Earlier this year, the Oregon POUR Authority & Pizza Studio (OPPA) moved from their original tucked-away location across from the post office in Grants Pass to the hottest block in town, H Street. Home to the historic Rogue Theatre, the Haul restaurant, and The Sound Lounge, H Street and the surrounding area has risen as a new focal point to downtown Grants Pass. And no town’s focal point is complete without good pizza, and beer selection that will knock socks off.

An entire wall of the spacious dining area is dedicated to built-in fridges boasting almost any beer one could ask for, with many local offerings and a sturdy hard cider section. Above the numerous libations are the big screen TVs featuring sporting events, which therefore can be enjoyed or ignored easily, due to their thoughtful location.

Their simple menu offers a handful of signature pizzas, and while they all seem appealing, I opted to build my own pie. Pesto sauce with Canadian bacon, pineapple, and olives—my very own Hawaiian. Now, I am not much of a crust eater. I often leave a tidy pile of the entire crispy edge on my plate. But OPPA’s crust is exquisite. It reminds me a bit of pita chips, and while they are softer than those, it is just as habit forming. My counterpart ordered the gluten free crust, which was almost as good as their regular crust; it only required a few minutes on the grill after coming out of the pizza oven to ensure doneness in the middle.

Next on my “to-do” list? Giving their specialty pasta a try. With eight pasta options (two of which are gluten free), and six sauce possibilities (two of which are vegan), it will be a difficult choice for sure.

We happened to go on my husband’s birthday, and upon hearing the news and not having a dessert menu, our server hastened to procure some leftover wedding cake from a fellow employee who had been married the day before. It was delicious. And, since then, a simple and chocolatey dessert menu has been added. And, to further emphasize the small town feel, we ran into our server again a short time later in her front yard where she was having a yard sale. She remembered us, and we got a great deal on a book about scent-training your dog, a mere 50 cents, and hardcover, to boot.

On a separate birthday trip for a friend, we discovered the Veteran’s Wall. Also serving as a huge sliding door separating the bar and the main dining area, the one side sports a huge American flag and the other is covered in signatures from veterans. Our friend happened to be a veteran, and the owner Marv asked him to sign it.

OPPA seems to fit right in in the “happening” blocks of downtown Grants Pass, and pizza lovers all over the Valley will be hard pressed to find better this side of New York.

Oregon POUR Authority & Pizza Studio

11 am – 9 pm, Monday – Thursday. 11 am – 10 pm, Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.

235 SE 7th Street, Grants Pass