It’s pie time, folks! Pizza lovers can breath a sigh of relief because Pastoral restaurant will officially be opening this Friday, March 28. It’s been long time coming but Chef Todd Winer is finally ready to heat up his 905 degree Farenheit wood fired oven and serve artisanal pizza to the crowds.

An official source tells us that Pastoral has all of its permits in place and will definitely open this coming Friday evening. The long-awaited Fort Point eatery is a “True Neapolitan Pizza” restaurant and will be only the second Massachusetts restaurant currently certified by the U.S. and Canadian branch of the AVPN. As we mentioned in an earlier post, this means the wood-fired pizzas are prepared and cooked according to a set of strict guidelines.

The interior will include wood tables, brick walls and even a milk crate light fixture designed by local artists. The rustic “farmhouse meets industrial” design is meant to pay homage to the countryside, according to a release. Pastoral will seat 150 with 20 seats the bar, and feature rotating artwork curated by “Made in Fort Point.”

Chef Winer told us in an earlier interview that guests can expect “…hearty, rustic meals that are simple and full of flavor … Most of our dishes will incorporate the wood fired oven in some way. They can also expect a comfortable and lively atmosphere to enjoy a meal at the bar, meet up with neighbors for a nice meal in our beautiful dining room or just to come by for a delicious lunch to take back to the office with them.”

And with food ranging from sizzling hot pizzas, pastas and handmade cheeses – guests can also expect to experience a true taste of Italy in Fort Point. The 6000 lb wood fired oven used by Chef Winer was actually imported from Naples, Italy and is made from stone and sand from Mt. Vesuvius. How is that for legit?

I guess the long wait will make the first bite at Pastoral all the more satisfying – so start planning your visit, now.