Regents Pizza San Diego

Bursting at the seams at the original location, Regents Pizzeria's newest spot, which opened late last year, boasts sleek design and a mix of single and communal tables. Aside from the expanded restaurant, faithful customers visiting the new space for the first time will still find 25 specialty pizzas that New Yorkers and Chicago transplants rave about and a carefully curated selection of beers. Here’s a rundown of why a visit is in order next time the craving for pizza strikes.

Bigger Space

Housed within the same business complex for the last decade, the owners and partners of Regents Pizzeria opted for a bigger location when a space opened up. Incorporating a bar, several beers on tap, a view into the kitchen and a covered patio, it’s almost twice its original location at 4, 100 sq. ft. This means there are lots of places to sit during the restaurant’s hopping lunch hour.

The Pizza, Of Course

Either by the slice or a whole pie, Regents Pizzeria faithfully replicates Chicago- and New York-style pizzas. Incorporating hand-spun dough, there are 15 variations of NY-style pizza. Order up a style of the restaurant’s signature pie with grilled fresh chicken, jalapeños, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese, all on garlic cheese sauce. Or opt for a traditional margherita with locally grown basil. For heartier Chicago-style pies, choose 10 flavor profiles incorporating everything from spinach to olives, but their Windy City Sausage Classic is a surefire hit.

Other Eating Options

Despite the name, Regents serves a wide variety of nonpizza dishes. Along with a selection of appetizers (garlic knots, mozzarella sticks, polenta fries, bacon plates and cheese boards), it’s easy to get your dose of healthy greens with simply dressed salads and hearty numbers with toasted goat cheese (pictured above). Sandwiches, pastas and calzones also make a big play, stuffed with meatballs, cheesesteak and more. And then, there’s the wings.

Wings As Spicy As You Like It

Served with celery and your choice of bread, wings prepared in-house get five different treatments based on your heat tolerance. Starting with Tame Wings, the heat levels are low with a BBQ-doused version and moves up significantly in spice level with Jalapeño Wings. Need a bit more of a challenge? Coming in at 350, 000 Scoville units are Habanero Wings, followed by Ghost Wings at 1, 000, 000 units. If you have your eye on the Scorpion Wings (2, 000, 000 Scoville units), get a pen out and sign the waiver before digging in.

Awesome Beer Selection

With 32 beers on tap that include local favorites next to exclusive brews, Regents Pizzeria is the place to go for not only pizza but for a pint as well. If you’re unsure of what to order, Cicerone-certified beer servers — including head bar manager Cameron Dean, one of the first graduates from SDSU’s Business of Craft Beer Program — will assist you in choosing a flight of tasters or full pours. Also available are bottled beers, nitro and cask beer handles.

Happy Hour

Flanked by office buildings and unrelenting traffic on the way home, beat the daily commute and head in for happy hour. Available daily from 4 to 7 PM, order up pints, flights of beers and a selection of appetizers each $1 off.