Classic Hits: Rocco’s Ristorante Pizzeria

At 20, Rocco’s is Diablo’s No. 1 Neighborhood Pizzeria.

Celebrating 20 years next month, this wonderfully cluttered family-operated favorite evokes New York, Italy, and a bygone era when independent pizzerias were the heart of the community. Rocco’s thin yet sturdy and chewy, well-toasted crusts with puffy edges make the old nostalgic and the young ecstatic. On our recent visit, we went all in with pizza (the menu is of Wikipedic depth with six pages of pastas, risotto, sandwiches, and Italian classics)—dining on melt-in-your-mouth pepperoni, a meat-laden The Dominator and Rocco’s sublime Via Port Alba (starring true mozzarella di bufala). Stop by for $3 slices of cheese or pepperoni from 2-4 p.m.; share a 12-inch one-item pizza with a pal for just $13.45; or bring in the family for a large six-item pie for under $25 (Come on a Thursday when bottles of wine are all $16—less than half price).

2909 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek, (925) 947-6105, roccospizzeria.com, Open every day.