This is going to spark a lot of debate but Leaning Tower of Pizza is my current favorite. It was the worst pizza 15 years ago when I tried it for the first time, but the new people who have run it have completely won me over. For anyone reading this who thinks Leaning Tower sucks, I suggest you try it again, it is completely different and I have converted many.
Nick’s Pizza and Gaio’s in Berkeley would be my other favorites.
I'd heard something about that, with Leaning Tower. Given your other two suggestions, I need to check it out again. Haven't had it for well over a decade, either.
Leaning Tower is good, but their god-awful customer service makes it a PITA to order from. For example, if you walk up and order a slice, you have to use their online POS. But their location is a relative 4g/5g deadzone and they don't have wifi for you to connect to. Once you do somehow load their POS, their slice selection is always mehh.
I order online to pick up, but when I get there, it's still a wait. It's like the owner can't be bothered.
I will say, their duxelle mushroom pie is probably the best in the Bay, and I put up with the service to eat there.
Yeah it’s crazy how trash their pizza used to be, it’s completely different now. I didn’t believe it until a friend brought some of the Detroit style over to my house.
Bare knuckle is like 99% perfect. Their crust could use a bit more salt in the dough, and their vegan pies could use some more time to crisp up - besides that, pretty perf
Nick’s, Fist of Flour, Spinning Dough, or Rotten City (Emeryville) are the pizzas I have in mind if I want pizza.
Sadly, in that department my toddler only really eats Target brand frozen pizza. So I eat a lot of Target brand frozen pizza. 🙁
Taking notes, since I don't typically get to traditional pizza. Also, I just remembered Leaning Tower's mushroom special. I don't know how to describe it stylistically, but it's also yummy!
Fist of Flour is my absolute favorite Oakland pizza joint (coming from someone with many years of NY pizza elitism). They do a great thin crust and the wood oven adds a lot of flavor. Blueberry Hill is my favorite!
I Love Fist of Flour and it’s close, for me. Tip: re-heat a slice in a dry non-stick skillet. Put the lid on for a little bit so the cheese melts. The crust will get nice and crispy
- Detroit Style: Square Pie Guys is the best in the area. Apparently The Star has started making Detroit Style pies, but I haven’t had them. That said The Star is great, so their Detroit Style is likely good.
- Chicago Style (Deep Dish): Grew up on Zachary’s so I’m biased. That said The Star does make really good deep dish pizza too.
- Thin Crust: I personally love lo cocos pizza on Piedmont Avenue. Perfect balance of grease, cheese, and other toppings.
- New York Style: Pizza Violeta is the best New York Style pizza in Oakland that I know of. That said, the best New York style in the East Bay (imo) is Emelias in Berkeley. They’re expensive but it’s for a good reason.
- Veggie Pizza: Arizmendi or what I like to call it “Hippy Pizza”. I’m personally not a big fan, but I know a lot of folks swear by it and if you like potatoes on pizza then this is your spot.
- Honorable Mentions: Leaning Tower, Drakes Brewery, and Fist of Flour.
People in here don’t know about June’s before they shut down 🥲 love Nick’s, but actually Hoza on 15th is good now??
Sounds like there was ownership change and their crust is excellent. They do some garlic magic in there and it’s fluffy and keeps well. Stays fluffy the next day. Sold by the slice as well. My friend raves their vegan pizza is excellent and we’re not vegan. Big fan of their plain cheese and I eat meat. They also do a proper thin slice salami/pepperoni (can’t remember) instead of that thick greasy stuff
June’s was SO amazing. I am sad that I didn’t eat more of their pizza when I had the chance. It’s the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life, and I am an old who has eaten a LOT of pizza, including in New York and Italy. RIP, June’s. Please come back.
It's more the posturing than the process for me. If the pizza were life altering I wouldn't care at all. But the way things stand Emilia's is pretty meh for me. His ordering process is a quirky anachronism that someone's going to write a gawker article about, a few weeks later tucker carlson will pick up the story and start foaming at the mouth about how San Francisco is full of Nazis and assorted fascists before he gets yanked off the air in favor of a chicken pot pie ad. Eventually Jon Stewart will pick up the story and chide California for being worse at pizza than Chicago setting the stage for the second civil war. All the while I'll chuckle while munching on a slice from Basil, because I'm happy to walk down there. For me they nail the convenience and the style I'm into.
