STILL RAISING A
Robert Royster , standing , Ashley Royster , left , and Amy Pilz , holding a photo of the late Ryan Pilz , have grown Ruckus Pizza , Pasta & Spirits from a bar 18 years ago into a family-friendly restaurant with four locations .
RUCKUS
WRITTEN BY DAVID MCCREARY PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
WHAT BEGAN AS A LONE HOLE-IN-THE-WALL college bar churning out hot pizza and cold beer has evolved into a multi-unit , family-friendly dining destination . Ruckus Pizza , Pasta & Spirits ranks among the area ’ s most well-regarded restaurants , as the readers of Cary Magazine attested in the recent Maggy Awards poll .
Ruckus scored the top honor in the Most Kid-Friendly , Best Outdoor Dining and Best Neighborhood Bar categories and tied for first place in Best Appetizers . The eatery received honorable mention for Best Cocktails and Best Pizza . Back in 2014 , it nabbed the Best New Restaurant Maggy for the Morrisville location .
All these accolades didn ’ t come easy . continued on page 46
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