Ham and cheese sandwich at Simple Simon's Pizza

5123 Lake Ave., 238-3955, www.simplesimonspizza.com

"I would like to nominate Simple Simon's sandwiches, where you get one-fourth to three-eighth-inch thick worth of meat for a cheaper price than other places where the tissue-paper-thin meat is hardly recognizable."

- Victor Gutteridge, St. Joseph

When the weather is nice, there's nothing better than sitting outside on the patio and enjoying a meal with friends. And Simple Simon's Pizza would be just the place to go, with its spacious covered brick patio and casual atmosphere. Even when the weather is not so great, you'll want to eat inside. Their pizza is the best in town, says owner Jeanie Parsons. Of course she'd say that, but customers also tell her on a regular basis how everything tastes so fresh. That's probably because they make the dough fresh every morning. Besides using it for their pizzas, they also use it for stromboli, which is made with thick and chewy crust, ranch dressing as the base, Canadian bacon, peppers, onions and cheese then folded up like a big sandwich and slit on top. They also use it for calzones, which are made from deep-dish pizza dough and have Italian sauce instead of marinara. Then there are breadsticks that come in jalapeño, alpine and garlic butter and cheese varieties. In addition, the menu includes wings, toasted sandwiches, a salad bar, a $4.79 lunch special and an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $4.99. If that's not enough, get a mug of their draft beer. Parsons says she's been told it's the coldest beer in town. Simple Simon's is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and closed on some holidays.