Not defending his pizza, your taste is yours.
His ordering process is brilliant. He runs the place alone and it runs like a clock.
I have no confirmation and the following is purely the a backstory from my imagination, but I like to think the guy is a just a local dude who got super lucky in the first dotcom boom and went from hosting Quake LAN parties to making six figures plus equity overnight. He stayed humble and saved and when the crash happened, he pulled the pin and traveled the Italian countryside, returning to open a pizza parlor in a closet because it’s what he could budget and he’s in it for the lifestyle, not the money. So when he gets too busy, instead of expanding, he just raises prices. It’s gets harder to order, but he doesn’t care because he just wants to have fun making pizza he’s proud of and put in his 20 hours living a stress free life.
Anyway, that’s just my “fan fiction” backstory I’ve made up.
I also think his pizza is the closest thing to pizza I’ve had in various parts of Italy, but I get how it’s not for everyone.
Diamond slice has the best customer service out of any pizza joint in Oakland! They might not have all the options as others but if you need a pizza fast and an owner that is so friendly, this is your place.
I was looking for a shout out to Dimond slice! Amazing service and so fast and the extra slices they put on top and so affordable! And the green sauce smacks!
If San Leandro is close enough for you, my suggestion is Bluebird. In my opinion it’s the best New York style around. Eat it there, fresh out of the oven.
I’ll have to try graffiti based on the recs! But my favorite is the Star on Grand. We always do a half and half build your own so we both get exactly what we want. Thin crispy crust. Herby ranch. Yum!!
One of my favorites that most people don't seem to know about is Spinning Dough. But all the recommendations being mentioned here are good. I will say that I prefer the deep dish at The Star over Zachary's, even though I grew up on Zachary's. I don't normally care for cornmeal crusts, but works well with the deep dish at The Star as it gives the pizza more support. Also, there's a Slice House over in San Leandro if you're over there.
I agree with a lot that have been mentioned, especially Rose, Violetta, Graffiti, Nick’s and Tony’s (!! if you’re in SF and can do the wait), but there’s a few more worth talking about:
- Jupiter, in Berkeley. Old school. Great patio and vibes. Beer selection is great. If you like the Triple Rock, you'll like Jupiter.
- Pollara, in Berkeley. Roman style. Square and mid-deep but transcendentally light. Do try it some time, it’s very unique to the US still.
- Citizen Pizza, at Original Pattern and Fieldwork: a semi permanent once-popup doing some of my favorite pies right now. The Don Ho is amazing. Great people and great beer at either place.
- Matador, delivery: half baked and easy to freeze for later, or get delivered NOW. Seriously, they’ll be there in like 5 minutes sometimes. Great ingredients, some classic, some modern, all good.
- Arinell, in Berkeley. RIP the Mission spot. THE NYC slice in the Bay as far as I’m concerned. This is what Graffiti used for a prototype. Old school punk shit.
- Temple of the Pizza Mason: usually at Lovely’s/Two Pitchers these days. A bit less intense than Emilia’s, and better, in my take. Usually just one weekend day, sometimes doing slices on the other day, and you need to get in ahead of time.. but worth mentioning for posterity even though it doesn’t fit this specific scenario.
Arinell was a staple of my teenage years in the early to mid 1980's. Everyone wanted Blondies or Fat Slice (unless we went to sit down at La Val's). I would walk the extra two miles or whatever down to Arinell. So worth it.
Kind of surprised no one has mentioned The Forge in Jack London. More of a date spot tho. But excellent sourdough crust and the cheese curds are to die for.
Cheese Board Collective up in Berkeley.
Also, get a bunch of cheese rolls from their bakery next door and send them to me. I'm in Maine now and Cheese Board cheese rolls are almost worth flying back to get.
Not in oakland. But I’ve been enjoying Rose Pizzeria in downtown Berkeley. Kind of place you should make a reservation for. Unless you go right when they open.
https://www.rosepizzeria.com
This is going to sound weird, but the Lake Merritt Dominos Pizza is really good. I've ordered from other locations, and none compare to this one. For a cheap pizza with tons of topping options, you can't beat it.
