Dig deeper
General manager Robert Quayhagen joined the team in 2021 as a kitchen manager after visiting the eatery in its early years as a customer. He carries a range of restaurant business skills from his years of experience since moving to Austin in 2008.
“Something about it just kind of clicked,” Quayhagen said. “It had something to do with the speed and the pace of it. Once I knew the lay of the land I was like, ‘I’m actually really good at this.’”
Throughout Quayhagen’s four years at the business, he said his favorite part about the restaurant is the combination of the family-oriented staff and customers.
“I feel like the regulars we’re talking about, we include them in that family,” Quayhagen said. “I could probably give you two dozen names of people that come in here to enjoy themselves but if I were in a pinch or anybody on staff were in a pinch, they’d be there. They’d leap at the opportunity to help out and vice versa.”
While the business serves appetizers and salads, its big hit with customers is its specialty pizzas and 35 draft beer options. Some pizzas are named after pop culture references including The Spock, a vegan pizza with marinara sauce, vegan sausage, vegan cheese, spinach, Roma tomato, mushrooms and spicy marinated artichoke hearts.
Quayhagen said all menu items are made in house and the team prioritizes using the freshest ingredients to maintain a high standard of quality and product.
“I’ve heard people say, ‘You’ve got the best pizza in town,’ and I’m pretty proud of that because I feel like I’ve had a lot to do with that,” Quayhagen said. “I think we’ve all had a lot to do with turning this place into something special.”
Occasionally, the restaurant will offer special menu items where Quayhagen can flash his Natchitoches, Louisiana roots. For Fat Tuesday, he decided to cook gumbo and beignets, which sold out immediately.
“I take any opportunity I can to get back [in the kitchen],” Quayhagen said. “I love the kitchen. I enjoy this side of it too but it’s a comfort zone kind of thing and I just like having that in my arsenal.”
As Jollyville’s neighborhood pizza spot, Quayhagen said the restaurant hopes to continue creating positive experiences for the local community.
“We want to impress you to the point where you’re like, ‘That’s a place that I’m going to go to from now on,’” Quayhagen said. “There are so many options in Austin that it’s nice to be considered among your top five favorites or something like that. It’s just a testament to what we’re doing here and how far our reach has become.”
- 11835 Jollyville Road, Austin
- www.pourhousepintsandpies.com
