Del Ray Pizzeria Celebrating Third Birthday Saturday

Chef Eric Reid can’t really put an accurate number on how many pizzas he has punched out of the Del Ray Pizzeria kitchen in the last three years.

“We sold 400 at Art on the Avenue [in 2012] alone,” Reid said. “We’ve easily sold thousands. … It’s been a great three years. You can’t beat this location.”

Reid and company will be celebrating the restaurant’s third birthday from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, with a party in the lot behind the restaurant.

Del Ray Pizzeria will be offering special customized beers from Heavy Seas, Devils Backbone, Three Brothers and Fordham breweries and some special beers Reid said the restaurant has saved for such an occasion.

Reid himself will be manning a grill dishing out burgers, dogs, chicken and other offerings.

Admission to the party is free. Food and beverage tickets will be sold in individual, couple and family packages.

With the weather forecast a bit iffy, some of the party games are in question. There are plans for a servers race, egg race, cornhole tournament, water-ballon toss and—in a variation on a frat-house favorite—water pong.

There will also be a children’s pizza making station upstairs in the restaurant, giving children a chance to make their own pies and decorate pizza boxes.

Pizzeria merchandise will be available at discounted prices and the party will feature a DJ.

Del Ray Pizzeria is located at 2218 Mount Vernon Ave.

Owners of the pizzeria plan to open a new brewpub on Richmond Highway south of Alexandria next year.