By Samantha Pinski
Staff Writer
Pizza rises to a new level at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. With its coal fired brick-oven pizza-making traditions, fresh ingredients, and welcoming atmosphere, the recent addition to the South Bay offers a much different experience than local favorites such as Beach Pizza or Zeppy’s.
This newly opened pizzeria near Arclight Cinemas Manhattan Beach is just one extension of a century old restaurant chain. Its authentic taste and ambiance creates a pleasant and classy environment that is well worth the reasonable price.
Friendly customer service always gives a positive edge to any dining out experience. A greeter stands by the door to welcome customers, the host is hospitable, and the waiters are reliable. For example, beverages, including their refreshing Passion Fruit Iced Tea, are readily filled.
The Italian-inspired restaurant features red and white checked tablecloths and light fixtures composed of wine bottles to create a comfortable and familiar aesthetic. There is an abundance of both indoor and outdoor seating ranging from deep booths to small and cozy tables, which allows for various types of diners. During the daytime, the natural light filtering through the glass doors illuminates the large space, which is preferable over artificial lighting and more aesthetically pleasing.
The menu is simple, but not limited. There are three different pizza base options and one calzone option, all of which available as a personal, small, or large. Diners have the choice of Grimaldi’s award-winning pizza sauce, mouthwatering pesto, or white – a modest composition of garlic and olive oil. The pizzeria also serves a variety of italian-inspired salads, such as Caprese, Mediterranean, and Caesar.
Grimaldi’s offers a tasteful selection of toppings that can create countless combinations. Choices of meat range from anchovies, to bacon, to spicy chicken sausage. Lovers of classic sicilian flavors will appreciate the sundried tomatoes, fresh garlic, and kalamata olives. The restaurant also offers the often to add additional mozzarella, basil, or sauce.
Each of the pizza sauce options are delicious. The traditional red sauce is a great choice for diners who want pizza the way they are used to, but made with a little more of a kick. Grimaldi’s white pizza is paired best with vegetables, and is lighter than the other two options. The pesto sauce is the most flavorful of the three.
The pizzas are not only tasty, but also beautiful. The handmade mozzarella, which is produced only from free range cows, is splattered sparingly over the pizza to emulate traditional italian pizzas. The “secret recipe” dough is perfectly crisp along the edges but satisfyingly chewy in the middle.
For customers who are not in the mood for pizza, Grimaldi’s other options do not disappoint. They have an Antipasto filled with fresh and exciting flavors, and several choices of salads that can be customized. The Mediterranean salad is delicious, with the saltiness of Kalamata olives paired with a sweet berry flavored vinaigrette.
The dessert menu is composed almost entirely of cheesecakes, but also has several other options. Homemade cheesecakes include oreo, New York style, and seasonal selections. Maintaining the Italian culture, Grimaldi’s also serves tiramisu and cannolis.
Grimaldi’s is an exceptional and affordable choice for dine-in pizza. The food, service, and atmosphere culminate into a satisfying experience for all. Its only flaw may be the lack of delivery or reservations – but take-out is available and there is space to accommodate many impromptu diners.
Pizza lovers can visit Grimaldi’s at 2121 Rosecrans Ave Ste 1399, El Segundo. Opening at eleven and closing at ten or eleven every night, the pizzeria is suitable for lunch or dinner.
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