Rebranded Pizzeria Keeps Its Classic Neapolitan Pies and Adds Indian Food to the Menu

Restaurateur Jimmy Aujla is putting an Indian Twist on a classic Neapolitan pizzeria—and we mean that pretty much literally.

Aujla, who owns a pair of popular Tucson restaurants called Indian Twist, recently added Vero Amore to his portfolio. Located in the Dove Mountain community in Marana, Arizona, Vero Amore was previously one of two pizzerias by that name owned by JAM Culinary Concepts until the latter sold it to Aujla last year. (JAM has retained the other Vero Amore.)

But unlike so many new buyers of older pizzerias, Aujla apparently never pledged to keep everything the same when he took over Vero Amore Dove Mountain. Instead, he started testing some menu additions last fall—and that’s where the “twist” comes in.

Aujla still offers the classic wood-fired Neapolitan pies that the 17-year-old eatery is famous for, but, as he told Tucson.com, “People want something different. I think Vero Amore, being here since 2008—they haven’t changed their menu.” But, he added, “People love Indian food.”

Aujla has rebranded the restaurant as simply Amore and added a separate menu featuring Indian cuisine ranging from appetizers and naan to various spicy entrees. In the latter category, he now offers Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken and Fish Masala, among other items. There are also vegetarian dishes like Chana Masala and Navratan Korma.

But pizza lovers won’t go home hungry. The Neapolitan pizza menu still touts 13 signature pies, from the Quattro Formaggi and the Capricciosa to the Ruspante (red sauce, chicken sausage, roasted bell peppers and mozzarella) and the Checca (garlic-olive oil, tomatoes, basil and mozz).

Aujla is likely onto something. PMQ Pizza has taken note of a growing trend of Indian-Italian fusion pizzas, a seemingly unusual marriage that has, in fact, spread across the U.S. Adding Indian cuisine while keeping the Neapolitan pizza menu intact makes good business sense and could lead to significantly more traffic for Amore.

And Aujla has the credentials for Indian food. A native of India, he moved to the U.S. in 1996 and learned the culinary craft in his parents’ Indian restaurant, Maharaja, in Washington State. He went on to open Taj Palace in Beaverton, Oregon, and Monsoon in Palm Springs, California. The acclaimed Indian Twist came next, along with another Indian concept, Zyka Twist, both in Tucson.

“Amore will be the next hit in the Tucson community,” Aujla told Tucson Foodie. “The menu features everything you can dream of—Indian cuisine, wings and Italian cuisine.”