The name MonAlyssa is more than a just homonym of "Mona Lisa." Mona means "madam" in Italian and "doll" in Spanish. Alyssa, meanwhile, is the granddaughter of Santos Alvarez, the owner and chef behind MonAlyssa Restaurant & Pizzeria. And the construction of that name cuts right to the heart of what makes Alvarez's restaurant so special.

Although he takes his culinary cues from Italy (think thin-crust pizzas and bright pasta sauces), his heart very obviously lies with his family and his neighborhood. That's why the BYOB restaurant sources seasonal, organic ingredients from local farms and suppliers whenever possible, and it gives back to the community in any way it can—whether that means donating to charity or volunteering time at local soup kitchens.