A local favorite for Detroit-style pizza and Motor City specialties, Angry Pete's has opened a nostalgia-fueled new restaurant at a retro former Taco Bell building in San Diego's Kearny Mesa.
Angry Petes Pizza was founded in 2018 by Michigan-native Pete Harbison, who is a classically-trained chef that has worked in many facets of the restaurant industry. Angry Petes began as a small pop up, doing events at farmers markets, festivals and beer pairings with some of San Diego's top breweries. Within two years, the concept expanded with its first kitchen inside of a brewery and now operates inside Desi's Bar in Point Loma and has a standalone, 4,000 square-foot, indoor/outdoor restaurant within the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve and Campground, which houses seven man-made lakes and 190 acres of park space.
Angry Petes Pizza now opened his newest location within an old-school, former Taco Bell building on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Overland Avenue in San Diego's Kearney Mesa neighborhood. Expect a menu of "pure Michigan cuisine," including unique versions of Detroit pizza, which is basically a hybrid version of Sicilian style pizza made in square metal pans originally designed for auto parts in the vehicle factories. The pizza is made using a higher hydration level dough, that is much lighter and fluffier than other deep dish pizzas. Another signature of Detroit-style pizza is crispy cheese around the crust.
Inspired by the comfort foods he grew up with in Michigan, Angry Pete's will serve an eclectic selection of Detroit-style rectangular pizza, Detroit-style Coney dogs, Faygo pop, Better Made snacks, Mackinac Island fudge, and Cherry Republic snacks. The restaurant will also have smash burgers, sandwiches, quesabirria tacos, Roman-style pizza, chicken wings and tenders, mac & cheese, pretzels, slushees and milkshakes.
Angry Pete's hopes to add a beer and wine license to the eatery and eventually offer a wide selection of Michigan craft beer, local craft draft beers and wine. Adding to the classic interior former-Taco Bell decor, the new Angry Pete's has added a selection of old-school arcade games, like Pac Man, Galaga, NFL Blitz, Mortal Kombat and an Atari system complete with 50 classic games. The space also boasts a drive-thru ordering system.
"We remember the old Michigan pizzerias complete with arcade games, and decided to add the originals," explained Pete Harbison. "Even better, no quarters or tokens required, arcade games are completely free with any purchase! We installed multiple TV's around the dining room, and we're going to show every Detroit Lions, Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, MSU & UofM game we can. We're excited to continue serving San Diego as a local independent family owned business, we're still open at Santee Lakes & Desi's Bar in Point Loma, and look forward to seeing you soon at our newest addition in Kearny Mesa!"
Angry Pete's is now open at 5335 Overland Avenue in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. For more information, visit angrypetespizza.com and check out the menu below.
Angry Pete's is now open at 5335 Overland Avenue in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. For more information, visit angrypetespizza.com and check out the menu below.
