There’s no telling whether a nonna has ever walked this earth who was both fast and casual. My own Italian grandmother tends to take her time, as most reginas della cucina do. Her sauce simmers all day and we never dine without proper linens.

That said, Nonna’s Pizza & Pasta on Harding Street grasps at the spirit of “authentic-based Italian American cuisine” - a wordsmithed mantra for the ages - while delivering speedy service with a fast-casual model. Patrons can grab a hot lunch to-go in well under 10 minutes, and the addition of a mobile app has made this task even easier.