Pie lovers, prep your appetite—Pedroso's Pizza is opening its first restaurant in Austin, fresh off the heels of a successful food truck enterprise and a recent Round Rock expansion. The grand opening is slated for June 1 at 2207 Justin Lane, nestled within the iconic Brentwood bar Lala's Little Nugget. Patrons can expect to sink their teeth into a selection of New York-style slices, Trenton tomato pies, and an assortment of square pies like grandma-style and Sicilian.
This fresh venture will serve up the same beloved menu items from the original Burnet Road food truck, as told to Eater by Pedroso’s owner Thiago Vasconcelos. However, the new spot will strictly offer takeout only, though Lala's has indoor and outdoor seating available for those looking to enjoy their meal on-site. In a shift of gears, the food truck will now focus mainly on serving pizza slices and sandwiches.
Vasconcelos, with his history of working in various pizzerias in the Bay Area and Austin, launched Pedroso's as a food truck in 2020, eventually branching out with a square pizza-dedicated truck in Round Rock earlier this year. The Round Rock Tavern welcomed Pedroso's new trailer on January 20, featuring Long Island-inspired square pies and catering to the big-order crowd, as per an announcement on Community Impact.
With roots extending back to 1972, Lala's Little Nugget represents the old Austin vibe—a constant through the city's ever-expanding food scene. The dive bar, once owned by Frances Lala and sold to FBR Management in 2015, has seen its share of restaurant partnerships over the years. Pedroso's residence in Lala's seems to nearly organize a food legacy that has seen different faces in the past. The upcoming restaurant will operate from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with plans to extend these hours down the line.
Considering Lala's own expansion plans across the river in South Austin, pizza aficionados might just see a Pedroso's popping up in that part of the city too, though details remain as thin as a crust on that front. But for now, Austin's pizza landscape is getting a little tastier with Pedroso’s ready to roll out the dough and bake up some community and culture, one savory slice at a time.
