Santa Rosa Restaurant Guide

Jeff Cox from The Press Democrat calls Simply Delicious an Italian Gem.The pizzas here are thin crust - "East Coast style," according to Gernetti - and more in the true Italian style than, say, real New York pizza. In New York, pizza tends to be big, sloppy, gooey and running with rivulets of orange oil that seep from the sausage and the cheese during baking. These pies are much more delicate, with the crust thin and chewy, the tomato sauce lightly applied, and the cheese used as a flavoring more than a thick topping. A small (10-inch) Pepperoni Pizza ($10.95 ) is worth every penny. We went upscale by also ordering a 10-inch Greco Pizza ($13.95 ) that was topped with artichoke hearts, red onions, kalamata olives, feta cheese, Roma tomatoes, tomato sauce and mozzarella.If nothing on the pizza menu thrills you, you can create your own by choosing among 29 types of toppings, including clams, anchovies, pancetta, sun-dried tomatoes, pineapple, ham, Italian sausage, meatballs and grilled chicken. If you want only one slice, it's $2.50 with up to two toppings.Call them hoagies, subs, grinders or heroes, an Italian Sub ($7.40 ) should be a celebration of salami, salami, onions, provolone, pepperoncini, and oil and vinegar, all piled high on a long bun and ready to punch you in the mouth - in a good way. This one went too light on the meat, had mozzarella instead of provolone, and didn't pack the kind of punch that even the chains like Subway know how to pack. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.To sum up: Simply Delicious is a classic neighborhood pizza and Italian food joint, great for lunch and just as good for dinner or quick take-out on your way home.Jeff Cox writes a weekly restaurant review column for the Sonoma Living section.