Inside Ardiana, Joining The Ragazza and Gialina Pizza Family in Noe Valley

Gialina and Ragazza owner Sharon Ardiana is opening her third restaurant, Ardiana, tonight at 1781 Church Street in Noe Valley. At the new, self-titled location, she and chef de cuisine Jesse Scott Moore will helm a pizza oven that’s “almost too big” for the space, which was formerly La Nebbia.

That means room for more than just pizza — 12 pies could fit on just one shelf — and Ardiana will be “a little less pizza oriented” than Ragazza and Gialina. Expect the commodious oven to be roasting chicken and lamb, and also baking fresh pita bread to be paired with items like eggplant purée. That’s made with lemon verbena syrup from lemons Ardiana grew on “this crazy roof deck garden” she has at her home in the Mission.

Takashi Fukuda

Takashi Fukuda

Takashi Fukuda

Takashi Fukuda

Takashi Fukuda

The Church Street space didn’t need much of an overhaul after after La Ciccia’s owners pulled out to focus on their flagship restaurant just down the street. As Ardiana, it’s gotten a nice new shade of blue and some mid-century modern touches.

Eventually, that “big honkin” oven will provide room for take out — but not for the first month at least. “I learned from Gialina that opening with takeout is really tough, and that was ten years ago,” Ardiana says. She is learning, she points out.

Ardiana is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10:30 p.m.

• Ardiana opens tonight in Noe Valley [Chronicle]
• First Look at Ardiana, Opening Tonight in Noe Valley [Tablehopper]