A new pizza and natural wine bar in the heart of Pendleton is opening its doors to the public this week.
Razzo, which means “rocket” in Italian, is owned by Michael Guilfoil and Christy Wulfson, the team behind Bar Saeso and the Airbnb The Carriage House, also in Pendleton, and is located in the former Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey. They said after Boomtown closed, they knew that would leave a void and that whatever filled the space would have a huge impact on the culture and identity of Pendleton.
“We had to have the building. The corner location at the intersection of Broadway and 13th Street is an anchor for the neighborhood … one of our favorite little slices of the city,” Guilfoil and Wulfson said in a press Q&A. “We didn’t want to see another burger joint, sports bar or trendy concept built around a gimmick end up with big presence on a street that was starting to evolve — thanks to businesses like Bar Saeso, Urbana Cafe [and] Hart and Cru — into an area that feels less like another strip of college bars and more like a quaint yet vibrant European square. The corner was calling out to become something classic, which is exactly what we set out to create.”
What Wulfson and Guilfoil created is a cozy, neon-lit space with a bar, dining room and patio. The Italian menu plays into the Italianate architecture around Pendleton and the neighborhood’s European feel, as well as the team’s personal love of Rome.
“We also knew we wanted to offer a unique but approachable menu in an environment that people could feel just as comfortable coming in for just a glass or two of wine as for a whole family-style dinner. Italian pizzerias and trattorias are welcoming neighborhood staples that people frequent regularly and feel at home in. We wanted to create a place like that in Pendleton,” they said.
The menu features Roman-inspired pizzas and natural wines by the glass, with a more expansive bottle list emphasizing small production, low intervention and interesting wines, as well as classic cocktails, spirits and mostly European beers with a rotating selection of local brews. If you’re not familiar with Roman-inspired pizza, Guilfoil and Wulfson said it can take many forms, but Razzo’s was inspired by the pan-baked version known for its rectangular slices and interesting toppings. The crust has a focaccia-like consistency that’s airy and light. Its fluffiness creates a tall profile similar to Detroit-style pizza, but it comes with distinct bubbles and airiness that make it less filling, meaning diners can still have room for pasta or, for dessert, gelato.
Razzo is holding its first public dinner service Wednesday starting at 5 p.m. Its typical hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 5-10 p.m. and Wulfson and Guilfoil say they plan to offer takeout and delivery in the near future.
Razzo, 1201 Broadway St., Pendleton. More info: instagram.com/@pizza.razzo.
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