Bites Nearby: Zesto's Deli and Pizzeria

One of Plymouth's newest pizza shops is 15 years in the making. Leonardo Passos and Victor Damascena, the owners of Zesto's Deli and Pizzeria, are from Brazil and have been co-workers in the U.S. since they were teenagers. Years of working and learning has led to their own place, a "dream come true," they say.

While Zesto's is a deli and pizzeria, the owners stressed that it is more, with a large menu featuring pizza, calzones, salads, pasta, dinners, burgers, subs, warm flatbread pita roll-ups, specialty sandwiches and stir frys.

"Everything is homemade," even the cookies and brownies, Damascena said.

And guests won't go away hungry, he remarked, especially after having one of their 16-inch calzones, enough for five people.

Passos added that the deli and pizzeria is a "family place."

Customers may be surprised that Zesto's uses Boar's Head cold cuts for their "old-fashioned subs," Damascena said. Specialty sandwiches include a Rueben, a Cuban and the Little Italy, with meatballs, grilled onions, roasted red peppers and provolone on focaccia.

"Zesto" comes from the Greek word for hot, according to the owners, and there are a number of Greek-inspired dishes on the menu, like the Santorine calzone, with spinach, feta and chicken, and the pork gyro pita roll-up, with tomatoes, onions, tzatziki and fries. The two men admit that they "know a lot about Greek food" and explained that their pizza and calzones are Greek style.

The deli and pizzeria even serves breakfast, including breakfast sandwiches, omelets, muffins and bagels. Passos and Damascena said that their shop is a good place for a coffee break, in a glass-enclosed space inside or on an attractive patio outside.

Although Zesto's opened May 26, it is already becoming a part of the community. The owners told how they have provided food to a local high school and offer a discount for police officers and firefighters. They look forward to further helping the town.

Zesto's Deli and Pizzeria is located at 59 Industrial Park Rd., Suite 2000 and is open Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Call 508-747-4400 to place an order for takeout or delivery.

Zesto's Deli and Pizzeria's Famous Potato Salad -- courtesy of Leonardo Passos and Victor Damascena

• 2 lbs. Red Bliss potatoes
• 2 boiled eggs
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 4 scoops of mayonnaise
• 1 scoop of lite Italian dressing
• salt
• pepper
• garlic to taste
• a little parsley and paprika

Cook potatoes and mix together with the other ingredients.