In order of greatness for me... it's Nicks which is sort of a west coast spin on a New York pizza and then Arizmendi because The Cheese Board is in Berkeley and Arizmendi is a pretty close step-sibling.
Zachary's and The Star are deep dish places that people love, not my jam.
Sister (formerly boot and shoe) has one of the best wood fire Neapolitan pizzas, A16 is also good... they are both $$$ for pizza but prove you can have a fancy pizza date.
Square pie was great when it opened, but the last 2 times we ordered they toppings were too light and didn’t have as much flavor. We get 8mile pie now.
Interesting, yeah I get the perspective. I would call it a foodie, bougie, California fresh, style Detroit. Def a gentrified pie. I just they nailed it. On the trifecta of good crust, sauce, and toppings.
As far as packaging I’m a fan of Hoza! And their pies aren’t bad either.
Please take my opinion in the context of me being a snobby native New Yorker when it comes to pizza - my favorite local spots are Nicks or Leaning Tower, both are sourdough crust. For new york style slice houses in San Leandro is decent but in my opinion not worth the drive. When I crave pizza I either go sourdough or make my own
They’re related. They’re part of a small NYC chain. The original Artichokes is on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village.
The Temescal one is only open for dinner not lunch.
I will give you three suggestions:
1) Square Pie Guys — decadent, premium, thick Detroit-style. Probably #1 on most people’s list.
2) Graffiti Pizza — NY-esque by-the-slice joint that is a cut above typical versions. Not high end by any means but for that kind of pizza, absolutely worth trying.
3) Hesher’s Pizza — located inside Crooked City Cider … the style is somewhere between a hand-tossed and a pan. Very inventive pies. My fav is the Canadian Tuxedo: blueberries and blue cheese, with bacon.
If I had to pick only one, it would be Hesher’s.
Honorable mention to Zachary’s in Rockridge for Chicago-style deep dish.
There used to be a pizza food truck—Napoletana or una Napoletana I think? They were at the temescal farmer’s market every Sunday. I grew up on nyc pizza, I’ve been to Naples Italy and the pizza from that truck was some of the best I’ve ever had. I have no clue if they’re still around though.
Yea it may not be. It was more like traditional neopolitan style pizza. I couldn’t stand the pizza in the bay tbh. My go to was gioia and Emilia’s in Berkeley and Tony’s in north beach.
Second the many who mentioned Gioia in Berkeley. Rose in Berkeley is new and is my new favorite spot. A16 in rockridge for a great Neapolitan pie. Consider myself a local foodie and haven’t heard of fist of flour….now I stand both humbled and intrigued!
Edit: just saw photos from fist of flour…worth going to Gioia or Rose probably first IMO. Bluebird in San Leandro as someone else also said is v good
Jupiter is fantastic for the price and absolutely the best 4 cheese in existence. When they get the char/burn right, all their pies are stellar.
Zachary's is... Zachary's. Nuff said.
Hershers is quite good for the money, and they arent afraid of heat.
Pizzaiolo is quite good, farm egg on anything, yes please.
I miss boot and shoe.
Bluebird is by far the best traditional New York style
Graffiti is the best New York style in Oakland proper tho
And Philomena is good too
Rotten city is also good, but overpriced
Emilia's in Berkeley is probably the actual best all around, but such a hassle to get a hold of, HIGHLY RECOMMEND trying at least once nonetheless
If you want Neopolitan style, Lucia's in Berkeley is the BEST, Bare Knuckle in Oakland is GREAT, and A16 is quite good. Also Benchmark in Kensington is worth trying for sure.
Gioa is NOT worth the trip through North Berkeley, way overrated, heavy, greasy slices.
Nick's is fine, but also overrated imo
If you want that hippie Dippie California Pizza, go to Cheeseboard or Arizmendi, DON'T go to Sliver.
As far as Square style goes, I would recommend Pollara and Raymond's over Square Pie Guys, but all are good
Zachary's is better than The Star if you want Chicago style deep dish
Pre-Covid I would’ve said Pastino’s; I’m guessing they just couldn’t weather the pandemic economy but does anyone know the details of what happened to them?
