Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza

Il Vicino is a New Mexico-based chain that's carpetbagging its way across Missouri, Kansas and Colorado -- but its pizzas baked in a wood-burning oven are welcome additions to the area. Because of that oven -- which you can see from the casual, bistro-like dining room -- an Il Vicino pizza arrives gently charred on the bottom, the crisp/chewy crust ringed with light, airy bubbles; you can top it with such items as capicola, Asiago cheese, pine nuts, eggplant, Kalamata olives and capers. Il Vicino also offers pastas, calzones, panini, fresh soups and salads, desserts and a selection of beer and wine. But the real surprise is the homemade root beer, a fantastic throwback to days past: dark, spicy, slightly effervescent, and a treat for those who've never tried authentic root beer made by the batch.

• Cuisine(s): Italian, Pizza

  Price: $, $$

  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards, cash, ATM/Debit

• Attire: Casual

  Features: Smoking, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Delivery, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly

  Serving: Dinner, Late Night, Lunch

• Alcohol: Beer/Wine

  Reservations: Not Accepted

  Parking: Lot Available, Meters, Street