Mozzeria - Pizza, San Francisco

3228 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 489-0963
http://www.mozzeria.com/
Hours: Tues-Thurs 5:30pm-10pm, Fri 5:30pm-11pm, Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-10pm, Closed Mondays

Last Visited: June 7, 2015

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Sue recommended Mozzeria to me.  She had explained that all of the servers and staff are deaf and that the restaurant has really good pizza.  With that in mind, I went for an early dinner and found the experience to be very pleasant.  Thanks Sue!

The decor is modern - the bar allows for individual seating, the lighting is gentle, and the place settings are simple.  The contrast of the white plates and napkins against the dark wood tables and floors, allow the red chairs to serve as accents throughout the room.  The dome shaped wood burning oven adjacent to the bar/counter serves as a centerpiece in the dining area.  What was interesting to me was the type of music being played.  It's a lot of really old classics - many fellow patrons were signing along quietly - something I wasn't expecting.

The menu is simple.  A list of appetizers and salads is offered along with 13 varieties of pizzas (12 inches each).  Traditional pizzas like margherita and quattro formaggi are available, but you'll also see unusual creative flavors like peking duck and hosui pear too.

- House-made fresh Burrata - Beautifully soft and fresh burrata is topped with halved cherry tomatoes, cut basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and basil oil.  Gnocco fritto (also known as flour crisps in dim sum restaurants) are served with the burrata. The burrata was delicious - soft on the inside to the point of being spreadable.  The skin of the burrata is easy to cut.  However, the flour crisps as I call them were varying in texture - one was crunchy, while the other sticks were a bit on the soft side.  If they all had been crunchy and light, they would have been perfect, but given the current texture, I would prefer to have bread instead.  My guess is that some of these crisps were prepared too far in advance, losing their crunch and while not stale, they were far too soft. The cheese gets four stars, but the crisps get two stars. $11

- Veal and Pork Meatballs - Four tender and well-seasoned meatballs are served in a slightly spicy marinara sauce and topped with melted mozzarella cheese.  The herbs are visible in each meat ball and the flavor is perfect.  The pomodoro sauce is the perfect consistency for dipping.  There's not much that could be improved with this hearty dish except to serve it with a spoon so that the sauce is easier to manage. Four stars.  $10

- Salumi Pizza - I've had a lot of Neapolitan style pizzas over the last few years and I have to say this is one of the best.  The beautiful crunchy crust is aromatic with the sesame sprinkled just inside the edge - each bite smells and tastes awesome.  It reminds me of the crust of fresh sesame bread.  The salt in the coppa, soppresata, and grana pandano balances the pomodoro sauce.  The fresh mozzarella adds freshness to the pizza, and the chili flakes give the entire pizza a spicy kick. Four stars. $20

Despite my lack of sign language ability, it wasn't difficult to communicate my order or to make other requests.  The staff is patient and made us feel welcome.  The only opportunities I saw for improvement tonight were twofold - refill the water glasses before being asked, and refresh the plates between appetizers and pizza.  Overall, service was friendly and otherwise attentive.

After having many pizzas that are a little too burnt, are too soft, or have other issues, Mozzeria shows their experience in making a great pizza that has a slightly soft center and a beautiful crust.  They season their food well and the balance of flavors and textures is wonderful.  I will definitely be back!