Alamo Heights Resident Enjoys A Big Slice of Success with Scott’s Pizza
By Bonny Osterhage
Scott Adams is a man of decisive action. From proposing to his girlfriend mere months after their first meeting to traveling to Italy to learn the ins and outs of pizza-making, this 31-year-old Alamo Heights native knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Inspired by San Antonio restaurants like Dough and Il Forno, Adams opened his food truck, Scott’s Pizza, in 2023 with a vision of elevating the Alamo Heights take-out scene with delectable, artisanal pies. If the local buzz is any indication, he succeeded.
A Spin on A Classic
Located at 95 Brees Boulevard in the parking lot of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, Scott’s Pizza might look like an unassuming food truck lacking the checkered tablecloth and dripping candle adornments of a traditional sit-down Italian restaurant, but don’t let that fool you. This is one authentic, gourmet pizza that’s meant to be picked up and enjoyed at home.
Adams honed his skills in Naples at the knees of the master, Enzo Coccia—a name you might recognize from Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy travel series. After taking Coccia’s six-week course, Adams took what he learned and put his own spin on what he describes as “a cross between New York style and Neapolitan pizzas.”
The menu focuses on quality over quantity, with six specialty pizzas – including the “Certa Picante,” or “spicy pig.” This carnivore’s dream features Adams’ signature sourdough crust topped with sausage, pepperoni, and jalapeño-infused honey that he created from scratch.
While the Certa Picante is the best-seller, the “Big Fungus” is the pizza that the Alamo Heights graduate is most proud of. “I think it’s the most interesting pizza we do,” Adams described. The unique combination of parmesan leek white sauce, caramelized onions, sauteed Cremini mushrooms, and parmesan is topped with mozzarella, chives, parsley, and a zingy lemon zest. “I’ve never seen our parmesan leek cream sauce in another pizzeria,” Adams said, adding that the leeks elevate the flavor while the lemon zest “brightens the richness of the sauce.”
The menu also includes traditional pepperoni and cheese pizzas for those who prefer pared-down pizzas, along with a build-your-own option for those who want to flex their creative culinary muscles.
While the pizzas are the primary focus, Adams has rounded out the menu with a Caesar salad made with Little Gem lettuce topped in a dairy-free lemon-forward dressing and topped with chili breadcrumbs instead of croutons. Finally, to satisfy the sweet tooth, there is a flavorful blood orange tiramisu, along with Adams’ family favorite, Mama Lela’s dark chocolate cake. “This is the same cake my mom has made for me on my birthday for as long as I can remember,” he said fondly. “It’s dark but not bitter, and it feels rich and decadent.”
Love at First Bite
Opening a restaurant is a daunting task, especially in a neighborhood already teeming with options. Adams was aware of the risks, but he also knew that he was passionate about it.
After graduating from Sewanee with a degree in History, he tried his hand in the oil industry and in sales, but he kept returning to his love of the service industry gleaned from years of waiting tables in Wyoming, Colorado and, of course, Texas. But it wasn’t until he was manager of the popular Favorite Pizza on Austin’s infamous 6th Street that the idea to open his own pizza joint materialized. The biggest questions were “how” and “where?” Ultimately, the “how” took the shape of a trailer.
“I struggled with whether it was the right call or whether I should hold out for a brick-and-mortar,” he said. “I’m glad I did the trailer because it’s a great way to get your feet wet in the business.”
The “where” turned out to be a life-changing decision in more ways than one. When Adams pulled up to the parking lot of the Sunset Ridge Church of Christ, he not only found the space that would house his business, he met the woman who would become his wife.
“I got out of my car and saw Noelle standing there,” he recalled, adding that she managed the One Another Coffee truck on the same site. “She was so beautiful and way out of my league.”
The couple married in April 2024. While Noelle still manages the coffee truck, she also helps Adams with their joint venture.
“We balance each other out from a business perspective,” said Adams. “She’s good with details and being consistent. I’m an idea guy, and I like to work fast and be done.”
The couple lives in Alamo Heights with their two dogs, and Adams said he is excited about the future – which includes moving Scott’s Pizza to the park the church is developing for the community directly across the street. Once there, he said he plans to expand his offerings to include lunch and pizza-by-the-slice. [Ed. Note: They’re now operating out of Charis Park across the street] And as for his long-term goals?
“I would love to have several locations where we sell wine, appetizers, and more,” adding that he would also like to branch into other concepts, including a restaurant company. “That’s years away, and I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but it’s a dream,” he said.
For now, he will keep serving up delicious pizzas, salads, and sweets, much to the delight of the community he has called home for more than 30 years.
“Because I grew up in Alamo Heights, word-of-mouth spread fast,” said Adams. “Hearing that people like the pizza is the coolest thing in the world.” ■
Scott’s Pizza is open 5 p.m–8:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. You can order and schedule pickup online at scottspizzasa.com.
