(Jacques Nawar with business partner Mike Look)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Jacques Nawar wants you to know that Pizzeria Credo, likely open by month’s end, is “not just another pizza place.”
He noted the “another pizza place?” concern was raised by a commenter after our first report last November about his new Junction restaurant – which you’ll find in the long-shuttered ex-Garlic Jim’s spot at 4520 California SW.
Not only will the pizza be out-of-the-ordinary, Nawar promises, so will the rest of the menu.
We toured the renovated space on Monday, from the brand-new, built-in-Naples wood-fired oven (nameplate above) – which faces the restaurant’s front window, for “transparency” inside and out – to the bar that will offer a full spirits menu and more.
Nawar was a restaurateur in the Washington, D.C. area – he points out that you can look up his history (here’s one story we found) – and came here to consult Abbondanza in Morgan Junction, then decided he would “settle” here. Don’t pre-judge Pizzeria Credo by his previous projects, though.
The space has been remodeled in a big way, including warmer colors “to brighten up the place” and lighting fixtures.
Instead of the TV-at-every-table you might remember from GJ’s, there is one screen in the back, visible from the bar, but not from most of the tables.
As for the food – the proprietor describes the planned menu as “smart” and “eclectic,” offering far more than the wood-fired pizza. Pizzeria Credo will also serve appetizers, salads, other entrees such as duck – a specialty, he says – and chicken. Ingredients will be “as organic and local as possible”; Nawar says they are working with West Seattle Produce and looking for other local growers/providers with whom to partner.
And in response to another question that arose in November comments: Yes, there WILL be gluten-free pizza.
Desserts will be something special, he promises, and they’ll make and serve cappuccino as well as other espresso beverages; we note a small but gleaming machine at the bar:
Pizzeria Credo will be open for lunch and dinner. The hours are not finalized yet, but likely 11-2 or so for lunch, with dinner 5-11, and the bar staying open later, especially on Friday/Saturday nights. Not only will food be available for takeout, so will growlers of beer – Georgetown Brewing Company‘s famous Manny’s, Nawar notes. (No website yet, but “soon.”)
If all goes well in the final days of work, Pizzeria Credo will be open by the end of the month.
| 36 COMMENTS