**Popped into the latest pizza place to grace the University Heights dining landscape: Pizzeria Bruno. Three of us arrived about 6:15 and asked to be seated in the bar area—two adorable, yet screaming children were enjoying pizza on the other side of the room. The kids aside, this is terrific pizza as it should be made…a wood fire oven, very fresh ingredients and a pizza crust that is light, slightly chewy, blistered from the fire and worth every carb bite.
Try the house made mozzarella and tomato salad (ripe heirlooms) with a lovely little balsamic dressing served on the side to be dabbed not smothered on the cheese. ($8) The handmade breadsticks (from the pizza dough) work to sop the cheese, fresh garlic slices and olive oil on the platter. ($6). The 11-inch Campania pizza included tomato sauce, mozzarella, fennel sausage, mushrooms and roasted onions ($15). The short Italian wine list features small boutique wines by the glass and bottle (nothing over $35). Service is spot on and smart (and our server didn’t need to announce her name, she was great). Open for lunch Thursday to Saturday, from noon, closed Monday. 4207 Park Blvd, (between Howard and El Cajon), 619-260-1311.
**Love wine, German wine in particular? Or never tried it, think it always just something sweet? Well, here’s a chance to taste more than eight mostly white (in many styles) top notch German wines with Rudi Wiest, one of the best known German wine importers. This rare event is happening at ENO and 1500 Ocean, two great venues at the Hotel Del Coronado. Starting at 4pm in ENO with wines, cheese and charcuterie with a four-course dinner at 6:30 by chef Brian Sinnott at 1500 Ocean.
Cost: $105 for both or ENO $35, dinner: $70. Drink to your heart’s content and spend the night with 20% off a room at the hotel. For information and reservations: 619-522-8490 or contact Ted Glennon, ENO wine director at tglennon@hoteldel.com.