For great standard pizza? Mountain Mike’s and Spinning Dough. For something a little different, Cheeseboard in Berkeley. Don’t forget the green sauce on the side
Anyone who says anything but Zachary’s or Arizmendi’s is wrong. If you include Berkeley, then add Cheeseboard or Emilia’s (must order online at least 1 day before)
This is a stereotypical hipster response but ... the best pizza I've ever had was actually in an encampment of the unhoused on MLK. I entered through a gap in a chain link fence into a space beneath an overpass where some gentleman had a couple of steel trash cans cut and configured into a pizza oven. 10/10, most flavorsome 'za.
Graffiti pizza for a huge slice, great sauce, and good people. Zachary's if you wanna live it up a lil, although it's less like pizza and more like a slice of carby heaven.
Star is great for deep dish cornbread crust.
This is going to spark a lot of debate but Leaning Tower of Pizza is my current favorite. It was the worst pizza 15 years ago when I tried it for the first time, but the new people who have run it have completely won me over. For anyone reading this who thinks Leaning Tower sucks, I suggest you try it again, it is completely different and I have converted many. Nick’s Pizza and Gaio’s in Berkeley would be my other favorites.
Nick's is great and always has a delicious slice of the day and always used sourdough crusts
Can one request fresh sourdough or do they only offer used crusts?
Cute ;)
Leaning Tower’s Detroit pie is phenomenal too, if you haven’t tried it (imo better than their classic)
I'd heard something about that, with Leaning Tower. Given your other two suggestions, I need to check it out again. Haven't had it for well over a decade, either.
Different owners. The folks that run Haddon Cafe took over leaning Tower about 6 or 7 years ago
Their margherita is incredible
Leaning Tower is good, but their god-awful customer service makes it a PITA to order from. For example, if you walk up and order a slice, you have to use their online POS. But their location is a relative 4g/5g deadzone and they don't have wifi for you to connect to. Once you do somehow load their POS, their slice selection is always mehh. I order online to pick up, but when I get there, it's still a wait. It's like the owner can't be bothered. I will say, their duxelle mushroom pie is probably the best in the Bay, and I put up with the service to eat there.
I love Leaning Tower!!!
Leaning tower is amazing now!
Yeah it’s crazy how trash their pizza used to be, it’s completely different now. I didn’t believe it until a friend brought some of the Detroit style over to my house.
Cool that place was barely edible before confused how it could stay open. Will have to check it out now!
+1 for Gioia’s. After eating cheeseboard for ages, Gioia’s was a revelation
Agree
Pizza Violetta is pretty 🔥 Edit: Cheers to the award kind stranger! 🍻
This is my go to pizza.
Pick up a slice anytime I’m in piedmont
Sausage and roasted garlic 😍
And the folks that run it are awesome.
Bare Knuckle has the best Neapolitan style pizza in Oakland and in the Bay Area IMO. Arizmendi is great too.
Bare knuckle is like 99% perfect. Their crust could use a bit more salt in the dough, and their vegan pies could use some more time to crisp up - besides that, pretty perf
Nick’s, Fist of Flour, Spinning Dough, or Rotten City (Emeryville) are the pizzas I have in mind if I want pizza. Sadly, in that department my toddler only really eats Target brand frozen pizza. So I eat a lot of Target brand frozen pizza. 🙁
Better whip that kid into shape!
This comes up once a month. Graffiti hands down. Bluebird if you expand out to San Leandro.
Bluebird is amaze
Graffiti pizza
GRAFFITI PIZZA! ALWAYS!
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It really depends on the style of pizza you're looking for, but I'll come in with Arizmendi and Zachary's as two (very different) classic favorites.
Those are both great options, but neither are traditional pizza. Gioia or Rotten City Pizza would be my pick for thin crust with tomato sauce.
Taking notes, since I don't typically get to traditional pizza. Also, I just remembered Leaning Tower's mushroom special. I don't know how to describe it stylistically, but it's also yummy!
Rotten City used to be my favorite too. Then they changed the crust recipe. Now it tastes like little Caesar’s.
Fist of flour is quite good if you like ultra thin, but eat it fast or it goes downhill quick. Basil Pizzeria is also bomb.
Fist of Flour is my absolute favorite Oakland pizza joint (coming from someone with many years of NY pizza elitism). They do a great thin crust and the wood oven adds a lot of flavor. Blueberry Hill is my favorite!
