The Snobbery: Pizza

Restaurant Reviews - Pizza




Pizza
	Food	Service	Cost
Avanti Cafe	8	6	$10
111 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91101 (626) 577-4688	Directions

Avanti is on my "regular" list. I typically go there three or four times per term. They've got some of the best Pizza in LA (try the traditional pizzas), are reasonably priced, and have friendly service. Their pastas are not particularly good, but go for the pizza! ( Favorites )

	Food	Service	Cost
California Pizza Kitchen	7	7	$12
99 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101 (626) 585-9020	Directions

I like CPK. They have good gourmet pizza, good service, and decent prices. I prefer Avanti's for pizza, but CPK does a good job, too. They also have other types of food, including pastas and sandwiches. They are also very accomodating for large parties. Overall, it's a good value.

	Food	Service	Cost
Domino's Pizza	3	N/A	$8
633 South Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105 (626) 584-1976	Directions

Domino's is a huge "pizza" chain. In reality, they serve a poor recreation of what can be a fine Italian food. It's a shame. I recommend against it, but if you must order Domino's Pizza, here's one in Pasadena.

	Food	Service	Cost
Fredos	2	N/A	$7
950 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91106 (626) 568-0505	Directions

If you don't like Domino's or Pizza Hut, don't even go near Fredo's. This is perhaps some of the worst pizza I've ventured to try in this pizza-forsaken state. Yuck.

	Food	Service	Cost
LaMonica's New York Pizza	7	N/A	$3
50 West Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91105 (626) 583-8575	Directions

It's very hard to find decent New York style pizza outside of New York. And don't tell me to try "The Big New Yorker" from Pizza Hut! LaMonica's provides a pretty good emulation of traditional NY Pizza. It's not the best, but it's the closest I've found to true New York style in California. Note that the Pasadena location is rather small, so don't expect to be able to take a large party there. They also deliver.

	Food	Service	Cost
Papa John's Pizza	3	N/A	$8
800 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena, CA 91030 (626) 441-8484	Directions

Papa John's Pizza does some strange things to their sauce. Some people really like this; I do not. This pizza is only slightly better than Pizza Hut or Domino's, but not much. Special sauce my ass.

	Food	Service	Cost
Pizza Hut	3	N/A	$8
777 South Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105 (626) 792-2800	Directions

I think about the same of Pizza Hut as I do of Domino's. It's a substandard fast-food style "pizza" chain. I avoid it like the plague, but order if you must. They deliver this crap to your door!

	Food	Service	Cost
Tarantino's	5	5	$10
784 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 (626) 796-7836	Directions

If you're looking for a hole-in-the-wall pizza place that's reminiscent of New York, Tarantino's is the place for you. If it wasn't for the fact that the pizza isn't so good, I'd swear I'm in New York when I'm in Tarantino's. They serve primarily pizza, but they have plenty of other Italian dishes, most of which are either bland or way too spiced. It's most redeeming quality is the price: it'll probably run you under $10.

	Food	Service	Cost
Tony's Pizza	9	N/A	$10
2555 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA (626) 793-4114	Directions

Wow! After living in LA for 3 years, I've finally found true New York Pizza! This is as authentic as it gets. It's not the best NY Pizza (I've had better in NY), but it's pretty good and the real thing. The place even looks like a New York Pizzeria. If you haven't had NY Pizza, it's supposed to be pretty thin crust, and tends to be a bit oily. Despite the oil (or maybe thanks to it), it tastes great and is a welcome familiarity to me! I highly recommend it. ( Favorites )

	Food	Service	Cost
Vito's Pizza	8	N/A	$$10
814 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA (323) 667-2723	Directions

Vito's is second on my list next to Tony's for best New York Pizza in LA. They make it in the NY Style, thin crust, oily, and pretty tasty. It's not quite a good as Tony's, but if you can't make the trek to San Marino, stoy by Vito's, or order delivery! Vito's also has the hole-in-the-wall NY Pizza place down pat. Not only is it a tiny place with little tables and a TV, there are also Italian regulars hanging out and bantering with Vito. Very authentic. ( Favorites )