A new pizza joint is making mouths water in Mott Haven.

La Grata opened on Alexander Avenue about 10 months ago. The restaurant's owners say it's one of the first Italian restaurants in the area.

Customers say the modern design and simple, quality ingredients make the place special. The inside is clad with art, including a painting of the head chef and a basketball hoop on the wall.

La Grata's specialty is pizza, but the extensive menu ranges from meat and fish entrees to traditional pizza and pasta.

"For me, a customer is very important. When a customer comes in, they're my customer and I am going to take care of them as a family member," says head chef and co-owner Erminio Conte. "If they come in my restaurant they're going to feel like they're at home."

La Grata also opened a second location in Harlem a few months ago.