Milo & Olive

"Lunch is an ideal time to get to this Santa Monica pizza classic because the waits aren’t as long, and there are way fewer people hanging around waiting for their takeout. We’re partial to the mushroom pie, and while we’d normally advise ordering the garlic knots, if you’re heading back to the office after lunch, your deskmate would like you to politely decline to avoid the resulting afternoon of garlic breath." - sylvio martins, jess basser sanders

"Milo and Olive is king when it comes to pizza in Santa Monica and everyone knows it. People line up for their perfectly wood-fired dough and wine list that’s loaded with Italian reds. Their garlic knot (basically pizza dough stuffed with a ton of oil and garlic, and fired in the same oven as the pizza) is a Westside legend. Come by for lunch, dinner, or brunch on the weekends." - brant cox, sylvio martins, arden shore, cathy park

"Milo & Olive is a baking overachiever, the kid in class who raises their hand and asks about extra credit. At this busy Santa Monica spot, you‘ll find a wonderland of cookies, brioche, pizzas, sandwiches, and danishes, as well as several varieties of seasonal croissants. The classic ones are made with whole-grain flour and French butter, which result in a pastry that’s plump and crunchy, with fine inner layers that you can count like the rings of a tree. Taste-wise, they’re more savory than sweet, with a nice toasty aroma that hits you on the first bite." - sylvio martins, garrett snyder, brant cox

"The Westside is pretty underrepresented in the LA Pizza Olympics, but that doesn’t matter because Santa Monica has Milo & Olive. This sourdough pizzeria works equally well for weeknight dinners with friends as it does for dates, but we'd be lying if we didn't tell you it's a go-to Westside takeout crutch. Order the mushroom pie, which comes sprinkled with lemon zest and parmesan, or the pork sausage pizza if you're looking for a tomato base. Oh, and garlic knots are required by law. " - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins

"Santa Monica’s enduring California Italian restaurant serves a sizable chopped salad with pickled chiles, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, and garbanzo for a modern take on the classic Italian chop. Good enough to have as a mild lunch, or big enough to share with the table as an appetizer before the crackly Neapolitan pies land." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff