What a coup for local pizza chain Tutta Bella. It was recently named “2010 Independent Pizzeria of the Year” by Pizza Today magazine. (We must have lost that issue amidst our piles of Teriyaki Tomorrow and Pho-rever Young magazines.) And immediately afterward, Tutta Bella’s founder was summoned to meet Barack Obama during his visit to Seattle. So is the pizza truly of presidential quality?

We want to say yes, especially as the Tutta Bella empire grows in the area. Pizzas range from a cheese-less Napoletana and the classic “Regina Margherita” (translation: margherita) to pies with goat cheese, fig, and other fresh toppings. But while Tutta Bella has its devoted fans, some of our panelists have had forgettable pizzas, complaining of consistently soggy crusts, while others have had more luck. Keep in mind that the cracker-thin crust some associate with Naples is in fact a more Roman style of pizza; the real Naples crust is thicker, to some people’s surprise, and, to a certain degree, soggier. The basic margherita has shown to be best at defeating sogginess, as it has fewer ingredients to weigh it down with moisture.

This is a place that takes pride in protecting the DOC certification granted to it by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, so make sure to behold the wood ovens amidst the hustle and bustle of these shops.

If this pizza is your style, you can enjoy one with a salad and a beer, followed by some gelato, an Attibassi espresso, and finally a selection from the extensive grappa list.