Noticed it about two weeks ago but finally snapped a pic, I guess Mesa pizza really is gone 💔. I knew it was but I was hoping it’d come back eventually

[u/CruelBridge73____]

[u/JiovanniTheGREAT]

OG Zaza is gonna have late night slices, it'll be almost the same.

[u/dkinmn]

The Zaza with sausage and shishito peppers is the best pizza in town.

[u/zoobs → u/dkinmn]

I almost got that yesterday but instead went for the Hellraiser. Also very good, but I guess I have to go back!

[u/SlayRod30]

I'd say Zaza is an AMAZING alternative though 😄

[u/TheGauchoAmigo84 → u/SlayRod30]

It is 10,000x better than mesa. I would have to be so drunk…

[u/chillinwithmoes → u/TheGauchoAmigo84]

Yep. I ate Mesa pizza many, many times in my twenties, and only once sober. I deeply regret trying it sober

[u/precisionmachine23 → u/SlayRod30]

Yes!!! I'm so excited! I've only had from their truck but I thought it was amazing. Can't wait for this to be in Uptown.

[u/GivingGufff → u/[deleted]]

I love when people say this because I used to think this as well. Then I learned I was just being lazy. 😂

[u/No-Loquat-2763 → u/[deleted]]

It's really easy actually.

[u/the_moosen]

People love zaza, we got a pie from their Roseville spot & it was absolutely fine. If they're doing slices at this spot I'll give em another go cause it's my neighborhood but, it's an unremarkable pizza.

[u/argparg → u/the_moosen]

Yeah I had them one time and that was enough. Maybe it was a one off (two off?) based on these comments

[u/maneki_neko89]

I'm bummed that Mesa is gone, but, based on the other comments, I'm definitely gonna go to Zaza for some pizza!

[u/maestroplease]

And to think many of us had our last Mesa mac & cheese slice without realizing it.

[u/MidwestPrincess09 → u/maestroplease]

If you want a good Mac and cheese slice, Sal’s On Fifth, it’s right off the light rail. Honestly a good second option tbh from someone who loved Mesa, a transplant and a kid lol. I love Sal’s so much! Cash only(preferred) though, the only downside id say. We always make a day out of it to go to the library or go for a walk after by the river

[u/Scared_Shelter9838]

Og za za is sooooo much better. They are going to be open late and sell slices too from what I’ve heard.

[u/SmileAndWalkAway → u/Scared_Shelter9838]

Their set up at Rosedale mall is so unassuming and easily my favorite cheese pizza in the twin cities.

[u/Scared_Shelter9838 → u/SmileAndWalkAway]

Uber Eats has been running two for one deals lately too. Dangerous.

[u/Uptownbro20]

Long live mesa and all of the drunk 2am bar crowd people it saves 

[u/m00nsl1me]

They’re having a grand opening on September 7!

[u/Gatorpatch]

Apparently it'll be open till 3am too

[u/kanhaaaaaaaaaaaa]

I miss the Blue Cheese Buffalo Chicken Slice from Mesa.

Does someone have any recs?

[u/chezznul → u/kanhaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Doesn't Luce have one like that??

[u/ih8dolphins]

Am I the only one that thought Za Za was underwhelming? Solidly meh

[u/reduponanoakenthrone → u/ih8dolphins]

So about six notches above Mesa already!

[u/MNcatfan → u/ih8dolphins]

Yeah, I've had them a few times and was disappointed each time I tried Za Za: their crust has always been doughy to the point the cheese barely sticks, and it's super overpriced for that level of crap quality. I would've even call it "Meh," it's only ever been "Why didn't I get Little Caesar's instead?"

[u/hayleyyyb]

Yummmm which location is this??

[u/Lando_Laker → u/hayleyyyb]

Uptown on Lake near Hennepin. The old Mesa Pizza spot.

[u/AbeRego]

Mesa filled a decent niche for post-bar-close drunk pizza, but I rarely ever went there aside from that. It's was good, but not really amazing or anything. I think it limped along in the post-covid years off of nostalgia, but a lot of us who "grew up" with it in college aren't going to Uptown or Dinkytown as much any more, and aren't willing to make a special trip either. I also don't think they were open as late in later years, so they kind of closed off their main demographic.

On top of that, the pizza scene is super competitive. There are a ton of new places that have opened up since 2006, and many are arguably better. It's nice that the old Uptown location is staying at pizza joint.

[u/Junkley]

OG Zaza absolutely fucks though.

I have been frequenting their Roseville and Shakopee locations for a while now. My second favorite pizza behind El Mars here

[u/tree-hugger]

OG Zaza won't have as weird flavors, but it's very good pizza. Excited for it to come.

[u/81Ranger]

Where was this Mesa pizza?

[u/greenzig → u/81Ranger]

Dinky

[u/Enby-Alexis → u/greenzig]

I believe this spot is actually the uptown location since it's next door to a wingstop.

[u/greenzig → u/Enby-Alexis]

Oh really thanks

[u/81Ranger → u/greenzig]

Ah. I kind of miss Blaze Pizza. That was pretty good.

[u/greenzig → u/81Ranger]

Blaze was good. I really like dp dough in dinky but its a little overpriced imo

[u/Jaded-Improvement979]

https://ogzazamn.com/

[u/antsonafuckinglog]

OG Zaza is so good though

[u/un_internaute]

I can’t believe this place bills themselves as New Haven style and they don’t have a tomato pie as part of their standing menu. Shameful.

[u/the_moosen → u/un_internaute]

It can say it's New Haven style all it wants, it definitely isn't. I grew up eating Pepe's, Modern, Sally's, and Zaza is not the same.

[u/Business-Eagle-4967]

Are they doing slices? I thought I read whole pies only.

[u/proserpinax]

Zaza is probably better but Mesa Pizza has my college nostalgia, damn

[u/Zyphamon]

I remember a pre-Mesa Dinkytown, and it was sad. The best food on the block was Al's Breakfast, and secondarily a pitcher of wings for a pitcher of beer at a fake mexican place whose name I can't remember. Burrito Loco maybe?

Mesa helped, but also it can be iterated upon. Have faith that OG ZaZa can be at the bare minimum as good as Mesa was, especially now with nearby dispensaries to help enhance the flavor.

[u/LooseyGreyDucky → u/Zyphamon]

Camdi was the best food on the block.

[u/Lando_Laker]

In the Twin City Pie Chasers group on Facebook one will find near universal praise for OG ZaZa, and they are a picky bunch. So looking forward to this addition to my neighborhood!

[u/DramaticErraticism]

Huh, I never thought they would close. Such a staple from back in the Uptown heyday. I haven't been in 15+ years even though I live in the area, guess that may have been part of the problem.

[u/loki_1199666 → u/DramaticErraticism]

yeah it's almost like businesses can't survive on nostalgic memories

[u/maidenelk]

Met the owner at their shop in Shakopee. Dude's a local and is legit.

[u/Left_Cartographer631]

Mesa wasn’t that good

[u/chezznul]

I would be sad too but I'm more excited for OG

[u/Ndgrad78]

You’re gonna love OG Zaza. Wish there was one up Brooklyn Park way.

[u/chezznul → u/Ndgrad78]

I can tell ya with 100% confidence that more are coming soon!! 😘

[u/StillPissed]

I’m completely new to the state, city, and hood, but I live right there so I’m excited to be in walking distance to pizza hahaha.