211 23rd Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121(415) 379-9880
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Tues 5pm - 9pm, Wed-Fri Noon- 2:30pm, 5pm - 9pm, Sat-Sun Noon - 9pm
Last Visited: April 9, 2011
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
I had seen a couple of friends check-in to Pizzetta 211 which got me a little curious about what might make them different than any other pizza joint in the city. After doing some research on the web, it seemed like most people enjoyed their experience there and despite parking being slightly challenging, it was looking very promising. Located in a residential area, one could easily drive by Pizzetta 211 and completely miss the place, but from the number of patrons that were there during my late lunch visit, it’s clear that they have an established clientele and that the word is getting out. There are only four tables inside the restaurant, and on a nice day, one can sit outside at one of the small tables outdoors, but you’ll probably want to order take out if you have a much larger party.
Walk into Pizzetta 211 and the scents from the kitchen are very pleasant. There is a bar that allows you to watch everything happening in the open kitchen. Although they’re located in San Francisco, the place had a Berkeley feel to it – a little eclectic with the tomato cans lined up on one wall and the casual staff. When you’ll go, you’ll understand what I mean. The menu is one page and changes weekly based on seasonal ingredients, although you’ll find there are some regular items that are available irrespective of the season. The website shows what is being served that day.
Most pizzas run between $10 and $15 each. They are large enough for one person, and maybe two if you have a small appetite, but for the most part, I would say three quarters of a pizza per person is about right.
We were seated next to the door and had a view of the kitchen where we saw the pizza dough being stretched and salad special of the day being assembled. The crowd today tended to be younger and although it was full, the noise level was very reasonable. We tried a couple of pizzas even though we had three people because we had reserved a table for an early dinner just a few hours away.
- Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, with White Anchovies – Six anchovies, one per slice of pizza, were placed at room temperature over a hot thin crust pizza that had been topped with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and a little bit of basil pesto. The crust is so thin and yet crisp and the flavors are so distinct that it’s nature at its best. The combination of the base ingredients are wonderful, and the anchovies were tender and not fishy that they added just that extra something. Delicious! $12 ($10 without the anchovies)
- Farm Egg, Pancetta, Broccoli di Ciccio, Crescenza, Garlic confit, and Calabrian Chili – Two eggs are cooked on the pizza until the whites are firm and the yolks still a little runny. The broccoli and chili flakes are a nice combination that I was already familiar with, but the addition of the buttery crescenza cheese fit really well with the salty pancetta, although I wouldn’t have minded a little more pancetta. Still, the eggs are the star of the show and give that additional richness to the pizza. I really appreciated how the crust stood up well to these toppings and didn’t get soggy. $14I gave the food a high rating because the pizza crusts were nicely browned and held up to the ingredients on top. Although the price is a little higher than I would like, it’s really worth it, especially if you don’t have to wait for a table.
Service was okay today – the guys were friendly and they come back to check on you, but it’s not a high level of service. You also see how everyone is trained across functions – serving, salad assembly, and cooking. Along with pizza, Pizzetta 211 offers a calzone, field green salad, cheese salad, daily cheeses, and homemade desserts like flourless chocolate cake and saffron biscotti. This is a great little place to try for great tasting pizza with quality ingredients and friendly staff. Note, this place is cash only, so come prepared and they don’t take reservations, so be ready to be flexible with when you will actually eat.
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