pizza

Pete’s To Begin Segway Pizza Delivery Tomorrow

By ARLnow.com

Pete’s New Haven Apizza will begin its delivery service tomorrow.

As we reported last month, the restaurant will deliver pizzas via mopeds, cars and, for addresses within a mile of Pete’s Clarendon location, via Segway. Pete’s co-owner Joel Mehr called the restaurant’s custom-modified Segway “an extremely efficient way to deliver to urban residents.

At least at first, delivery will only be available in the evening, from 5:00 p.m. to close.

Pete’s opened nearly four months ago at 3017 Clarendon Boulevard. The restaurant’s phone number is 703.527.PETE.

Naked Pizza Opens in Pentagon City, Plans Va. Square Location

By ARLnow.com

The first Arlington outpost of the all-natural pizza chain Naked Pizza opened in Pentagon City over the weekend.

The store, located in the old Pizza Milano space near Harris Teeter, features signature pies like the Ragin’ Cajun (sausage, chicken, garlic bell pepper onion), the Superbiotic (artichoke, spinach, bell pepper, mushroom, garlic, red onion, cliantro) and the Smokehouse (hickory-smoked BBQ sauce, onion, chicken), as well as specialized options like gluten-free crust.

As we reported in March, the New Orleans-based chain says it’s trying to be “part of the solution to the global epidemic of obesity and chronic disease” by making fast food “healthful instead of harmful.”

About a dozen employees in bright green shirts were working inside and outside the store this afternoon. Those not manning the kitchen or the counter held signs directing passersby to their 1101 S. Joyce Street storefront. The eatery will be seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.

A second Arlington location is planned for the ground floor of the Quincy Plaza Apartments (3900 Fairfax Drive) in Virginia Square. This weekend the County Board is expected to grant the future pizzeria permission to establish a pizza delivery service.

Pete’s to Roll Out Pizza Delivery by Segway

By ARLnow.com

Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza in Clarendon may be the first D.C. area pizzeria to offer delivery via Segway.

The three-month old restaurant will soon be launching delivery service, and co-owner Joel Mehr says the newly-purchased Segway will allow his delivery staff to serve residents of Arlington’s dense urban core faster than traditional delivery methods.

The Segway — once it’s outfitted with a custom pizza-holding basket — will be able to transport multiple pies at a time, unlike deliveries by foot, and will be able to park anywhere, unlike deliveries by car. Plus, Mehr said, it’s cheap and eco-friendly — only requiring a $0.20 overnight charge for eight hours of operation.

“We just thought this would be an extremely efficient way to deliver to urban residents within a mile radius,” said Mehr, who noted that the original idea for Segway deliveries came from an offhand suggestion from a customer.

The personal transportation device will not be the only vehicle in the delivery fleet, however. While the Segway will handle deliveries within a mile of the store, a gas-powered scooter will handle deliveries within two miles. Cars will be used for more distant deliveries and during bad weather.

Segways can travel up to 12 miles per hour. Expect to see the Pete’s Segway, decked out with stickers and other decorations, out and about in Clarendon in a couple of weeks.

Cafe Pizzaiolo Coming to Shirlington

By ARLnow.com

Cafe Pizzaiolo will be opening a location in Shirlington Village.

This will be the pizzeria’s third location. It also has restaurants in Crystal City (507 S. 23rd Street) and Fairlington (1623 Fern Street, Alexandria).

“Café Pizzaiolo will serve authentic Neapolitan and New York Style pizzas,” says the Village at Shirlington web site. “They combine natural, high quality local ingredients with imported Italian products to create our distinct style.”

No word yet on an opening date.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Jim Morrison in Arlington? — The late Doors frontman Jim Morrison apparently was an Arlingtonian. The son of a Navy admiral, Morrison lived at as many as three different Arlington addresses. The current resident of one of his reported former addresses says Morrison’s ghost has haunted the house on three different occasions. [Falls Church News-Press]

Pete’s Apizza Groupon Selling Fast — A 50% off Groupon for Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza (3017 Clarendon Blvd) has nearly sold out. As of this writing, 5,800 people have purchased the deal — 4,800 specifically for the restaurant’s recently-opened Clarendon location. Expect the Clarendon restaurant to get considerably more crowded over the next few weeks as a result. [Groupon]

Mobile Visitors Center Honored — Arlington’s first-of-its-kind electric-powered Mobile Visitors Center has been honored as the Visitor Center of the Year by the Virginia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. The Mobile Visitors Center “serves travelers and residents at six Metro locations five days a week, and at major annual events.” [Arlington County]

Flickr pool photo by Philliefan99

http://staging.arlnow.com/2011/03/24/petes-new-haven-apizza-plans-sunday-opening/

Pete’s New Haven Apizza Plans Sunday Opening

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 12:25 p.m.) The new Pete’s New Haven Apizza restaurant in Clarendon is planning to open its doors on Sunday.

Pete’s co-owner Tom Marr tells us the restaurant has gotten all the necessary county occupancy and state alcohol permits, and is on track to open Sunday at 11:00 a.m. It could open today, he said, but management is focusing on training staff.

