Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie to open on Pittsburgh's South Side
Feb. 27—A shuttered Mexican restaurant on the South Side will soon be home to pizza and rotisserie chicken.
Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie restaurant has taken over the space on East Carson Street, with a planned opening ona March 10.
The menu will feature 14- and 12-inch pizzas in New York style and pan options, rotisserie chicken served as whole or half bird with options for wings or tenders, stone-baked hoagies and a selection of starters, salads, sides and sauces.
It's owned by former chefs at Downtown Pittsburgh's Sienna Mercato and Emporio: A Meatball Joint, Matthew Porco of Franklin Park and Donnie Amman of Dormont. They teamed up with Chris Clark, general manager of Superior Motors in Braddock.
"We plan to elevate our game with the pizza and chicken we serve," Porco said.
Porco said there is something about pizza and chicken. Whenever he buys pizza for his family, he prefers to throw in some chicken. He and Amman got their starts in the pizza business.
The pizza dough will be made fresh, fermenting for 48 hours, Amman said.
They have an electric-deck oven from Italy that can reach 950 degrees. In the future, the menu will be expanded.
The chicken will be brined and cooked in a spice rub.
Located in the former Steel Cactus Mexican Cantina, the space has a 35-seat bar and dining service for 90. The owners plan to start with eight taps and grow to 16. There will be dine-in and carryout.
The décor was painted by local artists. There are 10 big-screen televisions. An upstairs space for late-night dining is a planned for the future
"Pizza has an amazing culture," Porco said. "All are welcome here. We are family-friendly. Pizza is something that everyone likes."
They have an area lined with "Golden Girls" wallpaper and figurines of the four ladies from the show near the restrooms, which are painted in colorful designs. The 1980s and '90s décor is a nod to the comedy television series from the era that featured four women living in the same household in Miami Beach.
"The concept is to reflect that we don't take ourselves too seriously," Porco said. "We want this to be a fun space and a good time, so why not the 'Golden Girls'?"
"The 'Golden Girls' are the best," said Amman.
A red chandelier is the first thing guests see when they walk through the door.
Hours will be limited to start because of the pandemic, Clark said.
"When covid-19 is in our rearview mirror, we want to make sure we provide an outlet for everyone to have a good time and get back to enjoying themselves, refreshing beverages, stellar service and great food," said Clark. "It will be a celebration for sure."
Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie is located at 1831 East Carson St.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne at 724-853-5062, jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .