Whiz Biz: Selma's Chicago Pizzeria

Whiz Biz:  Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria

Location: 30461 Avenida De Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita

Phone Number: (949) 709-8165

Website: www.selmaspizza.com

What’s Nearby:  Starbucks, Spike’s Fish Grill, Lowe’s, Rubios

Employees: 50-60

Owners: Mike Phillips Jr. and Eric Miller

What Makes it So Awesome:  If it’s a great deep-dish pizza you’re on the hunt for, you needn’t make a trip all the way to the Windy City to indulge yourself. For almost a decade, Selma’s has been serving up a great pizza to the community of Rancho Santa Margarita. its Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas are truly one-of-a-kind, and their Tap Room with its wide variety of beers is quickly becoming a favorite hangout for south Orange County locals.

What’s the Scoop: It all began with Selma. The grandmother of Selma’s co-founder, Mike Phillips, Jr., she was the family matriarch, always inspiring her family with her passion for cooking and serving good food. Long after her children moved out, they still returned home with their own families to enjoy one of Selma’s famous dishes. She never cut corners, always preparing everything from scratch using only the finest ingredients. Mike Phillips Sr., was a successful restaurantuer in Southern California who inspired his son with a passion for cooking and serving great food. In 2003, Mike Jr. carried on the family tradition when he opened Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria with his close friend Eric Miller. And the rest, as they say, was history.

Nearly a decade later, Selma’s is still going strong. In addition to the Rancho Santa Margarita location, they’ve opened up restaurants in San Clemente and, most recently, Ladera Ranch.  In 2007, Selma’s received the Gold Medal for Best Pizza in the South County Times, and it has consistently ranked in the Top 100 Nationally for Independent Pizza restaurants by the publication Pizza Today.

“Mike and I both love the restaurant business,” said Eric Miller, co-founder. “We love the energy, the people, the food, the cheer, and of course, the beer!”  Miller grew up in Southern California, while Phillips’ roots are back in Ohio. Both of them have found their niche in south Orange County. “Rancho Santa Margarita is a family community, and that is who we cater to,” said Miller.

What’s Unique: If it’s just a piece of great pizza you’re looking for, you won’t be disappointed at Selma’s. The restaurant offers more than a dozen varieties of deep dish and “low profile” (thin crust) pizzas, including the most popular, Pedal to the Metal, complete with meatballs, pepperoni, Italian sausage, black olives, onions, mushrooms and green peppers.  The new favorite is the Chicago Pizza Pies, complete with plenty of sauce and cheeses.

For those who aren’t quite as hungry, the Sam-Zones (“Cal” wasn’t worthy, according to the menu) might hit the spot. But the menu doesn’t end there. Selma’s also offers a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads and noodle creations. And those who follow a strict gluten-free diet will be thrilled to know that Selma’s offers an entire gluten–free menu, including salads with gluten free dressings, gluten-free pizza, gluten-free vanilla ice cream drizzled with gluten-free chocolate sauce, and even a gluten-free amber ale for beer lovers!

If you’re entertaining, Selma’s offers a full catering menu. Appe-teasers, sides, salads, pastas, baked dishes and sandwich platters are all available in either half tray or full tray quantities. Delivery is available for orders over $100 with advanced notice.

“One thing that sets us apart from other pizza places is that we make everything fresh. From our sauces to our meatballs, breads and pizzas, everything is made fresh,” said Miller.

Selma’s opened its Tap Room in late 2009 and currently offers over 60 different beers. “We specialize in eclectic beers that you won’t find at most places,” said Miller. “We have something for everybody. We even make fun beer cocktails that are beer blends. They have proven to be very popular.”

But if you’ve got the kids along, you’ll find a family-friendly environment, too. Selma’s boasts a large heated patio where families can mingle, as well as an arcade room where the kids can play after dinner. And with a menu as large as their appetite, you’re sure to find something for everyone to enjoy.

Selma’s proudly offers their Eat Dough, Raise Dough fundraisers, in which they give back 20 percent of all sales during a designated event to schools, charities and other groups. To date, they have raised more then $50,000 for these groups. They also participate in a Super Star merit program, which allows teachers at local schools to reward students for their accomplishments. Students can also take a field trip to Selma’s, where they  learn about the restaurant industry, make their own pizza and walk away with a Culinary Diploma from Selma’s University.

When asked his favorite part of his job, Miller said, “Creating a positive and fun work environment for our staff so that they can then be fun with our beloved guests, working with the community to make a difference, providing jobs for families, and, of course, talking with people who love Selma’s.”

What’s New: Selma’s is kicking off the new year with some awesome specials for the whole family this month. If you’ve got a case of the Mondays, you can head over for discounted appetizers and brews, as happy hour lasts all day. Wednesdays are Winesdays at Selma’s; Mom and Dad can enjoy half off a bottle of wine while the kids enjoy a free ice cream sundae with purchase of a kids’ meal. On Thursdays, wings are just $5, and on Fridays, you can ring in the weekend early with happy hour from 3-6 p.m.

Selma’s keeps its happy customers informed of specials through Facebook, e-mail clubs, and a user-friendly website, which includes a monthly calendar of all that’s going on.

“We are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the greater south Orange County community for the past eight amazing years and look forward to the future,” Miller said.

With an atmosphere and menu that caters to people of all preferences, it looks like Selma’s has clearly found its niche in the community and can be counted on for great pizza and service for years to come.