Who makes the best pizza in Santa Barbara? Please specify which places are best for which types.
COMMENT 137460
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2011-01-17 04:10 PM |
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Overall - for me, it's a tie between Mesa Pizza & Giovanni's (Upper State)
Specialty - Pizza Mizza
Delivery - Rusty's
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COMMENT 137463
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2011-01-17 04:12 PM |
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We recently discovered Pizza Guru and are really enjoying it. They have some really "creative" toppings that I would never think of enjoying on a pizza, like the "Buff Chick" which is spicy buffalo chicken meat, mozz cheese with a drizzle of Ranch dressing and even chopped celery! It's really like eating buffalo wings in pizza form. Their "signature" thin crust is nice and chewy and even has it's own great flavor. We've only had delivery (haven't been to the restaurant) and the kids are actually well-spoken and nice. Not just grunting your total and handing over pizza. I appreciate that. We generally try a personal size specialty pizza to share to try the wacky ideas (they've all been great so far) and then order a "normal" pepperoni too. Good stuff! Google Pizza Guru, they have their menu online.
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COMMENT 137464
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2011-01-17 04:13 PM |
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Giovanni's on Upper State Street or the Mesa are our favorite. We like all their combonations and friendly staff.
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COMMENT 137467
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2011-01-17 04:21 PM |
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Giovanni's is always good... After all the hype we heard about Pizza Guru, my kids and I gave it a try. I was really disappointed. It wasn't crowded, but had to wait a long time and staff seemed to be hanging out in the back and ignoring the customers. The pizza was mediocre at best, but hey... maybe we just caught them on a bad day. I wouldn't go back however....
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COMMENT 137474P
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2011-01-17 04:30 PM |
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I like Marty's whole wheat crust pizzas. I'd like to see a gourmet cornmeal crust pizza place here in town. Like this place: link
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COMMENT 137479
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2011-01-17 04:37 PM |
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Giovanni's on Upper State - just pizza as pizza is supposed to be, classic and good. The standards done wonderfully and consistently well. You are making me hungry thinking about it.
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COMMENT 137481
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2011-01-17 04:45 PM |
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Petrini's is my favorite! They have a delicious crispy crust and normal toppings that should be put on pizza. If you're looking to have bbq chicken or celery on your pizza, Petrini's is not the right place for you. The sausage they use is especially tasty, and their prices can't be beat.
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COMMENT 137483
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2011-01-17 04:47 PM |
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Trouble is, neither mentioned seem to just make a simple pizza that is outstanding. They have to mask their inability by putting shrimp, buffalo whatever, pinapple, avocado........on there. #1 Best NY style is Uncle Roccos on State Street. Bummer is you will pay an arm and a leg for it. #2 Sal's on Milpas. Very good and priced to please.
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COMMENT 137484
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2011-01-17 04:47 PM |
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Once you start with things like "whole wheat" and "buffalo chicken", you are no longer talking about pizza. You want to compare pizza...then let's compare pizza. Plain or with pepperoni. The best in town are Gino's on Figueroa, Paesano's on San Andres, and Uncle Rocco's at State and Haley. The rest might serve a delicious food product that resembles pizza, but it ain't pizza.
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COMMENT 137485
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2011-01-17 04:49 PM |
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I'm surprised no one mentioned pizza mizza. I think there pizza is awesome and the brick ovens then use really seals the deal for me.
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COMMENT 137486
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2011-01-17 04:51 PM |
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I have to add that it's hilarious that Domino's has put many millions into an ad campaign that touts a freshly-made, better pizza, and all the while their pizza has gotten infinitely worse. They could give away their pizza for free and I'd still feed it to the birds.
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COMMENT 137488
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2011-01-17 04:52 PM |
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Olio and Limone pizzaria. It's fabulous!
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COMMENT 137491
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2011-01-17 04:59 PM |
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For NY style, Paesano's on San Andres is easily my #1 If you want to leave town, Flatbread in Los Alamos is well worth the trip! Gourmet, brick oven, all fresh ingredients. Only open on weekends though...
