Pitfire Artisan Pizza

Pitfire Artisan Pizza Restaurant Review:

This Manhattan Beach site has seen many restaurants come and go, but hopefully this branch of Pitfire Artisan Pizza will take root. (This gourmet pizzeria has already has several locations in Southern California.) The large space has tall ceilings with exposed wood beams and ducts. After placing your order at the counter, park yourself on the patio or inside where the seating includes a long communal table lined with black, white and red chairs. The wood-fired personal pizzas are 10.5 inches --- for reference, it’s the same size as the logo on the back of the employees’ shirts. Signatures include the Pitfire Sausage (tomato sauce, Fontina, mozzarella, sweet fennel sausage and red onions), but check out the chalkboard menu for seasonal pies like the roasted pumpkin pizza. There’s a variety of pastas as well as salads, panini sandwiches and starters like chicken meatballs and Tuscan bean soup. “Fire Box” combinations are good for feeding families or catering larger parties. For dessert, grab an oversize chocolate chunk cookie or some organic soft-serve ice cream sourced from Straus Family Creamery. A limited wine list is offered, plus 10 beers on tap and more by the bottle.