All the Right Ingredients
Customers Are Family at Byrnes Grilled Pizza
Writer /Alesha McCarty
Photographer / Michael Durr
There is a charming community around 56th and Illinois streets. The Reinstroms, proprietors of Byrnes Grilled Pizza, have called this little corner of Butler Tarkington home for more than 35 years. Founders Ken and Dot shop at Kincaids and Safeway for their groceries. Dot loves finding recipes in old magazines and making them her own. Ken enjoys grilling good food. One day Dot stumbled upon a cracker-crust pizza recipe. She whipped it up, Ken threw it on his Weber grill, and they served the new creation at a euchre party. The grilled cracker-crust pizza was a hit.
Neighbors and friends began devouring their grilled pizza. Some friends opened Flat12 Bierwerks in 2011, and it was a perfect opportunity to start a food truck.
Our first big catering event was the Miller Lite Party at the IMS, says Adam Reinstrom, the couples son. They were astonished at how efficiently we could crank out the pizzas. Eventually we were the main vendor at the event. Byrnes also hosts events at Butler, as well as weddings and community happenings, with a full menu of salads, breadsticks, bruschetta, sandwiches, and charcuterie boards featuring Adams breadstick crostini.
Oh Yumm Bistro sold their space to the Reinstroms in 2016. The restaurant is cozy, and it can host around 50 guests. A cozy, fire-lit patio adds 25. In 2018 the restaurant team established The Rhino Bar when they obtained a three-way liquor license.
With the support of Father Jim Byrne of Holy Cross and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Byrnes became an essential part of the neighborhood. Adams brother Derek helped to get the brick-and-mortar location running before relocating, and Adams sister Danielle enticed those passing by with her pizza costume. Adam took part in all aspects of the business. Eventually the Reinstrom kids all moved away. Byrnes continued, taking part in farmers markets and establishing regulars.
After 2020 they needed a change – a new era for the family-owned business. Adam had spent time on the west coast working for architecture firms, food trucks and winemakers. However, he felt drawn back to the Midwest. His partner, Pablo Gonzalez, worked under James Beard-awarded chefs, with mentors like Jeffrey Morgenthaler and Joshua McFadden, developing skills and finding inspiration in farm-to-table cooking. The two ventured back to the Midwest with a mission to grow the community. They found a place at Adams family restaurant and soon took over the business, with Gonzalez focusing on hospitality and mixology.
The classics are here to stay, but youll see creative new flavors focused on celebrating relationships theyve made in the community, and efforts to reach out to customers from all over the city.
We want to ensure everyone feels welcome, Adam says.
Moving forward, the team will focus on its cocktail program, elevated pizza options and adventurous seasonal specialties. The Rhino Bar has new curated cocktails, natural wines, and 0-proof cocktails as well. They have expanded their gluten-free and vegan menu. Cauliflower crust and rice-based crust, and a flourless chocolate cake, are additional options. Indy vegans can enjoy the vegan cheese and their classic Teddys sauce – a red sauce with capers and olives. They will invest in their community by working with local establishments like Kincaids, Cornerstone Bread Company, My Dads Sweet Corn and others. The Reinstrom family also boasts a lovely garden that provides much of the produce.
For the holidays theyll be serving up their toasty breadsticks at the Holiday Block Stroll, at 56th and Illinois streets on November 10. Also, the mobile Rhino bar buss is coming soon.
Byrnes offers something for everyone – a family pizza night, a cozy date night under the firelight on the patio, live music, a fabulous little cocktail, and much more. You are sure to find a friendly, fun time at Byrnes.
Byrnes Grilled Pizza is located at 5615 North Illinois Street in Indianapolis. For more info, go to byrnespizza.com.
