our Story

“Joseph! Why do you bastardize my pizza? “

-Traditional Italian Chef

Chef Joe Rumberger has been been cooking professionally since 1999. His first job was tossing pies at his neighborhood pizzeria in Bellevue, Wa — So you might say he has come full circle.

After working in top restaurants in Washington D.C., and Dublin, Ireland he returned home in 2018 where he spent a year as the chef de cuisine of Bar Melusine in Seattle. When the pandemic hit Joe, and his partner Hallie with their dog Reggie decided to make the move to Olympia, WA.

Through mutual friends Joe met business partner Jesse O’Neill . The two shared a common love for food and a desire to bring something new and exciting to the south sound community — and Bastard Pies was manifested. We look forward to continuously bringing you new and exciting pizza flavors, salads, sweets, and more!

People often ask us “ why the name? “ well… the story goes a little something like this. While Joe was working at a particularly traditional Italian restaurant in DC he would make pizza for the staff meal, and put all sorts of crazy topping on the pies. One day his Chef came to him and asked “Joseph! Why do you bastardize my pizza? “ and the name was born! Needless to say pizza day was always a favorite among the staff.