We all know there’s no lack of pizza restaurants in Richmond right now. From stalwarts like Belmont and 8 ½ to newbies like People’s Pie or Pizza Bones, it’s safe to say you’ve got options. But very few have a happy hour quite as extensive as Fire & Hops Pizza Co. in the Carytown area. They have been open for a little over a year now but may have been off your radar because they are tucked away a block over from the Carytown shops. But their atmosphere once inside is hard to miss. A pizza and beer establishment might sound a little greasy but their decor was bright, clean, and modern.
For our recent visit, we decided on a Bold Rock under the HH deal but also wanted to be adventurous and try one of their off-happy hour cocktails, the Mexican mule. Of course they also have several local beers that would make any beer belly happy. We were anticipating something sweet and also something a little spicy and this drink definitely met that expectation! It was refreshing but with a little kick to it, making it hard to resist ordering another.
It would be a shame to not take advantage of a half off app (you know we love happy hours with food specials) so we got an order of the carne asada fries. The fries were topped with fresh slices of steak, tomatoes, monterey jack cheese, guacamole. This honestly could have been an entree because it was so filling and delicious. We also saw another table order mozzarella sticks and WHOA. We have literally never seen a cheese stick that big anywhere else. We highly recommend trying either.
Although not a part of their happy hour, we were excited to see that they had a gluten-free crust option so we ordered a Diavola pizza. We were pleasantly surprised with the taste (GF options aren’t known for being spectacular) and the brick oven pizza made it even that much better.
If you only feel comfortable eating outdoors, Fire & Hops definitely provides a good space covered under large umbrellas. All staff wore masks and everyone not seated at their tables indoors wore a mask while walking around.
Fire & Hops Pizza Co.’s happy hour happens Tuesdays through Sundays from 12pm-6:30 pm and offers $2 off drafts and wine, $1 off rails, and ½ off appetizers. With their stringent COVID protocol, happy hour food specials and weekend availability, their happy hour holds a special pizza our heart.
