P-Town Pie Guy - Pizza, Pacifica

7 Banff Way, Pacifica CA 94044
(650) 677-6071

Parking: driveway or street parking
Hours: Specific Saturdays (check their calendar) 11:30am-2pm, 4pm-7pm
https://www.ptownpieguy.com/

Last Visited: October 18, 2025

Food: 4 stars

Atmosphere: N/A

Service: 4 stars

Price: $$

I'm not actually sure how I found out about P-Town Pie Guy, but I came upon them on social media and thought I would keep it in mind if I ever found myself in Pactifica on a Saturday.  It's a family owned business - husband and wife have opened up a kitchen in their home and take orders online.  It's take out only and they offer two styles of pizza - Neo-Neapolitan - 12" pies and Detroit Style pizzas (6x6 and 8x10).  They also offer meatballs.

Ordering goes live on Wednesdays ahead of their Saturday workdays. While you can't order on the spot, I easily ordered the afternoon that I wanted to pick up a pizza for dinner without any issue.  I was pleasantly surprised to find so many choices on their website.  From standards like pepperoni (made with local Molinary & Sons pepperoni) and called Pier-peroni or cheese, referred to as Sancheeze Adobe, you can get options like Pork Pacifica (a mix of sausage, soppresata, and mushrooms), and even get something different like Teri-nova Tiger, a play on the local high school team name and mascot - Terra Nova Tigers, which has a teriyaki sauce base with chicken and mushrooms, cheese, Kewpie mayo, scallions, and shredded nori and shichimi (a Japanese spice blend).  You'll find more on the website for the Neo-Neapolitan style pizza and also three options for the Detroit style square pie. 

P-Town Pie Guy touts its fresh digestible pizza crust, local ingredients, and high quality ingredients like local tomatoes and fresh mozzarella versus pre-grated cheese.  And I can confirm that it really does taste different.  

I arrived a little earlier than my reservation time, and Matt, The Pie Guy, was happy to accommodate, which I really appreciated.  You go up their stairs and the door is open.  There is a sign on a child's easel that tells you to ring the bell and they'll be with you momentarily. There is also a bench for you to sit on as you wait.  You can pay either ahead or on the spot.  Cash prices are slightly lower than credit prices.  Matt kindly assists with running pizzas down the steps as his customers make their way down. 

- The Banff - I opted for a classic combination - Molinari & Sons' pepperoni, Italian sausage, green bell pepper, red onion, and olives.  It was immediately noticeable that the cheese is different than your typical grated cheese - it's color and texture is different.  Also, if you're expecting a crispy crust like from the big chains, this is different too in that it's a soft crust with the outer edges still having a more toothsome texture.  The pizza sauce leans on the sweeter side and you can definitely taste the freshness of the ingredients.  A side of red and gold sauce, their pizza pepper relish, comes with the pizza, unless otherwise noted.  I personally didn't need this extra flavor, but gave it a try nevertheless.  It's more sweet than savory and I thought the pizza was already great on its own.  $24

If I lived in the neighborhood, I would be a regular.  Come support a local business with a unique take on pizza - it's familiar and yet, special in its own way.  Good stuff!

Luigi's Restaurant & Pizzeria - Italian, Pacifica

950 Linda Mar Blvd, Pacifica CA 94044
(650) 355-0944
Parking: strip mall parking lot
Hours: Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays 2pm-8pm; Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays 12pm-8pm, Closed Tuesdays

Last Visited: September 25, 2024

Food: 4 stars

Atmosphere: 2 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $$

If you are ever in Pacifica, you'll want to stop by Luigi's Restaurant & Pizzeria, and if you're lucky, you'll get to meet Luigi himself.  He'll share stories of when his restaurant started, how his family made these rice balls, how he built his life here in the Bay Area, and more.

Located in a small strip mall in a residential neighborhood, it's easy to drive by and not even notice the place.  The inside decor is very simple and more reminiscent of a home party setting than restaurant dining, it's easy to look past all this when you taste the amazing comfort food.

- Rice ball - You will definitely want to take advantage of having the best rice balls around.  While these in the picture are a little lighter in color than normal, they're still filled with delicious ground beef and peas, surrounded by rice.  I had asked for the meat sauce to be packaged on the side since I was taking these home, but they're the best arancini around.  Golf ball-sized goodness that is lightly breaded and served with scrumptious sauce. They're so much better than these dainty things you get at the fancy Italian places - this is more like what you would expect your Italian grandma to make.  Yum! Occasionally, it's not available at lunch, but I've only run into that a couple of times.  $3.50 each

- Luigi's Supreme Combo (Medium shown in the photo) - Unlike many other places, Luigi's has held prices since Covid! That means that you can get a medium combo pizza for only $19.95!  You can't even get this kind of discount at the big chains with this quantity of toppings.This combo has onions, pepperoni, green bell peppers, sausage, ham, and mushrooms.  The toppings are fresh and the crust is just the right thickness.  I have yet to visit Luigi's without getting a pizza.  Small 6" $14.95, Medium 8" $19.95, Large 10" $23.95, Extra Large 12" $25.95

I've also tried their lasagna and garlic bread. Good stuff.  

While the decor is super simple, it gets the job done.  If you're looking for fine dining, this is not the right restaurant for you.  Dine in can be a bit slow, and the level of service really varies depending on who is working there.  While the food will take the same amount of time, if they are busy, it may take some time to flag down someone to come to the dining area.  If Luigi isn't busy, he'll come sit with you and visit for a while, so give yourself plenty of time for dine in.  Take out has been pretty consistent.  The only challenge I have run into is that if I arrive too early upon opening and some staff are running late, not all of the staff knows how to use the credit card machine; you'll still get great food though.  This hasn't deterred me from going back though.  I still love being able to support this small business. 

When in Pacifica, this is a great stop! I highly recommend the food.

Atlas Pizza Parlor - San Bruno

637 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno CA 94066
(650) 553-5005
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10a-12a, Fri-Sun 10a-1a

Last Visited: July 22, 2018

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Atlas Pizza opened on San Bruno Avenue a few months ago and since there aren't too many Indian pies in the area, I wanted to give it a try.  Newly remodeled, the big space has been divided into four sections - the dining area, the kitchen, and private two areas which seem to be primarily used for storage and a ping pong table in the back that isn't open for public use.

The front seating is ample, facing the three large screen televisions mounted on the wall and a side wall with various sports figures. On the television today were Olympics archery and a soccer game.

A large menu is printed above the counter and features Italian pizzas, Atlas Fusion Pie, subs, appetizers, salad, chicken wings, and pasta.  Although their printed menu says they serve BBQ, their only bbq offering is chicken wings.  You won't find other typical bbq items.  From the sign above the counter, there is no way to tell that they have a wide variety of juice and smoothie offerings, but a whole page is dedicated to this in their printed takeout menu.  All items are halal.

I decided to split my pie so that it was half Italian and half fusion to try out both.

- Medium Half Mighty Meaty (Red sauce, pepperoni, ham, ground beef, sausage, red onions, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese) and Half Atlas Tandoori Chicken Pie (creamy garlic sauce, mozzarella cheese, bell peppers, red onions, diced tomatoes, tandoori chicken, green onions, and fresh cilantro) - First, the crust was very fresh tasting and the edges stayed crispy.  The menu specifically notes the fresh hand made dough.  The tandoori chicken pie was really good - smooth and creamy with a mild taste compared to the Italian half, but very flavorful.  The only improvement would have been to add more chicken.  On the Italian side, the toppings were more moist and had gone through to the bottom of the crust so that the pan showed juices flowing through.  This side was also significantly saltier than the tandoori side.  Overall, I would recommend the tandoori chicken pie since the Italian didn't stand out in comparison.  Medium 12' whole pie - Fusion $12.99, Italian $12.99

From a service standpoint, there is a lot of room for improvement.  There were some challenges understanding each other as I asked for water and there were a few exchanges before it was clear on their end that I wasn't ordering coconut water.  Also, when completing your order, you'll get a number on a stand.  All that number does is remind you of your number when it's called so that you can go retrieve your order - nobody brings you any food.  There's no point to having a number on a stand.  In some cases, I saw people go up for their pizza and about ten minutes later, go retrieve their chicken wings.  They weren't given a number at all.  Instead, the person behind the counter just yelled out 'hello' in their general direction.  For dine in, you get those super thin paper plates, and only one per person.  One of mine was dirtied by pizza sauce smudges.  When you enter or exit, there is no greeting for anyone, so don't expect a hello or thank you.

In summary, try a fusion pie and lower your service expectations.

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!

Secret Pizza - Las Vegas, NV

3708 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 698-7860
Parking: Cosmopolitan parking lot

Last Visited: October 14, 2014

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

There's no sign and no clear indication of its location, but Secret Pizza inside the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas has a following, and foodies seek it out even if it means circling the floor and finding someone with a slice of pizza to ask where they got it.

That's what happened to me - fellow foodie Winnie told me about it, and I was aimlessly wandering the floor looking for a sign, but then I spotted someone with a slice and then I was back on track. Look for the hallway decorated with lots of memorabilia (see photo for the entrance).
Once inside, there is a counter if you want to stand and about three stools if you actually need to sit.  They're known for their white slice, so of course that's what I had to try.

- White Slice - White cheese and spices make up  this delicious slice.  It's simple and tasty, but a bit oily.  Secret Pizza has all of their pizzas on display.  They take a slice and warm it in the oven as you make your way through the line to the register and a few minutes later, you're presented with a warm slice. Tastes great, but it would be better to cut back on the oil. $5.25 slice, $28 pie

Other pizza offerings include pepperoni, plain cheese, and vegetarian. The menu is pretty simple, offering pizza, salads, and desserts - cannoli and NY Cheesecake.  Drinks offered include soda, water red bull, and beer.

If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, Cheeseboard Pizza in Berkeley offers great pie that is of a similar style, but no meat.

Piccino Cafe - Italian, San Francisco

1001 Minnesota St, San Francisco CA 94107
(415) 824-4224
Parking: street parking
Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-10pm, Closed Mondays
http://www.piccinocafe.com/

Last Visited: April 27, 2013

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

Lee recommended Piccino as a great place for dinner, so I went to check it out with the girls.  We wanted to try a variety of dishes, and since the pizza was highlighted by multiple people, I made sure we tried it. 

When we got to Piccino, it was just starting to fill up for dinner, and before long, the whole place had filled up.  Reservations aren't required, but if you have a larger party, there are a limited number of tables for large groups, so reserve ahead. 

The decor is rustic with wood tables and floors.  The chairs are modest and the large table in the center had a display of lemons.  The bar on the side remained busy through the evening, and the large number of windows bring in a lot of natural light. 

