You want a piece of this?
Sasso Pizza Bar and Market
Hamilton, ON
When well-know chef Mark Farrugia (of Hamilton's LaPiazza Allegra ) decided to open a pizza bar and market - he knew one thing for sure - he wanted to name it 'Sasso', the Italian word for stone. That would perfectly describe the custom-made stone oven he was getting shipped from Italy that would serve as the centerpiece for this new restaurant. Other than that, Mark literally needed everything to open his new venture, including ideas for a kitchen sink!
Feeling 'la dolce vita'.
Sasso would be serving Italian food with a modern attitude and had plans to be the perfect spot for all generations: a working lunch, family celebration, date night, boy's night or after-game gathering. With that in mind, a mix of illustration, retro-styled imagery and beautifully styled food shots were used to represent the mood, humour and wide appeal the brand was looking for.
Learning to speak Italiano.
Once the visual style for the brand was established, it was time to set the tone of the Sasso brand. Cheeky, funny and to the point, these sample advertisements showed the right kind of Italian "sass".
Deliciously saucy.
The logo design features a brush script with little splashes of ink, giving the logo a playful, casual feel and the slight suggestion that it was rendered in 'sauce'.
The logo was prepared and applied to menus, t-shirts, signage, packaging and more.
Design concepts for coasters, menu holders, receipt holders and more kept the brand messaging consistent.
Inspirational conception
From wall colour to light fixtures, seating to counter-tops, and exterior finishings to chalk board displays, everything including the kitchen sink was sourced and presented as a guide during the restaurant's construction. Industrial schemes balancing rough, textured materials with more tactile features are prominent. The bold treatment of black and white anchors all of the individual elements and makes a powerful statement without feeling dated or unwelcoming. And with Sasso's fire-engine red, wood-burning stone oven the only source of strong colour - it pops as the centrepiece it was intended to be.
You want a piece of this?
Marketing and advertising materials for Sasso included the use of dynamic photos with dark contrast and bold lighting. The catch-phrase "You want a piece of this" quickly became a favourite and was showcased on chalkboards and staff t-shirts. Below, in-store poster examples were created to communicate specials and menu items.
Sasso opened it's doors in March 2016 and has been doing a tremendous job keeping their saucy attitude on Instagram and earning rave reviews for its Italian food with a modern attitude - serving fresh local ingredients, ever-changing menu items, craft brews on tap and a hand-picked wine selection. What are you waiting for? Mangia! Mangia!