Being a member of the Atlanta Food Bloggers Society definitely has its perks, like being invited to Rize Artisan Pizza And Salads (Rize) to sample their menu. The newly opened pizza and salad restaurant in Poncey-Highlands is serving up anything but typical Italian fare. And they have gluten-free crust prepared taking cross contact concerns into account.
The restaurant is a study of what happens when fine dining and a casual environment collide and the results can be felt the minute you walk in. A team members meets and greets you to explain the menu and the ordering process and takes your order. Each customer is given an RFID device equipped with bluetooth technology. One this device hits the table of your choosing, the kitchen knows it is time to start cooking your order and knows exactly where to deliver it.
Everything is made fresh, except for the lavash crackers (not gluten free) and the gelato that are purchased pre-made. There is no freezer or fryer onsite relying on technique to bring flavor and texture to it cuisine. It doesn’t take an immense amount of time for food to arrive at the table. Orders are crafted to be delivered in under five minutes and taste like it took 20-25 minutes to prepare.
Rize’s bold, middle-eastern inspired flavors are courtesy of Eddie Russell, director of Culinary Operations, and can be found in every aspect of the menu from the spice road chicken salad to the herb-rubbed charbroiled chicken wings. They run a zero waste kitchen using scraps to make broth creating a real farm-to-table environment where all of the dishes are layered with unique flavor combinations.
The plates just kept coming to the table and we had: Old World Hummus, Charred Cauliflower, Charbroiled Chicken Wings, Stuffed Peppadew Pepper, Bianca pizza on gluten-free crust, Spice Road Chicken Salad, Pear and Walnut Salad and ended with some of the best gelato I have had since visiting Italy this summer. Their white sangria is a real find and manages to be citrusy without being overly sweet.
The hummus was served with spiced walnuts, watermelon radish, tri color carrot, peppadew peppers, olive oil, and lavash. This is seriously some of the best hummus I have ever had. Flavorful and velvety, it is topped with peppadew peppers and olive oil that you should eat with a spoon and forgo the crackers. After everyone had some of the charred cauliflower, I ate every bit of what remained on the table. The maple sesame dressing, spiced walnuts, and pomegranate seeds added a delightful punch of flavor and crunchy texture to the dish. The charbroiled chicken wings are made with Springer Mountain Farms chicken and ginger-honey sauce that isn’t too sweet, but perfectly flavorful. The stuffed peppadew pepper are filled with creamy goat cheese and have a nice slow burn. I could seriously eat just the wings and the charred cauliflower with a spice road chicken salad and be completely satisfied.
Now lets talk gluten-free pizza. They use Wild Flour Bakery as their gluten-free crust supplier, which is a wholesale bakery out of Colorado. To my knowledge, there aren’t any other restaurants in Georgia serving this crusts and it is pretty fabulous. This is real dough, not a par-baked shell, that is cold proofed for 48 hours allowing it to rise prior to baking it on a dedicated heat resistant peel. This crust actually rises and has air pockets making it sturdy, but not cracker like, with a bite that is soft and light on the inside.
Make sure to save room for dessert, gelato choices are in a display case close to the door and taste even better than they look. Not all selections are gluten-free, so ask before sampling. Having been to Italy this year, I can attest that this gelato is just about as authentic as it comes. Silky, loaded with ingredients and with the right creamy texture, it is just wonderful. I opted for the pistachio, which is a common flavor in Italy, and asked them to add Nutella (most popular flavor in Italy) to the offerings.
Thank you to Rize for a wonderful experience and I can’t wait for your second location to open in Sandy Springs next year.
Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review, but the meal was provided at no cost. In no way did this influence my opinions and views, which are derived from my personal experience at the restaurant.
