Stevo's Pizza and Ribs, Aurora

The staff at StevO's Pizza and Ribs doesn't waste time with maitre d's, valet parking, or by throwing away perfectly good clocks. They don't spurn these luxuries out of a lack of care for their customers, however; they feel time is better spent hand-tossing fresh pizza dough, feeding it into old-style deck ovens, and smoking fall-off-the-bone ribs and brisket over heaping piles of black walnut and oak. By putting their energy and resourcefulness into preparations and an emphasis on quality ingredients, chefs ensure each pie arrives fresh and bearing deliciously diverse toppings. They slather the pizzas with enhancements that range from traditional—bacon, broccoli, jalapeños—to exotic—mandarin oranges, mac 'n' cheese, peanut butter and jelly. Additionally, the pizza artists nail freshness by never weighing down pies with preservatives or artificial flavors.