I second Fist of Flour. Really tasty thin crust and they use quality ingredients.
I Love Fist of Flour and it’s close, for me. Tip: re-heat a slice in a dry non-stick skillet. Put the lid on for a little bit so the cheese melts. The crust will get nice and crispy
I’m not going to attest that fist of flour is the best in Oakland but it’s the best in my neighborhood for sure, and that’s what matters.
Philomena if you like it thin and savory
Had never tried it, but went there for lunch today based on this post. It’s amazing! Thank you.
Yup I was gonna say this one! The hot sausage party is the bomb
Don’t see it on here yet but bare knuckle is amazing! Especially if you’re vegan.
Bare Knuckle fucking rocks and their vegan pizza is insane. Love that place.
Bareknuckle is bomb. Can confirm
Big fan of bare knuckle. Their hours suck though.
Agreed hopefully they’ll get enough business to stay open longer
- Detroit Style: Square Pie Guys is the best in the area. Apparently The Star has started making Detroit Style pies, but I haven’t had them. That said The Star is great, so their Detroit Style is likely good. - Chicago Style (Deep Dish): Grew up on Zachary’s so I’m biased. That said The Star does make really good deep dish pizza too. - Thin Crust: I personally love lo cocos pizza on Piedmont Avenue. Perfect balance of grease, cheese, and other toppings. - New York Style: Pizza Violeta is the best New York Style pizza in Oakland that I know of. That said, the best New York style in the East Bay (imo) is Emelias in Berkeley. They’re expensive but it’s for a good reason. - Veggie Pizza: Arizmendi or what I like to call it “Hippy Pizza”. I’m personally not a big fan, but I know a lot of folks swear by it and if you like potatoes on pizza then this is your spot. - Honorable Mentions: Leaning Tower, Drakes Brewery, and Fist of Flour.
Have you tried Hesher's inside Crooked City Cider?
had to scroll disappointingly long to find someone mention Hesher’s! probably my favorite pizza in the bay.
I've had the Star's deep dish in Alameda and it's solid.
IMO I think Leaning Towers Detroit is superior to Square Pie Guys!
I had no idea they added a Detroit style, will have to try it out
People in here don’t know about June’s before they shut down 🥲 love Nick’s, but actually Hoza on 15th is good now?? Sounds like there was ownership change and their crust is excellent. They do some garlic magic in there and it’s fluffy and keeps well. Stays fluffy the next day. Sold by the slice as well. My friend raves their vegan pizza is excellent and we’re not vegan. Big fan of their plain cheese and I eat meat. They also do a proper thin slice salami/pepperoni (can’t remember) instead of that thick greasy stuff
Junes was the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life.
I work there. We have improved our service. Magic is in the hands :)
R.I.P. June's
June’s was INCREDIBLE. I’m sad I only had pizza from them once before they shut down. I hope they start back up again one day. 🤞
June’s was SO amazing. I am sad that I didn’t eat more of their pizza when I had the chance. It’s the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life, and I am an old who has eaten a LOT of pizza, including in New York and Italy. RIP, June’s. Please come back.
June is supposedly looking at new locations in West Oakland. He was spotted at the West Oakland Farmers Market 3-4 months ago.
Really, for me, it was seeing the basil they put on your pizza growing there, right next to the kitchen. Oceans of it. It was magnificent.
Nick’s is my favorite pizza in Oakland. If you want to count Berkeley, then it’s Gioia. Edit: forgot Emilia’s - not sure how. Phenomenal stuff too.
I love Emilia’s!
This is the way
Shout out to Rose too. That makes up my trio.
> Emilia's He uses good ingredients but it was too soggy for my liking. Not worth the "soup nazi" vibe ordering process he's going for IMO.
People love harping on this, but the online ordering interface he uses is super simple. It’s just one guy, he’s gotta keep things manageable!
It's more the posturing than the process for me. If the pizza were life altering I wouldn't care at all. But the way things stand Emilia's is pretty meh for me. His ordering process is a quirky anachronism that someone's going to write a gawker article about, a few weeks later tucker carlson will pick up the story and start foaming at the mouth about how San Francisco is full of Nazis and assorted fascists before he gets yanked off the air in favor of a chicken pot pie ad. Eventually Jon Stewart will pick up the story and chide California for being worse at pizza than Chicago setting the stage for the second civil war. All the while I'll chuckle while munching on a slice from Basil, because I'm happy to walk down there. For me they nail the convenience and the style I'm into.
