Open on Jan. 22, is MOTO at 4526 42nd SW and to say it is both amazing and unique is not enough. Owner Lee Kindell brings a lot of energy to making and serving both 8 different kinds of pizza and an equal number of flavors of soft ice cream all in specially made pastry cones. The interior of the 600 square foot completely remodeled home is decorated with highly customized murals by artist Joseph Brooks.

Kindell owns and normally operates a hostel in Belltown called City Hostel but the pandemic has kept it closed. He's a self described "action man, always in motion" and "MOTO means movement" so among his other dreams has been the goal of opening a Detroit style pizza shop and bring that unique flavor of Motown to Seattle. Detroit style pizza is not round. it's deep-dish  (but not as deep as Chicago style) and cooked in a rectangular pan topped with brick cheese and a cooked tomato-based sauce. MOTO pizzas feature multiple kinds of cheese (with a special application technique to give it crispy delicious corners). The dough has a hydration level of 70 percent or higher, which creates an open, porous, chewy crust with a crisp exterior.

Detroit also inspiration the name plus Kindell said, "I ride motorcycles, so the name is culmination of all of that."

No delivery service for now (it's coming soon) but you can use the Toast Takeout App either online or in store to order.

The website is https://motoseattle.com 

MOTO serves two primary kinds of food (plus some sides). Pizza and Soft Serve Ice Cream. Both come in 8 types or flavors. The ice cream is vanilla and the flavors such as sour apple, pineapple, chocolate, mint and others are added as a stripe. They are served in unique pastry style "pipe cones" in a variety of styles. 

The shop will also have a full liquor license as soon as the permits come through.

But the main attraction is the pizza. MOTO's pizzas will range in cost from $9 to $19 and the toppings are the reason why.

Each one takes just over 9 minutes to make. "This is slow food, that I'm passionate about," Kindell said.

The pizzas offered are:

• Cheese N Tomato $9

• Pepperoni $14

• Mang (MR) Pig $18

• Mushroom $13

• Plant $13

• Crab $19

• KissD $16

• Harlem Chop Cheese $15

Gluten Free and Vegan versions are available as well.

Sides are:

• BangBang Shrimp $9

• Meatballz3D $9

• MotoRocket Seasonal Chop Salad $6

• Roasted Farm Veggies $6

In addition to cocktails, espresso is on the menu too.

Kindell said his motto (motto for MOTO?) is to "Do a thing well." It would appear from the remodeling, to the decor to the food being served, that motto is spot on.

Open 4pm to 9pm Wed through Sunday. The phone is 206-420-8880 ("But no guarantee I'll answer!", he said)

Find them on Instagram @motoseattle and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/motoseattle