Jeff Varasano hosting a pizza party at home. He moves from his own kitchen to the kitchen of his own pizzeria, Varasano's, tomorrow.
There are more notable pizzeria openings this week than you can shake a stick at. Next up: Varasano's Pizzeria in Atlanta. Some sources reported it as opening today, but according to owner Jeff Varasano's Facebook profile, his new and highly anticipated pizzeria opens tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25.
Pull out your viral-web microscopes and take a walk with me down memory lane. Prior to August 2006, Jeff Varasano was just going about his business in relative obscurity, attempting to reverse-engineer the pizza from his favorite joint, Patsy's in East Harlem. Then, in late August of that year, he announced on his pizza recipe page that he believed he had achieved his goal.
In mid-September 2006, über weblog Boing Boing posted about Varasano's breakthrough, and, soon thereafter, his feat went viral, with so much traffic going to his recipe page that it crashed his server.
What made Varasano's story so compelling and link-worthy was the crazy way he achieved pizza perfection: by cutting off the lock mechanism on his oven and cooking his pizzas during the self-clean cycle.
Fast forward a bit and Varasano gets to thinking he can do this thing in a restaurant setting. And thus we come to Varasano's Pizzeria.
Jeff Varasano's journey has come full circle. He started out trying to craft a pie like the one he had in a pizzeria, and now he's running a pizzeria himself. Best of luck, Jeff!
Wow -- talk about an answer to a prayer!!! Atlanta has been a vast wasteland when it comes to decent pizza (at least from this Northerner's humble opinion). I can't wait to try it out.
@unpocojmoney: Jealous. I've been following Jeff's exploits on his page for a long time and have had the pleasure of eating pizza with him in person. He is a pizza geek of the highest order. It made my head spin listening to him. Nothing in that restaurant has been left to chance, I'm sure.
i trust jeff's opinion on pizza possibly slightly more than adam's... this is all the reason i need to visit the ATL and i'm really happy to see he's living his dream.
Like unpocojmoney, I had a similar experience on a visit to ATL. If he can get his staff to turn out the pies at or near the quality he was producing in his home, there will be a new joint to discuss in the pantheon of pizza greatness.
With Jeff's intelligence, attention to detail, and dedication to the spirit of Italian cooking , I trust his restaurant will be a raging success. Atlanta , are you ready for this ?
I'm living a little south of atlanta, was planning on making a buford highway excursion this weekend (best pupusas ever imho), i think i'll have to stop here and report back.
Have you been to Hearth Pizza Tavern? The pizza is awesome! New York/New Haven. Chef Rob makes the best! Weekend special pizzas. Located off of Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs in the Whole Foods Shopping Center.
www.hearthpizzatavern.com
@varasano Why not? There would certainly be worse ways to start. Best of luck tonight. Branch Rickey said luck is the residue of design and you've certainly done a good job laying the ground work. Knock 'em dead.
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21 Comments:
Wow -- talk about an answer to a prayer!!! Atlanta has been a vast wasteland when it comes to decent pizza (at least from this Northerner's humble opinion). I can't wait to try it out.
juliebugsmama at 9:06AM on 03/24/09
I'm going there for lunch today!!! I will report back!
juliebugsmama at 9:14AM on 03/24/09
Okay wait, it doesn't open till Wednesday? I'll try it later this week then, and report back. (Can you tell I'm a bit anxious??)
juliebugsmama at 9:16AM on 03/24/09
I got to eat there last night for the limited friends and family opening - the pizza was incredible. Prepare to be blown away.
unpocojmoney at 9:51AM on 03/24/09
@unpocojmoney: Jealous. I've been following Jeff's exploits on his page for a long time and have had the pleasure of eating pizza with him in person. He is a pizza geek of the highest order. It made my head spin listening to him. Nothing in that restaurant has been left to chance, I'm sure.
Adam Kuban at 9:57AM on 03/24/09
i trust jeff's opinion on pizza possibly slightly more than adam's... this is all the reason i need to visit the ATL and i'm really happy to see he's living his dream.
santoslhalper at 10:45AM on 03/24/09
Like unpocojmoney, I had a similar experience on a visit to ATL. If he can get his staff to turn out the pies at or near the quality he was producing in his home, there will be a new joint to discuss in the pantheon of pizza greatness.
pizzaPlease at 11:59AM on 03/24/09
This is so cool! I love his pizza recipe page and his uncompromising approach. I had no idea he was opening a restaurant.
hsawtelle at 12:28PM on 03/24/09
it looks like it's time for me to plan a road trip to georgia
sloppy at 1:10PM on 03/24/09
Congratulations Jeffie Vee.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 3:12PM on 03/24/09
@juliebugsmama have you been to this place?:
http://www.frittirestaurant.com/fritti/splash.html
From the menu and the VPN certification it looks like the real deal.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 6:50PM on 03/24/09
Not that it wasn't the case before I read this, but I have way more respect for Mr. Varsano than the hedge fund manager turned delivery driver.
BrianPrestonCampbell at 7:23PM on 03/24/09
With Jeff's intelligence, attention to detail, and dedication to the spirit of Italian cooking , I trust his restaurant will be a raging success. Atlanta , are you ready for this ?
C
Cincinnatus at 7:25PM on 03/24/09
finally a reason to go to Atlanta! I will have to get a review of this place as soon as I can on worstpizza
pizzaexpert at 7:54PM on 03/24/09
I'm living a little south of atlanta, was planning on making a buford highway excursion this weekend (best pupusas ever imho), i think i'll have to stop here and report back.
ChiefHDB at 8:25PM on 03/24/09
Have you been to Hearth Pizza Tavern? The pizza is awesome! New York/New Haven. Chef Rob makes the best! Weekend special pizzas. Located off of Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs in the Whole Foods Shopping Center.
www.hearthpizzatavern.com
phillkar at 9:47PM on 03/24/09
FYI, everyone - I hear from a friend who's working there that the opening has been delayed yet again to tomorrow.
unpocojmoney at 10:28AM on 03/25/09
I have it on good authority that the opening is tonight, Wed, the 25th. Just hoping that not every human in Atlanta is expecting a slice tonight...
varasano at 10:34AM on 03/25/09
^ That's Jeff himself just above. I think that "good authority" is actually the final authority on the opening date. Good luck, Jeff!
Adam Kuban at 10:45AM on 03/25/09
@varasano Why not? There would certainly be worse ways to start. Best of luck tonight. Branch Rickey said luck is the residue of design and you've certainly done a good job laying the ground work. Knock 'em dead.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 10:51AM on 03/25/09
hola gang ... i put up a brief commentary but the real gems are the pictures from my dining buddy! Check out the great photos of Varasano's Pizzeria over on SavoryExposure.
foodiebuddha at 2:41AM on 03/26/09