South End

"This a friendly reminder that Abbot Kinney doesn’t end at Venice Blvd. In fact, one of its best restaurants is located in a strip mall on the corner of Washington. Rather than attracting brimmed-hat tourists throwing up peace signs, South End is for locals who want excellent pizza and a generous pour of syrah. This small, busy pizzeria serves Neaoptilian-style pies with slightly thick crusts (think something on the lines of Pizzeria Mozza) and familiar toppings. We usually get the “Boardwalk” with crushed tomatoes, speck, and a runny egg in the center." - brant cox, sylvio martins

"If there were an award for friendliest service, South End would win it no question. Classifying this place as a pizza joint or a wine bar isn’t quite right – It’s somewhere in between. The wine selection is one of the best this side of LA and if you’re not sure what to order, Mario (the owner) will bring out several bottles to your table and serve up an impromptu tasting. All the pies are excellent but the District 11 is a must. Perfect date spot but call ahead for a reservation as space is limited." - Rinker Design

"South End is the kind of place you’ll want to keep as a secret for yourself, but in reality, the pies are just too good not to share with your friends. This spot in Venice serves Neapolitan-style pizzas with crunchy-but-chewy crusts that are blackened in spots, giving them a great charred flavor from the oven. We also appreciate that they’re not so overloaded with toppings so the crust can shine. Get the Boardwalk (mushroom, speck, arugula, and egg) or the meat-loaded District 11. Order online for pick-up." - brett keating

"South End, Marina Del Rey. If there were an award for friendliest service, South End would win it no question. Classifying this place as a pizza joint or a wine bar isn’t quite right – It’s somewhere in between. The wine selection is one of the best this side of LA and if you’re not sure what to order, Mario (the owner) will bring out several bottles to your table and serve up an impromptu tasting. All the pies are excellent but the District 11 is a must. Perfect date spot but call ahead for a reservation as space is limited."

"I say pizza in Venice, you say (or GTA or ), right? Wrong. Well, not exactly wrong, but there’s actually another quality option just up the street. Down the other, not crowded with tourists/pre-schoolers wearing Toms, end of Abbot Kinney is South End, a Neapolitan-style pizza joint bringing a bit of Italy to an ordinary-looking strip mall. In many ways, South End is the anti-Gjelina. You can get a table most nights of the week without an insane wait. Substitutions won’t be an issue. Servers are helpful. And while you won’t find the kind of life-changing vegetables you would eat at Gjelina alongside your pie, that’s not what you’re here for. You’re here for pizza, and a glass of Brunello to go with it. Speaking of Brunello, it’s highly likely you’ll be handed a glass of wine (on the house) within minutes of arriving. Step outside to wait while they set up your table? A charming Italian man will pour you a glass. Picking up takeout that isn’t quite ready yet? He’ll also pour you a glass then. Hesitate ever so slightly over which bottle to order? Yep, a glass appears. As for the pizza? The dough hits that perfect mix of chewy and crunchy, toppings are of the sparse Italian style, and ingredients are fresh. This is the thin, larger crust kind of pizza along the lines of , served in a low-lit, cramped-but-in-a-cozy-way space filled with people chatting at the counter or popping in to pick up takeout. And to be honest, this is what we love so much about South End. It’s the kind of local, relatively low-key option that Venice has so few of. There’s certainly a time and a place for the Gjelinas of the world, but on a Friday night when you’re craving an easy option of pizza with a bottle of wine, South End can’t be beat." - Jess Basser Sanders