Pizzeria Delfina

Purposely dark and unassuming, this is the second hotspot that the famed Delfina Group of the Mission District has opened. Located steps away from the swanky Fillmore shopping district, it can be spotted by clusters of people standing outside sipping glasses of foreign wine while huddling near the closest overhead heat lamp. Simplicity is the keyword for both the design of the restaurant and of the food on its menu. Even putting your name in for a table - this is done by picking up a piece of chalk and writing your name and party size on a board - lacks any sense of pretension.

The staff, though on the hipster side, is friendly and attentive, but most impressive is their ability to actually enjoy what they do. This always makes for a better meal; if the Chef is happy so too will the meal. 

The menu is mostly straightforward and leans heavily on its namesake: pizza. And boy is it good. Having been to Italy and given the chance to eat real pizza I have unfairly compared every American pie since to its forefather. 95 percent of the time the test fails. Pizzeria Delfina lands in the other 5 percent hovering above the rest. The ingredients are fresh, the crust is thin and the verdict is out: rarely have I eaten a better pizza pie! Our favorite happens to be the prosciutto and arugula pie with fresh mozzarella and panna.

But the two most pleasing twists happen with an appetizer and a dessert. 

First, the panzerotti. In laymen terms these are Hot Pockets on acid. But to say panzerotti and Hot Pockets in the same sentence would be unfair to the delicate little morsels of fried goodness. Inside the fresh dough lies yummy meats and cheeses which are then dropped into a vat of hot oil. Once fried they are placed atop one of the best tomato-garlic sauces the tongue has ever tasted. The only downside to this dish is the quantity; there are four but every time I wish there were more, many more.

Second is their take on the ice cream sandwich. Between two pieces of brioche resides two scoops of freshly made, in-house gelato. It's scrumptious, informal and refreshing. Rarely do you get to eat dessert in a restaurant with your fingers.

Overall, this place has little it could improve on. It sometimes takes awhile to get a table, but it's popular, what do you expect? Also, not great for large groups as the restaurant is small and is designed for 2 to 4 people per group, though don't mistake it as a place for intimacy as the noise level is in the high decibels. An interesting slant on the dining experience here is to try and nab a spot at the counter bar; you can see the tattoo-clad artists creating the very things you'll be coming back for time and time again.

Overall: A-

Price: $$

http://www.pizzeriadelfina.com/