Big Lou's New York Style Pizzeria, Gainesville

According to their menu, Big Lou's chefs pledge allegiance to Italy's cuisine, but they prefer the way New Yorkers cook it. They bring this distinctive style of pizza to sunny Florida, rolling out paper-thin crusts topped with heaps of gooey cheese and savory toppings—including gorgonzola, hot sauce, tempeh, and meatballs. The staff serves their red and white New York-style pizzas by the steaming-hot pie or in monstrous slices, and guests can choose to customize their own gourmet pizza with a subset of more than 30 toppings. As calzones and Stromboli bubble up in ovens, chefs also create hot and cold subs, as well as a short list of carefully crafted timeless Italian dishes. Baked ziti, stuffed shells, and lasagna emanate ambrosial scents on the casual eatery's classic red-and-white checkered tablecloths—there's no reason not to use pieces of lasagna as checkers. Outside, alternatively, an expansive patio hosts live bands on the weekends.