Santee's Pizza

Santee's Pizza has closed.  It will be missed.

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog.  For the most part, Kirk , ed(from Yuma) and Cathy share what they ate with you, the Reader of this blog. Today, Kirk is busy, as is ed, so Cathy is blogging.

Hello again. The other day, The Mister and I kept our "staycation" (and daily walk) close to home, at the Santee Lakes,  a 194 acre preserve which is completely sustainable, with five miles of walking trails,  and a campground which has a 300 hook up campsite as well as cabins you can rent and has identified 178 species of birds in the preserve area. There are six playgound areas, many picnic tables, grills and areas which can be reserved for larger parties and has paddleboats to rent. They sell permits for fishing (most places make you purchase a State permit to fish). The South end of the Lakes houses the Padre Dam Water District offices, where I can walk in and pay my water bill every two months.  

As you can see, it was a beautiful, perfectly clear morning.

After a walk around five of the seven main lakes, we went to the Santee Library (three blocks from the South end of the Lakes, where we had parked in lieu of paying admission to drive a vehicle into the Lakes) and decided to try the "new" Pizza place in the same mall.  

Simply named, and one of eight places where we can get pizza in this small city in East San Diego County, we were not expecting much and ordered "any two slices and a drink" for $5.50, also ordering one extra slice of just cheese pizza for $2. We took it all home. 

 

This is a slice of White Pie: a no sauce pie, topped with Mozzarella, Ricotta, garlic and Parmesan.  

Here is a photo of the Cheese pie slice and the Hills Trio- topped with pepperoni, sausage and Canadian bacon. 

These were good.  Really good.  We made it a point to return.

The owner recognized us as the ones who had ordered a slice of  Cheese pie. He asked how we were doing, how we liked it , was very friendly and interested.  That is a rarity these days. We asked to order a whole Cheese Pie.  18 inches, $12.50.  Only one size.  {There are five tables inside and two tables out front, but we took the pizza 'to go'.}

Bottom of pie.  Perfectly baked.   

THIN, THIN crust.  The sauce is home made, very tomato-y, with oregano and just the slightest touch of heat from red pepper.  It is perfect.

In addition to six other pies/topping combinations, the menu also includes a House garden salad ($3 or $5; this is the large) with a choice of dressings...

and calzones.  The basic calzone (filled with Ricotta, Parmesan and Mozzarella) is $6.50.  Additional toppings are $1.  You can see the calzone is half the size of a pie (same size box).  The sauce is the same basic sauce, which, again, has just the right amount of red pepper heat and the oregano is the only spice the tomato needs...

Here is maybe a better photo of the calzone- and its thin, thin delicate crust...and cheese fillings.

To me, this is the best pizza I have had outside of Naples. High quality, hand made,  Santee's Pizza has very friendly people working and makes an excellent product.  We are lucky to live here.

Santee's Pizza 9225 Carlton Hills Boulevard (same mall as the Santee Library, at the corner of Carlton Hills and Carlton Oaks) Santee 92071 (619) 749-9949 Website

Comments

[Justine Earnshaw]

Okay, I have to admit the pizza does look good, but what I really fell in love with in your post was that lake. Looks like the kind of place where you could be happy not seeing another human for days.

Justine

[The Food Detective]

OMG I swear I drove by this place on the way to
Santee Lakes!

[Cathy]

The Santee Lakes were just voted "Favorite Campground" in San Diego County, Justine. They are a great place to stay or visit with lots of areas for activity. Welcome to our blog.
TFD! Stop here next time; very worth it. Did you participate in the 5K last weekend?

[CandiRae]

I'm a pizza lover, but I too, loved the photo of the lake! Amazing! That salad looked pretty yummy as well!!!

[Alyssa]

I had no idea there is great thin crust pizza to be found in Santee! I'll definitely stop by the next time I visit my mom. Thanks for the tip!

[Janfrederick]

Ooh. I want some. FYI: Minor typo on the address. 9225, not 9925.

[nhbilly]

This place sounds like Ray's in OC, right across from UCI.

[Cathy]

Thanks, CandiRae. I was impressed that my little iPhone could capture what I see every morning.
Yes, Alyssa! It is wonderful pizza. I do like most of the other seven places here also, but this one is definitely my favorite.
Come visit "East"County, JanFrederick. Take the 15 to the 52 and exit at Mast Boulevard. You'll drive right over the Lakes and be close to everything beautiful and tasty! (Thanks for noticing the address typo).
I think I'll have to drive to OC and check it out for myself, Bill!