Basic is this very cool, spacious pizza spot downtown, pretty close to where Patrick lives. With a full bar, free pool, and great pizza toppings (mashed potato? Yes!), Basic’s very high on my list of Gaslamp places to frequent.

The space is strikingly open — even when crowded, there’s plenty of room to get around in. It’s divided into two main areas, one more like a bar, and the other more like a restaurant. There’s no functional difference — they’ll come around and take your pizza and drink orders in either section.

Their pizzas come in two sizes, but don’t be fooled by their names — the "small" is plenty big enough for 3 people. Their selection of toppings is fairly small, but they’ve got all of the essentials, in addition to a few surprising ones, such as the aforementioned mashed potato. The pies come out thin, floppy, and oh-so-yummy — crispy pizza fans may want to look elsewhere.

The beer selection is fairly small, but any place with Stone Pale Ale and Guinness on tap is good in my book, and they make up for it by having a fully-stocked bar (though Erin discovered that they don’t do mojitos).

I’ll have to remember to revise this review next spring — Basic is right near Petco Park, and is probably quite a bit busier during baseball season.