- Salad - Asparagus, burrata, heirloom polenta, watercress, salsa verde - I didn't know what heirloom polenta was and asked the hostess whom explained that the polenta is made in an old way and that it tasted good.  So with that recommendations, I ordered it and it was delicious.  If you like fried tofu, it's quite reminiscent of that - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  This is probably amongst the best polenta that I've had.  While the asparagus was tender, it may have been better if it was baby asparagus.  The burrata was soft and paired with the salsa verde, the flavors were quite good.  However, the watercress was a bit disappointing - these large leaves and stems were a little tough and would have been better left off the plate.  Great polenta and burrata - I would have been happy with double the amount of those items only. $13

- Potato Gnocchi - octopus, pepperoncino, marinara - The marinara was really tasty and the gnocchi was tender.  I really liked the sauce with the spiciness coming from the pepperoncino and the sweetness from the tomatoes (San Marzano probably), but the portion was minuscule.  The octopus was just okay - I wouldn't have missed it if it was gone.  $13

- Pizze Funghi - Roasted mushrooms, stracchino, shaved garlic - Mushrooms are roasted, run through a food processor, and spread over the pizza along with the cheese.  Garlic slices and parsley are sprinkled on top of the pizza.  The mushroom flavor is pretty intense and complements the cheese well.  The texture and presentations of the ground mushrooms may not be for everyone - I personally prefer to have them sliced. The pizza has a very thin crust, and overall, it's pretty good - crispy crust all the way around with little brown bubbles on the edges. $16

- Pizze Salsiccia - Housemade sausage, mozzarella, red onion - The sausage is broken into pieces and sliced red onions and parsley are sprinkled on top.  I preferred this flavor profile better, but the sausage could have been spread out more evenly across the entire pizza.  The crust on this pizza was equally thin and delicious.  Good. $15

- Zeppole - Vanilla Bean Crema, Berry Marmelatta - Five zeppole are served in a bowl with a sweet berries over a dollop of crema on the side.  The zeppole are lighter than a donut, but denser than a cream puff.  The color of the zeppole was a beautiful golden brown and each had been rolled in sugar.  I actually liked the zeppole without the crema which was nicely infused with vanilla beans, but too thick in texture - more like frosting and too viscous.  The berries are a nice balance with their sweetness and tartness.  $7

While service is good for the most part, I found that some of the servers lacked warmth and when we were deciding on a dessert, the server seemed a bit impatient.  The hostess on the other hand is very friendly and perhaps that contrast makes the other server appear even less friendly.

Other offerings for the evening included cod, lamb, and pork and beef polpette. Serving sizes are on the smaller side, so if you like to try multiple dishes, you'll definitely be able to do so, but it makes sharing a little difficult.  Ingredients are fresh, but if the watercress and asparagus had been a little younger, they could have been five star dishes.   Piccino has solid offerings overall.

Pizzeria Delfina - San Francisco

2406 California St, San Francisco CA 94115
(415) 440-1189
Parking: street parking
http://pizzeriadelfina.com
Hours: Mon, Wed-Thu, Sun 11:30am-10pm; Tues 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm

Last Visited: July 13, 2013

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

After hearing about Pizzeria Delfina for years, I was excited to get a chance to try their delicious thin crust pizza and see if it lived up to they hype - it was great!  We arrived for an early dinner and didn't find a line.  A blackboard lists all of the regular pizzas and menu items available along with specials for pizza and antipasti - today's specials included pig ear in lime chili oil and for pizza, there was lamb sausage pizza.  In the back of the restaurant, there is another menu board with desserts listed. 

Breadsticks are served at each table along with a plate with little mounds of cheese, oregano, and chili peppers.  It took a little while for the server to come back with our water, but she was pleasant.

- Napoletana Pizza + Cheese - The Napoletana comes with tomatoes, anchovies, capers, hot peppers, olives, oregano.  Based upon the server's suggestions to add cheese, I went ahead and added mozzarella. I really enjoyed this pizza - the sauce tastes super fresh and the cheese balances the salty toppings which added a lot of flavor.  Despite the moisture from the sauce, the super thin crust remains crisp even to the last piece of pizza.  Note that you really do need to like salt or you may find this pizza a bit too salty and although minimal, you are also likely to see some burnt crust. $11.75 + $1.50 cheese

- Neapolitan Meatballs in Sugo - Three large meatballs are served with toasted bread in a little iron pan.  The meatballs are tender and topped with lots of fresh tomato sauce and sprinkled with cheese.  Just out of the kitchen, these are perfect and the bread soaks up the sauce nicely.  Very enjoyable. $13.75

I really liked the freshness of the tomato sauces and the well-balanced flavors.  The pizza is hearty, yet delicate and the thin crust really holds up.  Service seems like it could be improved though - after we were done eating, nobody came by for at least ten minutes to see if we wanted dessert or to remove the final plates from our table.  I had to flag someone down for the check - considering that the restaurant wasn't quite full yet, this was a little disappointing.  You should also know that they charge $1.50 per person for the San Francisco employer mandate (aka health care coverage for employees).  Overall, great pizza and well-developed flavors.  If you can save room, note that they make their own gelato too.

Zero Zero - Pizza, San Francisco

826 Folsom St, San Francisco CA 94107
(415) 348-8800
Parking: street parking
http://zerozerosf.com
Hours: Mon-Thurs, Sun 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm

Last Visited: December 23, 2012

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

Fellow foodie, Yuwen, recommended Zero Zero heartily, and since a number of people I know have talked about it too with high praise, I have to admit, I had high expectations for Zero Zero.  We arrived a little before their opening time, but because it was pouring rain, the hostess was kind enough to let us in before the official opening time and we sat at the bar with another early couple to dry off.  It's an interesting setting with a bar when you enter, an open kitchen, and dining areas both upstairs and downstairs.

