Power Pizza is doing things differently
Ottawa Street North superhero-themed eatery opened during the pandemic and the husband and wife team set out to do something truly different.
Lisa and Ryan Stewart are the powerhouse team behind Power Pizza, the popular Ottawa Street pizza and wings eatery with the superhero theme, which turns four years old in May.
“We opened during the pandemic in an area that is surrounded by pizza places,” Ryan said, while we sat in the colourful dining area. I asked if that was a concern, and Ryan replied, “not really, we knew we were doing something really different.”
Different is an understatement. Power Pizza is not your usual neighbourhood pizza joint. The menu is filled with unusual flavour combinations, all of which are made from scratch. Lisa happens to be a skilled culinary wiz who spends much of her free time inventing new recipes, like Super Mac Pizza, Pickle Tickle, and the latest taste sensation, Hot Honey Roni. She has also created a sauce lineup that has elevated the restaurant’s wings far above others. They set out to ensure their wings were not an afterthought or a simple pizza add-on. Customers keep returning for their wings because of the quality and those housemade sauces, like Caribbean Jerk, Kapow and Vampire Slayer. There are also fully vegan pizza options, as well as gluten-free and keto choices.
Born outside of Canada – Lisa in Guatemala and Ryan in Trinidad – the couple met in Toronto and moved to Hamilton over a decade ago. They are married and share two children, as well as two businesses. Together they also run POSH, an award-winning cleaning service that they say contributes to the success of Power Pizza.
“We know how to clean,” Ryan says. “We vacuum the restaurant daily. Sweeping just pushes dirt into corners.” Power Pizza is indeed inviting, clean, bright and festooned with superhero images created by Ryan himself, a trained graphic designer.
Power Pizza just had some of its best months this winter while many other Hamilton businesses have been shuttering. The restaurant’s involvement in the community is a testament to that success, including a recent collaboration with Simoni Lawrence and Good Shepherd. This ongoing success has allowed for investments in new things like additional seating and the new ice cream bar they just added with an array of fun flavours.
Visit Power Pizza at 134 Ottawa St. N., open daily, or at PowerPizza.ca.
