by LEN LEAR

Sal Mengine, 34, is an engineer by education and training, but passion for food is his compass. One could even argue that food and restaurants are in his DNA. While growing up in Pittsburgh, Sal’s mom owned a restaurant near Duquesne University, and his dad owned two pizza shops. So it was no surprise that after eight years as an engineer, Sal wound up owning a highly successful restaurant for two years called Jasper’s Juice Works in Gettysburg.

But Sal and his wife, Sandra, moved to Philadelphia this year when Sandra got a job as a freelance reporter for NBC-TV/Channel 10. (She lived in Philadelphia 11 years ago, loved the city and was anxious to come back here to live.)

Wanting to open a restaurant similar to his place in Gettysburg, Sal explored available locations all over Center City, University City, the Main Line and Chestnut Hill. After evaluating the pros and cons of each location, Sal signed a lease on the property at 8513 Germantown Ave. that previously housed Best of British. After two months of renovations that consisted of 14-hour days and seven-day weeks, Pianta (“plant” in Italian) opened for business September 2.

“I found out that in center city there were already lots of places like the one I was planning (grilled pizzas, paninis, a juice bar, fruit smoothies, gourmet salads, freshly-squeezed juices, etc.), so we would certainly not stand out. Some of the other rents were way too expensive, but this location in Chestnut Hill was perfect. There’s lots of foot traffic; it’s great being next door to Starbucks, and the rent is very affordable compared to center city.

“We feel we are carving out a niche in Chestnut Hill that was formerly missing: the grilled pizzas as a main item on the menu, the smoothies made with fresh fruit and freshly squeezed juices which offer the equivalent of four or five servings of fruits and vegetables. No one else is doing these things here.”

The managers are Craig Bennett, 34, of Hatfield, and Joanna Hoffman, 30, of Mt. Airy. A native of Jenkintown, Joanna attended the University of New Hampshire and then lived in Los Angeles and Atlanta, where she worked in a restaurant called Commune. Her husband, Seth, is a physician specializing in pulmonary diseases at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. “I love Mt. Airy,” said Joanna. “It’s so diverse. Also, I am pregnant, and so are five other women on our block, so we certainly have a lot in common.” (Sal and his wife recently adopted a baby, Ava, from China.)

In the restaurant business many places have a shelf life not much longer than an ice cream cone in August, but if delicious food and drinks and friendly service are the criteria, Pianta should be around for a long time. I’ve eaten lunch there three times, and I can’t seem to order anything but the addictive Pianta Veggie ($6.75), a salad with lots of grilled veggies, tomato, roasted red peppers, chopped walnuts, greens and a superlicious house dressing.

There are nine grilled pizzas to choose from, priced from $6.50 to $8.75, and lots of optional extra toppings. There are nine paninis, grilled flatbreads loaded with goodies, priced from $6.75 to $8.25; six gourmet salads from $5.75 to $8.25, and dozens of fresh fruit smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, teas, coffees and soy mixers.

The best-selling panini is the Roma, with grilled chicken, smoked provolone cheese, sun-dried tomato, olive tapenade and spinach ($6.75); the top-selling salad is the Greek variety with tomato, calamata olives, red onion, feta cheese, cucumber, artichoke, fresh greens and Greek dressing ($6.50), and the most popular smoothie is the Protein Peanut with peanut butter, banana, chocolate syrup, non-fat frozen yogurt, protein catalyst and soy milk ($3.50 for 16 ounces).

In some luncheonettes around town, there is barely enough space to change your mind, but Pianta is big and airy and colorful, and the second floor that  was so charming when it was Best of British is still in use. The linen tablecloths are gone, but there is lots of artwork on the walls and sunshine breaking through the windows. (In the near future, Sal will be hanging the works of local artists. The art there now is by non-localites.)

Pianta has already become involved in community activities, donating food and services to the Black and White Gala, a Senior Center raffle, Allens Lane Art Center and Germantown Friends School, among others.

Pianta is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. At lunch customers place their orders at the counter; they are made to order and delivered in a few minutes. At dinnertime there is table service. Hoffman said Pianta will soon begin serving Sunday brunch, most likely in early November. They also offer catering, space and food for private parties and takeout service. For more information, call 215-248-4557.