Paul Wellman

When it opened on State Street in February 2013, Persona Pizzeria was the first in town — and perhaps anywhere — to offer a fresh, wood-fired pizza pie cooked before your eyes in a mere 90 seconds. That model of cofounders Glenn Cybulski and Joe Baumel became a franchising opportunity for aspiring restaurateurs across the country, from Santa Rosa to Columbia, South Carolina, with locations reportedly soon opening in Houston, Dallas, and Chicago.

Earlier this year, Persona started doing delivery, so our offices gave the 12-inchers a shot last month, ordering a handful of different specialty combos off their list of 30-plus toppings, from chipotle chicken and carne to pulled-pork barbecue and pesto with peppadew peppers. The pies were as crispy and tasty as they are in the restaurant itself, which Baumel attributes to a special insert inside the box that keeps the pizza fresh and warm without it becoming greasy.

For a quick lunch that doesn’t require you to leave your desk, this is a solid option for downtown workers. Just keep in mind that it’s a $10 minimum with a $3 delivery fee, so order with some colleagues to get the most out of your Persona pie.

905 State St., (805) 899-4999; personapizzeria.com.

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