Maybe it’s because I grew up in Hamburg, but it seems like things happen a little bit slower down there. This is not a bad thing. Slow and steady wins the race. 

While the eastern side of the village has flourished with new businesses and development, the western side still looks the same as it has for the past 30 years or more. However, development efforts are ramping up and the new Village Pizza and Pints is one business luring folks over to the quieter side of Hamburg.

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On a recent phone call with Hamburg-raised, Florida-based owner Dave Stack, I was told that the new Italian-American pub is designed to slip quietly into the western side of the village.

“On the other side of Hamburg, you got the Pour House, Mammoser’s, the Grange and other places that are all walkable,” Stack said. “On the west side of the village, there’s nothing with that similar fare and feel.

“We’re trying to go for more of a chill, comfortable crowd,” he added. “We want people to come in for two or three drinks and then go on home, or move on to someplace else.”

“So, no assholes. You can quote me.”

The new bar-restaurant can best be described as a modern Italian pizza parlor. In addition to pizza, wings, subs, calzone and tacos, there’s also Italian-American specialties like veal parmesan and fettuccine alfredo.

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If you grew up in Hamburg, you probably remember a couple places that had similar menus.

“There’s been restaurants for many, many years in the village that have since departed, whether it’s Jacobbi’s or Tina’s Italian Kitchen,” Stack said. “We wanted to bring back more of that offering, coupled with the pizza and wings that will be the bulk of our business.”

There’s also a bar serving craft beer and wine with plenty of TVs and seating for watching sports. Outside is an enclosed, heated patio that will remain open as much as possible, Stack said.

On my afternoon visit, the place was quiet and co-owner Dan Ranger told me they are mostly a takeout operation until the after-work crowd shows up. As the pandemic recedes and people venture out to new restaurants, we’ll likely see places like Village Pizza get busier and with them the surrounding area.

For now, the new twist on a classic pizza parlor is just one more reason to see why Hamburg is slowly but surely becoming a Southtowns destination.

Opening Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

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