The team behind the internationally acclaimed Side Project Brewing has launched a new venture, Side Project Pizza, in the former home of Pizza Champ at 2657 Lyle Road in Maplewood. After a soft opening this past weekend, it officially opens to the public on Friday, Feb. 7. The new family-friendly pizzeria combines expertly crafted sourdough pizzas with a curated selection of craft beers, cocktails and canned beverages in a relaxed, four-season patio setting.
With the closure of Pizza Champ, Side Project owners Cory and Karen King saw an opportunity to expand their brand into the culinary space. “We’re thrilled to bring Side Project Pizza to life as a true neighborhood spot,” said Karen King in a release. “Our vision is to create a space where our community can gather, enjoy nostalgic flavors with a twist, and feel right at home.”
The food program – led by chef Adam Altnether, who also helms the recently launched kitchen at Side Project Brewing – showcases 14-inch sourdough pizzas, appetizers and salads, with plans to introduce wings and hoagies in the near future. The pizza dough itself is made using the same yeast strain that brewer Cory King first captured on his family’s farm over a decade ago – a strain that also forms the foundation of Side Project’s signature Saison du Fermier.
Menu highlights include the BBQ Pork Pizza with St. Louis-style barbecue sauce, a Taco Pizza, and The SPB (Side Project Brewing) Pizza featuring sausage, Parmesan and bacon. Salads such as the chopped salad, with a sour cherry vinaigrette, and the kale salad with lemon garlic dressing, add fresh options to the lineup.
The drink menu complements the food with a selection of Side Project’s beers, a rotating draft lineup, and exclusive offerings like Pizza Lager, a Texas-inspired corn lager brewed specifically for Side Project Pizza. The bar also serves canned cocktails, sodas and High Noon.
The opening of Side Project Pizza coincides with Side Project Brewery’s nomination in USA Today’s 10 Best competition for both Best Beer Bar and Best Brewpub, further cementing the brand’s reputation for excellence.
Side Project Pizza is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Hours may change seasonally.
Check out the slideshow below for a look at some of their offerings.
