Dine & Grind: From Italy to LA: How Francesco Bacco Built Pizza Fling

In the latest episode of Dine & Grind, we sat down with Francesco Bacco, the warm and passionate owner of Pizza Fling in Santa Monica. If you’re a fan of grit, inspiration, and—of course—epic pizza, Francesco Bacco's journey delivers on every level

A Dream Interrupted—and Transformed

Back in Italy, Francesco Bacco was chasing a very different dream: pro basketball. For 20 intense years, he devoted himself to the sport, only to be sidelined by injury at the pivotal age of 19. Rather than let it define him, he pivoted—first into the family business, then unexpectedly into restaurants. "A friend of mine owned a restaurant and said 'Why don't you come help?' I went and I fell in love," Francesco Bacco shares with characteristic warmth. It was the chaos, adrenaline, and camaraderie of hospitality that hooked him from day one.

Climbing the Restaurant Ranks—Literally

Those first days weren't easy. Picture hauling plates up and down three flights of tiny Italian stairs, sweating through shirts, and serving hundreds of guests every night. Yet that hustle—and a hunger to learn—propelled Francesco Bacco to restaurant management, new challenges, and eventually, entrepreneurship in the pizza sector, opening location after location across his region. He didn't do it alone—his wife, Serena, was by his side, even as life's next adventure landed them across the world in Los Angeles.

Finding—and Creating—Opportunity in LA

Starting fresh in LA meant grappling not only with a new city and culture, but learning English and rebuilding his hospitality career. From front-of-house at local Italian gems to beloved spots like Giorgio Baldi, Francesco Bacco kept climbing. Then disaster struck again: wildfires shut down Giorgio Baldi for two months. "In LA, two months without a job is not easy. I never been one day without a job, except when I moved to LA," he confides. With his family's future uncertain, and his wife's employer also losing their home, many would have waited, idled by circumstance. Not Francesco Bacco: "Why don't we start our own thing?" he asked, staring at a vacant spot visible from his living room. Pizza Fling was born—named after a playful moment with Serena on their couch, and propelled by a hunger to turn adversity into opportunity.

The Entrepreneur's Edge

Making the leap from employee to entrepreneur is never simple. As Francesco Bacco confides to Daniel Shemtob, "That switch from being an employee to owning your own business – that's the hard part. Sleepless nights, thinking about tomorrow." But another kind of energy comes with the responsibility. Today, Francesco Bacco wakes up each morning excited to serve ingredients he loves and stand behind a business built on hustle, detail, and care.

Why Pizza Fling Stands Out

What sets Pizza Fling apart? "Every ingredient is sourced pretty much from Italy," notes Daniel Shemtob. From whole prosciutto legs sliced fresh to specialty calzones, everything is designed to evoke the taste and texture of the region Francesco Bacco calls home. It's the thin, crispy Roman-style crust he missed so much—a detail he's now sharing with Santa Monica. For Francesco Bacco, success is simple: burrata, tomato sauce, and prosciutto. But behind those ingredients lies an unshakable drive: the willingness to learn, the courage to pivot, and the grit to grind even when catastrophe strikes.

Dine & Grind Takeaway: Hustle Is the Heart of Hospitality

Daniel Shemtob's final reflection says it best: "You took a moment where things could have looked worse and turned it into an opportunity to change your family's life forever." That's what Dine & Grind is all about. Snibbs is proud to sponsor hustlers like Francesco Bacco, who show us that every challenge—even a closed kitchen or a broken sports dream—is just the beginning.

Hungry for more? Visit Francesco Bacco at Pizza Fling, 3032 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, and taste the grit, heart, and flavor that define LA's culinary entrepreneurs.