Austin eatery nearly doubles in size to help meet customer demands

When restaurant industry veteran Pat Stafford purchased Brooklyn Heights Pizzeria Ristorante in January 2008, he said he expected to be obtaining a small neighborhood restaurant.

Five and a half years later, the eatery underwent a seven-week expansion this summer to add a walk-in refrigerator, 60 seats and an extra 2,000 square feet. Since reopening June 6, Brooklyn Heights' monthly profits have grown by nearly 50 percent, Stafford said.

"It was a demand thing, and we were outgrowing ourselves. My kitchen was ridiculous with the amount of beer and food we were going through," he said. "My wife and I had been working in fine dining our whole lives, and we just wanted to open a mom and pop restaurant. I was running places for other people and decided to make my own place because I was tired of making other people money."

In spite of its Italian name, the menu features steaks, seafood, salad, wings, sandwiches, pasta and more than 20 specialty New York–style pizzas. Stafford took over the restaurant from a previous owner and collaborated with chef Jamie Hollinger to expand the food offerings.

"Our original menu had about eight things, and now if I want to put more stuff on the menu, Jamie wants to kill me," Stafford said. "We have a very diverse menu. A lot of the stuff is not even Italian, it's more of what my regulars are begging for. We try to mix it up to where you can come in and eat something different every day, from salmon to a wrap to a big slice."

Some menu items are named for regular customers, such as Keri's Spicy Pickle Chips and K.C's Ribeye. Pizzas in general are a top seller, Hollinger said, but customers have also come to know the restaurant for its array of other offerings.

"We use fresh ingredients, and a lot of places don't. We make everything from scratch and put a lot of love in it," Hollinger said. "We love to cook, and we are dedicated to what we do. It's reflected in the food, the business and the whole restaurant."

How to enjoy Brooklyn Heights

Dine-In: Guests can eat at the bar, in the dining room or on the patio overlooking a playground.

Delivery: The restaurant offers delivery within a 5-mile radius of its location after 5 p.m.

Carry out: Patrons can order online and pick up their meal at the restaurant.

Catering: Brooklyn Heights can customize orders for private and corporate events.

Specials: Daily happy hour from 4–7 p.m. features half-price appetizers and wings, $2–$3 draft beer and $2 well liquor drinks. Daily lunch specials from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. offer meals for $6.99 or less. Entertainment includes NFL and MLB games on 18 televisions, a DJ on Friday nights and live music on Saturday nights.

Brooklyn Heights Pizzeria Ristorante, 14900 Avery Ranch Blvd., Ste. C700, Austin, 512-238-8889,www.brooklynheightspizzeria.com