I'm amazed at how thoroughly a few people with passion and a good idea can anchor a city block and create life where there was once... little. The stretch of 20th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues north has recently undergone such a transformation with the arrival of ZaZa Trattoria.
A walk around the center of Birmingham and anyone (who has become numb to suggestions that things will change for the better downtown) will have to admit that things are changing quickly. Urban Standard led the way to a revival of 2nd Avenue north in 2007, Cafe Dupont and ZaZa have joined Surin, Pete's Famous and Pita Loco to create a hub for downtown lunching. Two new hotels and a new residential block along with the Railroad Park (under construction) mirror these success stories to the south. I, for one, am excited about the continued downtown growth that the 'worst economic crisis since the great depression' and the worst municipal leadership imaginable, can't slow down. (Now if we can only get baseball downtown!)
There is more than just 'being there' that has suddenly made ZaZa such an essential downtown staple. To begin with owner-operators Brian and Geoff are passionate about their pizza; ZaZa's daily-rotating array of simple Roman-style pizzas are GREAT. There are usually 4 different pizzas, at least one of them vegetarian, each day, they are made from fresh house-made dough that is unforgetably light and crispy, and topped with seasonal selections of local vegetables. Pizza is largely sold by the slice, or 2 slices with a side salad, but whole Pizzas can be ordered (a day in advance, please)
While the pizza business has been good, ZaZa also offers a selection of terriffic fresh seasonal salads, daily pasta dishes, expanded daily breakfast menu, pastries and scones and a recently added menu of sandwiches that should not be overlooked: including an amazing house-roasted beef, arugula and pecorino sandwich that has few, if any rivals in the city.
The decor of this restaurant is as clean and fresh as the food, with all the wares and workings of the kitchen on full display for those inside and a great glass storefront that puts Geoff, Brian and Braxton and the food prep area right on the sidewalk. While there you cannot miss the 3' tall copper Victoria Arduino Espresso machine, and you should not leave without an espresso or cappucino.In all, this place is nearly flawless; additionally, the guys have gone completely off script by offering brunch (unfortunately not yet a popular meal in Birmingham) downtown on Sunday morning (unheard of!) as well as (BYOB) dinner on Saturday night. Check out the website below for location, hours and menu.
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