Outside of the family-run Italian Oven in Yonkers, curiosity draws you in – the inviting glow from within! The pop of rich red colors, a striking mural of the four female owners, a lively bar, and a bustling pizza station.
Meet Amanda and Angelina Oppedisano and their cousins Cristina and Nicoletta Sakellaridis – four women who transformed a shared family dream into one of Yonkers’ most inviting restaurants. Nestled in the Boyce Thompson Center, Italian Oven has quickly become a local favorite for its handcrafted pizzas, house-made pastas, and cocktails served with laughter and love.
“It all came together when we saw the space,” Amanda recalls. “We could just picture all four of us doing this together.” Nicoletta adds, “We wanted it to feel colorful, welcoming, and full of life.”
That vibrancy hides months of long nights and tough decisions. Cristina remembers their opening day: “It was Amanda’s birthday, and at the end of the night, everyone sang to her. She started crying – it was this beautiful release after all the hard work.”
Family has always been at the heart of their story. “We grew up in a big Italian family,” says Nicoletta. Ask what defined their childhood, and all four reply at once: “Pasta!” “Nonna always had the garage door open for anyone dropping by,” Cristina laughs. “Every Sunday we were at Nonna’s house making pasta. “Even on Thanksgiving, she’d sneak in a tray of lasagna next to the turkey.”
Combining family and food just came naturally.” That legacy shines through the menu, where several dishes honor loved ones:
• Nonno Sal’s Classic, layered with tomato sauce, homemade meatballs, Parmesan, and ricotta.
• The Anna Maria, a tribute to Nicoletta and Cristina’s mother, featuring mozzarella, vodka sauce, pepperoni, and hot honey.
• Pietro’s Pick, named for Amanda and Angelina’s father, with sausage, provolone, cherry peppers, and broccoli rabe.
“It’s our way of keeping family close, even when we’re working 12-hour days,” Amanda says. And about the age-old debate – sauce or gravy? Angelina smiles. “The first time we heard ‘gravy’ was on TikTok. That’s just wrong!”
If Nonna came by today, they agreed she’d order the Nutella Pizza. “She’d eat it morning, noon, and night,” says Nicoletta. “Someone once told us our pasta tastes like their grandmother’s,” Amanda says. “That’s the best compliment we could get.”
When the aprons come off, the cousins unwind with wine and their secret family card game, Narts. “We’ve tried to teach others,” Nicoletta laughs, “but only the four of us understand it.”
Their balance comes from humor and trust. “If we disagree, we just talk it out – usually over pizza,” says Angelina. “If you’re passionate about this industry,” Angelina says, “I hope our story shows you that you can do it too.”
Asked to describe The Italian Oven without saying “Italian” or “delicious,” Cristina doesn’t hesitate: “Ambiance. It’s a place where you can come for drinks with friends or dinner with family, and it just feels right.” Nicoletta points to their now-iconic mural. “At first, we cringed at seeing ourselves on the wall,” she says, “but customers love it. It’s become our signature.”
Menu favorites include oven-baked wings, salmon with roasted vegetables, and Cristina’s indulgent torta al burro – a warm butter cake topped with gelato. On cold winter days warm up with a bowl of Pasta Fagioli. Many ingredients come from Arthur Avenue, keeping flavors authentically Italian.
Though new to Yonkers, they already feel at home. “The neighbors at Boyce have been so supportive,” says Cristina. “Everyone looks out for one another.”
Next up? Nicoletta hints at a Breakfast with Santa event for families, while Amanda teases brunch and live entertainment. Seasonal dishes like butternut squash soup and baked ziti are also on the horizon!
Ten years from now, the cousins hope The Italian Oven will still embody food, family, and joy. “We didn’t think we could do this,” Nicoletta says, “but here we are!”
And if Guy Fieri ever walks through the door? Cristina laughs. “He was always on our TV growing up. If he comes in, I’m serving him our chicken parm.”
At Italian Oven, success isn’t just measured by full tables, but by laughter, tradition, and the joy of building something together. “Working together has made us even closer.” Cristina adds, “We grew up across the street from each other and still look forward to seeing each other every day.”
As Amanda puts it: “Don’t let anyone’s opinions scare you out of chasing your dream. Businesses need women—and women need to see they can do it too!”