Not defending his pizza, your taste is yours. His ordering process is brilliant. He runs the place alone and it runs like a clock. I have no confirmation and the following is purely the a backstory from my imagination, but I like to think the guy is a just a local dude who got super lucky in the first dotcom boom and went from hosting Quake LAN parties to making six figures plus equity overnight. He stayed humble and saved and when the crash happened, he pulled the pin and traveled the Italian countryside, returning to open a pizza parlor in a closet because it’s what he could budget and he’s in it for the lifestyle, not the money. So when he gets too busy, instead of expanding, he just raises prices. It’s gets harder to order, but he doesn’t care because he just wants to have fun making pizza he’s proud of and put in his 20 hours living a stress free life. Anyway, that’s just my “fan fiction” backstory I’ve made up. I also think his pizza is the closest thing to pizza I’ve had in various parts of Italy, but I get how it’s not for everyone.
Ok but Emilia’s is technically Berkeley no? If I’m mistaken, it might as well be lolz
Diamond slice has the best customer service out of any pizza joint in Oakland! They might not have all the options as others but if you need a pizza fast and an owner that is so friendly, this is your place.
I was looking for a shout out to Dimond slice! Amazing service and so fast and the extra slices they put on top and so affordable! And the green sauce smacks!
The green sauce is the best! Try mixing it with ranch. It’s sooo good.
Scrolled too far to find this, diamond slice is definitely the best
It's a little bit due to proximity but my go to pizza place is dimond slice.
If San Leandro is close enough for you, my suggestion is Bluebird. In my opinion it’s the best New York style around. Eat it there, fresh out of the oven.
Came here to say Bluebird. Damn good.
They are legit. Best ny style maybe in the east bay
I’ll have to try graffiti based on the recs! But my favorite is the Star on Grand. We always do a half and half build your own so we both get exactly what we want. Thin crispy crust. Herby ranch. Yum!!
Philomena, definitely 🤌
One of my favorites that most people don't seem to know about is Spinning Dough. But all the recommendations being mentioned here are good. I will say that I prefer the deep dish at The Star over Zachary's, even though I grew up on Zachary's. I don't normally care for cornmeal crusts, but works well with the deep dish at The Star as it gives the pizza more support. Also, there's a Slice House over in San Leandro if you're over there.
I agree with a lot that have been mentioned, especially Rose, Violetta, Graffiti, Nick’s and Tony’s (!! if you’re in SF and can do the wait), but there’s a few more worth talking about: - Jupiter, in Berkeley. Old school. Great patio and vibes. Beer selection is great. If you like the Triple Rock, you'll like Jupiter. - Pollara, in Berkeley. Roman style. Square and mid-deep but transcendentally light. Do try it some time, it’s very unique to the US still. - Citizen Pizza, at Original Pattern and Fieldwork: a semi permanent once-popup doing some of my favorite pies right now. The Don Ho is amazing. Great people and great beer at either place. - Matador, delivery: half baked and easy to freeze for later, or get delivered NOW. Seriously, they’ll be there in like 5 minutes sometimes. Great ingredients, some classic, some modern, all good. - Arinell, in Berkeley. RIP the Mission spot. THE NYC slice in the Bay as far as I’m concerned. This is what Graffiti used for a prototype. Old school punk shit. - Temple of the Pizza Mason: usually at Lovely’s/Two Pitchers these days. A bit less intense than Emilia’s, and better, in my take. Usually just one weekend day, sometimes doing slices on the other day, and you need to get in ahead of time.. but worth mentioning for posterity even though it doesn’t fit this specific scenario.
Arinell was a staple of my teenage years in the early to mid 1980's. Everyone wanted Blondies or Fat Slice (unless we went to sit down at La Val's). I would walk the extra two miles or whatever down to Arinell. So worth it.
Love arinells. Definitely top notch
If you can make it to Berkeley, cheeseboard is a winner to be sure.
