Where: 2840 De la Vina Street, (805) 898-2222, nickydspizza.com.
What: This relatively new spot serves up New York–style pizzas.
How Much: Lunch time (11am-3pm) dine-in special of two cheese slices, house side salad, and fountain drink, $7.99.
The Dish: On the streets of wintry Manhattan, one can witness many a pair of mittened hands being warmed by folded slices of take-away pizza, too unwieldy to eat flat. In a slower-paced, more seasonal Santa Barbara environment, one can indulge in this New York–style wood-fired pizza at Nicky D’s. Turning out pies in this style — thin pliable crust, charred dough bubbles, and a thin slather of marinara sauce beneath salty cheese — has proved successful in both Nicky D’s original Silverlake location and its De la Vina digs. Options are in ample supply at this dine-in or take-out establishment, in terms of both entrée choices and topping selections (choose from 40). Hero sandwiches, home-style pastas, chicken wings, and calzones appear on the menu, as well as appetizers that include the popular pesto twigs (four wood-fired twig breadsticks baked with pesto and mozzarella). A chalkboard menu and red-tile wall enhance an ambience that is meant to be as casual and comfortable as its eats.