Zero Zero is well known for its pizza.  On weekends, they offer brunch items like Tuna Genovese (somewhat like a nicoise salad), Duck with Pancetta, and Roman Style Dumplings.

- Fillmore - Hen of the woods mushrooms, leeks, mozzarella, parmesan, pecorino, fontina, garlic, thyme - The crispy crust had a little bit of burnt crust, but not too bad compared to some of the photos I had seen before.  The mushrooms were flavorful and the blend of ingredients were very good together - not too strong and very cheesy.  The crust stayed crispy through most of the meal, and since we ordered another dish, I had leftovers. Very enjoyable - the pizza carried the four stars for Zero Zero. $16.95

- Skillet Fried Chicken Thighs with Semolina Waffle - Chestnut honey butter, bacon, and maple syrup - The chicken thighs were good - you could tell that the batter was well-seasoned, but frankly, I think I prefer the chicken at some of the fast food restaurants more.  I also liked the bacon, but wouldn't have minded it being a little more crispy.  The waffles were really crisp and golden, and the honey butter tasted really good.  The maple syrup was light and I wouldn't have minded having some more on the side.  I would have given the chicken and bacon a 3 star rating and the waffles a 4 star rating.  $12.75

- Soft Serve Caramel (Half) - The dessert menu is really enticing, offering a choice of ice cream, base (doughnuts, bread pudding, warm chocolate cake), toppings (caramel, candied coacoa nibs, hazelnut streusel), and specialty toppings (hot fudge, olive oil and sea salt, peppermint bark, bacon brittle, and more) offered separately so you can build just the perfect blend for your tastes.  You can also get plated desserts.  I was very excited to find out that they offered a half serving of soft serve (this isn't listed on the menu).  Since Yuwen highly recommended the caramel as one of the best she has enjoyed, I couldn't walk away without ordering it.  The soft serve is made with a Strauss Creamery base and definitely tastes smooth with the vanilla being ever so lovely in each bite.  I found the caramel to be a bit grainy - I don't know if this is normal, but the texture tasted a little weird.  Yuwen suggested asking for toppings on the side (you tend to get a tad more than if it's poured on for you).  Gotta love the half serving.  $3.50

San Francisco Surcharge here was $1 for two people.  Overall, I thought the pizza was very good and had great flavor.  There is room for improvement, but I was pretty happy with the experience. In 2013, it looks like prices have gone up by about $1 for the pizzas and the pizza ingredients have changed slightly (parmesan has switched out for grana padano).

While I enjoyed my meal, I had a bad experience when I left, which had nothing to do with the restaurant.  My vehicle had its hubcaps stolen from it in broad daylight.  My recommendation if you want to try this place is to park in a lot or to take public transit.  The area didn't have any signs of people whom looked like they were lingering in the area, but I know I had the hubcaps when I got there and when I got back, they were gone and I was only a few blocks away. 

Cafe Pesto - Italian/Pizza, Hawaii

Best: Pizza

61-3665 Hwy 270
Kawaihae, Big Island, HI 96743
(808) 882-1071
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am - 9pm, Fri-Sat 11am - 10pm
http://cafepesto.com/

Last Visited: October 2012

Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 to 5 stars
Price: $$

Located in the Kawaihae Shopping center by the harbor on the South Kohala Coast (as well as at a locaiton in Hilo Bay), Cafe Pesto is an amazing find for great Italian food.  If you talk to the locals, a good Italian restaurant is hard to find and buying premade pizza dough is also a struggle.  At this location, it's a little easy to miss if you drive by the area too fast, but if you make an effort to find it, Cafe Pesto is a delight for its great food and outstanding service. 

There are a variety of items on the menu including calzones, pizzas, pastas, soups, salads, and more.  You'll find classic Italian dishes,  Asian fusion dishes such as Thai Curry Shrimp, Seared Poke with Spinach, and what I would typically describe as Californian such as crab quesadillas. 

We arrived just when Cafe Pesto opened for lunch and were promptly seated in their dining area.  Black and white checkered floors, wood tables, and light yellow walls covered with local artists' works filled the restaurant.  Each table also had a fresh rose on the table - what a nice touch.

A lot of locals frequent the restaurant and I watched how the servers were super friendly with the elderly regulars whom were dining near us. The server of that table even gave the elderly women at the table a fresh flower for their hair - so sweet.

Nohea was our server and she was excellent. She memorized our order and since the pizza took more than 15 minutes to arrive, she brought us a few pieces of warm bread, probably the pizza crust, with herb butter which was a delicious combination. 

Wood fired, hand tossed pizzas are available in 9 inch and 12 inch diameters.  These are definitely some of the best pizzas that I've had in a while.  The dough is lightly brown and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.  While the dough is a little soft in the center, it still holds up fine to the toppings.

- Pepperoni Classico - Italian sausage, dry salami, pepperoni and red onion - The toppings were super fresh with the red onion shaved super thin and sweet.  The sweetness paired well with the salty meat.  Everything tasted super fresh and the fresh grated parmesan accented the pizza.  $12.95 -  9 inches

- Pizza Luau - Kalua-style pork, local sweet onions and fresh Hawaiian pineapple - This is like pulled pork, super succulent in flavor and textures.  The onions were also shaved thin and were sweet and this is probably the first time that I've had fresh pineapple on a pizza and it was wonderful.  It would be hard to go back to canned pineapple which seems to be the only thing you can find on the mainland. If you like pineapple on pizza, you have to try this.  $11.95 - 9 inches

The pizzas were delicious and so delicately balanced in flavor.  The sauce paired well withthe toppings and each bite bursts with flavor.  Wonderful.  The service was also exceptional - I don't think I've had a server this good in a restaurant with this pricing level for some time.  She had great timing for coming to check on us and provided amazing service.  I also appreciated the paper comment card that accompanied the check.  Cafe Pesto strives to give you the best food and service and they do a terrific job.  Their Hilo location also has a great reputation.  Must try.

