Restaurateur Omid Zahedi, who transformed the historic San Mateo train station into a huge eatery and bar with outside dining during the pandemic, has now renovated a spacious Santa Clara venue for his wood-roasted prime rib, pizza and fish, along with house-baked pies.
The second Rise Woodfire — at Rivermark Plaza, in the former Piatti — has opened in stages, giving the staff time to build up to handling full capacity. There’s now seating available for about 200 diners inside the restaurant, with a modern-meets-rustic design that matches the elevated comfort food. The patio accommodates nearly 100 more.
Zahedi grew up in the fast-food pizza business — his Iranian immigrant father opened pizzerias after coming to this country — but chose the financial services field for his career. Years later, he developed a passion for “the new wave of fine pizza” and built a brick oven on a trailer to practice on family, friends and serve at charity events.
Once the recipes were perfected, he and wife Susan Payrovi launched their first eatery, Rise Pizzeria, in downtown Burlingame in 2017. The San Mateo train station location opened in early 2021.
The South Bay menu matches the Peninsula one. Pizzas include such combinations as Medjool Date-Chevre, Funghi-Fontina, Calabrese-Honey and Artichoke-Spinach. There’s even fire-roasted pineapple for the spicy Hawaiian-style pizza.
The wood-roasted whole branzino, served atop romesco sauce, has been particularly popular with the Santa Clara crowd, he said. Prime rib is available as an entree or a French Dip sandwich, and the rotisserie chicken comes with two sides and a dipping sauce. Tandoori-spiced chicken and wings will join the menu soon.
Details: Open daily from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday at 3905 Rivermark Plaza, Santa Clara; www.risewoodfire.com