Friday Local Dining: Pazzo.

“Crazy” Good Pasta and Pizza.

If you've never seen nor heard of Pazzo in San Carlos, don't feel bad.  This fabulous restaurant in located in the mid-section of Laurel Street where you're not accustomed to seeing restaurants, and the frontage is so understated that you could drive right by and not see it.  But if you love pizza and pasta, then Pazzo will very quickly climb to the top of your list of favorite restaurants. 

Founded by the Andy Gambardella (formerly Gambardella's in Menlo Park), this gem of a restaurant makes quite possibly the best pasta that you'll find in San Carlos. I'm not the only one who shares that bold opinion — I have seen a few endorsements on Facebook from other local restaurant owners who rave about the hand-made pasta creations that you'll find here.

Still not convinced? Well, apparently Guy Fieri is, because gushed about Pazzo on one of his episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

New Haven Style.

The fare at Pazzo is New Haven style, including their amazing pizza which is made in the wood-fired pizza oven.  There are an assortment of pies available, with both traditional red sauce and also white sauce.  My all-time favorite is the baby clam pie (trust me, it's incredible.)

Here is some more love on Pazzo, courtesy of the Michelin website:

New Haven transplants longing for the region’s signature chewy, charred apizza will find a taste of home at this San Carlos jewel, which churns out authentically blistered pies. Keep it traditional with red sauce topped with house-made fennel sausage and crimini mushrooms. Or go slightly Californian with the garlicky asparagus pie, draped with creamy crescenza cheese. Pazzo (Italian for “crazy”) is anything but, thanks to a relaxed, family-friendly vibe. Kids of all ages will delight in the back counter, with a great view of the chef slipping pizzas into the cherry-red, wood-fired oven. And don't sleep through the house-made pastas: pillowy ricotta gnocchi, tucked into a lemony mascarpone and artichoke sauce, are good enough to steal the apizzas' show.– MICHELIN guide inspectors

So do your tastebuds a huge favor and check out Pazzo in San Carlos.  It's located at 1179 Laurel Street, very close to the Savannah Jazz Club.  If it's not already one of your favorites, it will be very soon!