By Olivia Scheck, Ben Fractenberg and Jeff Mays
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — A fire broke out at an Italian restaurant in the MetLife building during the Thursday afternoon lunch rush, the FDNY said.
The blaze at Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria, which is on the ground floor of the building that's adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, started in the "exaust ventilator of the wood burning stove" shortly before 1:20 p.m., according to the FDNY.
Firefighters evacuated the back of the restaurant where the burning oven was located. A restaurant manager said the fire started near a pizza oven.
Patrons continued to eat in the dining area, despite what one firefighter identified as the stench of burning seafood.
Ann Wrynn, 44, who works in Midtown, said she and her fellow diners weren't worried about the blaze on the other end of the restaurant.
"The alarm went off and no one moved," Wrynn recalled.
Her only regret? The torched oven meant she couldn't order pizza.
The fire was put out later Thursday afternoon.
Naples 45's manager said that everything was fine in the eatery after the fire was out.
