New Columbia pizza place lets you create, take and bake

The owners of Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 650 Lincoln have opened another business in the University of South Carolina student housing complex -- a pizza restaurant that allows customers to not only build their own dine-in pizzas but also make, take and bake their custom-made pies at home.

Dave and Leslie Duffy opened Z Pizza earlier this month next to Tropical Smoothie and 9Round fitness. This isn’t the California-based pizza restaurant’s introduction to Columbia, however. There was a location on Gervais street eight years ago but this location is a return and the Duffys are new owners.

“We believe that the best tasting food starts with ingredients that are naturally better for you,” Duffy said. “(So) we offer pizza made with certified organic tomato sauce, all-natural non-GMO flour, part-skim mozzarella from grass-fed cows, and all-natural preservative-free pepperoni and deli meats.”

Z’s menu has pizza, calzones, wings, fries, salads and sandwiches as well as a choice of wheat and gluten-free crust options. In addition to the dine-in and take-and-bake option, Z Pizza also caters.

Though located in the 650 Lincoln complex, Z’s official address is 910 Devine St. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.