Feb. 26, 2025

After several days of test runs, Pizza Cheeks opens officially on Thursday in its new home.

Owners Barry Putzke and Jordan Taylor have taken over the former Kaladi’s Bistro space at 1716 S. Minnesota Ave.

It’s a big change for the restaurant, which had been operating out of a tiny kitchen in the back of The Hello Hi for four years.

“With any new restaurant opening, there’s always going to be hiccups and things they’re working out, so keep that in mind,” Putzke said. “We’ll put out best foot forward.”

This isn’t the first opening for the business partners, who have known each other since high school. They started Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen in 2017, followed by Pizza Cheeks, En Place Catering and a partnership with others in Perch.

The new menu at Pizza Cheeks has expanded to include more appetizers like wings, sausage and peppers, and cheese bread.

The house meatballs remain, featuring a combination of pork and beef, topped with marinara, fresh mozzarella, pecorino and basil, with a slice of focaccia.

“Just having a bunch of other appetizer options has been a good option for people,” Putzke said.

In addition to the house and Caesar salads, there’s a new antipasto with arugula, cured meats, sesame croutons, shaved peppers, Parmesan and a pesto vinaigrette.

There are four Italian sandwiches and a half-dozen pastas, with a gluten-free noodle option.

The menu features eight New York-style house pies and a build-your-own option. Now, there are two sizes of pizza: 12 and 18 inches. A gluten-free crust is available.

Click here to see the full menu.

For drinks, there are fountain sodas featuring Coca-Cola products, beer, wine “and a pretty good selection of NA beers and THC drinks, seltzers and ciders,” Putzke said. “We’ll be adding to that as we figure out the mix.”

Putzke acknowledges that the Pizza Cheeks menu “is not the cheapest,” but he knows the quality is there and that many customers will be heading home with leftovers because of the generous portion sizes.

Service at The Hello Hi continues, now just by the slice and made at the new location. Before, Pizza Cheeks was limited to evening service, but the new restaurant will be open for lunch.

Pizza by the slice will be an option very soon at lunch, Putzke noted, and will match the offerings at the downtown bar: cheese, pepperoni, a veggie special and a meat special. The specials will rotate every week.

The family-friendly restaurant offers an arcade with retro video games, pinball machines and Golden Tee, and there are TVs for watching sports. Pizza Cheeks seats about 100 customers at tables, a few booths and at the bar.

Hours will start at 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and possibly 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Putzke said.

Takeout will be available right away, and delivery will be an option eventually.