Capitol Hill’s new Roma Roma by-the-cut pizza joint (and the super Brunton brothers) preparing for January debut

Forrest, Renee, and Colin (Image: Roma Roma)

The Cherry & Burrata (Image: Roma Roma)

Roma Roma is taking shape this fall along with Chef Forrest Brunton’s mustache as a food and drink idea they say his brother Colin Brunton first pushed 20 years ago after studying in Rome:

At Roma Roma, guests will experience elevated counter service where ordering is done at a long display case showcasing whole pizzas. Each guest will indicate the size of the piece of pizza(s) that they’d like, and the “pizza monger” will cut from the large rectangular pizzas. Each pizza order will be sold by the weight of the selected piece, a hallmark of Roman street-style pizza. Servers will deliver orders to the tables, with the option for takeout pizza or dine-in.

Colin’s stache is also apparently in excellent form as the brothers have set about building out the new restaurant and shaping their “playful, craftsmanship approach to Roman-style pizza” in time for a January debut.

CHS broke the news in September on the plans for Roma Roma to take over the Rachel Ginger Beer space on the street level of the 12th Ave Arts building at 12th and Pine as Forrest was returning to the city and neighborhood where he formerly held down the kitchens at various Derschang-era joints including Oddfellows and Smith. Most recently, Brunton helped open Chasing Sage in Charleston, South Carolina.

Forrest leveling up (Image: Roma Roma)

Roma Roma is a return to Seattle for the chef and his wife Renee Brunton and a reunion as the brothers are teaming up on a food and drink project for the first time. Colin will serve as general manager.

The Roma Roma game plan is to “present eight to 10 types of pizza a day” and offer “variations on his ultra-slow rise crust like the classic al taglio with its big bubbles and crispy olive oil-soaked bottom, a rustic ancient grain alla pala with a crunchy semolina crust, and a cracker thin crust styled after Rome’s, usually round, locally beloved ‘al tonda’ pizza.”

The Roma Roma team says toppings will include “Roman favorites to timeless classics and chef-crafted flavor combinations, such as The Brooklyn with pepperoni cups, Italian sausage, mozzarella, classic red sauce, ricotta, pickled chilis; Heirloom Pumpkin with brown butter walnuts, crispy sage, fresh ricotta and aged balsamic; and Carnitas Nacho with citrus marinated pork, nacho cheese, Mexican pickles, crema and pico de gallo.”

Italian beverages including tap cocktails like Aperol Spritz and house “Espritzzo,” plus beer and wine, and “elevated non-alcoholic drinks such as Italian sodas with house made syrups, and a Lemon Granita Slushy,” will also be on order.

Vibes are hoped to invoke a Roman holiday — “lively, yet relaxing – like dining at a cozy table at the edge of an Italian piazza, while classic Italian films provide an ideal backdrop playing on the restaurant’s wall.”

Roma Roma is planned to open in January at 1610 12th Ave. Follow @romaroma.pizza for updates.

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