Amici's East Coast Pizzeria, San Francisco

###Five Things to Know about Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria In the mid-1980s, East Coast transplants Peter Cooperstein (of Boston) and Mike Forter (of New York) set out to re-create the style of pizza they’d grown up eating. They nurtured their findings into Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria, which opened in San Mateo in 1987. Here are a few things to know about their growing pizza empire. * **There are now 12 locations.** You’ll find Amici’s branches in La Jolla, San Jose, and several in San Francisco, including one just steps from AT&T Park. * **The crust is crisp and a bit black.** That’s because Amici’s cooks pies in traditional Italian brick ovens, where 700-degree temperatures produce darker crusts. If darker crust isn’t your jam, be sure to specify “light crust” when you order. * **Nearly 20 signature pies anchor the menu.** The Trentino is especially popular—though it isn’t slathered in tomato sauce, it’s packed with flavor thanks to pancetta, herbs, red onions, and several types of cheese. * **Vegan ingredients are available.** Try a pizza topped with with Daiya dairy-free cheese instead of mozzarella. * **It’s not all about the pizza.** Amici’s also mixes together a handful of salads (the caesar is a fan favorite) and more than a dozen different pastas served in small, large, and family sizes.