Pinthouse Pizza

(The Pinthouse Pizza sign at the back of the building.)

Dairy Queen will always hold a special place in my family’s hearts, but as the boys are getting older, we’re able to try new restaurants.  One place that’s quickly become a favorite is Pinthouse Pizza, a new local craft brewpub-slash-pizza joint.  Ryan and I both love pizza, and he is a craft beer aficionado, so those factors, combined with a casual, kid-friendly atmosphere, make Pinthouse Pizza a great destination.  Since it is a brewpub, we prefer to take the boys to lunch, when there are lots of little kids running around underfoot, as opposed to dinner, when the pub-like atmosphere takes over.

(Fermentation vessels at Pinthouse Pizza. I had to ask Ryan what they were called.)

It also helps that Pinthouse Pizza has a few video games in one corner of the restaurant, where all of the children seem to congregate.  Our boys are too little to play, but they enjoy running around and pressing buttons randomly.  Rhys is surprisingly good at finding stray pennies and quarters.  We usually grab a table near the games, and the boys run back and forth between the corner and our table while we wait for our food.  And since James and Rhys aren’t pizza fans (yet), they split a soft pretzel and some healthy snacks brought from home.  The atmosphere is friendly and casual, so nobody bats an eye at outside food brought in.  In fact, most of the young children I’ve seen at Pinthouse were eating homemade lunches.

(The lovely figurehead at Pinthouse Pizza.)

I really appreciate the restaurant’s artsy vibe, and it’s so nice to eat in a place without vinyl booths again.  I feel like an actual grown-up, even though Ryan eventually leaves me to go chat up the brewer and I’m left supervising the boys as they perch precariously on stools, attempting to play pinball with scores of other children looking on.

(The tasty Pinthouse Salad.)

The food is really delicious, and since we’ve been twice, I’m having fun trying the different pizzas.  I usually order the lunch special, which comes with a salad and an individual pizza.  It’s more than enough food, and we take the rest home for dinner.

(Lunch!)

Pinthouse Pizza is definitely a welcome change of pace and I’m so excited that it works for our family.  If you’re in Austin, I highly recommend it.