As an American, one of the things I have missed most while living in Santa Cruz is good pizza. I'm sorry, and I know there's no accounting for taste, but I find Eli's to be terrible. They don't seem to have any idea what kind of cheese or meat to put on a pizza. Their workers are often rude and totally uninterested, distracted.

Well,finally, after seven years I have eaten them all! All the pizzas in Santa Cruz! Please do not ask me to do that with fried chicken!

Now, remember, I'm judging the worthiness of pizza with this ideal in mind: Chicago toppings on New York thin, crispy crust. I don't want thick or soggy crust. I don't want ham or hamburger, I want pepperoni or Italian sausage. Anything else is gravy.

The best American-style pizza in town is -- COZZOLISI !

They go to all the trouble to import their pepperoni directly from the U.S. They have the cheese right. They have the crust right. They are the best! If you try it, I think you will agree with me, if not, please contact me. One other thing, the service at Cozzolisi is always impeccable and the people are sweethearts.

Now, the bad news. They don't open until 6:00 PM. There are days I could cry. Don't they know pizza is good for breakfast (cold), lunch, or dinner?

Cozollisi has the heart-of-San Martin location mentioned on this website, but they also have a restaurant downtown on C. La Riva #148. They are also in La Paz and Cochabamba.

Saharah pizza and service are just not nearly as good, but might be good enough for second place. The new pizza place at IC Norte is better than most. Capri pizza on Monseñor is also better than most, though they still have a few puzzles to solve.

But why settle for less than the best? COZZOLISI. --more--

I don't get paid--even in food--by the restaurants I recommend. Unfortunately.