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BIZNOTE: Moto bringing Detroit-style pizza to West Seattle Junction

January 21, 2021 11:31 am
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Some call it the “Up House” – the little old house at 4526 42nd SW between big new(er) buildings. Starting tomorrow, you can just call it Moto. We went over this morning after a reader tip (thank you!). Lee Kindell opens the restaurant on Friday, offering Detroit-style pizza:

What’s Detroit-style pizza, you ask? Well, for starters, it’s square, and deep-dish. Moto will use sourdough. You can see the menu online. Moto will also offer soft-serve ice cream in fancy handmade cones:

Coffee, too. By the way, since the building is set back from the street, look for this closer to the front of the lot:

Moto opens at 4 tomorrow and will be open 4 pm to 9 pm Wednesdays through Sundays, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

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45 Replies to "BIZNOTE: Moto bringing Detroit-style pizza to West Seattle Junction"

  • WSOwl January 21, 2021 (11:34 am)

    Can’t wait to try it!

    • who bird January 21, 2021 (1:10 pm)

      +1

      Thank you universe for saving me from the swamps of sadness today. This place sounds awesome, and gluten free crust option is coming soon!

      Too much to hope for a gluten free cone too?

  • Suds January 21, 2021 (11:37 am)

    Hooray! A pizza place in WSeattle!sarcasm aside, I’m interested in seeing what Detroit-style is all about.

  • pizzalover January 21, 2021 (11:41 am)

    Cue the “another pizza place” comments in 3,2,1….

    • sam-c January 21, 2021 (12:01 pm)

      Suds beat your countdown by a few minutes

    • Pelicans January 21, 2021 (9:45 pm)

      @PL, I was about to add to said “another pizza place” comments, but read the whole article. Like a lot of other foods, hot dogs (Seattle Dog, yecchh!), for instance, have their regional variations.  Curious eaters will always seek out new things. Those of us who stick to what we know, will not. Two, no three, of the biggest food surprises in my life turned out to be absolute, go-to, comfort foods for dark, rainy, wet winters. I’m talking about pho, bahn mi sandwiches, and Kizuki Izukaya Ramen. Yes, I’d had Saimin while living in Hawaii. But real, HTG Japanese ramen was an unknown. One reckless night the angels sang, and it was a revelation.  Maybe somewhere in the next new pizza joint, the angels will sing for you and me again, too.

    • Conrad January 22, 2021 (2:44 pm)

      But is there such a thing as too much pizza? I don’t think so.

  • Calires January 21, 2021 (11:44 am)

    Noticed the sign and tables and chairs yesterday and wondered what was going in there.  That’s become the Edith Macefield house of West Seattle.  Glad to see it put to good use.

  • Belltown Foodie January 21, 2021 (11:55 am)

    Welcome to West Seattle! Sounds fun!  Will have to give it a try! No “another pizza place” comments here….   

  • Chris K January 21, 2021 (11:55 am)

    Pizza, soft serve and pour over coffee?  Yes, yes, yes!  This is way more exciting than the news of another mediocre fried chicken chain.

  • sam-c January 21, 2021 (12:00 pm)

    Sounds awesome! Thanks for mentioning it.Don’t get out much these days – so will have to plan a trip.

  • Carson January 21, 2021 (12:02 pm)

    As someone actually born in Detroit I have never heard of “Detroit” pizza, but I am anxious to give it a try!

    • Robin January 21, 2021 (12:58 pm)

      I am also from Detroit and didn’t get that this was a thing either, but apparently square, semi-deep dish pizza like Jets is not available elsewhere?

      • Derek January 21, 2021 (1:12 pm)

        Best Detroit Style place is Breezy Town in Beacon Hill

        • Chicago Transplant January 23, 2021 (2:48 pm)

          Breezy Town doesn’t make Detroit-style. The caramelized/browned cheese crust is not unique to Detroit – in fact it was likely first done by Burt Katz (Pequod’s/Burt’s Place) in Chicago who invented the style of pizza that Windy City/Breezy Town pie takes its influence from. There’s elements of Detroit in that style (pillowy crust, caramelized cheese) but it’s decidedly a Chicago creation. The Chicago pan pizza has a cool history and (IMO) is the superior variation of deep dish. 

    • DumpyFish January 21, 2021 (1:23 pm)

      Also from Detroit and didn’t realize we had a pizza style until I moved. Apparently, people from Detroit are the only ones who don’t refer to square, deep dish, doughy, burnt cheese crust pizza as “Detroit style”. 

    • Keefe January 21, 2021 (3:09 pm)

      Am I the only one who loved Buddy’s?

      • RealDetroit January 21, 2021 (4:56 pm)

        Buddy’s fan here!  Now we just need a coney place, and we will be set.  Can’t wait to try this!!

      • ACE January 21, 2021 (6:52 pm)

        Buddy’s fan here! Frequent patron of the Livonia location as a kid.

