This weekend we noticed lights and movement in the now-empty Dulces space on 34th and Pike. It turned out to be Darren and Janine Pritt starting the opening process for their new restaurant, Pritty Boys’ Family Pizzeria.
Tentatively slated for an April 1 opening, the new restaurant will not serve wood-fired pizza (as previously reported) but will be a nostalgic take on the pizza parlors of Darren’s youth with a more classic pie. Darren, who also owns Belltown’s Branzino, has Branzino’s chef Quinton Stewart consulting on menu development. While they’re not shooting for high-end gourmet, Janine says, “we want it to be good pizza.”
They plan to offer takeout (though not delivery) and be open for lunch and dinner, with additional options like pastas, appetizers and salads. There will be gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options as well.
The atmosphere will be uber-family-friendly along the lines of nearby Madrona Eatery & Alehouse and Vios on Capitol Hill. The Pritts, who live in Madrona and have three sons ages 12, 10 and 1, wanted to create a neighborhood restaurant that everyone in a family could enjoy. So they are planning a devoted play area for younger kids in the main dining room and a game room for older kids in what used to be Dulces’ cigar room, with a Nintendo Wii and other electronics in an updated take on pizza parlor arcade games. They’re installing old-style red booths with butcher paper on the tables.
“The whole idea is that you can go out with another couple and be able to sit down and have a glass of wine and eat and know that the kids are entertained as well,” said Janine.
That’s not to say that the restaurant will be entirely kid-focused – they’ll serve beer and wine, offer wi-fi, and have TVs installed to play sporting events.
Darren may be familiar to Madrona residents as one of the founders of the Neighborhood Cooking Association, which prepares monthly meals for the homeless at St. Clouds Restaurant.
And finally – yes, the Pritts are aware that take-and-bake Zaw Pizza is still expected to open just a block away (no firm news on the opening date, though we’re hearing March or April), but they feel their styles are different enough that competition won’t be too much of an issue.
What do you think of the newest dining destination to hit the neighborhood?
This sounds great. I have 3 kids and am excited about a kid friendly pizza place in the neighborhood!
I love pizza and love taking my boy out to dinner. Hooray!!! I love Branzino as well so this can’t help but be another great addition to 34th.
I love pizza and the kid-friendliness sounds great. I hope they will allow you to customize slices since no one I eat out with can seem to agree on toppings, and a plain cheese pie is kind of boring.
I look forward to this pizza joint opening but I hope that uber-family-friendly does not mean that children will be allowed to scream and roam the floor like the Ale House. Who needs another place for entitled parents with poor parenting skills and no sense of etiquette? Oh wait, Madrona.
All we need now is a good Mexican restaurant with great Margaritas and Madrona will have a sustainable neighborhood restaurant scene.
This sounds like a great concept, so long as the pizza is good. I can’t wait to see!
OMG get a grip.
I hope they are thinking about slices. (I drive to Mad Pizza in Madison park frequently to get decent slice for the kids) A good Cesar salad would be a plus too.
OMG STFU – Ian, I suspect that you are one of the entitled.
Can hardly wait to take my gluten-free kids there! What a great addition this could be!
Agreed!
Ely, before you pass judgement I think one thing to consider is that there are EXTREMELY few establishments that a family can go to and for a couple of hours enjoy some time outside the home and still not have to be a helicopter parent. It looks like the Ale house strives to be an alternative to Chunky Cheese (or whatever it is called) for the neighborhood. For the parents, that is not entitlement, that is a much needed break. This is the only reason I can think of why anyone would endure the horrific food served there. The beer offerings are fantastic, but considering the menu, I choose to keeps the kids at home or top choice, take them to Boom noodles where they are respected with a healthy menu option and service or endure the agonizingly slow service and very child unfriendly atmosphere (no high chairs and ominously cold) of the Central Cinema. At least they offer organic and the food has some flavor besides grease.
Try El Mestizo in the corner of Broadway and James-not quite in Madrona, but still close and absolutely delicious!