Pizzeria Capri - Sonoma

1266 Broadway, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 935-6085
Parking: in shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: November 1, 2006

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

I haven’t been to Pizzeria Capri for more than ten years. The last time I went, they had just opened in Sonoma. We had brought a coupon – yes, those things really do get you in the door – and the staff’s reaction was so poor that we never went back despite its convenient location just a few miles from downtown.

Upon walking in the door, we were immediately directed to a seat. There isn’t a host, so it’s bit of a frantic hustle and bustle, but the lead waitress seems to have things under control. The rest of the staff is a bit flighty in comparison. More about this below.

The décor is simple. Older wooden tables, some with the finish rubbed off, simple chairs, and two televisions – the larger television is in the rear room and a smaller televisions is above the counter. A wall with openings separates the rooms. The large windows make the restaurant feel slightly bigger, and the yellow walls with brown trim gives the place a fresher look. However, the floor and the tables show the wear of the establishment, and the overall look is a bit dated. Pizzeria Capri is a great candidate for Restaurant Makeover, but it has its charm. Posters of past local events line the walls. After ordering the pizza, we saw the calamari and were tempted to try it.

- Fried Calamari – A plate comprised primarily of fried calamari rings and few tentacles is placed on top of a larger plate and served with two ramekins. One ramekin contains marinara sauce. The other contains ranch with a dollop of pesto sauce. The calamari is deep fried until the light batter is just golden and placed on a plate that has been lightly covered in chunky marinara sauce. Coarsely chopped parsley tops the dish. The calamari was tender and the coating was light and flaky. The sauces were more than ample, and we appreciated that since many places tend to skimp on dipping sauce. The pesto adds color and flavor to the ranch dressing. Very good. $8

- Pizza: Capri Special – There are a number of choices in pizza topping combinations. The Capri special didn’t list the specific toppings, but I figured it would be a combination of meat and vegetables. Our medium crust pizza (not thick, not thin) was topped with red sauce, cheese, bell peppers, green onions, mushrooms, sausage, pepperoni, salami, and olives. Great. The crust was crispy on bottom and the pizza had a nice flavor. It wasn’t too soggy nor too dry. It had just the right texture and dipping the crust in the ranch sauce from the calamari made it even better. $18 for medium

- Milk $2

As for the service, the young bus boy was a bit inexperienced. Although he took our individual plates when we had finished with our calamari, he didn’t take the main dish despite it being empty. He’s polite in asking if he may take your plate, but not quite experienced enough. Also, when he answered the phone when I initially called, he could have been more professional.

If you’re a local, look for coupons in the advertising mailer. There were many locals there, and the food is pretty good. Other entrees include standard pasta fare which is available a la carte or with choice of salad or soup.

The Red Grape - Pizza, Californian, Sonoma

529 First Street West, Sonoma CA 95476

(707) 996-4103

http://www.theredgrape.com/

Parking: small parking lot adjacent to the building complex and street parking

Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner at 11:30am

Last Visited: November 13, 2011

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $$ to $$$

It's been a while since I've been to The Red Grape.  Touting itself as New Haven Pizza, I remember going there when it first opened about a decade ago and thinking what a different type of pizza it was offering compared to what you normally find in Sonoma. 

While the first visit was good, my second and third visits revealed a lot of pizzas with a burnt bottom or more burnt dough than I enjoy. After not going for a number of years, we decided to see what new things they might have to offer.

It's minimalistic with painted ceiling ducts, bare floor, and wood tables and chairs.  There is lots of natural lighting as two sides of the restaurant are comprised of a wall of windows. 

The menu offers red pizzas and white pizzas as well as monthly specials.  You'll also find sandwiches and appetizers such as arancini and polenta sticks.  While there are a number of Italian items, the menu seems very Californian offering items such as Southwestern chicken salad, pears and gorgonzola pizza, and the beach club, esssentially a BLT with turkey.  For today's lunch visit, we opted to try a pizza and sandwich.

- Red Pizza: Sonoma - Pepperoni, sausage, sautéed mushrooms, red onion, and jalapeno jack cheese top a thin crust pizza. The pizza was good - not overpowered by the toppings themselves or the weight of the toppings.  The crust was done nicely without the burnt  areas that I had encountered during past experiences. I would give the pizza three to four stars.  $14.75

- Cheesesteak Sandwich - Slow roasted thinly sliced steak, cheddar cheese, and red and yellow peppers, are placed on a traditional toasted sub roll with a horseradish aioli.  I appreciated the juiciness of the meat, but this isn't exactly a traditional cheesesteak. The combination of the peppers with the meat make each bite a bit sweet.  The horseradish aioli gives moisture, but the spiciness of the horseradish is lost because the peppers overpower the flavor.  The salad was fresh with cherry tomatoes, but I found the balsamic dressing to be too sweet.  Okay.  If it was given a different name, I wouldn't have had the same expectation as that of a cheesesteak and probably would have rated it higher.  The other weird thing was that there was chicken on this plate, and chicken isn't part of the sandwich.  $11.95

Service is attentive, but not exactly warm.  The staff came back to check on you during the middle and end of the meal.  Finding chicken on the plate was not significant, but if someone had a food allergy, it could be a problem and indicates that the kitchen has an opportunity for improvement.  Since the floors are bare and there isn't much insulation, the noise level increases significantly as more people enter the restaurant.

