Observations and Rants: The LA Pizza Scene As Of July 2012

Recently I've noticed I've had a ton of pizza opinions. Parties, work meetings, cousin's graduations - no matter the venue, I've found myself discussing my thoughts on the Los Angeles 'za situation. I feel like it's time to get my observations and rants out in the open, so (thanks to the inspiration provided by fellow blogger MidtownLunchLA and his monthly "7 Reasons to Hate L.A. series") here is my first installment of Observations and Rants: The LA Pizza Scene...

- People have praised Pizzanista for a while now. Hell, they were recently featured in Los Angeles magazine. Since I don't live anywhere near the downtown location, I wasn't able to make it out there until this past weekend and must admit I was sorely disappointed. Sure the pizza isn't horrible, but that meatball pie you see? A whopping $27! You simply cannot charge that much for a ho-hum pizza even if you throw on homemade meatballs and a little grana padano. It doesn't work that way. Also, unlike the half white pie/half meat pizza atop the post from Vito's, if you're charging that much you should be able to blame "rent." But Pizzanista is in skid row-adjacent. I will not return.

- Hollywood Pies makes a quality Chicago deep dish. Give it a try.

- I really dig 800 Degrees. Very affordable, quality Neapolitan pizza for the masses. But, you need to have more than one Coke Freestyle machine, guys. Sandwich haven All About the Bread has the same problem. Look, the machines are cool. I like being able to concoct previously unknown flavor combinations and even combine stuff, but you can't have a single soda machine when you are a thriving restaurant. Especially on a college campus where the undergrads are fucking thirsty and total freeloaders that cannot say no to multiple refills.

- Pitfire Pizza is a great spot that serves up some tasty pizza with an even greater ambiance, yet despite 11 featured pizzas on the menu and specials, I often find myself seeking more options. Just a suggestion: add a few new pies to the regular menu.

- Stella Rossa isn't an upper echelon pizza spot. Stop trying to convince me otherwise. That picture there is of the Rosa from Phoenix's Pizzeria Bianco, the spot you are clearly trying to emulate. Keep trying.

- Pizzeria Mozza still offers the city's best pizza lunch special, but the Beverly Hills locations of Mulberry Street Pizza provide a good deal on Mondays and Tuesdays as well. Nine dollars gets you two cheese slices, a decent sized caesar or house salad and a drink. 

- The Milo + Olive garlic knot is the garlic knot that every other LA garlic knot must now hope to live up to...

- And finally the Los Angeles Pizza Rankings, as of July 2012, Mozza still makes LA's best. And it's still not even close. Followed by Milo + Olive, Vito's and Village.