joel Pfyffer
Joel Pfyffer has been a restaurant owner for 16 years and he’s been in the restaurant business since he was a teenager. Growing up in the pizza/restaurant business in New England, he always wanted to create something from his past experience, yet with his own take. Prosciutto’s Pizzeria & Pub opened Nov. 1, 2005, giving the first 100 customers a free pizza. Today, almost 11 years later, customers are still coming in who were there when the restaurant opened. Pfyffer is motivated to cook and enjoys his job so much because he believes there is nothing finer than happy people with full bellies and compliments on the food. In addition to his customers and atmosphere of the restaurant, Pfyffer loves and appreciates his staff. “My staff has been instrumental to Prosciutto’s success over the years. My management staff has been with me and my wife for a combined total of over 40 years. Without them this success story would have been a lot more difficult,” says Pfyffer.
The Look: Casual Comfort
Prosciutto’s Pizzeria & Pub is a family friendly, casual Italian restaurant with a New England sports bar themed twist. When walking into the restaurant, guests should feel as though they are at home, comfortable and relaxed. The environment is meant to be a place where people are able to enjoy any kind of ball game on TV or casually exchange banter with others at their table. With many windows throughout the restaurant, the inviting feeling can really be felt during the day when the sun is streaming into the dining room. However, at night, the space gets cozier as the sun sets and mid to low lighting takes over with the ever present glow of the television monitors. One side of the restaurant includes a beautiful bar with a dark-stained finish, brand-new tables, and numerous TVs, while the other has a play-area and video games, designed for families with young children. There is even an outdoor patio and bar area.
The Dish: Pastas, Wings, & Subs
When it comes to a signature pasta dish, it’s hard for the crew at Prosciutto’s Pizzeria to narrow the selection to only one. Owner Joel Pfyffer’s signature pasta dish is a toss-up between the Milano, fresh grilled chicken with sautéed bacon and mushrooms in a creamy alfredo sauce over penne, and the Prosciutto’s House Pasta, cheese tortellini with sautéed prosciutto, mushrooms, and garlic in a creamy alfredo sauce. Both dishes were created by Pfyffer and his wife over the years. Also highly popular with guests are the Prosciutto’s house hot crispy jumbo wings, tossed with a combination of sauces including: hot, teriyaki, barbecue, and garlic parm. The wing sauce recipes are a creation of Keith Suave, who has been with Pfyffer for over 10 years. Then, there is the steak bomb that Pfyffer came up with himself. The sub is made of shaved steak, diced pepperoni and salami, mushrooms, onions, and peppers sautéed and smothered with American cheese and a healthy dose of mayo.
Prosciutto’s Pizzeria & Pub: 20920 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius.
This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 8:23 PM.