Fire guts Pazzo pizzeria in Wading River, arson squad investigating

A fire tore through Pazzo Ristorante and Wood Fired Pizzeria in Wading River early Tuesday morning, gutting the restaurant and its adjoining take-out pizza side.

Suffolk County Police’s arson squad is investigating the fire, which also damaged the bagel shop and bakery on either side of the restaurant, police said.

Riverhead Police said officers found the building “fully engulfed in flames” when they arrived at the Route 25 eatery just before 2 a.m.

The Wading River Fire Department and multiple other fire departments responded and brought the blaze under control just by 3 a.m., according to multiple reports. No injuries were reported in the blaze.

Wading River Fire Chief Mark Donnelly told News 12 that crews found “an active fire in the front of the restaurant” and worked quickly to keep the flames from racing through the small shopping plaza.

By daylight, restoration crews were on-site as the extent of the destruction became clearer. The entire Pazzo restaurant and wood-fired take-out section were heavily burned, with the structure’s interior largely destroyed. By nightfall, the restaurant portion of the building was completely boarded up.

Immediately to the right, or west, of Pazzo, Ravaa’s Bagels sustained significant smoke and water damage. Owner Hank Isik, who opened the shop on July 1, told News 12 he was devastated.

“We spent a lot of money trying to get the business,” he said. “During the holiday time, it’s not good for us.”

A bakery on the other side of Pazzo also suffered major smoke damage, according to a construction crew on site.

The arson squad is being assisted by the Suffolk County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Riverhead Town Fire Marshal and Suffolk Police’s Crime Scene Section. Riverhead Police asked that anyone with information on the fire to call the police at 631.727.4500, extension 312.

_{Top: The charred statue that previously had greeted Pazzo customers (Credit: Brian Harmon).}