Fireside Pies

While it bills itself as a neighborhood joint, Fireside Pies is still a chain, albeit a local one. It slings out crusty, pecan-wood-fired oven pizzas, like the fresh mozzarella (market tomatoes, hand-torn basil and balsamic vinegar) and the spicy Italian sausage with scamorza and roasted red onions. The rustic method of making pies is echoed by the cedar and copper design elements. Fireside negotiates a fine line between importing goods from Italy and using local ingredients. Among the latter are the mozzarella and scamorza from Paula Lambert's Mozzarella Company as well as Jimmy's sausage from Jimmy's Italian Food Store in Old East Dallas. Customers here rave about the pizza while supporting hometown business.