A popular Calgary pizza joint is taking things to the next level with a new sister restaurant inside an iconic dining space.
Acme Pizza Co. launched in 2022 as a pop-up inside Tailgunner Brewing Company, serving up modern pizzas made with Roman-style dough. The pizza joint gained some loyal followers and quickly opened a second location in Renfrew in 2023. Now, Acme has expanded again, this time with Acme Pizza & Pasta Co.
Acme Pizza & Pasta Co. is an Italian-leaning sit-down concept by owners Dean Symonds and Jason Wankel that still offers great pizza while also bringing hand-rolled pasta and small plates into the mix. Located in Vendome’s former space in Sunnyside, the new restaurant kept much of the old interior, with a few small renovations and decor additions like original photography of “acme” branded items hanging on the walls.
The pizza program is the same as the other Acme Pizza locations and includes classic varieties like pepperoni, carne or burrata pies. But there are also plenty of new additions at Acme Pizza & Pasta, including small plate dishes like Acme meatballs or gluten-free mozzarella sticks. There’s also a fresh hand-rolled pasta menu created by chef de cuisine Elyse Trimble (of Teatro and Centini) that’s full of classics and not-so-classics, like the chili-crab capoletti stuffed with dungeness crab, lemon and ricotta and finished with a lobstery tomato sauce.
“We’re a neighbourhood spot, so keeping everything approachable was definitely top of mind,” says Wankel. “And making everything look good on a table with our pizza.”
“We feel very fortunate to be welcomed with open arms by the community, fortunate for the space — we’re just happy to be here,” says Symonds.
940 2 Ave. N.W., acmepasta.ca
