Incredible flavors accompanied by great views By Jillian Chandler | Photo by Kat Skye Photography From what began as a mobile pizza oven to now two successful brick-and-mortar restaurants, Laura and Seth Carey couldn’t be prouder of Versalia Pizza and are truly grateful for those who continue to show their unwavering support of their vision.
On the menu, of course, are their flavorful thin-crust pizzas (with vegetarian and gluten-free options available). Guests can also choose from a selection of creative salads, appetizers and desserts, beer and wine, as well as a variety of seasonal cocktails (available at their Kendall Yards location).
Laura and Seth credit Chris Ambrose, or “lead pizza creator” as he prefers to be called, for the creativity. “Chris thinks about the tastes and flavors he’s had in the past in other dishes and asks if he can recreate that into a pizza,” affirms Laura.
Chris incorporates seasonal ingredients whenever possible and is always keeping a running list of ideas and flavors that he thinks may work well to incorporate into one of their specialty pizzas. “Sometimes great ideas get sidelined by costs, difficulty in quickly recreating, or prep time. He really tries to make the specials ‘special’ with a unique approach or ingredient,” says Laura. “His fine-dining experience has really helped with ideas and thought processes.”
To get an idea of the creativity in the kitchen, their most popular pizza has been the Peach Pie with Olive Oil: Versalia’s three-cheese blend, peaches, bacon, gorgonzola crumbles and a sage-honey drizzle. “It’s only available for two weeks in the summer, but people come in asking for it year-round,” Laura says proudly. Another popular one, which is featured around football playoff time, is their Jalapeño Popper Pie: with a garlic cream cheese base, their three-cheese blend, Beechers cheddar, bacon, jalapeños, honey and crispy panko.
During the warmer months, you won’t want to pass up the opportunity to pair your meal with a seat outdoors. Their Kendall Yards location features an expansive patio, seating approximately 40 guests, with views showcasing the Spokane River Valley along with the city skyline and Monroe and Maple Street bridges. “It really is one of the best views in the city!” Laura smiles.
The Liberty Lake location, situated in the River District next to Orchard Park, can seat around 30 patrons on their outdoor patio—which almost doubles their seating capacity during the warmer seasons, Laura notes. Just a short walk from the Centennial Trail, guests can enjoy a meal while taking in views of the surrounding hills.
When it comes to what the Careys are most proud of when it comes to their restaurants, it is the challenges they have navigated through throughout their 14 years in business. “No one expected us to make it with our mobile woodfired oven past the first summer,” Laura reflects. “We made it through heat exhaustion, thunderstorms, wind, wildfire smoke, COVID—and now have two thriving restaurants to go with our mobile ovens.” Laura, Seth and their Versalia team invite you to dine with them and enjoy the fruits of their labor. VersaliaPizza.com Kendall Yards 1333 W. Summit Pkwy Spokane, WA 509.389.0029
River District 20760 E. Indiana Ave. Liberty Lake, WA 509.290.5277
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