Razzle Dazzle at Ragazza

It's been way too long since my first and only visit to Western Addition pizza place Ragazza. And of course I'm underplaying its worth by simply calling it a pizza place. Sister to Glen Park's Gialina (which several food enthusiasts—especially in the way of Italian pie—swear puts out the best pizza in town), Ragazza indeed rivals some of the best dough slingers and pie purveyors in SF.

And it's not just its Neapolitan-style chewy-crisp thin-crust 'zas that will rock your world. Ragazza's big and beautiful all-that-is-good-with-the-world-that-is-California-local-and-seasonal salads like the wild arugula tossed with big hunks of roasted beets, fresh fennel, gobs of Cypress Grove goat cheese and crunchy pistachios will make converts of anyone who may doubt the merits of fresh veg.

We were in the mood for more fresh veg, so easily settled on the savory roasted cauliflower with sweet red onion, fava leaves, fresh thyme and smoked mozzarella.

And because our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, we went ahead and ordered the uber rich local asparagus with preserved lemon, leeks, green garlic and creamy ricotta pie. Honestly, it's impossible to exhibit any self-control when the splendiferous odors of crisping dough and roasting veg come wafting from the open kitchen into the airy dining room. And why try? Ragazza is well worth the splurge.