Pizzeria Paradiso’s First Maryland Restaurant Boasts an Outdoor Beer Bar

Pizzeria Paradiso, a homegrown chain that caters to fans of gourmet pies and specialty brews, is scheduled to open its first location in Maryland — the only branch in the tightly knit family of restaurants to feature an outdoor beer bar — on Saturday, July 8.

The new Hyattsville shop (4800 Rhode Island Avenue), comes in at 2,000 square feet, and shares the property with arts education-oriented nonprofit Art Works Now.

The fully renovated space — chef/founder Ruth Gresser, who started cooking up Neapolitan-style pizzas in Dupont Circle over a quarter century ago, planted this latest restaurant in a former florist shop cherished by her spouse, Art Works Now founder Barbara Johnson — has 55 seats inside plus another 18 outdoors. A folding window connects a five-seat bar posted on the patio to the interior.

Lunch and dinner will be served seven days a week. Executive beverage director Drew McCormick is expected to keep a rotating selection of draft beers flowing on the 16 taps. Opening week specials include an all-Maryland brewery tap takeover as well as crab salad-topped pizza.

Official

Local artwork is displayed throughout. One contributor placed a mosaic flame on the wood-fired pizza oven’s dome, while Art Works Now and the Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council commissioned the 20 pizza-inspired art pieces that adorn the walls.

Status: Opening July 8 at 11:30 a.m. 4800 Rhode Island Avenue, Hyattsville, Md.; website.

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