Zak’s Pizza and Grill in Port Noarlunga reopens after being ravaged by fire in July

THIS much-loved Port Noarlunga restaurant is back serving customers two months after it was destroyed by a deliberately-lit fire.

Zak Kartabani and Hanna Paredes outside Zak's Pizza and Grill restaurant in Port Noarlunga South. Picture: AAP/Brenton Edwards

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ZAK Kartabani’s nickname is Torpedo – spend a little time with him and it is easy to see why.

He does not stop.

Just two months after his Port Noarlunga South restaurant was destroyed by fire, Zak’s Pizza and Grill reopened for business last Friday night.

While the formal dining section remains closed, tables and chairs have been added to the takeaway area, joining those outside, for customers wanting to dine in.

Mr Kartabani says initially it was thought the fire that destroyed his Cliff Ave restaurant in late July was started by an electrical fault, however he now believes it was the result of arson.

Police confirmed the fire is suspicious and said an investigation is ongoing.

Zak Kartabani inside the burnt-out store on July 28. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

Mr Kartabani says more CCTV has been added to the restaurant to boost security.

“It’s like Fort Knox,” Mr Kartabani says.

The stress of the past two months has caught up with the 33 year old, who was recently diagnosed with a heart condition.

The health scare prompted Mr Kartabani to hand over the day-to-day management of the restaurant to his partner, Hanna Paredes.

However he refuses to totally abandon his 14-year hospitality career.

“I’m thinking of turning the restaurant into a children’s centre with a playground area,” Mr Kartabani says, a million ideas clearly racing through his head.

“See that small van over there? I’m going to get one of those and turn it into the fastest coffee cart in Australia.

“I’ve already emailed the Guinness World Record people to check what time I have to beat.”

Mr Kartabani says the support from family, friends, staff and the broader community has been invaluable in getting the business again up and running.

“I knew I had support out there but I have been totally overwhelmed to the point I had to turn off my phone for a few days after (the fire) happened,” he says.

“My customer Brett bought me a portrait of (rapper) Prodigy because I love hip hop but he said, ‘I’m only giving you this if you promise to reopen’.”

He also thanked local businesses who have offered help, including Coast to Coast cabinets which provided free labour, charging only for materials.

“I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Mr Kartabani says.

“You can knock us but we’ve come back bigger, stronger and better.”