The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

A New York slice: Wheated Louisville may be your new go-to for pizza

Last Wednesday, after a long day of work – including one too many Zoom meetings – I decided it was time for a hump day treat. Rather than stay in and cook dinner as planned, my husband and I headed to Wheated, a pizza and cocktail spot on Bardstown Road.

We shared a pie and ordered a couple of cocktails to start. He got the old fashioned and I tried the espresso martini – with the optional grated Parmesan mountain on top, of course. It was so tasty that as much as I wanted to try a different drink, I ordered a second espresso martini instead.

According to owners David Sheridan and David Rathke, the vodka-based bevvy with cold brew liqueur, white cacao Carajillo whip, and black truffle salt is a popular pick. Here’s what else they told me about Wheated, which is new to Louisville and has New York roots.

This new Derby City pizza spot began in Brooklyn

“I grew up in Louisville,” Sheridan said. “I was born in Brooklyn, but grade school through high school was spent in Louisville.”

He opened the first Wheated location on Brooklyn’s Church Avenue in 2013. More than a decade later, he is bringing a slice of New York back home.

Set in the building formerly occupied by Home Skate Shop, the Wheated Louisville space still holds some of the old store’s charm.

“We kind of liked their concept of home, so we kept small rooms (and) comfortabl­e spaces,” Rathke said, adding that they maintained the original mantles and other architectu­ral elements.

Upon entering, guests can expect to find the hostess stand, a few small tables, and the bar. Through a small corridor, a larger dining area boasts several more tables with sofa-like seating along the walls. There’s even a view into the kitchen, where Wheated staff can be seen stretching dough.

“Our expo is kind of an open kitchen,” Rathke said. “We go back to the idea of pizza theater. We’re not throwing pizzas up in the air, but we want people to see what we’re doing. … Because we are pizza-centric, we want to show the ovens and our kitchen.”

Here’s what to order at Wheated Louisville pizza restaurant

There are currently 10 cocktails on the menu, along with a handful of beer, wine, and soda selections. Regardless of what kind of pie you plan on having, Rathke recommends starting with a cocktail — and the Caesar salad.

Made with Caesar dressing, romaine lettuce, rye croutons, and anchovies, the Wheated version of this classic also comes with a mountain of Parmigiano­Reggiano.

Sheridan added that he recommends the NY Slice Pie for guests who want something that showcases the restaurant’s dough, crust, and cheese. It’s made with tomato sauce, low-moisture mozzarella, Pecorino-Romano, and oregano.

Whether a customer goes for the NY Slice Pie or another one of the 16-inch options, Rathke suggests first-timers always start with the traditiona­l crust. During subsequent visits, there’s an off-menu pizza that’s always an option.

Try this secret, off-the-menu item at Wheated Louisville

“David introduced the New Haven to Wheated Brooklyn some time ago,” Rathke said, “and that’s popped up here and there. We keep it off the menu, but we do offer it here as well.”

Sheridan added that there are a couple of iconic pizzerias in New Haven, including Sally’s Apizza and Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. They’re both old-school, coal-fired pizza parlors that serve pies with little crust; there’s more cheese and sauce oozing out to the ends.

“And they’re well known for what you would call char,” Sheridan said. “It’s well done. There’s black spotting around the bottom (and) black char around the edges, so your fingers may get some soot on them – but the flavor is not too far away from other styles. (It’s about) the way the dough is treated in the baking process and the stretching process.”

Though it’s unlisted, Wheated guests are welcome to order a New Haven tomato and mozzarella pizza, which is made with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano.

Hold your next pizza party at Wheated Louisville

There is ample seating throughout the restaurant as well as on the patio. Between the indoor and outdoor areas, including the bar, there’s enough room to accommodat­e about 75 guests. But for those who want a more intimate experience, there’s a private space available for parties of 35 to 40.

“We actually adapted the upstairs – which was a great architectu­ral space – into the restaurant,” Rathke said.

The area – which boasts a separate bar – already has accommodat­ed a few corporate events, and is open for holiday party booking.

Grab something sweet, and stay tuned for more from Wheated

Though Rathke and Sheridan are focused on serving the best possible pizza and cocktails, there are a couple of other things in the works, too. They recently began offering tiramisu for dessert, and there are talks of online ordering soon.

For now, guests who want to pick up a pie for carryout simply have to order at the bar. I’m not sure why anyone would take it to go, though – I’d much rather enjoy a slice or two with a delicious cocktail in hand. Others seem to feel the same way.

“The neighborho­od really seems to be embracing it,” Rathke exclaimed. “From the build-out to this point, it’s been an awesome experience – and that awesome experience is generated around the support of the community.”