Stefano's Pizzeria [santa monica]

Stefano's Pizzeria 

1310 3rd Street Promenade

Santa Monica, CA 90401

For the days when you want pizza (everyday), but your appetite is not big enough to eat a whole 800 degrees pizza (rare), pizza-by-the-slice is the answer. Enter Stefano's - the perfect after work pre-shopping snack when you didn't have time to eat lunch and dinner is not for another 3 hours. The place is very small, like the size of a Wetzel's Pretzels but there is an outdoor patio with lots of seating. The pizzas are all out on display, cold, and without any price tags or labels at all. The menu above the pizzas denotes 3 price ranges: cheese, regular toppings, and "gourmet" toppings. I was just looking for a pizza with some mushrooms, and saw one with mushrooms and pepperoni. I definitely did not think that would be considered "gourmet" but once I saw my receipt I saw how silly I was. $4 for one very average slice is definitely not worth it to me, and I then remembered why I tend to avoid slice pizza. 

There were a lot of flavor options, but like I said, they were just sitting there and you would have to ask them what each flavor actually was. The slice I got was surprisingly good, the crust was sturdy yet easy to bite into and not too chewy. The cheese and mushrooms were good but the pepperoni flavor was not very strong. All in all it was an okay pizza for a slice, but I would only go back if I were really craving a slice and not a whole pizza (again, rare). 

Some 'zas

Mushroom and pepperoni "gourmet" pizza ($4.33)

Thickness

Patio and people watching

Crust: sturdy, not too cardboard like, easy to bite into

Cheese: good for slice pizza

Sauce: average

Best Part: unexpected crust density

Recommend: just going to 800 degrees

Girl Reunited with Pizza: Sliver Pizzeria [berkeley]

Sliver Pizzeria

2132 Center St

Berkeley, CA 94704

Andrew and I made our way back up to the Bay Area this weekend to baptize my new goddaughter Juliette! Not only did we get to see my family, but we also were not too far from our alma mater and my favorite pizza place on this earth, Sliver. 

When I lived in Berkeley, my apartment was about 3 blocks from Sliver and I would be here usually around 3-4 times a week, depending on what the pizzas were for the week. Every Sunday I would check the menu for the week and plan all my meals accordingly. Favorites include: any pizza with corn, tomatoes/onions, mushrooms/peppers, mushrooms/onions. Maybe the best pizza I've ever had would be the mushroom/tomato with Sliver special seasoning - an elusive pizza I've only had once, but continue to dream about. The only bad pizza I've ever had there was leeks/brussels sprouts - which tasted as bad as it sounds, only purchased because I was in a crunch.

Sliver is great because of its ingredients and unique flavors that set it apart from all other slice-driven pizza places (other than Cheeseboard of course). But Sliver is better than Cheeseboard for several reasons: 

1. Closer to campus
2. Better crust
3. Better flavors
4. More students
5. More seating
6. TVs playing sports always
7. Happy hour
8. Shorter lines
9. Faster service
10. Proximity to other beverage places

There are a lot of pizza places in the Bay Area but every time I go back I make it a point to stop by Sliver at least once. This weekend we chose to go for the Saturday pizza which was mushrooms and green peppers, because Friday was potato and Saturday was corn and black beans. Typically I would take any pizza with corn but the black beans seemed too weird for me. The pizza was as good as I remember, and even though I had recently been back in the last 2 months, every time I go back it feels like going back to college again. We got a half pizza to share, and ended up each getting another slice/sliver because we didn't get enough. There was live music and lots of students everywhere, and basketball on the tv screens - just like we never left.

Thinking we only needed a half pizza ($12)

Bar seating - saw some people come in just to take tequila shots, so it's like a real bar

Extra slice because I weigh 300 pounds ($3)

After Sliver, I have to also get ice cream. Even though I ate 3 slices of pizza, my stomach will never be too full to get a cone from Ici. I still follow them on twitter to see their flavors of the day, which at times is painful when I'm 6 hours away.  My heart skips a beat every time I see "brown sugar gingersnap" written on their chalkboard sign. The stars have aligned quite a few times on weekends that I am home the flavor is in stock. Those times I have been known to spend up to $70 on quarts and pints and cones of ice cream to stock up for myself and brother.

