Another Pizzeria Replaces Brik on York on Colfax

Smoothing the boundaries between fast-casual and fine dining, DC Pie Co. opened its doors and let its brick oven rip this week at 2223 East Colfax Avenue. The historical building, dating back to the 1880s, is the former site of Brik on York, which closed last December. Mary Zayaruzny and Dominic Cavagnuolo have taken over the restaurant space. Both spent their young lives and careers in New York City, using that as the inspiration behind their pizza.

A spin-off of Cavagnuolo’s Miami Beach pizzeria, Lucali, DC Pie Co. is bringing to Denver diners consistent, thin-crust, brick-oven pizza, its owners say. To eliminate wait-times, diners interact with DC Pie Co.’s pop-up screens that emerge from the table on-demand to order and pay — sans cash. Then the monitors return to their slots in the table and diners return to a traditional mealtime experience.

Lance Harding/DC Pie

The menu, which will remain consistent throughout the seasons, is short and refined, with a single pie style and multiple toppings, ranging from bell peppers to all-beef pepperoni. A smattering of starters from baked wings to artichoke hearts are accompanied by a host of salads, such as the celery root and fennel and kale caesar. Sweets include a Nutella pie on soft pizza dough and Brooklyn egg creams, a nostalgic treat from Cavagnuolo’s childhood.

The rustic venue with a heavy centerpiece bar is cozy like a neighborhood dining experience should be. Stackable windows allow sunlight to pour in and fill the interior during the day, but will fold up like an accordion when the weather is right. A vintage wooden sign with “York” etched in it is proudly exhibited at the front of the 2,500-square-foot space. Ninety seats are split between wooden bar stools, booths, and a collection of tables that range from intimate two-tops to community seating.

Lance Harding/DC Pie

The cocktail list ranges from a Rittenhouse rye Manhattan to a Miami-inspired “Back to the Beach,” featuring vodka, pineapple, guava, and allspice. All draft beers are from Colorado.

This is the first DC Pie Co. location but the team intends to expand the concept in markets such as Miami and Washington, D.C. Locally, the eatery will donate a portion of its sales to mental health programs at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Status: DC Pie Co. is now open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. Early next year, lunch hours will expand to weekdays.

• Where to Get That Pizza Fix in Denver
• Brik on York Says Goodbye on Colfax [EDEN]
• All Eater Coverage of East Colfax [EDEN]

Lance Harding/DC Pie