I also noticed that the floor, particularly the hallway to the restroom, had water on the floor, a danger to guests.  Overall, I would recommend the pizzas over the sandwiches, unless you know going in that you're having a Californian interpretation of the sandwiches. 

Boca Pizzeria - Novato

454 Ignacio Blvd, Novato CA 94949
(415) 883-2302
Parking: in shopping center
http://bocapizzeria.com/

Last Visited: September 22, 2010

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

Boca Pizzeria is opened up by the same owners as Boca (the steakhouse) in Novato.  While their pizzas are done Neapolitan style and certified by “Verace Pizza Napolitana, ” I found the pizza to be just okay.  According to their webiste, each pizza is cooked for no more than two minutes in a 900 degree Italian wood burning oven.  Also, the flour is double milled 00 Caputo flour; the sauce is made from San Marzano tomatoes imported from Italy, and the mozzarella cheese is house made daily.

Maybe I didn't order something simple enough, but since I've been going to a number of pizzerias in San Francisco and around the Bay Area, in comparison to those, I found Boca's to be good, but not wow enough that I've started taking people there.  That's probably my best gage on food at a restaurant - if I start telling my friends and coworkers and inviting them to go with me, that's how you know they're spectactular places.

The dining area is open with lots of light from the large windows.  The kitchen is open too and you can watch the hustle and bustle, or on a nice day, you can enjoy outdoor seating on the patio.

So far, I've been to Boca Pizzeria twice.  While I don't avoid going there, I haven't found it stellar enough to make more visits.  The open kitchen and high ceilings create a comfortable and open atmosphere.  Outside seating also provides options for those whom enjoy the sun.

- Anson Mills Soft Organic Polenta - Mushroom, Thyme, Balsamic Reduction - The polenta was okay with a creamy texture and nice balsamic reduction. Since it's presented on a plate without anything to really eat it with, it's kind of like sharing a pudding.  It's difficult to share and would be better as a side dish rather than starter - interestingly, the location on the menu actually seemed to make a difference in this case.  I also thought it was a little pricier than it should have been considering the portion.  $7.95

- Prosciutto de Parma Pizza - Prosciutto, arugula, San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella top a thin crust pizza.  The flavors were fresh and very Californian in flavor, but not your authentic Italian style pizza.  While that wasn't a bad thing, the combination of ingredients didn't have a wow factor.  Just okay. $14.50

- Farmers Pizza - Pancetta, Yukon gold potatoes, burrata cheese, and egg top a pizza.  I expected the egg to be cooked on the pizza, but instead, it appeared to be an egg that was fried and placed on top of a pizza.  It didn't seem incorporated until I broke the yolk.  The pizza seemed slightly overcooked as some of the cheese had dried a bit or had been sliced too thin.  Another just okay pizza.  $13.95

I found service to be just alright as well.  During my first visit, while she was polite, the server paid more attention to my dining companion and pretty much spoke with him throughout the meal.  During my second visit, the server was more even in speaking with each of us, but I didn't have a particularly memorable experience either way, so I've given them three stars for now.

Boca Pizzeria serves up decent pizza and is good for a change of pace compared to local Novato fare, offering California style pizza creations.  They're also opening a new location in Corte Madera at The Village.

Mary's Pizza Shack - Sonoma, Novato, Santa Rosa

18636 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma CA 95476, (707) 938-3600
535 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa CA 95405, (707) 538-1888
121 San Marin Dr, Novato, CA 94945, (415) 897-6266
Parking: in parking lot
http://www.maryspizzashack.com/

Last Visited: June 16, 2011

Food: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Mary’s has been around for a long time. I remember them being in Sonoma for more than 20 years and their history goes back even further to 1959. Mary Fazio leaves the legacy of fine homemade food, and now has 15 locations in Sonoma County and nearby areas. The Boyes Springs restaurant is large with two dining areas inside and outside dining is also available. The kitchen is open and you can watch the pizzas being tossed. The excess crust is used to make breadsticks that anyone can enjoy. The atmosphere of the restaurant is casual.

The food at Mary’s is good, but it used to be even better. The salad quality can vary, but most of the time, its fresh - sometimes I think that is the best thing. The next best thing is of course the pizzas, though they do offer a variety of pasta dishes.  All of the entrees are served with soup or salad and iced tea, coffee, or hot tea. In Sonoma, Mary’s serves warm sourdough bread from the local Basque Café with each meal (at least in Sonoma).

- Mary’s Salad – Iceberg lettuce is dressed and topped with one slice of salami, shredded carrots, sliced mushrooms, three bean salad, a slice of egg, and mozzarella. When its fresh, it’s great. Simple and good. House $3.95, Large $7.10

- Spaghetti and Meatball – Spaghetti in tomato sauce is topped with a gigantic meatball. Sometimes the pasta is not al dente, but the flavors are always consistent. The meatball is always large and hearty. Good. $10.65

- Mary’s Combination Pizza – This is my favorite pizza of all the combinations available. It’s topped with cheese, salami, pepperoni, cotto salami, sausage, and mushrooms. It’s a great combination of flavors and a sure flavor parade.

- Meat Lasagna – Another one of my favorites. A good portion - the lasagna noodles are layered with ricotta and meat sauce. Always hearty, it’s topped with more mozzarella, and it’s always good. $11.95

Sandwiches are also available for those who prefer them over pizza and pasta dishes.

