Malaysia’s first full-time comedy club, Crackhouse, is no exception. It opened its doors in May 2014 and has managed to stay alive over the years, serving uproarious standup comedy with a side of food and drink to full houses on weekends.
But with the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns, the owners had to think of a way to keep their cash register ringing. So they took the bold step of making and selling their own line of hand-tossed thin-crust pizzas.
Co-founder Rizal van Geyzel tells FMT that, although it has been a challenging year and a half, the pandemic gave them the opportunity to focus on the F&B aspect of the business.
“We used to make most of our money from ticket sales for our shows, but now we are able to bring in money from our food sales as well,” he says.
He’s quick to add that in the process of venturing into the pizza line, he was determined to ensure the club stuck to its roots – both Malaysian and comedic.
Rizal spent three months in the kitchen coming up with his new pizza menu and sought guidance his business partner partner Shankar Santhiram, as well as from YouTube videos. After much trial and error, he succeeded in creating five varieties of thin-crust pizza.
For each pizza ordered, customers will receive a card with the name and picture of a comedian on it, plus a QR code that will take them to a YouTube link.
“They can watch a one-minute comedy clip while enjoying their pizza,” Rizal reveals.
“We added this little touch as a way of retaining our identity, and in the hope of making people laugh during lockdown.”
Crackhouse’s pizzas are made from scratch, and topped with premium fresh ingredients and imported meat like Australian beef and lamb shoulder.
“We make everything ourselves, from our dough base to the sauce and even our meat toppings,” Rizal adds.
The items on the menu have been given fun and creative names. The “Gateway Margherita” is a plain cheese pizza, while the “Ayam What I Am” features shredded chicken in a light and creamy white sauce, topped with mozzarella and the club’s homemade pesto.
The crowd favourite has to be the “Sambal, Yet Effective”, a beef pizza perfect for those who relish spicy food.
“We also have a pizza called ‘Mary Also Had a Big One’, which includes slow-roasted lamb leg,” Rizal says.
“Then we have our Australian slow-cooked beef brisket pizza called ‘I Got Beef’.”
Four new side dishes have also been added to the menu.
“We now have plus-sized steak-cut fries; ‘Sarong Party’ chicken wings, a mix between eastern and western flavours; and ‘Underground’ cookies made with brown butter.
“We also have ‘Ollie’s Greasy Balls’, our take on garlic bread, which is inspired by a comedian from the United Kingdom who was stuck here during lockdown.”
Curious to know more? Ask about it when you pay Crackhouse a visit!
A home for comics
On the club’s inception, Rizal says he and his partners hit on the idea of creating a home base for local stand-ups to hone their craft, as well as provide a venue for international comedians.
“We wanted to expose the public to the comedy scene in Malaysia while allowing them to experience different styles from all around the world.”
Rizal is patiently awaiting the day when crowds return. “Things have slowly started to get better now that restaurants can open for dine-ins, and live entertainment is once again allowed,” he says.
To ease back into the swing of things, Crackhouse features headlining acts on Fridays and Saturdays nights, open-mic sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as well as other comedic events – all for the fully vaccinated.
So if you’re looking for a little pick-me-up, head on over to Crackhouse Comedy Club for a good laugh and tuck into a delicious pizza or two!
Pizzas are available for dine-in, takeaway or delivery. For more information, visit Crackhouse’s website or Facebook profile, or contact 017-2056870.
Crackhouse Comedy Club
24A, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 4pm-10pm