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COMMENT 137495P
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2011-01-17 05:03 PM |
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Costco
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COMMENT 137498
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2011-01-17 05:07 PM |
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Petrini's and Gino's.
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COMMENT 137504
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2011-01-17 05:17 PM |
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Paesanos
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COMMENT 137510P
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2011-01-17 05:31 PM |
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My favorite is now gone -- The Italian Pizzeria in the Fairview Shopping Center. Perfect classic pizza. I've noticed a trend for some joints (good pizza comes from pizza joints) to put spicy hot seasonings in their sauce. To me, that's yuck and hides the taste of the other ingredients. Petrini's and Rusty's are both pretty good. The Giovanni's sauce seems to vary by location, with the spicy hot problem mentioned above used in some places. Costco's pizza, while a good value, isn't the best tasting pizza. It'll do in a pinch though.
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COMMENT 137516
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2011-01-17 05:40 PM |
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My family & I eat a lot of pizza and in no particular order our favorites: Woodstock's
Giovanni's (upper State)
Pizza Mizza
Rusty's (for delivery)
Gino's on Figueroa All are excellent in my opinion, just depends on what kind of pizza you want. Pizza Mizza is great for the family, very kid friendly and lots of options, great service, etc. When I'm feeling lazy and don't mind overpaying for delivery we go Rusty's. Sometime's we just want a cheese pizza & salad, so I pickup Giovanni's on the way home. I work downtown, so I'll hit Gino's for lunch, they have a $7 personal pizza with toppings for lunch, and its amazing. Finally there's Woodstock's in IV, which a lot of non-students forget about and don't want to drive into IV to get, but to me its worth it. I order up a beer while the pizza's being made, kick back and watch a game or read the Independent while our order is being made, and don't forget the Wilde Bread. They will also do wheat crust, which is awesome.
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JEFFINSB
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2011-01-17 06:09 PM |
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I think my 9 year old says it best. Do you want pizza tonight buddy? "Yes Papa, from the place on the corner". Place on the corner, Sal's. They do a wonderful tasty thin crust. Timely and you're served by a family. Really decent prices as well. Best bet.
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COMMENT 137535
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2011-01-17 06:21 PM |
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I remember taking the kids to Giovanni's (upper State) back in the late 70's. It was the best and the the original owner who started the business wasn't even Italian.... Miss those days!
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COMMENT 137537P
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2011-01-17 06:24 PM |
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Agree - need to specify type of pizza. For thin crust my vote is for Gino's.
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GECKOGIRL23
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2011-01-17 06:32 PM |
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Giovanni's on Upper State. Esp. with pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapenos!! As an added bonus - their Italian salad dressing is super delicious too!!
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COMMENT 137546
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2011-01-17 06:42 PM |
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The best pizza is deep dish Chicago style (like Lou Malnatti's or Gino's East). Since you can't find that here, Petrini's is the place to go.
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COMMENT 137547P
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2011-01-17 06:44 PM |
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Mm mm pizza. Here goes: Pizza Guru: top choice overall. Particularly for a "gourmet" pizza that's unique and delicious. Toppings are diverse, fresh, and often local and organic. They also have gluten-free crust and vegan cheese, for food allergy types. Price is right for the quality, in my opinion. Runner up: pizza mizza I lived on Rusty's delivery for years. I have nothing bad to say about it. I recall it feeling a bit overpriced. And salty. Order a Coke. I love Petrini's for their thin, cracker crust ( though their chicken Parmesan is the best ever and my true love). I like Paesano's for their lunch slice. I miss Dean-o's giant XL pizzas and linguica. Via Vai in montecito has a wood-fired oven and nice pizzas in a more authentic style ( I said "more authentic," not "authentic"). Sal's is some decent straight-ahead pizzeria pizza and is located on Milpas (yes, simply being on Milpas counts for something in my rankings). My partner loves Uncle Rocco's for a NY-style slice, and not just when it's the only food available.
