WHY The crust is thin, the cheese and sauce are in fine balance, and the vintage sign out front still calls it a ‘Pizza Pie.’

WHAT The pizza is an L.A. legend, but this funky Eagle Rock landmark is no place for a quick bite; waits are fearsome, and even ordering a to-go pie can take an hour. The payoff is a thin crust, New York-style pizza with a flavor that makes you forget how long it took to get seated (try it topped with eggplant). Smart regulars place their order when they put in their name for a table, so the pizza’s ready when they sit down. The rest of the basic Italian food is fine but forgettable.

WHO Old-school Eagle Rock and the entire pizza-loving populations of Pasadena and Glendale.