Brigantessa

Along with friends visiting from Germany, we stopped in South Philly for a taste of Brigantessa's Stella Pizza. Stella (meaning star) Pizza is unusual in its 6 points of dough, each thoughtfully containing a dollop of fresh ricotta. Yup, it was delicious. The pizza part was a little too thin, making it a bit floppy. But the taste was lovely -- a great sauce and fresh cheese. Worth trying if you're in the area. Brigantessa also has delicious non-pizza options. The eggplant polpetti are particularly delicious.

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza

We're typically reluctant to recommend a chain restaurant like Anthony's (60 locations as of this post), but it is extremely reliable, affordable, and darn good pizza — if you like your crust "well done" as they say.

While the pizza may not be life-altering, it's consistently good with a very crispy crust. Because the crust is so "well done" this is a pizza that makes for great left-overs. The toppings don't seep into the crust and it reheats well.

We've tried a few varieties: pepperoni, meatball, eggplant. They're all well-prepared and flavorful.

If you're in the mood for something a little different, the roasted cauliflower pizza is not to be missed. The hot coal oven chars the cauliflower, mellowing any bitterness so that it becomes a creamy ingredient, meshing well with the olive oil and cheese. The sturdy crust helps it maintain crispiness — it's a great choice for a non-tomato based pie.