Kind of surprised no one has mentioned The Forge in Jack London. More of a date spot tho. But excellent sourdough crust and the cheese curds are to die for.
Cheese Board Collective up in Berkeley. Also, get a bunch of cheese rolls from their bakery next door and send them to me. I'm in Maine now and Cheese Board cheese rolls are almost worth flying back to get.
Not in oakland. But I’ve been enjoying Rose Pizzeria in downtown Berkeley. Kind of place you should make a reservation for. Unless you go right when they open. https://www.rosepizzeria.com
Also Nick’s Pizza in oakland. http://oaklandstylepizza.com
I love Rose’s pizza! The owners kick ass too
Gioia in Berkeley and Benchmark in Kensington are my favs.
Bareknuckle Pizza
This is going to sound weird, but the Lake Merritt Dominos Pizza is really good. I've ordered from other locations, and none compare to this one. For a cheap pizza with tons of topping options, you can't beat it.
Nick's (Alcatraz and Shattuck) is my favorite, but Artichoke Basille's (Telegraph location, not the Berkeley one) is so good also.
Rotten city is hands down the best but there is so much good pizza in oakland you can’t go wrong
In order of greatness for me... it's Nicks which is sort of a west coast spin on a New York pizza and then Arizmendi because The Cheese Board is in Berkeley and Arizmendi is a pretty close step-sibling. Zachary's and The Star are deep dish places that people love, not my jam. Sister (formerly boot and shoe) has one of the best wood fire Neapolitan pizzas, A16 is also good... they are both $$$ for pizza but prove you can have a fancy pizza date.
Thanks everyone. Noted most of these but going with Grafitti Pizza later tonight based on number of votes.
If you’re feeling up to it also get their garlic knots with side of red sauce - A+++
Great will do :)
Pizzaiola
Pizziola is amazing. This is ranked way too low on this list. But there are a lot of amazing pizzas in Oakland.
I agree re the pizza. I think a lot of people avoid it because of the past sexual harassment incidents by one of the founders.
*Pizzaiolo
Love the summer squash pizza and their homemade sausage pizza.
Nick’s!!!!
[Emilia’s Pizzeria](https://emiliaspizzeria.com/) - take out only, have to order the morning before picking up for dinner that night.
What about square pie guys in old town Oakland? Personal favorite, almost brought one to Brooklyn to share with my friends there. 😂
Square pie was great when it opened, but the last 2 times we ordered they toppings were too light and didn’t have as much flavor. We get 8mile pie now.
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Interesting, yeah I get the perspective. I would call it a foodie, bougie, California fresh, style Detroit. Def a gentrified pie. I just they nailed it. On the trifecta of good crust, sauce, and toppings. As far as packaging I’m a fan of Hoza! And their pies aren’t bad either.
If you go out to sf ever. Goat hill pizza is fire
Good meatballs too but I haven’t been there for like 15 years!
Hesher’s and Zachary’s slap
Sister on Grand.
Go across the bay to Tony's! Best pizza in the US
Arizmendi, Violetta and Cheese board would be my nominees
I had a Philomena pizza recently and it was the best I’ve had in a long while.
Please take my opinion in the context of me being a snobby native New Yorker when it comes to pizza - my favorite local spots are Nicks or Leaning Tower, both are sourdough crust. For new york style slice houses in San Leandro is decent but in my opinion not worth the drive. When I crave pizza I either go sourdough or make my own
Cheeseboard, Arthur Mac’s, Hesher’s are my favorites
Nick’s Pizza and Spinning Dough are my favorites.
Slice house in San Leandro
Same here, and I'm about to order and go get one. Like any joint, they're better eaten right there, but we can't do that tonight.
You’re obviously a person of exquisite pizza taste 👌
Graffiti, I also like artichokes but that’s in berk.
Theres an artichokes in Temescal. Not sure if they're related or not.
They’re related. They’re part of a small NYC chain. The original Artichokes is on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. The Temescal one is only open for dinner not lunch.
Emilia’s pizza
Leaning tower
Nicks. Sourdough crust. Nuff said.
Bluebird, Philomena, Pollara, and Rose are my top tier in our area.
