SOUTH FORK— There’s a new restaurant in South Fork, and it is one place that anyone traveling through the area does not want to miss. Over the course of several weeks, the owners of Mountain Pizza and Taproom have spent countless hours preparing the old Whistle Pig gas station for their new restaurant and finally opened their doors last Friday, July 12.By Lyndsie Ferrell
SOUTH FORK— There’s a new restaurant in South Fork, and it is one place that anyone traveling through the area does not want to miss. Over the course of several weeks, the owners of Mountain Pizza and Taproom have spent countless hours preparing the old Whistle Pig gas station for their new restaurant and finally opened their doors last Friday, July 12.
South Fork Town Manager Dan Hicks worked with Bob and Penny Hart to bring the new establishment to South Fork and it is off to a great start. The Harts opened the Mountain Pizza and Taproom in Pagosa Springs two years ago, and after receiving great reviews from the small community, decided to take Hicks up on his offer and open the new branch just on the other side of the mountain.
“We are so excited to be here. We are a family establishment and so what we were looking for was a place with family dynamics. South Fork fit the bill and when we found the old Whistle Pig gas station up for sale, we knew it was the place for us,” said co-owner Penny Hart. “South Fork is a family destination and we are happy to be here.”
Though the couple had to jump through a few hoops to get the building up to par for a restaurant setting, crews worked day and night to get the restaurant open for business. In a meeting held in April, the South Fork Town Board approved a temporary liquor license and learned about the establishment that would soon offer a unique setting for the town.
Mountain Pizza and Taproom offers a wide variety of beers on tap, both local and domestic as well as five different types of wine; but there’s a catch. The system at Mountain Pizza is unique in the sense that customers come in, order their food either on an automated kiosk or at the cash register and if they want to try any of the adult beverages, they receive a wrist band that allows them to serve themselves at the tap.
“We have several different types of beer on tap that we will change out regularly in order to keep things fresh. Two of the taps are hooked up to a nitrogen bottle, that gives the beer a creamier texture. Customers come in, order their food and get their wrist band for drinks, then come over here to the taps, scan their band and get their own adult beverages. The best part is, customers are cut off at 32 ounces, which is in compliance with the driving limit,” explained Hart.
The restaurant also has a wide variety of food to enjoy, including brick oven pizza that can be ready in as little as four minutes, depending on how busy the restaurant is. Chef Jorge Sanchez is taking his pizza recipes to a new level by creating in-house sauces including a pineapple infused sauce for their specialty Hawaiian Pizza. “I wanted to give the pizza an extra zest of pineapple, just that little bit more taste to add to one of our house favorites,” said Sanchez.
In addition to the pizza and beer, the restaurant is also helping to stimulate the economy in South Fork and is still hiring for those who may be interested. Be sure to stop in and give it a try while in town. Welcome to South Fork!
South Fork Town Manager Dan Hicks worked with Bob and Penny Hart to bring the new establishment to South Fork and it is off to a great start. The Harts opened the Mountain Pizza and Taproom in Pagosa Springs two years ago, and after receiving great reviews from the small community, decided to take Hicks up on his offer and open the new branch just on the other side of the mountain.
“We are so excited to be here. We are a family establishment and so what we were looking for was a place with family dynamics. South Fork fit the bill and when we found the old Whistle Pig gas station up for sale, we knew it was the place for us,” said co-owner Penny Hart. “South Fork is a family destination and we are happy to be here.”
Though the couple had to jump through a few hoops to get the building up to par for a restaurant setting, crews worked day and night to get the restaurant open for business. In a meeting held in April, the South Fork Town Board approved a temporary liquor license and learned about the establishment that would soon offer a unique setting for the town.
Mountain Pizza and Taproom offers a wide variety of beers on tap, both local and domestic as well as five different types of wine; but there’s a catch. The system at Mountain Pizza is unique in the sense that customers come in, order their food either on an automated kiosk or at the cash register and if they want to try any of the adult beverages, they receive a wrist band that allows them to serve themselves at the tap.
“We have several different types of beer on tap that we will change out regularly in order to keep things fresh. Two of the taps are hooked up to a nitrogen bottle, that gives the beer a creamier texture. Customers come in, order their food and get their wrist band for drinks, then come over here to the taps, scan their band and get their own adult beverages. The best part is, customers are cut off at 32 ounces, which is in compliance with the driving limit,” explained Hart.
The restaurant also has a wide variety of food to enjoy, including brick oven pizza that can be ready in as little as four minutes, depending on how busy the restaurant is. Chef Jorge Sanchez is taking his pizza recipes to a new level by creating in-house sauces including a pineapple infused sauce for their specialty Hawaiian Pizza. “I wanted to give the pizza an extra zest of pineapple, just that little bit more taste to add to one of our house favorites,” said Sanchez.
In addition to the pizza and beer, the restaurant is also helping to stimulate the economy in South Fork and is still hiring for those who may be interested. Be sure to stop in and give it a try while in town. Welcome to South Fork!