There are two reasons it took this Examiner almost an entire year of residency in this fine city to finally enter the beloved eatery that is Za's Pizza Pub. The more influential of the two is a fondness for the TV show "No Reservations" which blossomed into a small infatuation with Anthony Bourdain's writing, which has burgeoned into an attempt to cook more at home using fine, local, fresh ingredients coupled with the purchase of a pizza pan and the realization great pizza is really easy to make, and relatively cheap.
The less influential of the two is the admittedly shallow fact that this writer can't stand when others shorten words not for convenience but seemingly to sound hip, especially when the word was only a lazy two syllables to begin with, like pizza (especially pizza). Not to mention that he has to drive by Wick's, Impellizeri's, Bearno's, Boombozz, Papalino's and even Dragon King's (try their pizza, seriously) to get there.
That said, there's obviously a reason that despite all the other 'za places in Louisville (a surprising amount for a city of its size, really) Za's Pizza Pub has survived and done so to great acclaim. The reason, as was discovered last week during a co-workers birthday, is simple and not at all surprising: their pizza is really good. It's not dirt cheap but neither is any of the above mentioned places, and as Mr. Bourdain would point out here, dirt cheap and tasty don't usually go hand-in-hand anyways.
Add to that a full bar (a free-poured birthday shot of Bulliet was only $4.25 FYI, not awful when a Jim Beam was $4), a decently priced and very respectfully sized beer menu at 100+ varieties, a billiard room, a small patio, weekday specials, happy hour, and an enviable location across from Cumberland Brews on Bardstown Road, and you see why Za's is still 'round despite the competish.
Happy Hour
- Daily, 4-7pm: $1.50 Bud Light drafts
Daily Specials
- Monday: 1/2 off Appetizers, 4-7pm
- Tuesday: $1 off 22oz drafts, all day (normally $4 - $5.25)
- Wednesday : $2.25 wells, all day
- Thursday: $3.25 Maker's Mark drinks, all day
- Friday: $2.75 wells, all day
Za's Pizza Pub
1573 Bardstown Road
(502) 454-4544
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