Castel Gandolfo, a restaurant in the old Iggy's spot at Chicago and Dearborn, offers a full lineup of thin-crust pizza that charms with its simplicity. Order a small pizza topped with black olives and roasted red peppers, and the red peppers dazzle with depth of juicy-rich flavor while the crust is soft and topped with basil and melted mozzarella cheese. It's not surprising that the roasted red peppers also are a popular topping.

As hip-hop and light dance music pumps from the radio, fire trucks blare and zoom by the restaurant. Meanwhile diners at Castel Gandolfo can watch pizza-makers work the pizza dough and oven in a glass-encased area at the back of the restaurant. Low-hanging lights accent the dining room, which has walls painted green and white and tables topped with white paper. There's also a mix of banquettes and chairs at tables. Desserts include cannoli and spumoni.

If you're looking for tasty thin-crust pizza somewhere other than some of the city's big-name pizza joints, Castel Gandolfo may win you over with its clean-looking restaurant, relaxed atmosphere and decent thin-crust pizza.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Mary Susan Littlepage