pitfire artisan pizza

it seems that there is a new dining mecca in oc, and it is not in newport, fullerton, or villa park. okay, i'm sure you could guess that it's not in villa park, since there's only six restaurants in that north oc city, and that's if you are counting subway as a restaurant. no, the new dining hot spot in oc is costa mesa, and more specifically, 17th street in costa mesa. there have been so many openings within the last year or two, that we have yet to hit them all. pie not, sidecar doughnuts, a new bruxie location, tabu shabu, and madee thai kitchen are all places that we need to hit up eventually. this trip to the densely packed business district of 17th street had us meeting our good friend meagan at another place that has opened up within the last two years, pitfire artisan pizza. pitfire is a mini chain from la. they have six restaurants in la, and this is their first foray into oc. started by paul hibler and david sanfie

pitfire pizza recently opened in the city of costa mesa in orange county, california.  this is their first location in orange county and they have six other locations that are in the los angeles area.  i had the opportunity to check out some of their pizzas, entrées, and beverages.  i thoroughly enjoyed everything i had at pitfire and i look forward to going back. not only is the pizza cooked perfectly, but it is also across the street from my favorite dance bar, pierce street annex ( see more about pierce street in at our fave bar across the street pierce street annex! article here )  so i can truly make a whole night out of dinner and dancing within less than a one mile vicinity.:) green eggs & ham pizza (2) every item i tried at pitfire was quite tasty, but something that stood out to me was the perfectly cooked crust.  i must say, i am not a huge crust person, so they must be cooked in a certain way for me to eat

the chicken meatballs were uneventful but the sauce brought them to life. on to pizza, i tried several and all were excellent. the crust was thin akin to a southern italy but not crispy on the bottom. the topping to crust ratio was just right. the edge of the pizza crust was quite crispy though giving it a good combination

a-ok pizza. is pitfire really that memorable? no, but the service staff was super friendly and helpful.

i still cant put my finger on it, but i know something is missing in the food. it just lacks the flavor one would expect from an artisan pizza. would i come back and try something else? absolutely! i can also appreciate that they offer gluten free options because it seems to be more of a norm in society to have a food related allergy to something than not. its fast, there is parking and its close to shops. all in all i ts a-ok.

what really stands out at pitfire pizza is the signature pizzas made with fresh ingredients and a near perfect execution of their wood fired pizza. there have been many gourmet pizza restaurant openings in the past year, although pitfire pizza clearly differentiated itself in both quality and execution.  i recently visited pitfire pizza as part of a grand opening tastings and tried out their most popular items.  here is my reaction to their food: pizzas the pizzas at pitfire are all cooked in a wood fired pizza oven in a cross between neapolitan style and new york style preparations. neapolitan style is slightly charred on the exterior and soft under cooked in the center, forks are a must. new york style has a dry crust resulting from a

pitfire artisan pizza shows orange county their artisan pizza making flare using fresh, local ingredients. with wood-burning ovens at their disposable, they can turn out an authentic pizza very similar to what you would get in italy - bubbly crust, gooey cheese, and just the right amount of char spots from the fire.

pitfire artisan pizza, is a small los angeles-based chain that just opened its first o.c. location in costa mesa, ca. when you walk in, you are greeted by a surf theme, with walls painted with orange and yellow stripes, lacquered light wood tables and stools and an architectural piece made from a 60s vw van, paying homage to the restaurants locale.

it's good, it's expensive for the size of the pizza.. expand the diameter of the pie 2" and biz will expand too! lemonade is yummy w/ comp refills. i'll be back when the pies get bigger.

although pitfire artisan pizza is a chain restaurant, each location is unique – incorporating the culture and history of the community it’s located in.  this one in costa mesa, for example, is nautical themed because of its proximity to the ocean and the surf and skateboard culture. (all photos courtesy of  allen taylor photography ) all the decors from the brightly paint walls to the bar area with polished planks; the shining surfboard like counter top to the lights from the vw vans all embrace the community it aims to serve.

their roasted pear salad is one of the best salads i’ve ever had and is on their fall seasonal menu. it’s served with bosc pears, dates, ricotta cheese, pine nuts, mixed lettuces and a fig and olive vinaigrette.