The service is sometimes inconsistent at Mary’s. Depending on your server, your dining experience can vary widely. Sometimes, it’s excellent and up to 5 stars, and other times, it can be as low as 2 stars. The pizza quality is probably the most consistent thing of all.   While the food quality may vary, I still think Mary's offers a good value to larger crowds - I've had a few larger group lunches with people from work at the various Mary's.  Hopefully, they can step up the quality of both food and service, but in general, it's still got reliably good options.

Old Chicago - Pizza/Italian, Petaluma

41 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 763-3897
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: January 4, 2004

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

Old Chicago Pizza is known for its deep dish Chicago style pizza, just as the name says. It is located upstairs and the aromas from the kitchen are absolutely inviting. Just follow your nose. Upon entering, you face the bar and see the brick walls and lots of dark wood chairs and tables.

The staff is attentive and ready for any questions you may have. It’s a casual and informal atmosphere, and on a cold evening, the heater is on inside, so you’ll feel comfortable and at home.

The menu is simple – multiple sizes available and deep dish or thin crust are your options. They have basic toppings – pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, olives, and tomatoes, but you won’t find salami. They also have the “gourmet” toppings available such are artichokes.

Our dinner was basic, but very filling.

- Dinner salad – A basic green salad with a few types of lettuce and greens and red onions. Your choice of dressing is available. Simple and a decent portion – enough for one person without the quantity being too dainty or overwhelming. $3.75

Deep dish pizza with pepperoni and chopped olives – Basic cheese pizza is available, but we went for two toppings. Flavorful pizza and thick crust with crispy outer crust. It was great. I wasn’t expecting the olives to be chopped, and I typically like the olives on pizza to be sliced, so it would be nice for that to be clarified on the menu. Other than that, a very satisfying deep dish pizza.

Double crust pizza is also available, but note that it will take around 30 minutes for preparation and cooking. It’s a nice place to go if you’re looking for some deep dish pizza in the area, but don't compare it to real deep dish or Zachary's in Berkeley - it just isn't the same. Thin crust is also available for sizes small and up.

Tony's Pizza Napoletana - San Francisco

Best: Calamari

1570 Stockton St, San Francisco CA
(415) 835-9888
Parking: limited street parking
http://www.tonyspizzanapoletana.com/

Last Visited: June 19, 2011

Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

I went to Tony's after seeing the restaurant featured in Sunset Magazine's top 10 pizzeria's in the Bay Area.  Plus, I've watched Tony Gemignani on Food Network enough to know his name and that he's won a lot of awards - 9 times in fact as World Pizza Champion.

It turned out that I had timed my visit with the North Beach Festival, and that brought in a huge crowd to Tony's.  Fortunately, I avoided the hour long wait by finding a coveted seat at the bar.  The menu can seem a bit overwhelming initially - pastas, pizza, and calzones.  There are several different types of pizza available - and mostly, they differ by cooking style - Classic American is a 550 degree gas oven.  Pizza Romana is a long thin pizza cooked in a 700 degree electric oven.  Sicilian Style is cooked in a 550 Degree gas oven and Coal Fired is cooked at 1000 degree.  Tony's is known for the 73 margherita pizzas that he makes daily - no more, no less.  Sadly, they had run out of those about an hour before our arrival, but the bartender recommended another margherita pizza to us which he said tastes the same and even he couldn't tell the difference between the two.

We started with bread and dipping oil.  The bread was crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.  I really enjoyed that perfect texture and moist quality of the bread - not oily, not soggy, just moist.   Extra virgin olive oil, EVOO with sweet picante peppers, and EVOO with minced garlic - these three were great accompaniments to the delicious bread.

- Calamari Fritti - Available traditional or calabrese (spicy) style, this calamari is beautiful.  I would give it five stars. Served with two lemon wedges and aioli, the batter is so light and yet, it's flavorful and crunchy.  Over the years, I've had a lot of calamari, and this was by far, one of the best.  Beautifully golden, the calamari was cooked just perfectly - still tender.  The amount is plentiful and can easily serve three to four people.  Delicious!  $11

- Pizza Margherita - The pizza crust is just a firm on the outside and super soft on the inside.  Rolled thin, it still held up to the toppings without getting moist on the bottom, but if you held a piece in the air, it won't stand by itself.  The San Marzano tomato sauce is sweet and balanced with sea salt, fresh basil, fresh mozarella chunks, and extra virgin olive oil.  The combination is so fresh and light, that I managed to eat three slices even after the calamari.  Slightly burnt in random areas on the bottom, you have to like a smoky flavor.  Otherwise, you might find it overwhelms the pizza.  If you like your pizza to be more on the saucy side, you'll enjoy this a lot.  I give it four stars for the sauce, cheese, and complex flavors from simple ingredients. $16 ($19 if you purchase one of the 73 made daily)

The bartender was super friendly and kept refilling our glasses.  The atmosphere is really classic with darker wood.  It's an elegant setting, but during a festival day, it was a lot louder than I would expect it to be on another day.  I also really like the Ed Hardy design made special for Tony on their pizza boxes. 

While parking can be a bit troublesome here, I would gladly come to Tony's to try out some of their other pizzas and calzones, which they offer both baked or deep fried.  Had it not been for the slight burnt crust of the pizza, I would have given them a solid five stars.  Tony's left a very good impression on me.  I look forward to trying them again some time.  Yummy!

