715 S Rural Rd, Ste 101, Tempe, AZ, 85281
Review Highlights
VIA 313 Restaurant Review
I first noticed VIA 313 while driving near Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. After doing some research, I discovered that this was a growing restaurant chain with several location across the USA.
Detroit-style pizza is trending in popularity, but was always around (just ask Little Caesars). Oddly, no Motown artist ever mentioned it. And Eminem aint neva uttered it in a lyric. So, I was eager to review VIA 313.
This is a casual dining restaurant with a wait staff. When you first walk in, you will see a dedicated pickup counter as well.
They spared no expense in the dining room. Very nice. Upon entering, you will see a combination of booths and tables. There is a bar that sits on the right side of the room. Beyond the bar is another seating area. The dining tables in the back offer a nice view of the Rural and University intersection.
Now, the food…
VIA 313 authentic Detroit-style pizza is available in two sizes: 4-square (8×10) and 8-square (10×14). I tried “The Ambassador Bridge” pizza, House Salad, and Meatballs (3) with Marinara. They also have traditional round pizzas (thin crust), which they refer to as “bar style.”
The Ambassador Bridge has sausage, natural casing pepperoni, fresh garlic, Italian oregano, and house-made ricotta. There is also an option to substitute plant-based pepperoni to make it a veggie-ish pizza.
The pizza was as good as it looked. The crust really shined. The cheese blend was sharper than expected. But really good. The idea of ricotta on a pizza is attractive because you simply don’t see it anywhere.
This is house-made ricotta and it was very good. The salt level in the ricotta was in balance with the other cheeses. Ricotta is usually slightly sweet if you don’t add salt. But the taste was not noticeable on the pizza, given all the other flavors/toppings.
The garlic and oregano flavors really come through in their pizza sauce. The oregano level might be a bit overpowering for some, but I didn’t mind it. Overall, it was good.
The meatballs were good, but smaller than I was expecting, based on the website photos. A generous portion of crostini is included with the 3-meatball appetizer.
The crostini were good, but just too hard for my preference. They were harder than croutons. The meatballs would probably be better served with either breadsticks or garlic bread. But the flavor was there.
At one point, I notice the manager tending to a table in the dining room. Once finished, he came over to my table to see how everything was going (no prior interaction). We had a great, but very brief conversation. This is not unusual for restaurants that have had a recent grand opening. Service level tends to be elevated.
Several minutes later, he brought me a free order of cinnamon sticks. Yo! And they were Justin Leonard Approved! The dessert consists of Detroit-style dough, cinnamon, raw sugar (uh, raw or powdered?), and house-made cream cheese icing on top.
But if we look at this style of management from a marketing perspective, it is probably the best thing you can do to get people in the doors; especially during the first few weeks of a grand opening. RESTAURANT OWNERS/MANAGERS TAKE NOTE: As a result, my dining experience goes from good to great. And in turn, I tell my network to try VIA 313 in Tempe. Trust me, this form of marketing is cheaper than paid ads.
Thanks again to the team at VIA 313 for the hospitality. I will be back! Next time, I am planning to try that suspicious soundin’ “Boston Cooler” shake made with ginger ale and vanilla bean ice cream. #JustinLeonardApproved
