When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Big Pizza Pie...

One of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, Pizzeria Mozza never disappoints. Walk in, through the patrons waiting for the valet to fetch their cars, and welcome to the throbbing pulse of unique food, hospitality, and concept. Do make a reservation (up to one month in advance) and it will be honored, always in a timely manner. Service is A+ and if it's your first time be sure to ask for recommendations for wine and food. Meanwhile, I'll give you some of my favorites! We love this place and are constantly trying new dishes. If you can't get in for dinner (I mean it is nancy Silverton and Mario Batali!), Pizzeria Mozza is open from noon to midnight seven days a week. Come at around 3:30 or 4. You might have a chance! If an Antipasti sounds good start with the Fried Squash Blossoms with Ricotta ($12) or the Meatballs al Forno ($12) served with crunchy, grilled garlic bread. Ask for more bread; you have to, to dip in the lovely, fragrant tomato sauce! Salads are huge and splitable by at least two people. The Insalata Rosa ($14) with bacon, egg, and pecorino is one of my favorites. Nancy's Chopped Salad ($16) with everything one would expect in a chopped salad is enough for three. The Tricolore ($13) is served with parmigiano reggiano and the most amazing anchovy dressing. Again, ask for more dressing to dip the grilled bread! Pizzas here are outrageous. We always order a few, just to try new ones. Who puts clams on a pizza? Mozza does, and they do it so well. This little guy (a pizzette $17) is topped with Ipswich clams, garlic, oregano, pecorino, and parmigiano. It's smaller than the other pizzas (only 4 pieces) so harder to part with for me, but so creative and delicious! Margherita ($14) with mozzarella, tomato, and basil is a traditional pizza that everyone will enjoy. The main event, and we always order two, is the Bacon, Salami, Fennel Sausage, Guanciale (cured Italian pork cheek), Tomato and Mozzarella ($18) pie. I have never, and I mean never had sausage like this. If I could, I would order a pound of the sausage and eat it without anything else. It's that good. For dessert we love the Butterscotch Budino (pudding) ($10) with sea salt, Rosemary, and that perfect dallop of cream. The homemade gelato is smooth and creamy too ($12). Our son-in-law to be loves the Butter Pecan. Italian wines start at about $36 a bottle with many in the $45-$50 range. This is definitely a fun-for-foodies hangout! Try it, you'll like it! Pizzeria Mozza 641 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles (323) 297-0101 Hours: posted above.

Recommended Dishes: Fried Squash Blossoms with Ricotta, Meatballs Al Forno, Tri Colore Salad, Nancy's Chopped Salad, Insalata Rosa, Pizette, Margherita, Bacon (Meat Pizza), Budino, Gelato.

If you loved Regular Jon's in Brentwood in the 1970's and 80's, you'll be thrilled to see the red fire truck is back! You may have to travel to Thousand Oaks to find it, but Steve, you made it worth it! Housed in the same building with MB2,  the indoor Kart Racing Center, Steve's is a true blast from the past. This is a great place to bring kids. The arcade is clean, fun, and has games for everyone. Thin crispy pizza is topped with amazing sauce, and the perfect amount of cheese. Choose your size, ($8.50 and up) Small, Medium, or Large, then choose your toppings. We love the sausage and pepperoni, but you might go for pineapple or Canadian bacon and sweet onion. Oh, and it does taste just like the old Regular Jon's. Cash only. Steve's Un-Original Pizza 1475 Lawrence Drive, Thousand Oaks. Hours: Monday: Closed, Tues-Thurs: 12:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m, Fri 12:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., Sat. 12:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m., Sun. 12:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Pizza only

Though pizza is the name of the game at this rustic Italian communal style eatery, none of the other offerings should be passed up either! Crispy Neopolitan 12" pies are topped with a variey of Italian cheeses, seasonal vegetables, and local ingredients to produce some of the freshest most delicious pizzas around. This place really does do it all. Though it's hidden in a little strip mall on Abbot Kinney and Washington, once you find it, you've found Nirvana! You'll feel like you're in a cafe somewhere in Europe. Inside is very dark, and you will get to know your fellow diners, but it's okay, it's just that kind of place. Have a glass of wine from the extensive list ranging from $9 for Spanish to $18 for French and everything in between from California to New Zealand.  You can order a bottle too. Beer selection is not very big, but still we enjoyed the Manabrea ($9) from Italy. We started with the huge Rucola Salad($13) arugula, gorgonzola, apple, lemon, and balsamic salad. There were chuks, I'm telling you, chunks of gorgonzola in this baby! The apples were the perfect touch! Our next course was the Onion and Brie Tarte ($14). Caramelized onions, melted brie, pears, balsalmic vinegar and arugula all topped crisp flat bread. This dish was cheesy, sweet and savory. The star of the show was definitely the pizzas. Try the High Sign ($16) with Neuske's smoked bacon and tons of fontina, fresh mozzarella, and thyme. The District 11 ($17) also rocks with its  juicy Heritage pork saliccia, Neuske's smoked bacon, pepperoni, crushed Roma tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. For vegetarians there are at least five different pizzas available. We can't wait to come back! South End 2805 Abbot Kinney, Venice. (424) 228-4736. Hours: Mon-Thur: 4:00-10:00pm, Fri-Sun: 4:30-11:00, Happy Hour: Mon-Thur. 4:00-6:00pm, Fri-Sun: 4:30-6pm

Recommended Dishes: Arugula Salad, Brie and Onion Tart, District 11 Pizza, High Sign pizza.

Pielogy is..."the study of kustom pizza."  Enter this assembly-line pizzaria and thank creator Carl Chang (brother of tennis player Michael Chang who won the French Open at 17!) who opened the first Pieology in Fullerton in 2011. Known as the "Chipolte" of pizzarias, Pieology allows the customer to create their own 12" pizzas ($7.50) which are fully baked in about two minutes! For this price you would expect a tiny pie, right? Wrong! Pies are hearty and big and available gluten-free for $1.50 more. We built our pizza from the crust up. We went with the thin crispy crust with herb butter and light red sauce. We topped it with mazzarella, ricotta, parmesan, and gorgonzola. Meats included meatballs, pepperoni and sausage. Fresh garlic was baked on top to create a mouth-watering pie. For our other pie we chose crispy crust, herb butter, mozzarella, chicken, red onion and garlic. This pie was flavorful, fragrant, and served piping hot. You can pick one of Pieology's creations like mozzarella, artichokes, olive oil, and red sauce but it's so much more fun to create your own! This is the way you do it: choose a sauce; red, herb butter, or olive oil. Next pick any or all of the cheeses. Mozzarella, parmesan, gorganzola, and ricotta taste delicious mixed together. Toppings include pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, chicken, ham, bacon, black olives, mushrooms, red onions, green peppers, artichokes, tomato, pineapple, jalepenos, fresh basil, cilantro, and garlic. After bakes include roasted red peppers, black pepper, olive oil, pesto, and bbq or red sauce. Salads ($7.50) are great but there's only a choice of two, Caesar or local organic mixed greens. For dessert, try some cinnamon sugar strips. Whether you come for lunch or dinner, Pieology will be packed. Dine inside or out if you can find a table! Pieology Pizzeria 593 N. Moorpark Road Ste A. Thousand Oaks, (805) 273-9500

Recommended Dishes: Kustom pizzas.