Pizza and the California coast might sound like an unlikely pairing.
At Truly Pizza in Dana Point, they make perfect sense.
Located on Del Prado Avenue, Truly Pizza's flagship restaurant combines long-fermented artisan pizza with a two-story, open-air setting built around gardens, an exhibition kitchen and rooftop dining.
This isn't simply a place to pick up a pizza.
It is designed as a place to spend an afternoon or evening.
A PIZZERIA BUILT LIKE A CALIFORNIA DESTINATION
The Dana Point location has the feel of a modern piazza rather than a conventional neighborhood pizza shop.
Guests move through greenery and lemon trees around the garden-level patio, while the rooftop provides another setting for dining and gathering.
That atmosphere is part of the restaurant's appeal.
You can come for the pizza.
You may end up staying for the experience.
THE PIZZA STARTS WITH LONG FERMENTATION
Truly Pizza puts significant emphasis on slow fermentation and California-sourced ingredients.
The restaurant describes its approach as combining long-fermented pizza with peak-season produce and thoughtfully sourced cheeses.
That philosophy extends beyond the pizza.
The menu is designed around ingredients that are allowed to remain recognizable rather than being buried beneath excessive toppings.
ROUND OR SQUARE?
One of the more interesting things about Truly Pizza is that guests aren't limited to one pizza format.
The Dana Point menu includes both American Artisan Round Pizza and American Artisan Square Pizza.
That gives regular pizza diners another reason to explore the menu.
The round and square formats offer different textures and proportions, making the experience feel less predictable than the typical pizzeria visit.
DON'T IGNORE THE REST OF THE MENU
Truly Pizza has built its menu to accommodate more than pizza lovers.
Current offerings include chicken wings, garlic pull-apart bread, French fries, a picnic plate of artisan meats and cheeses, seasonal burrata and salads.
There are also sandwiches, desserts and a beverage program featuring regional craft beer and wine.
That makes Truly particularly well suited to groups where everyone isn't ordering the same thing.
DANA POINT'S OPEN-AIR PIZZA SCENE
Location matters here.
Dana Point brings a coastal Southern California atmosphere that naturally complements Truly Pizza's open-air design.
The restaurant's flagship sits at 24402 Del Prado Ave., and currently operates from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with Tuesdays closed.
For locals, it can work as a neighborhood restaurant.
For visitors, it can easily become part of a Dana Point day.
THERE'S MORE THAN ONE TRULY PIZZA
The Dana Point restaurant is the flagship, but Truly Pizza also has a Laguna Beach location.
The company describes the Laguna Beach restaurant as an open-air coastal hideaway with indoor-outdoor dining and the same long-fermented artisan pizza philosophy.
That gives Orange County pizza fans another opportunity to experience the brand.
THE SOCALEAT TAKE
Truly Pizza understands something important about Southern California dining:
The setting matters almost as much as the food.
Here, artisan pizza, seasonal ingredients, an open-air environment and the coastal atmosphere of Dana Point come together naturally.
If you're looking for a pizza restaurant that feels like more than a quick meal, Truly Pizza deserves a place on your Orange County food itinerary.
VISIT TRULY PIZZA
Truly Pizza — Dana Point
24402 Del Prado Ave.
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 218-8220
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