If BSGS isn't on the menu, I am obviously very disappointed but can usually settle with other flavors. Ici is known for their original flavor combinations, but after going to other "artisanal" ice cream shops their flavors are not actually as outlandish as I had once thought. There usually are around 3 flavors that I will at least taste, and probably like. Some other notable flavors include "banana cream pie" and milk chocolate n cookies. Their ice cream is all handmade and of the best quality, so sometimes even plain vanilla can be really good, especially with their signature cones and the little bit of chocolate at the end. Sometimes there aren't any flavors that speak to me (rare), and then I would just drive a little farther over to Smitten.

There's usually a line outside, especially on weekends and when flavors are good. The line is definitely worth it and really helps people inside to be able to sit down and enjoy their cone without being crammed with a bunch of people inside a tiny store. The aesthetic of the place really speaks to me, and I appreciate the effort that goes into every flavor, not only taste wise but with the corresponding signs in the store and on the chalkboard outside. Ici is the most perfect ice cream shop.

Best ice cream in the world

"What are you waiting in line for?"

"Is it really THAT good?"

Ice cream craft decor

Vanilla - Dark Chocolate/Caramel Swirl 

Peanut Butter - Chocolate Peanut

Obica Mozzarella Bar [century city]

Obica Mozzarella Bar, Pizza e Cucina

10250 Santa Monica Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90067

On a Yelp search for pizza close to Westwood, Obica generally does not pop up as a top hit. Maybe on a very specialized search in the 5 mile radius from my apartment it finally popped up. I wanted to come because mozzarella bars have to have at least decent pizza, at least topped with high quality cheese! 

The restaurant is located inside the Westfield Century City "mall," upstairs near Bloomingdales. We came late on a Thursday night, around 8:30 so the mall was about to close. There was no one really inside, but everyone was seated in a little outdoor tent that was heated and lit with string lights. I ordered the "pomodoro biologico e mozzarella" or the "pomodoro" which was the closest thing to a margherita. It basically was a margherita, but I think because they didnt use SM tomatoes they didn't want to call it that. Also the pizze menu boasted that their dough rises slowly for 2 days and is "worth the wait" so my expectations were rising. We started out with a taster plate of cheese, as anyone must, and it was very delicious especially with the accompanying spinach and tomatoes. 

When the pizzas were brought out to our table, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. The pizza did not look like a typical neapolitan as I was expecting, but the crust/dough looked very reminiscent of Italian-restaurant or CPK style pizza. My expectations were immediately lowered to that standard. However, I still had high hopes for the cheese. The pizza was sliced into 4 quarters, which is always a good sign and in my opinion is how all pizzas should be sliced for optimum folding. One bite and I was sold. The dough, although on first impression looked lackluster, was very very good. It was sturdy and crisp on the outside yet still soft and chewy. The sturdiness of it, though an odd quality for pizza, I thought was especially important and successful considering how many people bash on pizzas for being "too soggy" or having all the toppings fall off in one bite. The cheese was impeccable, as expected after we had already tasted some of the bufala to begin with. The sauce was not the typical neapolitan pizza sauce, but probably because they didn't use SM tomatoes which are a little bit sweeter. Andrew's prosciutto pizza was also pretty good, but I would probably still rather get the regular pomodoro again and really enjoy the delicacy of the cheese. 

All in all the pizza was delicious and I would definitely come back (even by myself). Its location in the Westfield mall makes it a perfect destination to get delicious food after a bit of shopping. I don't think it gets too busy here (see photos below) but there is definitely ample seating if they ever do.

"Pizze"

Lots of availability here, clearly

Bar seating

Mini-tasting of the smoked (left) and classic (right) bufala mozzarella ($8)

(near) Pomodoro Biologico e Mozzarella ($14)

(far) Prosciutto Crudo ($17)

Prosciutto and arugula 

Milky clouds of cheese

Excellent foldability, nothing falling out

As close up as my phone would semi-focus of that cornmeal crust

Outdoor tent (where we were seated)

Crust: looks like a cracker but still soft, covered in corn meal for a good texture

Sauce: not made with San Marzano tomatoes, a little bit tart

Cheese: very good quality, sizable amount on pizza

Recommend: tasting one of the mozzarellas, pomodoro/mozzarella pizza

Best part: highest quality cheese, Westfield mall location, great place for a nice bite to eat after shopping