best pizza in San Francisco and the East Bay
I stopped updating this in 2013 (hence the large number of closed places), just keeping it around for historical interest.
Hours, locations, and sometimes menus, discount coupons, and other useful information
can be found on the URL'd Web sites.
Where I could not find a Web site or the Web site did not provide basic information,
I have provided the phone number and address.
Corrections or suggestions? Send
email. Discussion? Post on
Food Talk Central.
best of breed:
- California: Cotogna (wood oven; San Francisco, Jackson Square)
- Chicago - deep dish: Little Star "classic" (three locations in San Francisco and Albany)
- Italian - Neapolitan: Una Pizza Napoletana (wood oven; San Francisco, SOMA)
- Italian - Roman: Baonecci (San Francisco, North Beach)
- New York - "Ray's"-style greasy junk food slice: Arinell (Berkeley, downtown 510-841-4035, 2109 Shattuck @ Addison; San Francisco, Mission, 415-255-1303, 535 Valencia @ 16th)
- New York - whole pie: Nizza la Bella "San Gennaro" or any pizza with the housemade sausage (wood oven; Albany, San Pablo)
- West Coast: Tommaso's sausage & mushroom (wood oven; San Francisco, North Beach)
also worth trying:
- A16 (Neapolitan - wood oven; San Francisco, Marina)
- Amici's (New York; small local chain, several locations)
- Benchmark (wood oven; California; Kensington)
- Borgo Italia (wood oven; Neapolitan; Oakland, downtown)
- Bucci's (California; Emeryville)
- Cafe at Chez Panisse (California - wood oven but not a pizza oven; Berkeley, North Shattuck)
- Cheese Board Pizza (California slice; Berkeley, North Shattuck)
- Pizzeria Delfina ("Neapolitan-inspired" but no wood oven; San Francisco, Mission & Pacific Heights)
- Dopo (California; Oakland, Piedmont Ave.)
- Flour + Water (California; San Francisco, Mission)
- Hot Italian (Italian; Emeryville)
- Ideale (Italian - Roman; San Francisco, North Beach)
- Lanesplitter (New York-ish; Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville; great beer on tap)
- Little Chicago (deep-dish; Berkeley; out of business, owner started Little Star)
- L'Osteria del Forno porcini (Italian slice or pie; San Francisco, North Beach)
- Lo Coco's "La Puzzola" with morels, gorgonzola, and white truffle oil (American; Berkeley, North Shattuck)
- LoCoCo's fresh ricotta (American)
- Restaurant LuLu (Italian - wood oven; San Francisco, SOMA)
- Oliveto (Italian - wood oven; Oakland, Rockridge)
- Pizzetta 211 (San Francisco, Richmond District)
- Pauline's (California; San Francisco, Mission)
- Pizzaiolo (Italian, wood oven; Oakland, Temescal)
- Rose Pistola (Italian, wood oven; San Francisco, North Beach)
- Tony's (Neapolitan from a wood oven, New York from a coal oven, American, Detroit, Italian, Sicilian, and more from two gas ovens; San Francisco, North Beach)
- Zante (Indian slice or pie; San Francisco, Mission)
- Zero Zero (California, wood oven; San Francisco, SOMA)
- Zuni Cafe (Italian, wood oven but not a pizza oven); pizza at lunch only; San Francisco, Civic Center)
have their fans but I haven't tried:
- Patxi's (Chicago stuffed-crust; San Francisco & Palo Alto)
- Toto's (New York; San Bruno)
have their fans but not to my taste:
- Cugini (American, wood oven; Albany)
- Gioia (NY slice or pie; Berkeley & SF)
- Marzano's (California; Oakland, Glenview)
- Pizzeria Picco (California; Larkspur)
- Zachary's (Chicago stuffed-crust; Berkeley & Oakland; thin California pizzas are OK; slices at lunchtime)
(last updated 4/26/13)
©2019 Robert Lauriston. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without explicit written
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