Unique Gourmet Pizzas Around San Diego

Nov 8th 2010 10:45AM / by Nanette Wiser

If Hawaiian is your idea of gourmet pizza, sniff again. What's in? Non-Italian ethnic (Sammy's Woodfired Pizza's Thai Chicken), lacking tomatoes or red sauce (Bronx Pizza's white pie heaped with mozzarella, ricotta, garlic and parmesan) and meatless (Pizza Fusion's roasted artichoke hearts, red onion, roasted zucchini and portabello). Even for dessert.

Bice: At Bice, find ultra-thin lobster and crab pizza made with sweet, creamy and delicious white sauce, which comes out of the closet only during happy hour (5pm to 7pm daily); perfect after grazing the cheese and salami bar.
425 Island Ave., Downtown; 619-239-2423

Blue Ribbon Artisanal Pizza: Blue Ribbon chef Wade Hageman's authentic wood-fired pizza topped with home-crafted mozzarella cheese, fennel sausage made from Berkshire pork, artisan pepperoni and organic red onion is dedicated to Dad, only outdone by the quadruple salumi (soppresata, Tuscan, finocchiona and coppa molina).
Lumberyard Shopping Center, 897 S. Coast Highway 101, Suite F102, Encinitas; 760-634-7671

California Pizza Kitchen: For paradise at California Pizza Kitchen, nibble the ground Angus cheeseburger, tomato, lettuce and onion pie topped with applewood smoked bacon or avocado, or indulge your sweet tooth with the caramelized pear and sweet onions, gorgonzola and hazelnut pizza.
3363 Nobel Drive, La Jolla Village; 858-457-4222 (check website for other locations)

Cucina Urbana: This California-inspired rustic Italian kitchen and wine shop is the designer vision of Tracey Borkum, owner of Kensington Grill and foodie diva. Sample local artisan beers, under-$20 dishes and iconic pizzas such as the fig and gorgonzola with caramelized onion, candied pecan and aged balsamic or the savory pork belly and farm egg made with potato, scallion, asiago and bésciamela.
505 Laurel St., Banker's Hill; 619-239-2222

Pizza Gourmet Express: Order the thin herb crust topped with duck confit, basil pesto goat cheese and figs, or the "Stubbs" Pig Pie, with slow-roasted barbecue pork, smoked gouda, red onion and cilantro from this unassuming hideaway.
4615 Park Blvd., University Heights; 619-546-7430

Pizzacato Gourmet Pizza: This Oregon transplant dishes up Mu Shu Pizza featuring roast pork, shiitake mushrooms, shredded cabbage, carrots and mozzarella on a garlic and olive-oil brushed crust, finished with fresh scallions and drizzled in hoisin. Gluten-free crust available.
2420 5th Ave., Downtown; 619-232-9000
252-5 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas; 760-635-2800