Oak & Rye Pizza - Los Gatos

Today's review comes to you from the charming little town of Los Gatos, California. Only a few miles over Highway 17 from Santa Cruz, you take the first (left!) exit into the heart of its downtown. Parking is always a challenge, but I like the lot behind Pizza My Heart. That way, you can walk the length of downtown, peeking into shops and many good places to eat.

Oak & Rye website

So even though this place has "pizza" in its name, it's more like a bistro. Comfy and eclectic decor, cocktails, wine and beer, brunch on the weekends... They have a wood-fire oven for delicious pizza, but check out these small plates:

Wow, I have never had this before - Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad ($8). It's just the sprouts, romano cheese, lemon juice and olive oil but it was amazing! So light and airy like a cloud. I know this vegetable isn't everyone's favorite, but if you like them, I highly recommend this simple, yet delicious dish.

The Homemade Pretzel ($6), served with beer cheese and wholegrain mustard, was also wonderful. You could do just this and the salad above for a dinner for one! The pretzel was soft and warm, with a buttery and slightly salty taste. It was great even without the cheese and mustard.

Next up was the Chili Verde Fries ($12) with pork shoulder, pickled onions, jalapenos, smoked sour cream and cheese. This was okay, but I found the flavors didn't meld well together. Some bites were very spicy and others were just plain. I guess some effort could be made to incorporate all the ingredients in each bite. Maybe a melted sauce over it would help.

Now the main course, a pizza called Scottie 2 Hottie ($17). This beauty had tomato, basil, mozzarella, honey, Italian ham and pepperchino oil. It had a this crispy, but chewy crust, which was perfect. I really like the burnt edges too for nice flavor. The oil and honey gave a spicy and sweet experience. For $17, I would've liked a bigger serving, but I guess you are paying for the quality toppings. Still a thumbs up.

I also got the burger special ($15) of the night (Mondays are burger night) and it was glorious. They make the sesame seed brioche buns in house and it's light and chewy. The burger is very fresh with beef, brisket and short ribs mix. Cooked to perfection and served with homemade potato chips. It's worth circling that day on your calendar.

There's outdoor seating and inside is a hip, causal vibe. You can sit at the bar or indoor tables. I had a few very tasty Mama's Little Yella Pilsner in a can ($3.50) and was not disappointed. Not an everyday eatery, unless you are on Bill Gates' good side, but quite nice for a special occasion.

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 7
Atmosphere: 8
Value for price: 6
Overall: 7.25