Gianni’s Pizza
725 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey (831) 649-1500, giannispizzamonterey.com
In 1974, Carl and Ginger Costa bought a Foster’s Freeze and started cranking out pizzas and other recipes they had brought over from Palermo, Sicily. Four generations later, it’s an institution that, in addition to a menu of hearty Italian fare and delectable gelato, hosts more than 500 gatherings a year – sports team dinners, wedding rehearsals and birthday parties. The red brick walls and checkerboard tablecloths give it an old-school feel that bellows “benvenuto!” and “mangiare!” and the spacious, wrap-around floor plan allows the place to host big rollicking parties without anyone feeling “scomodo.” Capiche?