There are a number of pizza joints along the Coast. Some of them are decent and some not so great. Two, however, are outstanding and as different as night and day.
• Piaci’s – located at 120 W. Redwood, just off the ocean side of Main Street in the heart of Fort Bragg’s downtown, is a small pizza/pub with a lot of microbrews on tap (try “Death & Taxes” or “Arrogant Bastard Ale”) and a long list of gourmet pizzas. You’ll find toppings like sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts, gorganzola cheese and kalamata olives. Add a half Caesar salad and you’ll be a happy camper.
The joint is rather small so whether you eat at the bar or at a table you’ll most likely be sharing a space with other people. But don’ t let that stop you because folks are friendly. Piaci is the kind of place visitors go home and talk about as the “great little restaurant we discovered on a tiny, hidden side street.”
• D’Aurelio’s – this is a family style Italian restaurant popular with locals. My wife and I eat there often. It is located at 438 S. Franklin Street. We’ve eaten many pastas like spagetti and meatballs and shrimp pasta (my favorite), but really you should go here for the pizza. A traditional-style pizza where you get to choose whether you want your cheese, sauce and crust either thick, medium or thin. And then you get to pick the toppings. D’Aurelio Pal Ale is the house beer. You can also order reasonably priced house wine in carafes and half-carafes.
Besides serving good food, the people who work at D’Aurelio’s are about as nice as they come. They make you feel like a member of the family. There are booths with tables. Try to get a booth. Since it is usually cool outside — typically 55 year around — booths are warmer with people opening the front door as they come and go.
