Photo by Sarah Dodge
Pizza is coming to Krog Street Market. Pizzaiolo Luca Varuni is opening a second location of his acclaimed Morningside restaurant in the popular Inman Park dining hall. Located in the back corner of the market near Ticonderoga Club, Varuni Napoli Krog will offer a menu similar to the original, but with smaller, individual-sized pies.
“The market reminded me of Italian markets. It’s a way to live with people eating and shopping together. I love that idea and wanted to be there,” Varuni says.
The 1,000-square-foot space will seat about 27 people around the kitchen, with more communal seating in the market. As with the Morningside location, the pizza oven, tomatoes, flour, olive oil, salt, and Calabrian peppers will be imported from Italy. These ingredients will be used to make all the Varuni favorites, as well as a few new pies, including one with peppadew peppers, piparrak, ricotta, mozzarella, and salami Calabrese.
“The piparrak has a little spicy profile, and it’s marinated in vinegar. With the ricotta and sweetness of the peppadew, it’s got a really good flavor,” Varuni says.
The Krog restaurant will serve beer, Italian wine, and limoncello shots. Varuni says he’s considering offering a negroni, too.
Photo by Sarah Dodge
Unlike the Morningside restaurant, which only serves lunch on the weekends, Varuni Napoli Krog will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Upon opening, Luca Varuni will make the pizza dough at the new spot, while his brother takes the reigns at the original.
In other news, Varuni says he’s working on a loyalty rewards app and may even have a sandwich spot in the works.
“Growing it is beautiful, but keeping up with the quality is our priority,” he says.
