Rize Artisan Pizza + Salads Arrives in Atlanta Week of Nov. 7

For more information:

 Emily Connolly or Morgan Lanier

Melissa Libby & Associates

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emilyc@melissalibbypr.com

morgan@melissalibbypr.com

RIZE ARTISAN PIZZA + SALADS ARRIVES IN ATLANTA WEEK OF NOV. 7

Chef-Driven Concept Brings Real Food and Robust Flavors to Poncey-Highland Neighborhood

ATLANTA (Oct. 26, 2016) – The first location of Rize Artisan Pizza + Salads opens the week of Nov. 7 at the new 675 N. Highland mixed-use development in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta. Offering a daily lunch and dinner menu of chef-driven, global American fare including artisan pizza, hand-crafted salads and pasta with bold flavors along with carefully crafted beverages, Rize delivers true hospitality from the heart by way of passionate individuals who are dedicated to their craft.

“At Rize, our passion for food and people inspires us every day,” says Rize’s Founder and CEO John Smith of the restaurant’s mission. “It inspires the artisan techniques we use to prepare our food, the way we care for our team and the way every guest is treated like friends and family. Every moment is an opportunity to share our passion and create a truly memorable dining experience for our communities.”

Smith believes that memorable experience and the quality of Rize’s food is a direct result of his team of driven, authentic and empowered individuals. In the kitchen, this individual is culinary director Eddie Russell, who reflects on his fine dining background to craft a menu that is straightforward, simple and focused on full-flavor food prepared fresh from scratch every day with premium ingredients. By offering a lighter pizza crust, Russell hopes that guests will be inspired to also try other items such as the small plates and hand-crafted salads. “When guests have a more varied dining experience, they leave more satisfied,” he says.

The menu begins with a selection of small plates ($7) and salads that come in full and half portions ($11/$7). Examples include:

• Charred cauliflower: cauliflower florets, maple sesame dressing, spiced walnuts, pomegranate seed
• Charbroiled wings: spiced herb rub, ginger-honey sauce, cilantro
• Spice road chicken salad: sliced chicken breast, baby spinach, goat cheese, chickpeas, sweet peppers, fennel, basil, mint, cilantro, scallion, golden spice vinaigrette
• Superfood salad: seared shrimp, quinoa, mixed lettuce, feta cheese, zucchini, cucumber, spiced walnuts, honey lemon vinaigrette

Next, the innovative assortment of artisan pizzas includes signature ($13.50), specialty ($12) and classic ($9.50) options such as the following:

• Signature:
• Waverly: prosciutto, Gorgonzola, shredded mozzarella, Asiago, fig jam, balsamic reduction, Grana Padano
• Asian BBQ Chicken: sliced BBQ chicken, shredded mozzarella, charred red onion, green chili sauce, sesame seed, scallion, lime zest 
• Specialty:
• ATL BLT: Beeler’s bacon, baby spinach, fire roasted tomato, shredded mozzarella, charred red onion, balsamic reduction, Grana Padano
• Delphi: roasted artichoke, Kalamata olives, fire roasted tomato, charred red onion, shredded mozzarella, feta, roasted garlic puree, baby kale
• Classic:
• Margherita: fire roasted tomato, fresh mozzarella, roasted garlic oil, basil, extra virgin olive oil
• Bianca: roasted garlic puree, fresh and shredded mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, basil, oregano

Guests can also build their own pizza ($12.50), which includes the choice of four toppings from an extensive list of cheeses, meats and vegetables.

Rounding out the menu are non-traditional pasta ($10) dishes and flatbreads ($8) including:

• Fennel sausage and kale pasta: orecchiette, crumbled fennel sausage, baby kale, fire roasted tomato, fresh mozzarella, white wine, red pepper flakes, parsley, Grana Padano
• Pork meatball pesto pasta: orecchiette, pork meatballs, toasted pecan pesto, white wine, Calabrese peppers, herbed pecan bread crumbs, Grana Padano
• Chicken and pear flatbread: sliced chicken breast, pear chutney, feta, charred red onion, green chili sauce
• Prosciutto and pomegranate flatbread: goat cheese, baby spinach, spiced walnuts, balsamic reduction

Children 10 and under can enjoy a menu ($7.50) just for them that features cheese or pepperoni pizza, pasta and a hummus and veggies combo. Each meal includes a kid’s beverage and a kid’s scoop of Rize’s premium gelato - with flavors like salted caramel, tiramisu and Tahitian vanilla - or sorbet in strawberry, lemon, mango and blood orange flavors. Adult-sized gelato portions come in single ($3), double ($4) or triple ($6).

Rize’s lunch menu, served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offers soups ($4.50) such as rustic tomato and a seasonal selection, sandwiches ($8) like meatball and mozzarella and steak and bleu cheese, and pick two combo meals ($10) featuring the choice of one flatbread or sandwich and either a soup or lunch salad.

Complementing Rize’s bold fare is a beverage selection featuring wine by the glass ($7), craft beer ($6) and sangría by the glass ($7) and carafe ($35), as well as non-alcoholic options such as fresh brewed premium iced tea and fresh lemonade ($2.50), Caleb’s Kola and Stubborn craft sodas ($3) in distinctive flavors like lemon berry acai, black cherry with tarragon and agave vanilla cream. Rize’s Marbella Red and Andalucia White sangrías, named after regions in Spain, are infused with herbs, spices and fresh fruit flavors.

Guests at Rize place their order in an order lobby, then sit in the open dining room of tables and booths to enjoy tableside service until they decide to close their check. The soft industrial décor features muted tones, stained concrete flooring and wooden tables. In addition, a pizza bar provides an up-close look at meals being crafted in the open kitchen. 

“Pizza is the best communal food, and sangría is the ultimate communal drink you can find,” adds Smith. “The most important moments in our lives are surrounded by food, and we look forward to sharing those moments with the Poncey-Highland community.”

Rize is located in the 675 N. Highland Avenue mixed-use development serving lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The multi-seasonal outdoor patio is the perfect stop during an afternoon on the BeltLine or at Freedom Park. For more information, visit www.rizeartisanpizza.com or follow the restaurant on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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