Pete’s serves New Haven-style pizza, which is explained at length on the company’s web site. Their “specialty apizzas” include: “Boola Boola” with house-made meatballs, roasted peppers, caramelized onions and cherry peppers; “Merritt Parkway” with Prosciutto di Parma, Kalamata olives, caramelized onions, basil and extra virgin olive oil; “New Haven” with white clams, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, Pecorino Romano and oregano; and “Nighthawk” with basil pesto, grilled chicken, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions and fresh mozzarella.

The price of an 18″ pie ranges from $18.95 to $25.95. In addition to offering pizza by the pie, Pete’s will offer a few varieties of pizza by the slice for $2.50 to $3.25.

Other menu items include appetizers, paninis, pasta dishes and homemade seasonal desserts. Twelve beers will be available on draft. Patrons will be able to choose between outdoor and indoor seating.

The restaurant, at 3017 Clarendon Boulevard, will be the first business to open on the ground floor of the recently-completed Clarendon Center north building. BGR: The Burger Joint is expected to open within the next two weeks.

More photos, after the jump.

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Bozzelli’s Now Serving Pizza in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

The selection is a bit limited at the moment, but Bozzelli’s Italian Deli in Crystal City (2600 Crystal Drive) is now serving pizza.

The addition will bring Bozzelli’s, which opened in November, into direct competition with one of the few other street-facing quick-serve options on the southern end of Crystal Drive, Pizza Autentica (2450 Crystal Drive).

Bozzelli’s is serving plain cheese, pepperoni and veggie pizzas for now. Fancier options like the white pizza are still a few days away, an employee said. In addition to the pizza, Bozzelli’s is also now offering mini cupcakes and other sweets in Crystal City.

One repeat customer who may be sampling the new menu items is Crystal City resident and former presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. We’re told McCain has been known to swing by the restaurant on occasion.

Photo via Facebook

Naked Pizza Coming to Pentagon Row

By ARLnow.com

Fast-growing all-natural pizza chain Naked Pizza is coming to Pentagon Row.

A Naked Pizza restaurant will be replacing Pizza Milano, in a storefront that faces the Harris Teeter parking lot on the northern end of Pentagon Row. Pizza Milano, which used to offer free delivery, is now closed.

New Orleans-based Naked Pizza is noted for its devotion to making positive social change — it claims to be “part of the solution to the global epidemic of obesity and chronic disease” by making fast food “healthful instead of harmful” — as well as its health-minded pizza.

Some of the “favorite” pizza recipes on the menu at Naked include the Ragin’ Cajun (sausage, chicken, garlic bell pepper onion), the Superbiotic (artichoke, spinach, bell pepper, mushroom, garlic, red onion, cliantro), the Pima (black beans, jalapeno, cheddar cheese, tomato, onion, cilantro and lime) and the Smokehouse (hickory-smoked BBQ sauce, onion, chicken).

No word yet on when the restaurant plans to open.

Photo via nakedpizza.biz. Hat tip to @RahulG86.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Zpizza Opens in Rosslyn — Office-dwellers in Rosslyn have another lunchtime option. Local pizza chain Zpizza has opened next to the Baja Fresh at 1100 Wilson Boulevard. [TBD]

Alexandria Mayor Endorses Krupicka for State Senate — Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka (D), who’s running for the state Senate seat currently held by the retiring Sen. Patsy Ticer, has received a quick if unsurprising endorsement from Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille. Ticer’s 30th District seat– which encompasses most of Alexandria and South Arlington — is also being sought by Del. Adam Ebbin and Arlington School Board Chair Libby Garvey. [Krupicka for State Senate]

Arlington Dems Meeting Tonight — With about half of the local elected Democratic establishment eying one another’s jobs, tonight’s Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting could get interesting. To wit, three out of five county board members and four out of four local House of Delegates members have been mentioned as possible candidates for higher political office this year.

Bronx Pizza Coming to Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Signs are now up in the windows, announcing that Bronx Pizza is coming to a small storefront at 3100 Clarendon Boulevard.

The New York-style pizza joint was supposedly hoping to open in December when the Washington Business Journal first reported on its existence. At this point, it appears that the store may open this summer.

Bronx Pizza is the brainchild of Caribbean Breeze owner Mike Cordero, who is channeling his Bronx roots to help amp up the restaurant’s authenticity.

“As many of you know, I grew up in the South Bronx, working at a Mom and Pop pizza shop and became quite the pizza maker through the years,” Cordero wrote to friends in December. “I am bringing that originality to VA.”

“Décor will be very NYC, think Babe Ruth, Micky Mantle with a touch of Sopranos,” Cordero added.

Operating in an area already chock full of pizza joints, Bronx Pizza hopes to win customers with its late night business. The store may stay open as late as 5:00 a.m.

Pizza Autentica Opens in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Pizza Autentica has opened up at Crystal Drive and 23rd Street in Crystal City.

The location is the South Arlington counterpart to the rapidly-growing pizza chain’s Ballston restaurant, which opened in October.

The Crystal City Pizza Autentica will serve breakfast on weekdays, starting at 8:00 a.m. It will remain open until midnight.

In addition to pizza, paninis and strombolis, the store expects to start serving homemade gelato starting next week.

Pizza Autentica should attract a largely workday crowd. So far the restaurant has not applied for a liquor license, unlike the Ballston location, which serves beer and wine. However, the Crystal City location does feature a sizable outdoor patio, which could attract after-work diners during the summer.

H/T Doug Wendt

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