Two cousins have turned their mobile pizza oven business into their first brick and mortar restaurant.
Pizza Girls NY, which opened Oct. 16 in Mount Kisco, is something that grew organically and, according to owners Natalia Cardona and Laura Arias, was something they'd never imagined in their wildest dreams.
The two, who were working at Rochambeau Farm in Mount Kisco, considered themselves farmers first. But when the person who had been doing pizza pop-ups at the farm offered them his mobile catering pizza oven, they felt like they couldn't say no. That was in 2000. At the time their goal was to hire someone to run it but when they couldn't find anyone, they devoted themselves to learning the craft and perfecting the dough.
Eventually, in 2022,
they started doing events under the name "Pizza Girls," something the (male) staff at Ace Endico in Brewster called them when they came to buy ingredients. According to Cardona, the nickname stuck as there aren't a lot of women in pizza.
Embracing that even further, the two made it their mission to primarily hire women with a particular emphasis on single mothers.
"Of course we hire anyone," Cardona said, "but women are so driven and determined and creative. Family and community are very important to us, and women are at the heart of that."
After years building a following with pop-ups, farmers markets and private events, they expanded in 2024 by becoming a permanent fixture at oHHo The Old Firehouse in Bedford.
And now, they have their first restaurant, something that happened by chance when Cardona drove by and saw the for-lease sign on what had been Tamarindos Fiesta Latina. For the Fox Lane graduate, who's long been entrenched in Mount Kisco (she moved to Westchester 28 years ago from Columbia, where Arias is also from), it was a logical next step as the business has gotten bigger. It also felt like kismet as a way to further give back to the community that helped shape her journey.
Luckily her cousin, who she considers more like a sister and who's been in Westchester for the past decade, agreed. The two, after all, had built the business from opportunity, from rising to the challenge and by embracing what was put in their path. Having a restaurant, the two figured, would make their business more well-rounded. (They've also added more men to their workforce, though it still stands at approximately 90% female).
What you can expect at the Pizza Girls NY restaurant
As wood-burning pizza is their strength, the Fiero Forno oven, which was designed with their colors and has their logo on the front, is the restaurant's centerpiece, located immediately to the restaurant's right. It's visible, both from the large windows which look out to the street as well as via a window carved into the entryway. Inviting diners to look at the action was an intentional part of the design, said the two, as they're all about transparency and fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced as much as possible from local markets.
This being a restaurant rather than a mobile space, however, meant expanding the menu. They've kept it Italian-focused but with added elements like antipasti (i.e. calamari fritto, wood-fired poplette and focaccia), salads (Tuscan Kale Caesar, Little Gem, Beet & Goat Cheese), pasta (Ricotta Ravioli, Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Pappardelle Bolognese), vegetables (wood-fired Brussels Sprouts, roasted cauliflower and Broccolini Arrosto) and entrées such as Steak Pizzaioli (grilled hangar steak with tomato, oregano, garlic), Clams in Tomato Brado (Manila clams guanciale, white wine, Calabrian chili, grilled bread) and Porchetta-Spiced half chicken.
They've also added eight new pizzas to their menu, offering old favorites alongside added options such as La Contessa (mozzarella, eggplant, San Marzano sauce, parmesan, stracciatella cheese, truffle oil) and Genovieve (San Marzano sauce, chorizo, onions, fresh mozzarella, hot and crispy oil). Burratina (San Marzano sauce, prosciutto, burrata, Balsamic glaze, basil and parmesan), and Ricotta & Pear round out the menu along with pepperoni and margherita, four-cheese and Emilia-Romagna (San Marzano sauce, mozzarella, parmesan). For gluten-free diners, cauliflower crust is also an option.
Dessert pizzas are also available, along with tiramisu, affogato and a gelato sundae.
Also new are the cocktails. The two worked with a mixologist to curate their list as well as with a sommelier to define the wine list, the latter of which has been curated to pair with wood-fired food. Among the options are Strawberry Fields (amaro averna, tequila, reposada, strawberry, lemon); Midnight Express (cognac, aguardiente, coffee liqueur, espresso), a Lychee spritz (lychee liqueur, lemons, elderflower, prosecco); Purple Haze (lavender infused mezcal, bitter aperitif, sweet vermouth) and Apple & Oak (brown butter bourbon, applejack, maple syrup, spiced apple).
Infusing a natural decor
Along with the statement oven, which is visible from almost all points of the dining room, guests will find an open space designed with natural elements in mind. The wall to the far right was created to look like concrete — it has their logo in the middle — while the kitchen in back has a stone counter separating it from the rest of the room.
Chandeliers add drama to the space, while also infusing a cozy glow.
Everything was gutted and rebuilt from the previous tenant, though the bar (with a new counter and lights underneath) is in the same place, sitting to the left.
Moving forward, Cardona and Arias hope to eventually expand to other locales but for now, they're concentrated on making Mount Kisco a success. With fostering connections and empowerment as their mantra, they'd also love to pursue more partnerships and collaborations.
"Pizza Girls is a place of community and family," Cardona said. "We came to show everyone what we're about."
If you go
Address: 38 E. Main St., Mount Kisco, 914-454-9848, pizzagirlsny.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday (kitchen closes at 8 p.m.); to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday (kitchen closes at 9 p.m.).
Prices: In the $10 to $30 range with pizzas from $16 to $24.
Good to know: There's room for 10 tables outside (weather depending). Sunday brunch and a happy hour to come. They also have gluten-free pizza.
Kid-friendly: Their school voucher program, which runs from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., kids can — for $25 — get a pizza, a beverage and ice cream. They also have special pizza boxes that can be transformed into masks.
Fun fact: In August, Cardona was named a 2026 Hispanic Women of Impact honoree by the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: 'Pizza girls' mobile oven is now full-service Westchester restaurant
