DINERS are flocking to a city Italian restaurant to enjoy pizzas cooked in the authentic way.

Mamma Mia’s on Upper Piccadilly has invested more than £20,000 on a hand built wood burning pizza oven which chef and manager Leno Massimo believes is the only one in a local Italian eatery.

It is the latest development at the family-run restaurant which two years ago underwent a major refurbishment costing more than £80,000.

Leno said the new oven, which was made in Tuscany and took three days to install, now features at the centre of the restaurant and adds a sense of theatre for customers .

He said: “Running a restaurant is as much about providing entertainment as the quality of the food.

“The wood burning pizza oven sets us apart as we believe it’s the only one in the area. Most Italian restaurants in the UK use gas or electric.

“The oven creates an authentic tasting pizza using ingredients imported from Italy .

“It was a major investment but is paying off. We have customers coming back three times a week to try different pizzas and Italians living in the Bradford area are also coming in to get a true taste of home.

“We also now hand make our own pasta to ensure the dining experience is even more authentic. Again, that’s something not many UK Italian restaurants do.”

He and chef Mirko D’Allesio have achieved Federazione Itallana Cuochi qualifications in Italy to operate the oven which has enabled Mama Mia’s to expand its pizza range.

Mamma Mia’s owners Gianni and Nella Massimo have run the award-winning venue for more than 30 years. Two years ago they bought the lease of the ground floor 4,300 sq ft restaurant.

The refurbishment work, including a new bar and fittings, was carried out by Silsden-based specialists Ultimate Fit Out who reworked the layout of the 90-seat venue.

Gianni Massimo, who opened mama Mia’s after the restaurant where he was a chef closed down. said: “We had the opportunity to buy the lease on financially attractive terms and doing so gave us significantly more flexibility over using the premises.

“The refurbishment was great for us and great for Bradford and showed our continued commitment after more than 30 years in the city, which is hopefully on the up once again.”

Mamma Mia’s has also benefited from the growing success of the venues on nearby North Parade.