For an out of town treat, consider Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos. Great dining experience.
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COMMENT 137548P
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2011-01-17 06:47 PM |
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Pizza guru is awful. I like Giovannis ok. California Pizza kitchen is among the best of a weak selection. I'm from NYC, so it's just tough, but for "pizza night" rather than fight the classic cheese pizza disappointment, I get BBQ chicken pizza, hin crust from Rusty. OT, but happy to say we have just as good indian and thai as NYC. (Flavor o India and bankok palace). Back on topic, Also, we went to a kids' bowling party at Zodos, and when the obligatory full pies came out, my wife and I were really surprised! The cheese/sauce is very real, the crust, was "eh." Olio sounds like a good idea.
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COMMENT 137552
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2011-01-17 06:53 PM |
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Definitely Gino's on Figueroa for NY style thin crust.
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COMMENT 137553P
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2011-01-17 06:55 PM |
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Geckogirl: too funny. I was just going to make mention of Giovanni's, too, but realized i really only go there for lunch and mostly for the italian salad dressing! I don't even think they make it in house, but i love it and don't know anywhere else that has it. Makes a mediocre salad into a treat. I also appreciate the cheese on the side salad- a plate of iceberg lettuce does not a salad make! I suppose their pizza is fine. Most of their locations give me a bad vibe. It's also funny to witness arguments over what constitutes a "real pizza," since I doubt anything in town would satisfy a "real Italian". There are different types of pizzas, which is why the original poster asked us to state which places are best for which types.
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COMMENT 137556
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2011-01-17 07:07 PM |
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Paesanos on San Andreas, but if I want to splurge I go to Olio Limone! Also, pizza is easy to make, just buy a crust from Lazy Acres or TJs and put what you like on it...
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COMMENT 137567
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2011-01-17 07:34 PM |
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Well, I was a Dean-o's girl from way back, but now I've discovered Giovanni's and I'm pretty darn happy. The fact that I can walk there from my house is a plus. Used to go there as a kid, and it's as good as I remember... went twice last week, actually!
I also really enjoy Pizza Mizza when I'm craving "gourmet" pizza... but Giovanni's is the best "real" pizza in town, I think. As far as Dominos... not only has their pizza become even worse than before, but their customer service - especially their online ordering system/website - is now nonexistent! Way to lose my business... oh wait, that's a GOOD thing!
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COMMENT 137570
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2011-01-17 07:41 PM |
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Sals on MIlpas
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COMMENT 137576
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2011-01-17 07:56 PM |
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Marty's Pizza is the best for delivery. Hot and spicy is awesome!
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PATRICK
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2011-01-17 07:58 PM |
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Paesano's for regular pizza, Via Vai for Italian pizza, Pizza Mizza for specialty pizza, Full of Life Flatbread for a gourmet treat.
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COMMENT 137578
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2011-01-17 07:58 PM |
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Had Marty's for the first time last week, a tad on the costly side but exceeded my expectations.
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COMMENT 137586
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2011-01-17 08:26 PM |
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I'm from NY, and I still haven't found any pizza close to what I had in NY....the same goes for Chinese....however, gotta say, good Thai, Indian and Cali-Mex....and the livin' is fine in SB, so I guess that's the trade off. I say hop on a plane, go to Ciro's on Beach 116th Street in the Rockaways, NY. Or bully some friends or relatives to bring some NY pizza when they visit ;)
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COMMENT 137587
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2011-01-17 08:26 PM |
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For all you cheese and sausage fans, I'd encourage you to not neglect the Department of Agriculture's food pyramid that suggests 5 servings of fruit and vegetables every day. You'll have to check with Dan Quail to see if the tomato sauce on your pizza counts as a serving of vegetable.
