Pizza Studio, Tukwila

When Samit Varma was a kid growing up in New York, his mom used to make big batches of pizza dough. His siblings and the other neighborhood kids would gather in the kitchen, where Samit's mom would cut off a small piece of dough for each child, and they would roll out their piece and top it with whatever they liked.

It was this memory that stuck with Samit when he had the opportunity to start his own business. At the fast-casual Pizza Studio, guests choose all of their own ingredients for their 11-inch pizzas—from sauces flavored with basil pesto or extra-virgin olive oil to crusts such as gluten-free, rosemary herb, and firecracker, which is made with fiery spices rather than edible bottle rockets. The unlimited toppings are deliciously diverse, including truffle salt, artichoke hearts, nitrate-free pepperoni, and spicy pork sausage. Four different cheeses, extra lean meats, and fresh cut-and-roast vegetables also top off pies.

Pizza Studio is committed to the neighborhood community and supports local artists by providing a Starving Artists' wall in each restaurant to display and sell their art commission-free. With the help of partners at Feeding America, the restaurant also plays an active role in fighting hunger by donating a free meal for every 20 points earned on its loyalty card.