Red West Pizza by Ed Milich
	Red West Pizza is a classic South Bay local lunch stop. With two locations on Pacific Coast Highway, it’s Americanized Italian menu touches upon a number of favorites such as mini (8”) pizzas and hot and cold sandwiches. Lunch is their specialty, and the lunch menu has probably featured the same tried and true items for decades. I’ve been coming to Red West for the past 7 years or so. It was originally recommended to me by one of the guys at South Bay Triumph, a motorcycle dealer a few doors down. Upon arrival to Red West, you belly up to the counter. You place your order and then pay for your meal. If you order one of the lunch specials, a trip to the well-stocked salad bar is included, so that’s your first stop on the way back to your table. At the salad bar, you load up on fresh lettuce, vegetables, and pasta and potato salad. Then you can either proceed to a bench at one of the many wooden picnic tables or in a corner table with chairs. While you mow down on your salad, your pizza or sandwich will be expertly prepared. These guys usually get the timing just right- by the time you’re done with your salad, it’s pizza time! I usually order a mini pizza with a vegetable topping such as olives or mushrooms. The pizza is always well executed with a very competent crust, sauce, cheese and toppings. This is not a foofy California pizza restaurant where you can get artichoke hearts and pate on a pizza. These guys have the basic pizza recipe down to a science, though.  The medium crust is slightly chewy and expertly browned. The sauce is thick and flavorful. The cheese is slightly pungent and pleasantly rubbery. On rare occasions, I’ll order a meatball sub, another good introduction to Red West’s menu. The meatballs are slightly spicy with a pleasant smooth texture and covered in red sauce and mozzarella. The meatball sub is another well-executed and therefore recommended menu item at Red West.  The service at Red West is speedy and informal. There is no table service, so tipping is not usually necessary. I actually prefer this arrangement for a quick lunch, because: 1. It’s cheaper than tipping a server for table service that you may or may not want; and, 2. It speeds along the overall visit since you don’t have to wait for a menu, wait for a bill, wait to receive your change, etc. My typical bill for one of the lunch specials at Red West is $6-7, which includes a menu item, salad bar, and a drink. These guys take some basic Italian American menu items and execute them with finesse for a relatively low cost. There are few lunch values in Los Angeles like this one. Low price, good food, and quick, informal service make Red West a classic South Bay lunch stop worth your lunch hour. Gold Star.
		Red West Pizza 2119 Pacific Coast Hwy Lomita CA 90717 Phone: (310) 325-4333