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COMMENT 137602
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2011-01-17 09:28 PM |
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I agree with 463 and will say that Guru is our newest favorite for PIZZA. I'm talking tasty thin crust, great flavor in the red sauce, nice proportions of cheese with toppings. They have gluten free for those needing/wanting that and I believe whole wheat too but we stick to their "signature" crust. Delivery does seem to be a little longer, maybe 45 minutes average? And hey; if it's called a pizza, and it's got crust, sauce, meat/veggies and cheese, and is round and cooked in an oven - how isthat NOT a pizza?
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KEVSTEELE
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2011-01-17 10:42 PM |
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As a New Yorker: Gino's (though I'll have to try Paesano's).
For true Italian pizza: Olio e Limone Pizzeria.
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SDP
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2011-01-17 10:43 PM |
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Sorry, they all have wrong. The very best pizza in town is the take-n-bake pizza at Valentino's located at Modoc & Hollister.
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COMMENT 137615P
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2011-01-18 02:29 AM |
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137586, for real NY pizza you have to go to LA (well, I mean besides going all the way to NY.) Vito's in West Hollywood. http://www.vitopizza.com/ Joe's in Santa Monica. (and yes, it's the same Joe's from Bleeker Street in NYC.)
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COMMENT 137623
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2011-01-18 06:30 AM |
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OK, a lot of you talked me into it....gotta go try Sal's on Milpas.
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COMMENT 137635
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2011-01-18 07:20 AM |
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Uncle Roccos is the best, but no delivery to my house. I am not an expert on pizza, but it has many kinds of amazing sausages on the Cousin Vinny.
Taffys has the nicest atmosphere and really big salads.
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COMMENT 137637
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2011-01-18 07:23 AM |
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Really the pizza situation is so sad...
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COMMENT 137652
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2011-01-18 08:08 AM |
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Gino's and Paesanos are both pretty good. The rest are just hot circles of garbage passed off as pizza. SB is pretty much a pizza wasteland.
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COMMENT 137664P
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2011-01-18 08:24 AM |
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American- Rusty's (overloaded with everything and oh so good most of the time) Italian- Petrini's (very thin crispy crust) Mexican- Taco Bell (Mexican pizza, mmmm)
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COMMENT 137666
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2011-01-18 08:24 AM |
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137637 - As sad as the pizza situation is, that misery pales in comparison to the sub sandwich situation.
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COMMENT 137668
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2011-01-18 08:30 AM |
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I have to agree with 137586 and 137615P. We love Santa Barbara having moved here just 3 years ago from Delaware, but Pizza here in Santa Barbara/Goleta is dismal. We had to drive all the way to LA to get "good" Pizza. Excellent pizza would require a plane ride to the east coast.
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RAINE5360
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2011-01-18 08:37 AM |
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From this NY person, Uncle Rocco's on lower State, and Taffy's near Cottage Hosp.
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COMMENT 137689
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2011-01-18 08:53 AM |
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God I miss Deano's.
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COMMENT 137694
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2011-01-18 09:01 AM |
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I miss Marianne's. Best ever pizza. Now we enjoy Paesano's on San Andres. Killer sauce...which the basis of a great pizza.
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EDHATBARBARA
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2011-01-18 09:20 AM |
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Born and raised in NY, I love plain ol' cheese pizza by the slice (I used to get it for a quarter, but then I am dating myself) -- and the closest thing I've come to Joe's Pizzaria in Bayside is Gino's on Figueroa, just off State -- have to have one a couple of times a month. Thin, mouth watering and they even have the shakers of garlic powder and chili peppers.
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AGENTSME
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2011-01-18 09:27 AM |
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The best pizza in town is Taffy's!!! It's awesome and they also have the best ranch dressing ever if you have a salad.
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COMMENT 137712P
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2011-01-18 09:32 AM |
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Completely off topic, but I too miss Deano's, Mariann's Italian ..not for pizza, but for the calzone...best ever. Does anyone remember Stanton's on lower state. They had a pizza that would make any purist cringe, Thai Chicken with peanut sauce...loved it!
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SEEDLADY
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2011-01-18 09:55 AM |
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I remember a place out in IV in the late 60's. After an Iron Butterfly concert at Earle Warren where the cops turned the lights on at 10:00 and made everybody leave. It seemed reeeeally good at the time... ;-)
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COMMENT 137731
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2011-01-18 10:29 AM |
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My Votes are for Gino's and Sals. Sals if I want more then just Pizza. Great Ceaser Salad. Great on special requests. Pizza Mizza is Average try the Santa Barbara Mixed Green Salad (ask for Feta instead of Goat Cheese). Gino's is great for a quick lunch. Great Pizza, Huge Slices, Decent Side Salad. Reasonable price.
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COMMENT 137735
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2011-01-18 10:38 AM |
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I for one do not miss Dean-Os one bit. Their crust was like cardboard. Service sucked. And everything was ridiculously priced. It's pretty bad when Domino's has better pizza than you.
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COMMENT 137743
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2011-01-18 11:20 AM |
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Just like I said here on Edhat last April ( link ), and will continue to say: Mesa Pizza. It's too expensive and the service can stink, but the pies are fantastic.
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EDHATBARBARA
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2011-01-18 11:25 AM |
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Off topic a little, but if you want a great calzone, you should try them at Tony's in Carpinteria. Huge, too -- don't know how anyone can finish it in one sitting. Their pizza is okay -- not bad really, but not at the top of my list either. My husband really likes their penne and meatballs. They make a few other specials, like their Arnold's or Armando's (I never remember it exactly), which is a pink sauce with roasted red peppers, chicken and shrimp mixed with pasta that's really good.
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COMMENT 137745
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2011-01-18 11:32 AM |
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Taffy's, Gino's, Paesanos... Deanos
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COMMENT 137750
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2011-01-18 11:49 AM |
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GINO'S on Figueroa! Thin crust NY-style, DA BEST!
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COMMENT 137751
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2011-01-18 11:52 AM |
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east coaster weighing in here...
agreed that sb pizza is lacking in soooo many ways. love love love full of life flatbread, but it's too far away to be convenient. local favs are ginos and whole foods, or the ones i make in my own oven. piatti makes decent pies, just very small. heard a new pizzaria is coming to town, nicky d's or something?
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COMMENT 137770
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2011-01-18 12:53 PM |
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I like Taffy's although it's certainly not the cheapest place in town. Gino's is good too. I remember a little place years ago (on State near the Grenada) called Anna's which had great and cheap slices.
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COMMENT 137773
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2011-01-18 01:02 PM |
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well I am glad that Gino's is mentioned often thru this stream....since I am married to Gino let me say Gino's is Sicilian/Italian pizza....not NY..not Chicago.....Sicilian/Italian.........thanks for 15 yrs of loyal customers
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COMMENT 137777P
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2011-01-18 01:15 PM |
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@JER... I second the Mesa Pizza Co. I love that place, and the owner is a real character. The White Pizza is esp. good.
Him on the phone with a delivery customer, "that will be one hour ma'am". So I ask him about his delivery area and how long to my house (across town)...."never sooner than one hour, and that lady on the phone just now, she lives right around the corner".
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COMMENT 137781
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2011-01-18 01:23 PM |
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@137773 Sicilian pizza is square and a bit thicker, which Gino's is not, so I'm confused by what you are saying. Gino's is the best in town regardless of where its pizza fits in the pizza kingdom.
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COMMENT 137786
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2011-01-18 01:35 PM |
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Gino's is by far the best, with honorable mentions to Paesano's, Sal's and Mesa Pizza.
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COMMENT 137791
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2011-01-18 01:45 PM |
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Taffy's is the best!
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EDHATBARBARA
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2011-01-18 02:41 PM |
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I've been to Italy and Gino's pizza is not like what I've eaten there -- but it's an awful lot like what I've eaten in NYC!
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COMMENT 137886
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2011-01-18 07:35 PM |
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Taffy's! on De la Vina at Mission.
Beautiful garden outside, warm fireplace inside. Aahh.
