Family Dining in Marin: Lo Coco's Authentic Italian Pizzeria

Lo Coco's Authentic Italian Pizzeria has been a favorite of Marin County families for generations, and has been dishing up pizza and other Italian treats in its Terra Linda location for over 40 years. I've been dining here since I was a kid, and now I take my kids here to experience Lo Coco's fantastic pizza.

Tucked into a strip mall off Del Ganado Road next to Scotty's Market, Lo Coco's looks like it hasn't changed since 1971, but in a good way. It's got that classic pizza parlor atmosphere that you remember from back when you were young. Pizzas here are old-school—no wood burning ovens or eggs or arugula or anything trendy like that here, just good pizza.

That's not to say that there aren't some creative pies on the menu, like the Sant'Elia with fresh zucchini and garlic or the Nina's Special with pesto, artichoke hearts, and fresh tomatoes. Of course there's also the Terra Linda Pizza (one of my childhood favorites), topped with ground beef and green onions.

Lo Coco's is really all about the pizza. The only other menu items are salads and canneloni stuffed with either meat and cheese or spinach, ricotta, and mozzarella.

This is definitely a laid-back family place; it's family-run, and and you'll probably see a steady procession of local families and youth sports teams while you're there. It's definitely worth a try if you're in the area, and we even think it deserves a special trip.

Lo Coco's is located at 631 Del Ganado Road in the Terra Linda area of San Rafael. To get there, take Highway 101 to the Freitas Parkway exit in San Rafael and head west on Freitas Parkway. Turn right on Del Ganado Road, and Lo Coco's will be to your immediate left in the shopping center.

They're open Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday from 4–9 pm and Friday and Saturday from 4–9:30 pm; closed Mondays. Winter hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 4–9 pm. Visit them online at www.lococosterralinda.com, or call them at (415) 472-3323.