Specialty Pizza Joint Opens in Former East Grand Rapids Restaurant

A former East Grand Rapids restaurant has gotten new life as a pizzeria!

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Pera Pizza Opens at Site of Former Rose's Express in East Grand Rapids

There's a new spot to grab a slice in East Grand Rapids!

Pera Pizza has opened at 2224 Wealthy St. SE, where Rose's Express once stood.

Rose's Express, a Gilmore Collection Restaurant, first closed temporarily in fall of 2021, before permanently shutting its doors.

Pera Pizza serve pizzas in the style of Mediterranean cuisine from Pera, a district of Istanbul, Turkey, according to Grand Rapids Business Journal.

Owner Guney Tosun tells GRBJ,

We are so excited to bring a new taste to the EGR community. There is nothing like bringing people together with the taste of food, and the response we have gotten has been incredible. We are so happy to be here and can’t wait to grow with Grand Rapids.

Pera Pizza is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11a.m. to 9p.m.

Pera Pizza Menu

Owners say Pera Pizza serves "authentic, organic, and simple Mediterranean cuisine".

Their specialty pizzas are freshly made under real wood fire in an authentic Italian brick oven.

Pizzas offerings include:

• Istanbul Pizza - House made tomato sauce, mozzarella blend, tomatoes, mushrooms, green peppers, and onions.
• Kurdish Pizza - House made tomato sauce, mozzarella blend, sliced Armenian sausage, and fresh mushrooms.
• Pera Pizza - House made tomato sauce, mozzarella blend, sliced chicken with sautéed onions.

For appetizers you'll find Hummus and Tzatziki with pita bread, and Burek Sticks, which are pieces of flaky filo dough filled with feta cheese and parsley, and fried till golden brown.

They also offer subs, salads, and dinner entrées like shish kabobs.

And you can't forget dessert!

Pera Pizza serves up Baklava and Nutella Pizza, which features warm homemade sweet dough topped with Nutella and fresh strawberries. They say it's "a cross between your basic Nutella on toast and a delicious Nutella filled donut."

Check out Pera Pizza's full menu here.