A few doors down from The Echo in Echo Park, Two Boots, a transplant pizza joint from NYC, has opened its doors, and is already drawing a small crowd. The name Two Boots comes from its influences, Italy and Louisiana, both of which - if you squint really, really hard - look a little like some sort of boot. It's that weird combo - classic NYC pizza and southern flavors from the bayou - that make Two Boots definitely worth a visit, if you live in the neighborhood.

Outside, a recessed patio draws you in, like the entrance to a cave with bright lights and a carnival-like color-scheme. Go inside this tiny hole-in-the-wall, and the painted murals, stained-glass windows, and delightful smells can't help but put you in a good mood. Check out the Katrina tributes (FEMA sucks) and the occasionally free (and occasionally working) jukebox with a variety of jazz and rock tunes. This is all ambiance, and it all makes you smile.

Customers order up front from the large painted menu above the counter. Set specials each have their own special names - Big Maybelle, The Dude, The Newman, The Bird, even Tony Clifton, Andy Kaufman's alter-ego. Try the pesto, custom-made of course - it's awesome and many pizza places in LA can't handle that simple sauce worth beans. And if you've got the courage, go for the Bayou Beast, with BBQ Shrimp, Crawfish, Andouille, Jalapenos, and mozzarella.

Crusts are fantastic, a little irregular and not too crunchy, neither deep-dish nor paper-thin. The cheese tastes like real cheese, and sticks to your fingers convincingly. Slices are available, and full pizzas come in three standard sizes, 10", 14", and 18", with a ten-inch pie totally capable of feeding a hungry young person, without leaving him (or her) all sickly stuffed an hour later.

They also have salads, sandwiches, fresh calzones (~15 minutes, but worth it), and stromboli, and while they don't have a liquor license, that keeps the crowd from getting too rowdy, right? They also just started doing delivery (free with a $15 minimum) and will be introducing daytime hours (opening @ 1 pm) on April 1st (they swear it's not a joke). Prices are what you'd expect, without being too modest. Expect to drop at least $10 for a small pizza, and half that for slices.

Two Boots
1818 Sunset Blvd
Echo Park, CA 90026
(213) 413-2668