Local chain serves popular brick oven pizza and sturdy Italian favorites to the appreciative masses.

The Scene
With over a dozen locations in the greater Boston area, diners don't have to travel far to enjoy a fast, affordable meal of brick oven pizza, fresh salads, and pasta dishes. Regardless of the location, expect to see many families--kids are given raw dough to play with--and young couples on dates. Servers are more than happy to keep refilling baskets of the excellent oven-warm rolls. A pedestrian wine and beer list is available, though most diners opt for soft drinks or water.

The Food
Bertucci's deservedly prides itself on serving up consistently tasty pies with above-average toppings like carmelized onions, roasted zucchini and portobello mushrooms. Because they're wood-fired in a brick oven, the pies have a wonderfully smoky, crunchy crust. Standard antipasto plates and large salads are popular choices to start a meal. Desserts (boring tiramisu, creamy gelato) are better enjoyed elsewhere.