S00o let’s start with this premise: there’s plenty of good, maybe great pizza in Pasadena, and there’s absolutely no need to travel outside the city limits to get anything better. Well, maybe. But to paraphrase Hamlet: There are more things in heaven and earth, Pasadenans, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. He was speaking of ghosts. I am speaking of Zelo Gourmet Pizza in Arcadia.

A mini-Italian lesson: “zelo” translates to zeal, devotion, dedication and/or attention to detail. And “zelo” is what owner Mike Freeman applies to making pizza. Zelo’s been reviewed by some of the best, including Jonathan Gold back in early 2005 when the restaurant was just turning three and the LA Weekly was the hottest paper in town (RIP).