Lievito, a gourmet pizza restaurant and wine bar in Beijing, China, represents one end of the pizza spectrum. The elegantly designed restaurant is clearly put together for the high class crowd, with smooth speckled granite and minimalist chairs making up the interior decor, but this isn't to say that pizza always needs to be presented as such.
Pizza is interesting in that it was first created as peasant food. Indeed, the first pizza was sold on the streets of Italy to local workers in need of a quick snack, but the dish eventually made its way to the upper classes when Queen Margherita of Italy took a liking to it. Pizza still crosses that class-based divide today, serving as both a cheap delivery meal for cash-poor college students and a fancy dinner for the well-heeled.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Upscale Pizza Dining
- Opportunity to create high-end pizza restaurants that cater to a sophisticated clientele.
- Pizza as Gourmet Cuisine
- Opportunity to elevate pizza to a gourmet level, using high-quality ingredients and elegant presentation.
- Pizza for All Classes
- Opportunity to offer pizza options for both budget-conscious individuals and those seeking a luxury dining experience.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Hospitality
- Disruptive innovation opportunities can be found in reimagining the dining experience and creating unique, upscale pizza establishments.
- Food and Beverage
- Opportunities exist to introduce new gourmet pizza options and innovative dining concepts that appeal to a variety of customers.
- Interior Design
- Innovations in restaurant interior design can help create elegant and sophisticated spaces for upscale pizza bars.
