Pitfire (www.pitfirepizza.com) sits along 17th Street in dark red with a pointed, wood-beam ceiling—easily missed if driving through Costa Mesa's latest trendy area, which makes it an even better place at which to impress. Parking is easy, as it has its own lot, and you order at the counter. The bar nooks, private booths and high-walled patio decorated with potted succulents gives the place a coziness that'll put your date at ease. The pizzas are beautiful—crispy dough, creamy cheeses—and the Pie Society (www.piesocietybar.com) speakeasy in the back that opens up every evening is Mad Men meets a smoking lounge, with the requisite stiff cocktails to give your night some liquid courage.
