A Bite of San Diego: Pizza

Seniors Wyatt Warren and Loukas Diafos give their hot takes on San Diego’s pizza

Loukas Diafos and Wyatt Warren / Contributor / The USD Vista

It all started with a dream … Two men, one slice, the opportunity of a lifetime. We didn’t see it coming, no one did, but when The USD Vista calls, you answer. That is how, my friends, we are writing to you on this day. There aren’t a lot of moments where you get to express the most intimate life-changing experiences to such a large group of changemakers. Our names are Loukas Diafos and Wyatt Warren and and this is our culinary journey.

Chapter 1: Pizza
Criteria on a scale of 1-5* (5 being the best)
Crust, Sauce, Ambiance, Bite, Flavor

*We never under ANY circumstances let it be known to the cashier or anyone inside of the establishment that we were writing a food column for The USD Vista in order to maintain our integrity and to get their honest flavor.

Mr. Moto Pizza House – Pacific Beach
Crust: 4.21  Sauce: 3.54 Ambiance: 2.22  Bite: 3.97 Flavor: 2.99

Upon entering Mr. Moto not only were our taste buds tingling, but we were salivating with anticipation. Atypical of a pizza place, their slices were on display, glistening patiently for the next customer. As this was our first stop, we decided to add an element of control to our pizza peruse and made the executive decision to base this analysis on a single slice of pepperoni.  We walk in, order, and find a cozy spot under some flickering lights. We waited for our slices over light conversation while sipping sodas due to the disappointing fact that Mr. Moto does not serve beer. The slices didn’t take long to warm up, however, when the server slapped them on the table there was only one thing on my mind: grease. The individual pepperoni slivers were comparable to an archipelago in an ocean of pure, unadulterated grease. Decent flavor, it was clear that they were using high-quality pepperoni, but the grease factor really wasn’t doing it for us. We both agreed that the best part about the slice was the crust. It had the right amount of fluff with a tantalizing crunch. The tomato sauce was nothing special, a little bit of tang but we weren’t getting any “made fresh” vibes. If you’re looking for an overpriced, below-average slice of pepperoni, look no further than Mr. Moto.

Bronx Pizza – Hillcrest
Crust: 4.00 Sauce: 4.68  Ambiance: 1.12 Bite: 4.35 Flavor: 4.19

If you want NY style pizza, this is your spot. You want thin crust pizza? They got it. Maybe in the mood for a calzone to share with your lover during those enchanting San Diego sunsets? They got it. Bronx Pizza only takes cash, which — in layman’s terms — means they mean business. Rumor has it they ship water straight from the Hudson River to use in their dough. The pepperoni slice that we had the privilege of savoring was what we needed after getting bulldozed by Mr. Moto. The mozzarella cheese was so fresh, and the ratio of crust to sauce to cheese to pepperoni was tier one. The sauce was the right amount of sweet — they clearly weren’t going for a tangy flair but they stayed in their lane and smoked the competition. The pizza isn’t fancy; that’s not what they’re about. Above average flavor profile and a taste of the Bronx is what awaits you at Bronx Pizza.

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Undisclosed Vegan Pizza Restaurant – Banker’s Hill
Crust: N/A  Sauce: N/A Ambiance: 4.9  Bite: N/A Flavor: N/A

We went inside, sat down at a beautifully crafted Fair-Trade table and motioned for a server. Clearly annoyed at the fact that we brought a small bell and successfully summoned him over with it, the waiter asked what we’d like to order. We ignorantly asked for a single slice of pepperoni … and got asked to leave.  

Giovanni’s – Linda Vista
Crust: 4.63  Sauce: 2.90 Ambiance: 4.28  Bite: 4.48 Flavor: 3.64

I walk in as Wyatt slowly caresses my left hand. A gentle authoritarian grip. He leads the way. A crowd of people yelling, laughing, food everywhere: controlled chaos. They were packed, but they graciously got us a romantic table for two relatively quickly. There was no need to ask for beer as this was clearly the spot to share a smooth bottle of 1997 Chianti with one of your boys.  About thirty minutes in we decided to buckle down and order a pepperoni pizza. What seemed like moments later we both stopped talking in unison. The smell of freshly baked dough and a sensual mist of buttery garlic had hit us like a freight train. Sharp footsteps echoed in the distance, each one creating more tension between us. Our gazes didn’t falter, not even a blink. Nothing mattered until that monstrosity had manifested itself on our table. This pie was thick. I’m talking floatation device thick. We both could have hopped on this work of art and broken the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by a two manned vessel. Instead we feasted. The cheese was fresh, Instagram-worthy pull-apart factor. We could tell the pizza was made with love and we both implore you to bring your friends and family to bask in the beauty that is Giovanni’s.

East Coast Pizza – Encinitas
Crust: 4.93  Sauce: 5.00 Ambiance: 5.00  Bite: 5.00 Flavor: 5.00

There are about 170,000 words in the English language currently in use today. Of those 170,000, around 25,000 are used by any one individual person. I’ve been sitting at my typewriter frantically flipping through Webster’s to find words to describe this slice for two and a half hours. Some things can’t be described with words. I suppose that’s why we have music, to describe experiences words can never grasp. East Coast Pizza hands down has the best pizza on this coast. Frequented by the legend Rob Machado, you can indulge in this heaven-sent pizza while staring intimately at the Pacific Ocean. We won’t waste any more of your valuable time … but If you’re not there right now, you’re wrong.