While co-owners Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson own a handful of Pizzeria Locale locations in the state, the Boulder restaurant has always been its own unique spot. In keeping with that, it’s undergone a refresh, complete with a new name, menu and interior, transforming into Pizzeria Alberico.
Part of the Frasca Hospitality Group, and located next door to Frasca Food and Wine, the restaurant’s name pays homage to the Alberico family, who are owner Bobby Stuckey’s in-laws. According to Bobby, everyone wanted to go to the Alberico’s house for lunch and dinner, and Dick and Geri were a huge driving force for Bobby and his wife, Danette, in choosing Boulder as a home.
The previously pizza-central restaurant hangs onto some of its old offerings but also incorporates other mouthwatering dishes, such as starters, salads and decadent desserts.
“Pizzeria Alberico's north star is Naples, which is why you'll continue to see Sicilian staples from Arancini to Cassata Cake and Cannoli on the Alberico menu,” Bobby says. Other star items with staying power include the Margherita pizza and Marinara pizza.
“There are some items from Pizzeria Locale that not only are community favorites but give back to our community that we carried over to our current menu. The Mais pizza was on the Pizzeria Locale menu since opening day, and although we've made a few updates to the ingredients, we keep it on because $1 from every Mais sold goes to Zero Foodprint—an organization that helps farmers implement regenerative farming practices —also known as carbon farming—which restore the life of the soil,” Bobby says.
Its new interior includes a softer vibe with splashes of Mediterranean blues and warm earth tones, now with a more open dining area and a fully remodeled bar with suspended shelving. The full bar encompasses a mix of both traditional and craft cocktails, showcasing Italian-oriented and unique spirits with a wine program that nods to Southern Italy.
Semple Brown, the restaurant’s architect & design team, said it best, “Certain elements, such as the iconic Naples blue (which will greet you at the front door), hand troweled plaster walls and zinc bar top were utilized to create a sense of nostalgia. Like much of Italy itself, the design is meant to age gracefully.”
Luckily, the downtime between the two spaces was minimal, and judging by the buzz of people, it hasn’t missed a beat. The pizza has somewhat of a cult-like following in the community, and after the first bite, it’s clear why. Cooked for just 90 seconds in a 1,000 degree wood-burning oven, the thin-crust dough crisps up on the outside yet stays perfectly springy on the inside.
A professional sign painter, Dick Alberico freelanced logos and advertisements for companies across the country. He’d previously painted the signage for Frasca Food and Wine, so it was only natural that Bobby invited him to hand-paint the signage located on the pizza oven in the new space.
“Dick is a special man, and we chose to honor his story by displaying some of his precious life events in our Amalfi Room—a side dining room that can be privatized for events. On the wall, you will see photos of his first communion, wedding day, even his wife Geri's spaghetti recipe,” Bobby says.
The continuation of the Alberico’s legacy is also apparent in the waitstaff’s warm and friendly vibe. Everyone tells you they’re happy you’re there.
Go for the pizza. Stay for the extra glass of wine and dessert. You’ll leave well-fed, happy and feeling as though you’ve been welcomed into the family.
Pizzeria Alberico
1730 Pearl Street
Open every day 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
PizzeriaAlberico.com