Pizzeria 22, an institution in the Admiral District at 4213 SW College Street for well over a decade changed hands back in August when founder Cary Kemp sold it to enter a new chapter turning the reins over to Brandi Moery and her husband Daniel.  Brandi has been transforming the restaurant, building upon its 13-year foundation of authentic top quality Italian pizza while introducing new concepts and dishes.For Brandi, this venture is a "new baby," perfect timing as her youngest child just turned eighteen. She is a chef and Daniel has a background in the hospitality industry. Chef Daniel Palestina-Sanchez brings his passion as a master pizzaiolo to the heart of the kitchen.

A Foundation of Pizza, with an Eye Towards the Future

The restaurant is obviously known for its pizza, with at least 22 different options on the menu. The most popular is the pepperoni pizza, followed by the "Margherita DOC".  D.O.C. stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata (literally Controlled Designation of Origin). However, Brandi recognizes the need to stay relevant in a competitive market. As such, there is a focus on elevating the menu beyond just pizza.

She's focused on:

Expanding the menu: The restaurant is introducing more options to compete with other local establishments, 

"Slow-Cooked Sundays": Pizzeria 22 has introduced a unique, unscripted meal on Sundays. The first of these included a slow-cooked Italian-style chuck roast, dry-aged and cooked in a wood-fired oven, then shredded with a demiglace. This is intended to be a surprise for customers each week, though Brandi promotes it on Instagram.

Brunch: Looking ahead,  Pizzeria 22 plans to roll out a Saturday and Sunday brunch menu in the spring. The menu itself is not a concern, as her head chef has extensive experience.

Online Ordering: The restaurant uses Square as its POS system, which allows for direct online ordering for pickup or delivery. This change has helped the restaurant keep profits that would otherwise go to third-party delivery services .Currently, about 10% of the business comes from online orders, which is growing. Order online HERE.

Seating: There are 16 seats in the main dining room and 50 in the "big room," for a total of 66 seats. Great for parties.

While there are usually around 9 employees, on busy nights, there are 5 or 6. More staff will be added for brunch.

Pizzeria 22 emphasizes its traditional Italian cuisine, offering wood-fired pizzas, calzones, pasta, and a curated selection of Italian wines.They also offer a variety of appetizers, salads, and desserts, such as tiramisu.

Their menu features a wide variety of Neapolitan pizzas, including the Marinara, Romano, Margherita, and several specialty pizzas with unique toppings. Calzones such as the Ventidue and Primavera are also available, as well as pasta dishes like Lasagna. Pizzeria 22 also offers online ordering and reservations.They focus on creating a family-like atmosphere with a focus on fresh, local ingredients.

What about Cary?

He's doing very well. He said he's back to the music business in a way. For many years prior to opening Pizzeria 22 he was a tour manager for Neil Young, and worked with other bands such as Pearl Jam. In the interim the music business has changed of course so Cary is now working with a music business merchandise seller who sell authorized tour merchandise outside of venues across the nation from specially outfitted semi-trailers, many of which are themed to the band's specifications. "It's less stress for me and a good change," he said. He's also a long term artist as a painter and sculptor and the change will give him more time for his art.

He's been traveling across the country, enjoying foods from many famous spots and having fun in a much lower stress gig.