Straw Hat Pizza

SANTA MARIA. The story of this franchise dates to the late 1950s, when an entrepreneur opened a modest pizza joint in the small town of San Leandro. Over the next two decades, the franchise grew until it became one of the largest in the West. The look and feel of these California classics have changed over the last half-decade, but the quality of both food and service never has. From flaky-crust California pizzas to delicious Hot Hats (sandwiches made of pizza dough and stuffed with the likes of turkey, chicken, chiles, and grilled veggies), the Santa Maria Straw Hat has been keeping local bellies full since 1967.