Pizza News

Serious Pizza reopens in Deep Ellum, still slinging crazy-big 30-inch pies

Who does not feel wonder at the sight of pizza dough being flung into the air?

Photo courtesy of Serious Pizza

A Deep Ellum pizzeria known for very big pizzas is reopening with new owners: Serious Pizza, located at 2807 Elm St., will reopen on February 26 with an expanded menu and stepped-up atmosphere.

Serious originally opened in 2011 as a hole-in-the-wall dive whose two main selling points were #1 late-night hours and #2 absurdly large pizzas spanning 30 inches across.

In 2019, the pizzeria was picked up by Milkshake Concepts, the Dallas hospitality group that owns three concepts in or near Deep Ellum including neighborhood restaurant-bar Stirr, Mexican restaurant-bar Vidorra, and their buzzy nightclub Citizen.

Spending all that time in Deep Ellum, Milkshake CEO Imran Sheikh observed that Serious had an incredible following and felt like they could expand the concept. It closed in 2020 for renovations and reimagining and now, voila, here we are.

A release promises a bigger, better experience with giant pies, "killer merch," and DJs on the weekends.

They're keeping the 30-inch New York-style pizza but have expanded the bar to feature beer on tap as well as more canned beverages. Salads have been added along with a 24-inch Big signature appetizer and dessert.

Other new things include:

Space nearly doubled
A renovation to feel more open, with expansive seating and better flow
Screens showing everything from major live sporting events to retro movies and comedic video clips
A floating DJ booth suspended from the ceiling
A mural by local artist Chris Campbell reflecting Dallas music and art culture
Lifestyle-focused merchandise worn by staff members and also available for purchase. They seem to be pretty into the T-shirts.

There's also a new Floor Captain to improve in-restaurant service and support guests tableside. Delivery is also planned to launch soon.

"We felt there was so much potential to ensure the experience started when you walked through the doors, not just when you got your pizza," Sheikh says in a statement. "From a business perspective, Serious Pizza represents a significant effort by Milkshake Concepts to grow in the fast casual sector. This brand has tremendous growth potential and location number two in Fort Worth is already under way."

Opening day festivities will include a dough-throwing showcase in the dining room, plus a branded T-shirt gifted to the last person in line. They are really into those shirts.

deep-ellum pizza

Quonset Hut News

Familiar names take over Quonset hut for new Far-Out Dallas bar

Yelp

Wriggly Tin is now Far-Out Dallas

There's a new Dallas restaurant and bar coming to everyone's favorite Quonset hut: Called Far-Out, it'll take over the space at 1906 E. Haskell Ave. in East Dallas that was previously home to Wriggly Tin, with a grand opening slated for 2025.

Founders Caroline and James Lee are calling it Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria and promise that a culinary adventure awaits.

"After months of creative brainstorming and a bit of furniture rearranging, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new pioneering concept that will open its doors in 2025," the duo says. "Introducing Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria, a dynamic new restaurant and brewery born from the collaboration of industry veterans."

The team includes some beloved East Dallas names:

Marc Cassel of The Green Room and 20 Feet Seafood Joint
Christopher Jeffers of Bolsa and Smoke
Stephanie Houston, the trailblazing first Latina Production distillery owner in America

Also joining the team is Bar Director Adam Mercado, whose resume includes stints at Billy Can Can and Brass Ram.

Marcado will crafting a unique beverage program, with support from mixologist Brian McCullough. Together, they will create what the founders call "unforgettable drink experiences to complement our delicious culinary offerings."

Wriggly Tin opened in November 2023 as an ultra-hip pizza and craft beer spot inside a renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park — a former Cajun fried turkey place which they gave doting makeover with custom plaster walls and art objects from around the world. They replaced one whole side of the hut with glass for sunsets and created a spacious outdoor patio in front.

They earned two nomination in CultureMap's 2024 Tastemaker Awards, one for Best Bar and another for Best Patio.

Alas, the original founders, who'd previously owned Small Brewpub in Oak Cliff, parted ways shortly after it opened. And the bar closed down in September 2024, for what they called "internal changes."

Now the hut is back: The new Far-Out bar is already up and running a few days a week. In the coming days, they will offer updates and sneak peeks as they gear up for the opening of their kitchen.

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