If you're a thin-crust pizza person, you know what you're after in a good slice. You know there should be a small crackle/crunch when you take that first bite and every bite thereafter. Bije's can give you that - consistently - because over the past decade it has been the Northwest side's place for pizza.

Pizza here goes for $8.75 to $11.95 (though there are additional costs for toppings). Specialty pizzas include buffalo wing, BBQ, Mexican style and international. Other food up for grabs includes roasted chicken, pasta and a host of sandwiches. Bije's also has a huge list of deliciously fried appetizers. Wednesdays feature $1.50 domestic bottles on special.

Bije's is a place frequented by regulars from the neighborhood. The atmosphere is welcoming and cozy - in fact, you'll even find kids' drawings hung proudly behind the bar for all to see. It has a sports bar feel, but not in a mass-produced sports memorabilia kind of a way. More in the way that makes you wish you played rec-league softball so you could sit here and drink pitcher after pitcher of cold, inexpensive beer. Of course, you can drink here even if you don't play softball, but it would make it just that much sweeter.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Christy Bonstell