Charleston’s most decorated cheese-pizza guy isn’t slowing down.
Mike Pitera — the New York transplant who started Pizza a Modo Mio out of a food truck in 2021 — just cut the ribbon on his third location. The new spot sits at 1937 Clements Ferry Road in Cainhoy, slotting into the building once occupied by Zavarella’s Pizza.
It’s a deliberate choice.
“I started my food truck right down the road from here,” Pitera told the Post & Courier. “We have a very strong connection with this area.”
The trophy he brought with him
In March, Pitera went to the International Pizza Expo and entered the cheese-pizza category against 727 other competitors. He took home 3rd place in the Southeast division — using the exact pizza he serves daily in his shop. No special-occasion build, no stunt slice. Just the regular pie.
That’s the kind of story that makes the Cainhoy opening feel inevitable.
What’s actually on the menu
Pitera makes his dough using authentic New York techniques — long fermentation, no shortcuts. The shop sells whole pies and slices until they sell out, which happens often. There’s also a catering arm and a Cafe Modo Mio counter that runs breakfast and coffee from 7 to 11 a.m.
Three locations, one philosophy
The other two outposts — the original West Ashley flagship and the Hollywood location at 6231 Highway 162 — both took root in spaces that previously sold pizza. Cainhoy fits the pattern. Pitera tends to step into rooms where the oven’s still warm.
Next stop: Italy
Pitera announced on Facebook that he’s heading to Parma to compete in another global pizza contest. If you’ve been keeping track, that’s competing on multiple continents while running three Charleston-area shops. For now, Cainhoy gets a New York-style pie shop with a bronze medal in the window. That’s a strong opening.
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