A Salt Lake City pizzeria can now serve beer and wine across the street from Liberty Park — it just had to get special permission to do so.
Via Veneto Pizzarium, at 511 E. 900 South, was one of the first businesses to take advantage of a change in Utah law that allows a restaurant near a park to get liquor licenses if its city consents and its application is approved by the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS).
It was the first time such a variance, or exception, was granted in almost a decade, according to a DABS spokesperson.
Via Veneto sought an exemption from the law that would typically restrict restaurants from receiving a liquor license if a “community location” is within 300 feet of the patron entrance as a pedestrian would walk, or within 200 feet of the patron entrance as measured in a straight line.
“Community locations” include churches, public and private schools, libraries, parks and playgrounds.
Now that Via Veneto has a limited-service liquor license, it can serve wine and beer along with its pizza al taglio, which is a traditional, Roman-style pizza that’s crispy outside and soft inside, and semi-thick but still light.
“Al taglio” means “by the cut,” and the square slices are cut with scissors and sold by weight according to what toppings are on them.
Via Veneto co-owner Amy Stevanoni said the restaurant plans to serve Italian wine and beer, along with a menu of spritzes, made with prosecco, bitters and sparkling water.
Stevanoni also said Via Veneto has started hosting an aperitivo hour daily from 5 to 6 p.m. Aperitivo is an Italian pre-dinner drink and social ritual that’s meant to stimulate the appetite before a meal, she said.
“We are hoping aperitivo hour will catch on,” Stevanoni said.
For aperitivo hour at Via Veneto, the restaurant will be serving pizzetta (mini Italian pizza eaten as a snack), Italian Menabrea beer, house red or white wine, and spritzes.
