A local pizzeria with some inspiration from Indian cuisine is getting settled in Lyon Park.
The menu at Pizzato Pizza, which soft opened this summer at 2626 N. Pershing Drive, largely homes in on classic pizza place offerings, including premium and build-your-own pies, stromboli, pasta and hot sandwiches.
But it also comes with a couple surprises, like butter chicken and chicken tikka pizzas.
Restaurant partner Ali Hatim’s ownership of Mumbai Darbar Indian Cuisine in Alexandria inspired the novelty dishes.
“We’re like, ‘Hey, you know what? Let’s take the butter chicken sauce and put it on the pizza instead of marinara sauce, and see how it comes out,'” partner Ahad Ali said. “We’re like, ‘Wow, this is amazing.'”
The same trial-and-error worked with chicken tikka.
“In Indian cuisine, people just eat chicken tikka with naan and sauces,” Ali said. “… The marination of chicken tikka just blends in perfectly with the pizza sauce, and it’s like a burst of flavors in the mouth.”
Ali recommended the hot honey pepperoni pie in addition to the two Indian-inspired specialties. The menu, which is entirely halal, also features salads, chicken wings and signature mac and cheese bowls.
Hatim and Ali, who also owns America’s Best Wings locations in Alexandria and Falls Church, own Pizzato Pizza with their close friend Adnan Charniwala.
In preparing to open, the partners completed some renovations earlier this year, including removing walls and adding new countertops, wallpaper, and a Venice-themed wall where patrons can take pictures. Pizzato Pizza can seat about 15 to 20 people on its outdoor patio and about four people inside.
The restaurant replaces a Vocelli Pizza that formerly occupied the site. The partners decided to continue the pizzeria theme because, Ali said, pizza is a staple food.
“I have three kids myself, and my partner has a son himself,” Ali said. “Kids, you know, they love pizzas. We have parties, we have events. I’m a big football fan, so we order pizzas all the time.”
Pizzato Pizza’s address — about half a mile from Clarendon’s nightlife scene — also benefits the business in some ways, with people passing through the area late at night. It’s located near competitor Troy’s Italian Kitchen, which has been there for seven years.
Ali noted, however, that the location can make the restaurant harder to discover.
“People that are turning into N. Pershing are discovering us, but not many people are finding us just driving down in the neighborhood,” Ali said. “So we have to, you know, put ourselves out and reach out to people.”
Ali said the reception in Lyon Park has been positive so far, with the restaurant — which offers 10% discounts to first responders — garnering over 80 Google reviews and a 4.6-star rating.
Pizzato Pizza is open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11-2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