Upper Crust Pizza - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Best: Combo Pizza with green chiles

329 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-0000
Parking: street parking
http://www.uppercrustpizza.com/

Next to the San Miguel Mission Church, the oldest church in the United States, and very close to the Santa Fe Plaza, you won't be able to miss Upper Crust Pizza. The elevated outdoor seating area is frequently busy in nice weather, and although we only ate there once, it was a memorable experience.

Upper Crust has won a few awards for best pizza in Santa Fe and top 100 independent pizzeria in the U.S. I hadn't heard about Upper Crust before going to Santa Fe, but many people were stopping in whenever we were near the area, so we decided to go in for lunch and that was one of our best tasting and most affordable meals.

All pizzas come in small or large. Since we had started to build up a little bit of a tolerance, we decided to try a pizza with green chiles on it. With four of us, we selected a large combo.

- Combo pizza - Pepperoni, black olives, green chiles, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions top the pizza. The crust is slightly crispy on the edges and soft on the inside of the thick crust. The toppings are a perfect combination and the green chiles add a bit of a kick without making the pizza difficult to eat. I would order this again in a heartbeat. Excellent! $20.25 (price shown is for 2011)

The place is very casual. We ordered at the counter, got our number, and then enjoyed a delicious pie. I would definitely make a return trip if I am ever in the area. Yum! That's all there is to say.

Pizza Pizza!! Sunset Magazine's Favorite Pizza in the SF Bay Area

Although this article is about a year old, it's still worth checking out if you love pizza!
http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/techniques/pizza-00400000063254/

So far, I've only been to four (Pizzetta 211 - San Francisco, Pizzeria Picco - Larkspur, and Gialina - San Francisco, Tony's Pizza Napoletana - San Francisco) on this list of ten, but now that I'm armed with the list, I'll be ready to make my way to the rest of them soon.  One of the places that I think should be included is Cheeseboard Pizza in Berkeley - Sunset missed them, but that's why Sesame Tea Eats is here :)

Gialina - Pizza, San Francisco

2842 Diamond Street, San Francisco CA 94131

(415) 239-8500

Parking: street parking

Hours: Sun - Thurs 5pm - 10pm, Fri - Sat 5pm - 10:30pm

http://www.gialina.com/

Last Visited: May 29, 2011

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars

Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Located between Chenery and Bosworth, and very close to the Glen Park BART station, Gialina turned out to be more accessible than I thought.  After seeing them reviewed on Check Please and seeing photos of their hazelnut chocolate pizza show up on more than one occasion on Wilma's wall, I decided to finally go check out Gialina. 

The restaurant, located at the corner, is long narrow with an open kitchen in the rear.  The bench seating that lines one side of the restaurant serves a row of tables while the other side of the room has tables and chairs.  While walking by, it's easy to miss the restaurant since there is little to no signage except for the menu at the door, but the line that forms outside tells you that there is something worth waiting for within.

The light colored wood and the walls that are painted red contrast the enlarged black and white photos of grandma and family.  The atmosphere is a little trendy, a little eclectic, and a little old world Italian all at the same time.

We arrived a little past 5pm, just after they had opened, and soon after, the place was completely packed.  They don't take parties of 8 or more because of their small size, but can easily hold parties of 5. Service is prompt and efficient, but a little cold.  Although they're not robotic, you do miss some of the warm smiles that you find at places with excellent service.  Water came in a large bottle to fill our short glasses.  While there are a few salads on the appetizer menu, you'll also find choices such as an antipasto platter with flatbread and meatballs. 

- Arugula w/ beets, goat cheese, and pistachios - Tender young arugula is dressed in a vinaigrette along with cubes of orange beets, pieces of moist goat cheese, and roasted pistachio nuts.  The small salad had very good flavor and easily serves two people.  The large salad comes in a wood salad bowl and is easily shared.  I would give the salad four stars - the sweetness of the beets contrast the dressing and peppery arugula beautifully.  Excellent.  $9/$18

All pies come 12 inches with 6 slices.

- Margherita - tomato, fresh mozzarella & fresh basil - The photo on the website shows small cubes of cheese on top of what looks like a margherita, but mine didn't have that as you can see in the photo.  While bread lovers and crust lovers will really enjoy this pizza, I found it to be a little blah.  The pizza sauce has a nice flavor and the crust is terrific on its own (crispy on the edge and soft on the inside of the crust), but maybe it was a lack of cheese - it seemed dry as I ate it and despite adding the parmesan at the table, it was a bit boring.  $13

- Amatriciana- tomato, pancetta, spicy chillies, oregano, pecorino & farm egg  - One egg tops a well-seasoned pizza.  Using the same base as the margherita, the added spices and pancetta which is cut into long slices like bacon add a lot of punch to the amatriciana.  This was still a little on the dry side compared to other thin crust pizzas that I have had, but much better than the margherita. $16

This pizza dough is very good, but the toppings together with the crust don't come together as nicely as what I've found at other pizzerias.  The crust is crispy and holds up well to the toppings, but bite after bite, you'll start noticing that without a few bites of salad in between or without some wine, it's dry.  So would I go again?  I would say it would be worth going and saving room to try their hazelnut chocolate dessert pizza - the topping looked so light and fluffy at a table nearby.   The salad was one of the best I've had recently, so I would certainly order that again.  Skip the margherita and opt for one of the other pizzas (although I did hear from a neighboring table that you really have to love aspragus if you order the asparagus pizza). Try to arrive early to avoid the wait time.

Pizzetta 211 - San Francisco

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

http://pizzetta211.com/

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. $14

I 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.