Overview
It's been a weekend tradition for decades, and one that your stomach has no doubt thanked you for: checking out some live tunes in Fortitude Valley, then tucking into whatever tummy-settling food you can get your mitts on in the early hours of the morning. But if you're heading to a gig at Ann Street's iconic The Zoo, there's no need to wait until after the music stops to grab a feed — because the venue is launching its own pizzeria.
That'd be Zoopreme Pizzeria, which'll start serving up slices on Saturday, January 15. The Zoo has given its kitchen a big revamp and this is the end result, with chef Luigi De Santo doing the honours.
"If my mother finds out I make pizza with pineapple, I won't be allowed to come home to Napoli, but I'm am very happy to join The Zoo family," said De Santo. "I am very passionate about making pizza and I'm very excited to create delicious pizzas for Zoopreme Pizzeria."
Will Johnstone
De Santo's menu will span Italian classics, as well as a few varieties that'll boast nods to the local music scene. If you can remember The Zoo's kitchen setup in the 90s — or you've heard about it — there might even be a couple of off-menu specials that take their cues from those times. To order the latter, you'll need to ask at the bar.
Zoopreme Pizzeria will operate during The Zoo's gigs for now, but will also allow non-ticket holders in from 11.30pm–2.30am — so you can grab a late-night feed even if you're not scoping out the venue's stages that evening. In the near future, the aim is to do takeaway and delivery orders, too, and to operate outside of the venue's events.
To get things started, The Zoo is launching Zoopreme Pizzeria in the most fitting way: with a pizza party. Head by on opening night for slices and tunes by Totally Unicorn, Being Jane Lane and Cooper Reilly from Bad Neighbour. Entry is free, there'll be pizza and drink specials until 2.30am, and you'll get a slice for free as well if you arrive between 6.30–7.30pm.
Find Zoopreme Pizzeria at The Zoo, 411 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, from Saturday, January 15 — operating whenever The Zoo is open and hosting gigs.
Top image: Luke Henery.