Southwestern Pizza Company

Southwestern Pizza Company

Location: SE 50th and Ivon, A la Carts Food Pavilion
Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11am-8pm; Fri/Sat, 11am-9pm; Sun, 11am-6pm

The Story:

Southwestern Pizza Company was one of the first carts to open at Mississippi Marketplace in North Portland back in October of 2009. With a unique menu of pizza based on tortillas, they made a splash in the community and created a following. A year later, the original owner sold the cart to John Nicoletti and his wife who moved the cart to A la Carts Food Pavilion in SE Portland. John has kept the same menu, but added some new options.

After the move to A la Carts, I remember the cart not being open on a regular basis. I had assumed it was closed, but what was actually happening behind the scenes was that John was working with the former owner to learn how to make the signature pizzas. During that time, they re-branded the menu and added some new pies and flavors. While you can still get the Sagebrush with Italian sausage and Alfredo sauce or the Stagecoach with pepperoni, Italian sausage and tomato sauce, they also now have the Hawaiian Cowboy with pineapple, ham, cheese and tomato sauce. John has also added clams to the menu along with wheat and gluten-free, dairy and goat cheese options. Truly someone who understands Portland’s palate and is catering to it.

Southwestern Pizza Company is open everyday except Monday and stays open into the dinner hour so you can grab something to take home for the family. Drop on by and say hi to John and let him know Food Carts Portland sent ya.

Full menu can be found at their website Southwesternpizzacompany.wordpress.com.

Hours: Tues-Thurs, 11am-8pm; Fri/Sat, 11am-9pm; Sun, 11am-6pm
Website: SouthwesternPizzaCompany
Twitter: SouthwestPizza
Facebook: Southwestern Pizza Company

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[Our original post from October 2009 below the fold]

This past week, at the grand opening of PROST!, a German pub that anchors the Mississippi Marketplace compound, we started to get a little hungry for something different. The pub did have menu items, but we wanted to take advantage of the entire lot and eat food from a cart while drinking beer from the pub. I walked over to Southwestern Pizza and our wish came true.

Southwestern Pizza is a pizza cart, but they serve up their pizzas on freshly baked 8″ tortillas instead of the traditional dough we are all familiar with. The end result is a very thin, but crunchy crust topped with whatever fixin’s you have chosen. We chose to get one each of the Stagecoach (pepperoni & Italian sausage with homemade tomato sauce) and the Tumbleweed (bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, with homemade tomato sauce.) It only took a few minute for them to make the pizza while we continued to enjoy our beer.

Beer and Southwestern Pizza

The pizza was enjoyable. Different than what we were use to, but still pizza. Large chunks of sausage and thick slices of pepperoni on one and the fresh bell peppers and mushrooms on the other kept us eating until it all we had were empty plates. For $5 each, it is a perfect size meal for one person.

Southwestern Pizza Company is open morning until night. They offer a breakfast pizza to start your day and soon plan to offer up pasta dishes. Next time you are up in the area, grab a beer at PROST! and some pizza while you enjoy it and tell them Food Carts Portland sent ya.

[Update November 2010: Southwestern Pizza Company moved to SE 50th and Division]

Sample Menu:

• Breakfast pizza – butter, egg, ham, bacon or sausage and four cheeses – $4
• Vegan – red bell pepper, sweet onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, soy cheese – $7
• Sagebrush – chunky Italian sausage with alfredo sauce – $4.50
• Stagecoach – pepperoni and Italian sausage with homemade tomato sauce – $5
• Tumbleweed – bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes with homemade tomato sauce – $5.50