Somehow, La Cienega keeps finding new real estate for new restaurants. Stone Fire Pizza goes the casual route, with crisp crusts and frequent happy hours.

The patio is that LA specialty: Walled in stone, windows opening onto the street, a vaulted canvas ceiling—but enough of a gap between said walls and said ceiling that ashtrays on the table are entirely legal. (Up the ramp and through the double doors are more tables and a full bar.) Pizzas, cooked in an 800-degree wood-burning oven, arrive with crisp crusts and a smokey flavor. Our order, the #5 with garlic chicken, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes and mozzarella, was large enough for leftovers but not embarrassing for just one person. The chicken was a little overdone (800 degrees!) but options like a whole-wheat honey crust mean we're intrigued for future visits nonetheless. Pastas, salads, deep-dishes, beers, wines and appetizers like flatbreads and coconut shrimp are also on the menu. The owners smartly cater to the area's nightlife-friendly crowd: During the frequent happy hours (4pm-7pm and 12am-1:30am daily), all appetizers, pizzas, drinks and beers are half-off. —Lonny Pugh