Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2006, Fortel's Pizza Den is a favorite spot for pizza lovers of all ages. Owners Bob and Jan Fortel have expanded their mom-and-pop pizza joint — the original opened at Mackenzie and Heegie in 1981 — with a number of St. Louis-area franchises. Appetizers include the usual fried fare of wings, beer-battered onion rings, cheese sticks and toasted ravioli, a local favorite. Fortel's uses a simple recipe to make their dough and basic tomato sauce on site. For something different, try one of the other sauces: white, pesto, beef gravy, barbecue or southwestern. Seven pizza specials, served with a medium-thin crust, are named after family members. Try Bob's Deluxe (sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, green pepper and onion) or Jan's Taco Deluxe (hamburger, onion, tomato, jalapeño peppers, extra cheese and nacho chips). You can always create your own, choosing from almost 30 toppings, ranging from the basic vegetables and meats to the more unusual — shrimp, eggplant and roast beef, for example. The menu also offers salads, sandwiches and pastas. Every location features a kid-friendly game room. Beer and wine available. Serving lunch and dinner daily.