BenCotto, a Pizzeria, Opens in Longtime Circle Pizza Space in the North End

A historic pizza-spot-turned-flower-shop has once again become a pizzeria: BenCotto (361 Hanover St., North End, Boston) is now open in the space occupied by Circle Pizza for nearly 50 years, reports NorthEndWaterfront.com. (Since Circle Pizza’s closure in 2000, the storefront has been home to one flower shop and then another.) BenCotto (“well done” in Italian) features a wood-fired brick oven.

Owners Joe Bono (Al Dente, Benevento’s) and Warren Mustacchio first proposed the restaurant way back in July 2014, originally considering keeping the old Circle Pizza name (if the former owners agreed). When the duo went before the licensing board in March 2016 for a beer and wine license, the restaurant was called BenCotto, and plans called for 40 seats and a dining counter.

BenCotto is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

• Ben Cotto Wants to Bring More Pizza to the North End [EBOS]
• Ben Cotto Pizzeria Opens at Hanover and Fleet Streets in Boston’s North End [NorthEndWaterfront.com]
• BenCotto [Official Site]
• BenCotto [FB]