Bringing the heat to Lakeview

Bernardo Targett, one of the founders of Heat Pizza Bar in Tuscaloosa, said he is excited to open a second location of the popular college eatery in Birmingham’s Lakeview neighborhood — likely by mid-May or the first of June — and believes his establishment can bring even more energy to that already bustling entertainment district.

”We’re trying to bring more business and more people with good prices and good food and atmosphere,” he said. “It’s going to attract a ton more people. It’s going to be great for the whole area.”

Targett and the new location’s general manager, Homewood native Elliott Salls, said they believe the formula, which has worked for them since the first Heat opened in Tuscaloosa in 2016, will translate well to Birmingham. That formula involves quick service, affordable prices and a relatively simple menu of pizza, salads and signature cocktails.

And the new location of Heat Pizza Bar — in the heart of Lakeview in the old Rare Martini space — also will offer another option for late-night street food, as well as entertainment, for the area’s weekend revelers, Targett said.

Salls said Heat serves three general types of pizza: traditional, including such old favorites as pepperoni; specialty, including Thai chicken and Greek; and “exclusive,” such as the cordon bleu and the Reuben.

“We’re big on fresh ingredients,” Salls said. “You can taste each individual ingredient.”

“My ultimate favorite that resonates on every pizza is our dough, our crust,” Targett said. “Even people who don’t eat the crust … won’t leave a piece on the table.”

Salls and Targett also bragged on their salads.

“I can eat one of our salads, and I’m full,” Salls said. “Again, you stick with fresh ingredients.”

Heat will offer gluten-free pizza and beers.

Heat in Lakeview also will become a nightclub on weekends, with a DJ, lighting and special events, according to Targett.

He said he “fought tooth and nail” to secure Heat’s space in the historic, 1920s-era brick corner building where they now lease 6,000 square feet. 

A native of Argentina who has lived in the United States for 20 years and Birmingham for four years, Targett said he has a sentimental connection to Lakeview, which he frequented when he first moved to town, including such popular spots as Innisfree and Nana Funks. 

“I love this community,” he said. “It means a lot to me. It has a really cool vibe to it.”

And the area has continued to grow, with new apartments and more restaurants, Targett said. 

He said he also likes the vintage brick walls in their building, which remind him of the Tuscaloosa Heat location. 

Targett said the renovation he supervised involved stripping away years of excess on everything to reveal the beauty of the building.

“It makes it warm and inviting,” he said.

Heat will serve mini-pizzas from a walk-up window Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 11 p.m., according to Targett.

He hopes the mini-pizzas will complement the area’s existing weekend options for street food, including a food truck and hot-dog stand. “We want to help increase the mobile food industry in Lakeview,” Targett said.

Heat Pizza Bar

WHERE: 2839 Seventh Ave. S.

HOURS: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.

CALL: 323-0008

WEB: heatpizzabar.com