Gelati & Peccati

What separates this spot from every other stop on the Encinitas stretch of Coast Highway is the dual identity — and the fact that both halves actually deliver. The Ale House has the burgers, Raul's has the burritos, but nobody else is serving you a by-the-slice Roman-style pizza and then following it with saffron-vanilla-pistachio gelato scooped out of a proper Italian display case. That combination isn't an accident; it's the whole premise, imported straight from Verona.

The pizza is the thing that surprises people first. Roman-style means a thinner, crispier crust than the American standard, and the toppings here lean into combinations you won't find at your average coast-town slice joint. The Daviola — honey, hot melted cheese, chilies — sounds like a dare and tastes like something you'll be thinking about on the drive home. The prosciutto with truffle oil is the more classically minded option, and the sausage-and-rosemary does exactly what it promises. The lasagna pizza, which somehow tastes like actual lasagna, is the one to order if you're feeling skeptical about the whole concept.

Post-beach, this is the move that makes sense. You're sandy, you're hungry, you want something real without committing to a full sit-down. The to-go option is worth knowing about — they'll send you home with cold slices for reheating, which sounds like a compromise until you realize it means your second round of favorites happens in your own kitchen.

The gelato display is the proper finishing ritual. Don't skip it. The saffron combination alone justifies the stop for anyone who's been bored by the neighborhood's standard soft-serve options. Prices are reasonable for what's on offer, service is sharp, and the whole operation runs like a place that knows exactly what it is — which, on this stretch of the coast, is rarer than it should be.