Just west of King and Bathurst, Beast Restaurant held court as one of the best bistros in the city garnering critical acclaim for its farm-to-table cuisine, amazing brunch, as well as the use of exotic cuts of meat under the creative eye of chef Scott Vivian. Now, it’s time for a new Beast to emerge, and this one is going Italian.

The restaurant has transformed, launching a pizza program that began with an opening last night. Vivian and partner Nathan Middleton have long been planning Beast Pizza following their wildly successful, 10-year run with Beast Restaurant. But, it was time for a change.

The pandemic saw the transformation begin, with the restaurant shifting to Beast Bodega to accommodate restrictions, but this is a whole new passion project for Scott Vivian. According to press reports, he felt he got everything he could out of the former space, and wanted to pivot to an entirely new concept.

Now, the Tecumseh Street space has been entirely reimagined, completely renovated to accommodate a new look, a new kitchen, and, of course, a new menu. There’s a bar with six barstools, a flat-screen TV, and outdoor speakers, so that the place takes on more of a traditional pizza parlour vibe, while still incorporating the ambiance of Beast Restaurant.

The pizza joint offers its guests thin crust, New York-style pizza that will, naturally, be topped with Beast Restaurant game meat staples such as boar and rabbit. When things get a little more settled, the famous whole animal dinners will be back, too.

The pies come in a variety of sizes and there are also fresh pasta, salads, appetizers, and house-made desserts on the menu, as well as soft-serve ice cream and gelato.

Beast Pizza is located at 96 Tecumseth St.