It used to be hard to find good pizza in Vancouver. Not anymore. Recently, I blogged about NOVO Pizzeria and Wine Bar, which will open across from Fifth Avenue Cinemas on Burrard in August. Then I spotted signs for The Za House, a pizza joint which will also open in early August at 2857 West Broadway.
Za House owners Ryan Sprague and Jake Jarvis are a couple of cousins who really like Kits. They want Za to be a welcoming, fun and local spot for families, people their age and UBC upstarts who have stayed out just a little too late. Za will remain open until 3:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00 am all other nights, except Sunday, when it will close at midnight. Delivery starts one month after opening and will run until closing.
“We hope The Za House becomes a neighbourhood hotspot – a place to come grab a slice and a beer and chat with the chefs. Our open concept kitchen with bar seating around it will lend itself to that sort of atmosphere,” explains Jake.
Owners Ryan Sprague and Jake Jarvis
I pressed the cousins further, asking specifically about crust quality. Basically, is this going to be another bad fast food option serving up flabby frisbees? Short answer: Not according to them.
The Za House will use gas ovens with stone hearths to cook the pizza, “Giving our crust a crispy outside while remaining chewy and light inside,” says Jake. They’ve also made a point of making sauce in-house using fresh, local produce.
I pursued Jake for an exact opening date, but he wasn’t able to say for sure. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear more.
The Za House Pizza Company, 2857 W Broadway, 604-733-6611.
Last modified: August 3, 2011
I love pizza, but how many pizza joints does a city need?
Ate here the other night, great pizza! Well priced to!
Managed to pop in for lunch one day last week-delicious sauce!