For the past 30 years Pizza Roma at 84 Charing Cross St. has been tantalizing the taste buds of local residents with authentic Italian cuisine.

Initially opened by Raffaele and Nancy Modesti in 1986, Pizza Roma is a community fixture that many local residents just couldn’t be without.

The business actually came about following the closure of two Brantford industries, Levi Strauss and White Farm Equipment, where Nancy and Raffaele worked.

The couple’s son Tony Modesti remembers the beginning, “They knew someone that was in the pizza business and they suggested that they [his parents] give it a try.”

Offering Italian-style pizza made from scratch, the Modesti family quickly discovered that they were on to a good thing.

“We make all of our own sauce and dough,” Tony said, “Many of our pastas are made right here as well.”

Pizza Roma’s pastas include a little bit of everything: lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, cannelloni, ravioli, tortellini, and gnocchi.

The Old-world Italian flavor that has made Pizza Roma so popular is also apparent in the mouthwatering panzerotti that is prepared in Pizza Roma’s kitchens daily.

Tony and members of his family still run Pizza Roma and have an active presence in the community sponsoring many sports teams and donating to worthwhile charities and fundraisers

Pizza Roma prides itself on quality food and service, and Tony believes that pride has contributed greatly to the success of his business.

“Quality is always a number one concern. When the phone rings I still get nervous that it might be because somebody didn’t have a positive experience with our food. … Taste and consistency of product are the most important things.”