      • Stopwiththejunkfood January 22, 2021 (9:11 am)

        Wondering if anyone in West Seattle cooks anymore, that’s how you stay healthy.  Not ‘another pizza place’ comment, but definitely an anti junk food comment. Vegan cheese and gluten free crust does not make things healthy. 

        • shotinthefoot January 22, 2021 (2:51 pm)

          you’ll have to repeat yourself – it’s a little hard to hear you when you’re so high up on that horse. 

          • Stopwiththejunkfood January 23, 2021 (8:32 am)

            Ok, just read it again. I’m also healthy up on my beautiful horse and don’t have to wear sweats and pajamas everywhere.

        • who bird January 23, 2021 (5:41 am)

          Actually, for those who are vegan or who are sensitive or allergic to gluten, these options ARE healthy. Appreciate your thought around home cooking, I agree it can be healthier than dining out too much, but you’ve missed the mark here. Also, nothing wrong with an occasional pizza. Sometimes a pizza is just what you need.

          Pizza pizza!

          • Stopwiththejunkfood January 23, 2021 (6:06 pm)

            I disagree on who missed the mark here. Any way you slice it, pizza is not healthy. #skinnyjeansrule 

          • Who bird January 23, 2021 (7:45 pm)

            You are lacking pizza imagination and joy, also cozy pants, apparently. 

            But yee haw on your beautiful horse, wearing those fancy pants! ;)

            #radicallyeatingpizzaandwearingskinnyjeans

  • CornerGirl January 21, 2021 (12:33 pm)

    Those are chimney cake “fancy cones”!!!!

  • Rick January 21, 2021 (12:39 pm)

    I think seattle is zoned for pizza/coffee/bun/ whatever sticks your little finger out shops about every 12 feet now.  Plus housing for 200 people every 15 feet. Columbus mistakenly called this india. I think he got it right.

  • Amy Daly-Donovan January 21, 2021 (12:46 pm)

    Soft serve – yeah!!! Cute place, too.

  • sw January 21, 2021 (1:10 pm)

    I for one am enjoying this recent trend of small black buildings that sell what appears to be quite tasty food.  Keep it coming.

  • Oerthehillz January 21, 2021 (1:15 pm)

    Oh boy, can’t wait to try the hot honey pizza, and those cones! I’d buy a few t shirts with that cool logo when you get them.

  • anonyme January 21, 2021 (1:58 pm)

    Another Detroiter here, where I never saw a square pizza.  We’d usually get take-out from an Italian family grocery/pizzeria, and would get fresh cannolis with the pizza order.  Add some good cannolis, and then you can call it authentic for sure!

  • hkb January 21, 2021 (2:13 pm)

    What a great idea for that space -I love it, so cute, and outdoor seating too! Plus another yay for soft serve! 

  • Erin98126 January 21, 2021 (2:24 pm)

    Vegan cheese and gluten-free crust! Yessssss! I can still have pizza!!! Excited to try it once the gluten free option is available!

  • odroku January 21, 2021 (2:48 pm)

    Been too long since I’ve had Detroit pizza. Looking forward. Agreed people back home don’t call it “Detroit-style pizza” the same way Chicagoans don’t order “Chicago-style pizza” in Chicago?

    • Kate January 21, 2021 (4:32 pm)

      Good point, in Chicago we just say, deep dish or thin and we all know what we mean. Looking fwd to trying Detroit’s deep dish!!

  • Eric Alki January 21, 2021 (2:48 pm)

    Yesss!! So glad y’all are here, especially now that it takes 80 minutes to get to and back from Breezy Town.

  • Angela January 21, 2021 (3:28 pm)

    Hell yeah, they have vegan cheese! I can’t wait! 

  • Isaac Greenetz January 21, 2021 (4:21 pm)

    Lee, and his passion for pizza, ingredients and life will inspire you! Get ready for the most “CRAVABLE” pizza youve ever eaten! Served up from a unique space that has been crafted with love. MOTO will be the talk of the town. Just you wait.

  • Kyle January 21, 2021 (7:40 pm)

    … Vegan options?! Crab?! Ice cream?! Fancy Cones?! Good Prices?! Up house?!  Let’s go! 

  • Teri January 22, 2021 (9:59 am)

    As a native Detroit’s, we just called these pizzas “those ones from Jets or Buddy’s’”. And we love them.  Can’t wait to try one today- wishing them all the best. 

  • Rick January 22, 2021 (1:47 pm)

    Need us some Detroit in Seattle. Workin’ on it.

  • Jamee January 22, 2021 (4:08 pm)

    Looks fantastic!  Great owner too!  We will be there tomorrow~

  • Mark S January 23, 2021 (6:18 pm)

    Since I didn’t see this mentioned, does the new business proprietor control his destiny by owning the property, or will he be at the mercy of a landlord who does? It will be interesting to see how long this operation stays in business or becomes one of many who are here today, gone tomorrow. Good luck!

    • WSB January 23, 2021 (7:46 pm)

      No, he does not own the site. Can’t think of many proprietors who do, which is why it’s not a routine mention in a story about a business.

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