Pearl Street has become restaurant row for the casual diner. Pizza on Pearl is the new kid on the block that opened last fall at 617 Pearl St., sharing a parking lot with Sadaf Persian restaurant to the west and Ortega’s Place, a Mexican eatery, to the east. China Chef, El Pescador Fish Market and Wahoo’s Fish Taco occupy the same block, and Jack in the Box sits on a large parcel across the street. Pizza on Pearl is a spacious pizzeria with a café-like ambiance with its tasteful wicker furniture, warm yellow walls and framed black-and-white photos of New York icons. The pizzeria sells thin crust, New York-style pizza, plus a variety of white pies, hero sandwiches, calzones, salad and desserts such as cheesecake, Tiramisu or chocolate bundt cake. The dough is tossed and sauces are prepared in-house. Owner Dave Mittleman operates a number of quick-service restaurants in San Diego, including the Ben & Jerry’s and Boston and Maine Fish Co. at Horton Plaza. He opened a similar pizzeria, Bongiorno’s, in Solana Beach two years ago. “I really liked the clients in Solana Beach and thought La Jolla would have the same sort of customers,” Mittleman said. Mittleman, 60, has 30 years of experience in the food and service business, with a decade in Boston operating eateries at Faneuil Hall. He said business has done well so far. “We haven’t done a tremendous amount of advertising, but when people like our food, they tell their friends,” Mittleman said. Tips: Customers can purchase an assorted pie of four pizza varieties to satisfy everyone. Reheat pizza at home at 375 degrees for four to five minutes. Pizza on Pearl, 617 Pearl St., (858) 729-0717, pizzaonpearl.com