New to town and located off of La Plaza Park in Cotati, Slow Co. Pizza is making a splash in the community. Slow Co. Pizza is a great weeknight stop to get your pizza fix and a fun alternative to ordering regular delivery. It offers a unique yet approachable menu — a sound decision given it’s a new restaurant and the third pizza shop within the entire two blocks of Downtown Cotati.
Slow Co. is all about housemade and locally sourced ingredients. Its name and branding, a snail, represent the slow fermentation process for its pizza dough.
Business was surprisingly busy for a weeknight, but by pure luck I managed to snag the last remaining table for two, fittingly illuminated by a snail-themed tea light. The simple and inviting decor allowed us to focus on being together at our table with various games, including mini ring-toss, to borrow near the register.
Slow Co. only offers personal pizzas, perfect for sharing among family or friends. The two pizzas in the daily spotlight were the classic red sauce and mozzarella, known as The Bird, and a spicy option aptly named Pep in Your Step. Unexpected given the snail-themed decor, the hot cheesy goodness made its way to the table quickly. But as with all meals in this day and age, the phone always eats first.
The Bird was the classic, greasy — in a good way — slice we all dreamed of as kids. The red sauce was tangy, a fantastic contrast to the charred peaks of the crust.
The Pep in Your Step proved to be a unique blend of spicy, salty and sweet. Red sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, green olives, Calabrian chilies, scallions, spicy honey and Estero gold reserve cheese worked harmoniously on the pizza. Every bite included a different combination of ingredients, creating a smorgasbord of flavors.
Slow Co. Pizza offers something for the entire community: natural wine and local beers for the adults, Valley Ford soft-serve with rainbow sprinkles or chocolate malt for the kids and fantastic pizza for all.
As one may expect with a new restaurant, there were minor hiccups. As a guest, the seating arrangement felt cramped. The tables along the wall, half booth-style seating and half chairs, were slightly too close together. This meant we had to shimmy in sideways to sit at the coveted booth, feeling like we were about to sit on the pizza at the neighboring table. Spacing the tables out slightly more would prevent guests from feeling like packed sardines.
Slow Co. Pizza should be added to your rotation of pizza joints when you’re tired of the same old cheese and pepperoni. Offering local options that showcase the best of what Sonoma County produces, the cooks genuinely care about their craft. The next time you’re looking for something a little special but trying not to break the bank, visit Slow Co. Pizza at 8197 La Plaza in Cotati. Its hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 4-8 p.m., and Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.
