by
Tom Samarati
April 6, 2008
Over the past several weeks I’ve been scurrying around Santa Rosa to the pizza places that are NOT chain franchise
operations. During my youth, I fancied myself a romantic Italian-New Yorker pizza snob. By the time I was 21 years old I had eaten tons of flat, crusty, dusty, crispy pizza slathered with canned sauces and Polly-O mozzarella cheese. On
almost every street corner I could find a pizza shop that sold a slice. I’d swagger in, plunk down my 50 cents, get a
wedge of Margherita (tomato sauce, cheese, Basil leaves - that’s it) , fold it in half on the wax paper sheet, walk out
and chew simultaneously. The calorie load was enough fuel to support several hours of teenage mischief making.
When I came to California in 1973 my constant chant was “There is no good pizza here”. Well, at least there was no
New York City style pizza. As years passed, my tastes and pizza expectations evolved together. On the California
food scene several factors conspired to improve pizza quality. Like: Food elitists and gourmet chefs redesigning
pizza concepts. Adding exotic topping ingredients, using organic flour and non-commercial yeast. “Serious”
restaurants started to add gourmet pizza to menus. Wood burning ovens replaced electric ovens. Chefs flew off to
Italy to learn how real pizza was made. So this is the “high-end” of foodie pizza.
Keep in mind that Americans spend $10 Billion (yes Billion with a “B” ) on pizza every year. The ubiquitous pizza
chain franchises cover the retail strip malls. Pizza long ago replaced the hot dog as America’s favorite snack food.
Even in Santa Rosa there are neighborhoods where a pizza joint can be found on every city block.
Here are a few Santa Rosa pizza makers I’ve visited recently.
- Mombo’s Pizza
1880 Mendocino Ave Ste B
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 (707) 528-3278
The place that makes New York City style pizza. Crispy & dusty crust. Saucy, cheesy, oily.
The “restaurant” is a dump. Hideously ugly. 4 tables. Get your “pie” to go.
- I love NY Pie
65 Brookwood Ave
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
(707) 526-9743
The front door is actually on 4th street. Fun family place with 10 tables. Pizza is better than most take-out
places in New York. I had the double baked no sauce pizza. I liked it.
Borolo’s Gourmet Pizza
500 Mission Blvd. Ste B
Santa Rosa, CA, 95409
(707) 539-3937
Take out only. I’ve actually received hate mail from faithful Borolo customers for my uncomplimentary reviews on Yelp and Yahoo. Like mother said “If you can’t say anything nice, then…"
- La Vera Pizza
629 4th Street
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
(707) 575-1113
A nice family full service restaurant. Pizza is fairly expensive. I found the crust to be cake like and the
ingredients unremarkable.
Rosso Pizzeria and wine bar
53 Montgomery Dr.
Santa Rosa, CA, 95405
(707) 544-3321
Web: Rosso Pizzeria & Wine bar
The best Authentic Italian pizza in Santa Rosa. I ate here on opening day when they were still trying to figure out the wood oven . I’ve been back 4 times. My pizza lunch yesterday was augmented by a plate of fried calamari, & a caesar salad. The food here is FABULOUS! Rivals and betters the food in almost every trattoria in Rome (And I've eaten in 100's of them over the past 35 years).
- Mary’s Pizza Shack
3 locations in Santa Rosa
Web: Mary's Pizza Shack Locations
Family dining. Big portions. Lot’s of carbs. Food Factory mentality. Processed flavors & aromas.
Outside Santa Rosa city limits - But worthy also mentions:
Starlight Wine Bar and Restaurant
6761 Sebastopol Ave
Sebastopol, CA, 95472
(707) 823-1943
Web: Starlight Wine bar & Restaurant
Cute concept railroad car restaurant. Romantic interior. Nice people. Some of the expensive gourmet dishes
are quite good. The pizza is too. Bring lot’s $$$.
Pizzicato Gourmet Pizza
615 East Washington Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 462-2216
Web: Pizzicato Pizza
Family owned chain from Portland Oregon. Great thin crust pizza. High quality fresh ingredients. Several special toppings daily. Cheap good quality wine, beer & soda. Fresh & crunchy salads. That's all, and it's all good! Clean & simple dining area, 8 tables.
Old Chicago Pizza
41 Petaluma Blvd North
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 763-3897
Been in this location since the mid 1970's. Deep dish and thin crust pizza. The Big poofy deep dish is quite good. Lots of topping choices. Down home dining room that is a little funky. Nice people own & operate.
DiAvola Pizzeria
21021 Geyserville Ave
Geyserville, CA
(707) 814-0111
Wow! Fabulous Pizza in a 2 horse town in northern Sonoma County. Dino Bugica is a master pizziolo. All ingredients are local grown. Cooked in a wood fired traditional pizza oven. Nice modern dining room in a 100 year old building.
