MOZZ Artisan Pizza: Where Provo's Best Artisan Pizza Meets a Love Story That Changed Utah's Food Scene

The aroma hits you first—that perfect marriage of wood smoke and slow-fermented sourdough that can only come from a pizza oven built tile by tile, by hand, with obsessive attention to detail. At MOZZ Artisan Pizza on University Avenue in Provo, this isn't just dinner. It's the culmination of a love story that began in restaurant kitchens and transformed into Utah's most authentic artisan pizza experience.

"One of the best pizzas I've EVER had! The mix of flavors is incredible and the sourdough crust is so good I could eat it every day," raves one recent customer, and after one bite of their signature sourdough crust—left to develop flavor for 2-3 days using only water, salt, and flour—you'll understand why MOZZ has become the gold standard for artisan pizza in Provo, Utah.

From Restaurant Dreams to Reality: How Two Hearts Built Utah's Premier Artisan Pizza Destination

Erin and Jared Neiswender's journey began in 2015 when they met while working in the restaurant industry, but their story runs deeper than most entrepreneurial tales. Jared started working in restaurants at 14 in 1995 as a busboy, continuing through high school and college. After graduating from the University of Utah in 2007 with a film degree, he briefly worked in production studios and TV stations, but the restaurant world kept calling him back.

"I have performed every task in the business from Dishwasher to Head Chef, Bus Boy to General Manager. The only position I had never been was owner," Jared explained in a 2022 interview. When he and Erin secured startup capital from friends and family in 2018, MOZZ was born with a singular mission: to complement and elevate Provo's burgeoning food scene with uncompromising quality.

The couple didn't just open a restaurant—they built a monument to their craft. Their hand-crafted wood-fired oven contains 22,222 tiles, each one placed with the same meticulous care they bring to every aspect of their operation. "First they formed a friendship, then a business partnership, and then finally a marriage," their story reflects in every pizza that emerges from that oven.

The MOZZ Experience: Best Artisan Pizza in Provo Through Local Ingredients and Traditional Techniques

Walking into MOZZ feels like stepping into the kind of neighborhood pizzeria Anthony Bourdain would have loved—authentic, unpretentious, but driven by an almost spiritual dedication to craft. Every single item is made fresh from scratch, including their sourdough dough made using traditional bread making techniques with only 3 ingredients: water, salt and flour, left to develop flavor for 2-3 days.

But it's the local sourcing that sets MOZZ apart in Utah's artisan pizza landscape. They purchase milk curds from Gold Creek Farms in Kamas, Utah, and hand stretch their mozzarella daily—it's literally why they're called MOZZ. During peak seasons, they work with up to 30 different Utah purveyors, creating a network that reads like a love letter to Utah agriculture: Taproot in Lindon, Farm Yard Fresh in Santaquin, Beehive Cheese Company in Uintah.

The result? "The sourdough provides a great fermented tang to the initial bite, and it really brings out the nutty flavor of the gouda," notes a recent Salt Lake City Weekly review. "My friends and I just ate at Mozz and it was a delightful and delicious experience... You can tell the ingredients are so fresh and all prepared there."

Customer favorites that showcase this commitment include the Speck Pizza ($18) featuring garlic, mozzarella, ricotta, speck, lemon zest, arugula, and extra virgin olive oil, and the beloved Asparagus Pizza. "My personal all-time favourite is the asparagus pizza... but the white—with balsamic reduction. Do it!!—is also incredible," writes Lindsay, a local food blogger who admits to eating entire pizzas solo while breastfeeding two kids.

The Roasted Cauliflower pizza has achieved near-legendary status among vegetarians. "Sweet Mary, Mother of Joseph. Tonight was a revelation. When the Roasted Cauliflower pizza from Mozz graced my lips this evening, the birds sang a little louder, the Sun shone a little brighter, and somewhere, a new star was born."

Don't sleep on their cheese bread either—MOZZ blends gouda with mozzarella for something more nuanced, served with smooth tomato sauce drizzled with olive oil. It's become the gateway drug for first-time visitors.

University Avenue's Crown Jewel: MOZZ's Role in Provo's Food Renaissance

MOZZ opened in 2019 and has become a true Utah classic, integrating itself perfectly into the Wasatch Front's diverse dining markets. Located at 145 N University Avenue, MOZZ sits in the heart of Provo's downtown renaissance, just steps from BYU campus yet sophisticated enough to attract food lovers from across Utah County.

The restaurant embodies Provo's evolution from a college town with chain restaurants to a destination for serious food. In November 2021, MOZZ won Provo's Mayor's Award for green business, recognizing their commitment to sustainability through LED lighting, compostable packaging, and partnerships with local farms that reduce transportation emissions.

"We truly value the art of culinary experimentation and are the very living embodiment of 'mom and pop.' This restaurant is owned and managed by the very people who work here on the daily from open to close," their website states, and it shows. "I am never disappointed by the pizzas I get from this location... the staff are always so sweet and caring, attentive and make sure they treat all their customers with kindness and understanding."

The success has allowed expansion—MOZZ now operates locations in Daybreak, Salt Lake City's Woodbine, and Milk Block, but the original Provo location remains the heart of their operation.

Planning Your Visit to MOZZ Artisan Pizza

Address: 145 N University Avenue, Provo, UT 84601
Hours: Sunday-Monday 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Tuesday-Saturday 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Phone: (801) 852-0069

The ordering process is refreshingly simple—walk up to the counter, order what you want, and choose your seat. They offer dine-in, takeout, and catering, plus gluten-free cauliflower crust options for those with dietary restrictions.

What to Order: Start with the cheese bread to appreciate their sourdough craft, then move to customer favorites like the Speck Pizza, Asparagus Pizza (when in season), or the Roasted Cauliflower. Don't leave without trying their cookies—"the actual best cookie in town," according to one devoted local food blogger.

Pro Tips: They serve Jun Kombucha made in Provo and local beverages that complement their artisan approach. Parking is available on University Avenue, and the BYU campus proximity makes it perfect for students, families, and food tourists alike.

Instagram: @mozz.pizza for daily specials and behind-the-scenes content

The Bottom Line: Why MOZZ Matters to Utah's Food Story

MOZZ Artisan Pizza represents something larger than exceptional wood-fired pizza—it's proof that Utah's food scene can compete with coastal cities when passion meets technique. "Probably the best pizza in Utah... They get their ingredients locally and make most things in house (even the cheese)," notes one TripAdvisor reviewer, and they're not wrong.

In a state still discovering its culinary identity, Jared and Erin Neiswender have created something authentically Utah while honoring Italian traditions. "The sauce and dough are top notch! Mozz has mastered the foundations of a good pizza," but more importantly, they've mastered the art of making every customer feel like they're part of something special.

When you're craving the best artisan pizza in Provo, Utah, there's really only one choice. MOZZ isn't just feeding Provo—they're helping write the next chapter of Utah's food story, one hand-stretched, locally-sourced, perfectly-charred slice at a time.