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Pizza Tascio is the New York-style slice shop that Erik Borger — founder of Kansas City’s first Italian-government-certified Neapolitan pizzeria, Il Lazzarone — opened in North Kansas City in 2022 after a multi-year hiatus from the restaurant business.12 Where Il Lazzarone is wood-fired Neapolitan, Tascio is a deliberate left turn into thin, foldable NY pies and by-the-slice service.3

Description

Pizza Tascio is a New York-style pizzeria and slice shop in North Kansas City, founded by Erik Borger and opened in January 2022 in a small space at 1111 Burlington Street, near Chicken N Pickle.123 The concept is a pointed departure from the Neapolitan style Borger is best known for: thin, hand-stretched, foldable New York pies sold whole and by the slice, billed as “Italian street food.”13

Borger, who grew up in the Hudson Valley near New York City, spent roughly a year developing the crust recipe.3 He sources California-grown San Marzano-type tomatoes from chef Chris Bianco’s farm and, counterintuitively for a NY-style dough, uses Italian 00 flour to match his specific recipe.3 The pies — including an 18-inch round that the shop says can feed up to five — are paired with house touches such as hot honey and homemade ranch, and a two-slice lunch special.4

The Tascio name comes from Borger’s three-month stay in Italy, including Palermo, where locals warned him to watch out for “tascios,” a Palermitan slang term for a particular male stereotype; he adopted the word for the shop’s name and logo.1 Since the NKC opening, the brand has expanded to additional metro locations (a Kansas City / Waldo-area Gregory Blvd. shop and an Overland Park location).5

Ownership and history

Pizza Tascio is owned by Erik Borger, who founded Il Lazzarone — the Neapolitan pizzeria recognized by the Italian government (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana) as Kansas City’s first authentic Neapolitan pizza — with locations opened in St. Joseph (2014) and the River Market (2015).12 Borger later stepped away from the restaurant industry, selling Il Lazzarone to his friend and general manager and moving with his family to a farm.1 He returned to pizza-making after his kids asked him to make them pizza, debuting Pizza Tascio first in St. Joseph in 2021 and then in North Kansas City in early 2022.12 Il Lazzarone and Pizza Tascio are therefore distinct businesses today, linked by Borger as the common founder.12

Sources

Disputes

None recorded.

See also

Footnotes

  1. Feast Magazine, “Pizza Tascio serves simply delicious New York-style and pan pizzas from a small space in North Kansas City.” https://www.feastmagazine.com/kansas-city/article_dcf10524-90fc-11ec-ada4-83ede1bd49c0.html — asserts: founder Erik Borger is the founder of Il Lazzarone (KC’s first govt-certified Neapolitan); he sold it and left the industry, then returned; Pizza Tascio opened in St. Joseph (2021) then NKC; NY-style/Italian street food concept; “Tascio” name origin from Palermo. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  2. IN Kansas City Magazine, “Founder of Il Lazzarone opens New York-Style Pizza Shop in North KC.” https://www.inkansascity.com/eat-drink/restaurants/founder-of-il-lazzarone-opens-new-york-style-pizza-shop-in-north-kc/ — asserts: Erik Borger, founder of Il Lazzarone, opened a NY-style pizza shop in North Kansas City; Il Lazzarone St. Joseph (2014) and River Market (2015); opened Jan. 2022. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  3. Kansas City Magazine, “Pizza Tascio promises to bring real deal New York pies to KC.” https://kansascitymag.com/pizza-tascio-promises-to-bring-real-deal-new-york-pies-to-kc/ — asserts: opening Jan. 2022 at 1111 Burlington near Chicken N Pickle; NY-style concept; Borger from Hudson Valley; ~1 year developing crust; San Marzano tomatoes from Chris Bianco’s farm; uses 00 flour. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. Pizza Tascio official site, North Kansas City location & menu. https://www.pizzatascio.com/pizza-tascio-north-kansas-city — asserts: NKC address and hours; menu items including by-the-slice service, 18” pies, two-slice special, hot honey/ranch. ↩

  5. Yelp business listings for Pizza Tascio (Gregory Blvd, KCMO and 6705 W 119th St, Overland Park, KS), updated June 2026. https://www.yelp.com/biz/pizza-tascio-kansas-city-6; https://www.yelp.com/biz/pizza-tascio-overland-park-overland-park — asserts: additional metro locations operating in KCMO (Gregory Blvd / Waldo area) and Overland Park, KS. ↩

See also

Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Pizza
  • North Kansas City