Restaurant of the Month: Pitfire Pizza in Manhattan Beach

South Bay Events presents its pick of the month for March 2013!

One of our favorite mom and pop pizza joints in the South Bay goes by the name of Niccolo’s (Hillside Gourmet Pizza) in Rancho Palos Verdes, it’s a classic mesh between a sit-down pizza parlor and eat by the slice family run business that’s been around for 15 years. It’s frequented by customers who grew up either in San Pedro or RPV and just happens to sit next door to an Italian bakery. Niccolo's is a testament to the fact that everybody loves pizza, kind of like everybody loves ice cream, because pizza is the greatest common factor among the communal food groups. Nobody leaves earth without knowing exactly what their favorite pizza topping is and many of us learned how to add & subtract fractions by eating pizza. Los Angeles based Pitfire Pizza recently moved in to the spot vacated by Pomodoro Cucina Italiana in Manhattan Beach at the beginning of 2013 with hopes of establishing a more modern, sit-down style pizza parlor that keeps hold to the notion of pizza’s authentic family feeling.

Pitfire Pizza has been in the artisan pizza business for at least the last 15 years according to an article in the Orange County Register and is relying on its thin-crust style of pie that comes in only one size, ten inches, to win over the pizza critic in all of us. The pizza dough is made fresh daily at Pitfire then left to ferment for about two days. Most ingredients are bought directly from local farmers markets and there is a tasty selection of craft beers scratched up on a chalkboard to peruse about. Diners can sit in booths or long, communal tables built for large groups. Orders are taken practically at the door before seating but servers stop by every table to see if any additions are needed during the actual meal. This keen eye toward customer service helps create a community atmosphere, which is the type of environment Pitfire Pizza aims to create.

Even though the pizza comes in one size, the taste and freshness of a rustic, personal pizza with just the right ingredients makes Pitfire Pizza an easy lock for multiple visits. Their White Pie is creamy and simple with just the right ratio of cheese to crust. The Buratta Pie features one of our favorite non-meat toppings for pizza, the bitter taste of arugula, which just happens to be paired with buratta cheese and some pesto. Rumor has it that the Green Eggs & Ham Pie is the best seller. All pizzas hover around a $10 cost but the average pizza aficionado could easily put away two pies and walk away with a happy face.

Pitfire Pizza is located at 401 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach. Their phone number is (310) 359-9555 and their webiste is http://www.pitfirepizza.com/. They are open MON-THURS: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., FRI-SAT: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., & SUN: 12n - 10p.m.