Zoe’s Pizza Buffet Offers Wide Range of Options

 

   

Blake and Jennie Andrews are offering some delicious alternatives to turkey and ham this holiday season at ZOE'S PIZZA BUFFET on Greenwell Springs Road.  Located in the old Pizza Hut building, they have completely revamped both the interior and the former's menu.

 

"I've been involved in the food and drink service industry for years.  I've owned po-boy shops and lounges," Blake shared, "I opened Zoe's Pizza Buffet because of a promise I made 10 years ago."  Blake went on to say how he would take his youngest daughter all the way to Mr. Gatti's in Denham Springs.  On the long road home, his daughter would tell him over and over how he "needed to open a pizza buffet in Central!"  Blake promised that one day he would.  In 2010, Jennie retired from the Baton Rouge Zoo.  "At first I was bored," she said, "then we decided to start our own 'menagerie' with cockatiels, dogs, fish, quail, cockatoos, and a "fainting goat".  A friend even donated chickens, ducks, and turkeys."  Jennie thought this would be her retirement, but Blake, semi-retired himself, couldn't forget his promise.  "And so I found myself in the restaurant business!"  Jennie smiled. 

 

Blake and Jennie run their business along Christian principles of good service, honest pricing, and offering only their very best.  As Blake said, "We believe in doing things Right, it involves long hours,  but we went into it knowing it would." With this in mind, they searched for recipes that would "not just fill our customers up, but let them really enjoy all the flavors and come back!"  They found them in their own families' traditions.  "My parents once rented from an Italian couple.  She taught my mother about great Italian cuisine.  My mom, who is originally from Shreveport, took those recipes and added her own "Louisiana touch."  I took her sauce recipe, added my own twist, and voila! Our own custom, home-made pizza sauce, slow simmered with 13 ingredients which I am not at liberty to divulge," Blake said with a grin.  Whatever they are, they smell heavenly!  One of their specialty pizzas was created as they ate Jennie's divine Chicken and Spinach Alfredo.  Topping a pizza with her delicious sauce, grilled chicken, spinach, and adding bacon was but the work of a moment, and a classic was born.  Daughter Christina, who is also the manager, came up with their specialty Chicken Fajita Pizza which adds  Mexican flavor to their menu which tops your choice of fajita steak or chicken and picante sauce with loads of cheese.  Another daughter Donna, who loves desserts and chocolate, developed a customer favorite, the S'mores Dessert Pizza, a decadent creation of melted chocolate and toasted marshmallows which scents the whole restaurant.  Blake's mother's Cinnamon Rolls were always a family favorite, and when "Miss Billie's Cinnamon Rolls" hit the menu, they were an instant favorite with everyone else! "We're a real family restaurant, as you can see," Blake said proudly, "At any time of the day, you'll find at least one of our six kids in here helping out.  This is why we can offer such great quality and service." 3 year old Granddaughter Zoe, not to be outdone, proudly gave her name to the restaurant and steps in as maitre' d, welcoming customers at the door with a huge smile to "her restaurant".  

 

Zoe's extensive menu offers about 30 different pizza combinations, including 10 specialty pizzas.  Buffalo Chicken Pizza, a customer favorite, takes spicy buffalo style chicken, layers it on a base of Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing, and tops it all with loads of their special cheese blend of mozzarella, provolone, and a touch of cheddar.  Muffaletta Pizza (a.k.a. "The Big Easy) takes the signature flavor of this New Orleans dish and puts it on a pizza crust.  The olive salad was carefully selected after many taste tests to give the best authentic seasoning.  The "All Around the World and the Big City Too" Pizza, with pepperoni, italian sausage, hamburger, canadian bacon, bacon, mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, green olives, black olives, banana peppers and jalapenos, takes some explaining.  "We wanted a special name for this pizza, but thought 'supreme' just didn't cover it.  Then we remembered how the kids would try to one-up each other when describing how much they loved us.  One said, 'I love you All Around the World!' and the other topped it with, 'Well, I love you All Around the World and the Big City Too!'  Everyone conceded this was the ultimate expression of love, so we figured it fitted well as the name of our Ultimate Pizza," Blake laughed. 

 

Zoe's Pizza Buffet offers an 18-item salad bar, with produce shipped in daily, of course; at least 5 to 6 rotating choices of pizza at any time, baked fresh with both thin, crispy crust and the more traditional thick crust; and several dessert pizzas to choose from.  Two types of pasta dishes are also offered, home made.  In fact, Blake's Lasagna, another family recipe, has become so popular people take home whole pans of it!  What a great idea for entertaining family during the holidays!  The All you Can Eat Lunch Buffet runs from 11 to 2, 7 days a week at an amazingly low $4.99.  The restaurant is open til 9 Sundays through Thursdays, and til 10 on Fridays and Saturdays.  Of course, you can request your favorites for the buffet and Blake and Jennie will make sure to get them out for you.  You can call in a take out order, or pick it up and eat it right in the restaurant with its Italian Bistro flare and vintage movie posters adorning the walls.  

 

As much fun as the Andrews are having working with their family and constantly creating new items to feature on their menu, the best part about opening Zoe's has been their customers.  "We love it, we get to meet great people, see them come back, become our friends.  One little girl took her first steps in our restaurant.  That was a real 'Zoe's Moment'," Jennie shared with a proud smile.  Come be part of "Zoe's Family" and let the Andrews cook up something special for you!