"A St. Louis-based pizzeria is preparing to bring its pies to the Austin area: ’Zza Pizza + Salad is the name, and currently has two locations in the Missouri city, but it’s run by two Austinite families, hence the relatively far-flung expansion plans. Co-owner Ryan McManus tells Eater that ’Zza opened on Sunday, December 15 in Bee Cave at 5511 State Highway 71 within Colinas Crossing. While the imported pizzeria might be hailing from St. Louis, it doesn’t serve that city’s distinctive style of pizza with a rather firm, cracker-style crust — the pies at ’Zza’s two St. Louis locations seem to be a little softer. The toppings oscillate between classic and some modern twists — there are margherita and sausage options (among others), but also pizzas like Il Greco, with zucchini, tomato, feta, and za’atar, or the Thai Dye with spicy peanut sauce, chicken, and a sesame mix. There’s also a build-your-own pizza option. As the name suggests, salads are also a key offering at ’Zza — classic options like Cobb or panzanella salads appear on the menu alongside the Cesar, with greens, cotija, tortilla chips, tajin, chipotle caesar dressing, and chicken. Then there’s the So Very Berry with greens, strawberries, basil, pecans, blue cheese, and a berry vinaigrette. McManus says that ’Zza’s space in Bee Cave will give off a welcoming vibe, and will be geared towards locals: 'We aim for a classic, clean, timeless feel [...] It is important to us to create an environment that brings convenience as well as a welcoming environment to stay for a while.' While ’Zza only has this one Texas location in the works for now, McManus notes that further expansions are likely on the cards, within Austin or possibly elsewhere in Texas." - Tim Forster
