White Pie, a wood-fired Italian restaurant and pizzeria, is now open at 1702 Humboldt Street. The neighborhood eatery owned by brothers Kris and Jason Wallenta of Dos Santos is set in a space that feels inviting and modern. The bones of the old building, a place that once housed the catering operation for Strings, are honored by allowing the exposed brick and high ceilings with wooden beams to shine. Big new windows, a freshly poured floor, a C-shaped bar around the centerpiece oven, plus tables that weave in warm wood elements give the space a contemporary look.
For the Wallentas, the Italian menu is a return to their roots of sorts. They grew up in Connecticut and have missed New Haven-style pizza. “As a kid, I always wanted the ‘white pizza’ when we went out to eat,” Jason Wallenta said. “It was Bianca on the menu but we called it its name in English, ‘white pizza.’ That’s how we came up with the name, of course.”
Plus, chef Kris Wallenta rolled loads of pasta right after completing his culinary education. “My first job out of culinary school was in an Italian restaurant in Mexico. It’s been about 10 years since I have done this on a daily basis but I am so happy to get back into it.”
Eater photographer Adam Larkey shared a visual tour of the space and some of the menu.
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White Pie has captured critics and community diners alike since it opened in late May
Adam Larkey
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