The Hot Tomato is a local pizzeria with delicious and fresh cuisine. This local Fruita establishment was opened in 2005 by Anne Keller and Jen Zeuner, who desired to invest into the community and provide more eateries for residents. The owners opened the Hot Tomato Pizzeria with dreams to impact the community and provide some of the best pizza for its citizens. Keller and Zeuner moved to Fruita from Moab in 2002 for the mountain biking trails and culture. The pizzeria is known for its warm and welcoming bike culture.
“It’s a commitment to our community trying to invest,” Keller said.
Keller saw a missing niche in Fruita and really blossomed the community. She even decided to expand a business community by opening up Bestslope Coffee Co.
Local residents and cyclists swarm after the delightful food. Dana VanVoorhees is a local resident, cyclist, and regular customer at the Hot Tomato.
“I have known Jen and Anne from many years ago when they lived in Moab. I used to live in Moab. Jen and Anne have really created a couple of nice places to hang out in Fruita,” VanVoorhees said. “The Hot Tomato and Bestslope Coffee are a big part of Fruita. I think families not just cyclists, but people of all walks of life, we all love coming here.”
The Hot Tomato’s business expansion with Bestslope Coffee Co. in Fruita is evolving the community more and more by providing wonderful places to gather with friends and family.
It’s famous for its array of traditional and creative pizza pies. More traditional pizzas are like the Little Italy, which is layered with red sauce, mozzarella, Italian sausage, basil, garlic and ricotta cheese. It’s considered their Classic East Coast pie. Thai Me Up is one of their creative and more exuberant pizzas that’s base is a Thai sauce.
“I think it’s fantastic. The stromboli’s of course are outstanding. The flavor is so good they’re satisfying. If you’re a cyclist, it’s great to throw it in your back pocket and have it for a midday snack out on the trail or road biking over the Colorado National Monument,” VanVoorhees said.
The food is always prepared and cooked daily. The Hot Tomato sources locally raised meats and produce during the growing season. Sometimes pizza runs out on a extremely busy day or night. It’s that good.
