Founded in 2016 by Fred Santos and Bruno Lippi inside the historic Dunaway Building at 4508 Cass St, Suite C in the 92109, Square Pizza Co. is the Pacific Beach pizzeria that put San Diego on the national pizza map. The Washington Post named it the best Detroit-style pizza in California, and in March 2026 Santos advanced to the final round of the International Pizza Expo, placing second overall against top pizza makers from around the world. Both Santos and Lippi grew up on Boston's North Shore and cut their teeth at the legendary Tripoli Bakery before heading west to open their own shop. The menu revolves around three square-cut styles: Detroit, known for its thick, crispy-edged crust baked in custom pans sourced from New Hampshire; Sicilian, served upside-down with cheese under the sauce; and Boston Beach, a thinner, crispier slice inspired by the seaside pizza parlors of their hometown. Pies carry names borrowed from classic American car models—the Dodge layers baby spinach, mushrooms, ricotta, garlic, red sauce, Parmesan, and oregano over that signature Detroit base. Italian food lovers exploring PB can compare styles with the Neapolitan-influenced pies at Enoteca Adriano on Turquoise St. The kitchen uses King Arthur flour, a slow-fermentation dough process, and a WP deck oven to achieve a consistent bake across all three styles. Santos and Lippi also bring a taste of Brazil to the counter with authentic pão de queijo, a gluten-free cheese bread made from tapioca flour. Cannoli are filled to order, and frozen take-home slices let fans recreate the experience at home. The shop earned a 4.8-star Google average across 790 reviews and has since expanded with a second location in East Village at 699 Park Blvd. Craft beer fans heading to Pacific Beach AleHouse after dinner will find the two spots make a solid PB double feature. Square Pizza is open daily starting at 11:30 a.m., with late-night weekend hours running until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.