For good pizza, it is all all about fresh ingredients and a hot well-tended oven! Food reviewer Elmer Dill's put Taffy's on the map year's ago. It IS the best Family pizza place. My kids always want to go there for the breadsticks, pizza and game room. I love it because I can choose a whole wheat crust and a really good salad. They also have a "no-carb" selection for the no-pasta-no-pizza- folks. And it is all delicious.
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COMMENT 137983
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2011-01-19 08:27 AM |
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OMG... EDHATBARBARA, I used to live in Bayside too and remember in my teenage years hangin' out at Joe's on Bell Blvd. He and his wife Rose made THE BEST pizza and yes for a quarter. When I'm in NYC I especially enjoy Famous Famiglia which is now a franchise. I heard they were opened/ing a branch in LAX.
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COMMENT 138001
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2011-01-19 08:50 AM |
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My own home-made is the best---toppings vary, but always to my taste, dough is from Trader Joe's. Easy to make, too.
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COMMENT 138003P
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2011-01-19 08:52 AM |
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If you get your dough from Trader Joe's then your pizza is not homemade.
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COMMENT 138035
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2011-01-19 09:46 AM |
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Exactly 138003P, if you are using store bought dough it isn't homemade. The crust is the most important part and worth the extra steps to make it yourself, it makes a huge difference and it's easy. The pizza dough recipe in this month's Cook Illustrated is a really good one for the home pizza cook.
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COMMENT 138186
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2011-01-19 03:37 PM |
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138003P / 138035: Give me a break. If you make it at home it is homemade. You gonna tell me that you grew the wheat in your yard and slaughtered the livestock for the sausage and made your own mozzarella from curds that came from your dairy cows? No...you buy your ingredients at the store. If that include pre-made dough and/or pizza sauce, so be it. It is still homemade. Crack open a DiGiorno and heat in the oven...now THAT is not homemade.
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COMMENT 138199P
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2011-01-19 04:26 PM |
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So, if I open up a can of Campbell's soup and heat it on the stove, does that make it homemade?
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COMMENT 138227P
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2011-01-19 06:02 PM |
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Costco's food court for the price, but not necessarily the best tasting.
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COMMENT 138228P
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2011-01-19 06:05 PM |
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Rusty's "quick lunch" individual pizza is good deal and it realy is quick.
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COMMENT 138516
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2011-01-20 07:22 PM |
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As a Giovanni's fan after reading laudatory comments went to Gino's because I did not want to lose out on the next best thing to a Giovanni's Upper State pizza. Happy to report I never missed a thing. Gino's will never replace Giovannis. Not by a long shot. Gino's has a thin, pasty water and flour type crust, ala Petrinis which seems like a cheap, lazy way to build a pizza pie. Nothing yeasty in the dough, no gluten development, no fulsome yeast risen flavor nor crust bubble toothsome effervesence. Little cheese, okay generic pepperoni and then a totally unwelcome drizzle of drippy oil - what on earth is the big deal about Ginos? Big rip off and big disappointment is a better description. But thanks for the survey. Glad to know I found the right pizza home in SB. Paesano's - you used to be tops but you are slipping lately. Get back to your basics and you know what I mean when I describe the dough.
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COMMENT 138733
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2011-01-21 02:00 PM |
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Ginos on Figueroa is the best in town!
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AKIMBO
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2011-02-23 05:36 PM |
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Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos, for any of their thin crust, fresh, delish, hearth-baked pizzas...sooo incredible!!
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COMMENT 198402P
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2011-07-30 11:40 AM |
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Full of Life Flatbread Pizza in Los Alamos is a dining experience like no other in SBC. For local, organic, fresh produce worked into the most appetizing menus and wine list you may ever see. Be advised, this place is only open Fri, Sat, Sun starting at 5 pm. Usually the first seating is leaving around 7:30. They don't take reservations and you can wait up to 45 minutes to get seated if you get there, at say, 5:30 on a Saturday. Best to try on a Sunday night when there are more open seats. Try their soups (to die for).
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