Roman-Style ROCA Pizzerias Coming To West Side

MARINA DEL REY-PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Two new ROCA Pizza restaurants — Roman-style pizzerias with salads and sandwiches — are heading to Marina del Rey and the Palisades, with California Pizza Kitchen co-founder Rick Rosenfield and wife, Esther, at the helm.

First launched in Glendale, the ROCA chain prides itself on Roman-style pizza “al taglio,” (translation: by-the-cut,), with a honeycomb-texture, artisanal dough.

“We are eager to introduce ROCA to LA’s Westside,” said Rosenfield, whose company's name derives from RO (Roman origin) and CA (California-inspired).

The Pacific Palisades Village location is set to open at 15225 Palisades Village Lane in late November with outdoor dining and a delivery window. In Marina del Rey, ROCA's opening is poised for early 2023 at 4700 Admiralty Way.

The Rosenfields were vactioning in Rome when they first discovered the unique, street-food-style pizza with crispy crust, airy top and fresh ingredients. The pair then decided to bring the concept to California, according to the company.

The initial ROCA began as a Glendale pop-up at The Americana at Brand, and glowing reviews led to a recipe laboratory and various seasonal specials, management said.

Among ROCA traditional and vegan pizza options, menu highlights include:

• Supplì — with rice balls, tomato sauce and stringy melted, mozzarella cheese;
• Soppressata & Burrata Pizza —a best-seller with tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy soppressata, di stefano burrata and basil Parmigiano oil;
• Pepperoni Hot Honey — featuring tomato sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, gorgonzola and Mike’s hot honey;
• Mixed Mushroom– cremini, shimeji and king oyster mushrooms, mozzarella and parsley;
• Italian Sausage & Potato — housemade Italian sausage, cremini mushrooms, Parmigiano Reggiano, mozzarella, red onion;
• Amatriciana Pizza — guanciale (pork cheek), pecorino Romano, mozzarella, tomato sauce;
• Kale & Almond Salad —kale, avocado, spicy almond dressing, Parmigiano Reggiano, crushed almonds
• Caesar salad with Calabrian chili dressing, romaine, Parmigiano Reggiano and housemade croutons.

The founders said its pizza stands out due to its artisan dough, cold-fermented for 48 hours for a puffy texture, then baked in a specialized, imported Italian oven for a crispy, crunchy crust.

ROCA pizzas are sold by-the-cut and half- and full-pan options.

See link here for locale updates and the full ROCA menu, with pizza flavors, Roman specialty “suppli," salads, appetizers and desserts.

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