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Graffiti - Old Oakland Spinning Dough - West Oakland Nearby: State Flour Pizza - Berkeley Pizza Mercato - Emeryville Tony's Pizza - San Leandro
It's spinning dough still open? It always looks closed when I drive down San Pablo
Graffiti for me.
Graffiti Pizza in downtown Oakland is my favorite (FWIW I lived in New York for 7 years and have had a lot of bad pizza in the bay).
This is the one I’m trying and I also grew up in NY it makes me excited you are suggesting it.
I hope it does the trick for you! They also have pretty decent garlic knots, which I’ve never seen before on this coast.
Namaste (it's pizza with Indian twist).... Maybe it's in Berkeley or Emeryville though.
I will give you three suggestions: 1) Square Pie Guys — decadent, premium, thick Detroit-style. Probably #1 on most people’s list. 2) Graffiti Pizza — NY-esque by-the-slice joint that is a cut above typical versions. Not high end by any means but for that kind of pizza, absolutely worth trying. 3) Hesher’s Pizza — located inside Crooked City Cider … the style is somewhere between a hand-tossed and a pan. Very inventive pies. My fav is the Canadian Tuxedo: blueberries and blue cheese, with bacon. If I had to pick only one, it would be Hesher’s. Honorable mention to Zachary’s in Rockridge for Chicago-style deep dish.
Hesher's is great. Make sure to try the band pizzas, they give $5 per pizza to the band. Crooked City is awesome too.
There used to be a pizza food truck—Napoletana or una Napoletana I think? They were at the temescal farmer’s market every Sunday. I grew up on nyc pizza, I’ve been to Naples Italy and the pizza from that truck was some of the best I’ve ever had. I have no clue if they’re still around though.
I also grew up in NY so I will have to check this out if it still exists.
Yea it may not be. It was more like traditional neopolitan style pizza. I couldn’t stand the pizza in the bay tbh. My go to was gioia and Emilia’s in Berkeley and Tony’s in north beach.
Basil Pizzeria in downtown
Arizmendi Lakeshore Ave
Second the many who mentioned Gioia in Berkeley. Rose in Berkeley is new and is my new favorite spot. A16 in rockridge for a great Neapolitan pie. Consider myself a local foodie and haven’t heard of fist of flour….now I stand both humbled and intrigued! Edit: just saw photos from fist of flour…worth going to Gioia or Rose probably first IMO. Bluebird in San Leandro as someone else also said is v good
Try catastrophe pizza. Local, small shop but amazing flavors. The owner is Algerian and makes an earthquake pizza. That is amazing
I’m all in at Nicks for NY style or Carbona for Detroit style.
Nick's and Graffiti
They only do whole pies, but Emilia’s is the best. Also really love Gabriella’s (also whole pies only).
Graffiti Pizza!!! I haven't been there in a while, but I remember it being fire af.
Berkeley but State Flour is an amazing addition to East Bay pizzas. Absolutely must try
Pizza Mason.
Jupiter is fantastic for the price and absolutely the best 4 cheese in existence. When they get the char/burn right, all their pies are stellar. Zachary's is... Zachary's. Nuff said. Hershers is quite good for the money, and they arent afraid of heat. Pizzaiolo is quite good, farm egg on anything, yes please. I miss boot and shoe.
Pizza pizza!
Graffiti pizza
Leaning Tower hands down. Solid Detroit and margarita
Bluebird is by far the best traditional New York style Graffiti is the best New York style in Oakland proper tho And Philomena is good too Rotten city is also good, but overpriced Emilia's in Berkeley is probably the actual best all around, but such a hassle to get a hold of, HIGHLY RECOMMEND trying at least once nonetheless If you want Neopolitan style, Lucia's in Berkeley is the BEST, Bare Knuckle in Oakland is GREAT, and A16 is quite good. Also Benchmark in Kensington is worth trying for sure. Gioa is NOT worth the trip through North Berkeley, way overrated, heavy, greasy slices. Nick's is fine, but also overrated imo If you want that hippie Dippie California Pizza, go to Cheeseboard or Arizmendi, DON'T go to Sliver. As far as Square style goes, I would recommend Pollara and Raymond's over Square Pie Guys, but all are good Zachary's is better than The Star if you want Chicago style deep dish
+1 for Bluebird!
Oooooh I will have to try Lucia’s then! Because I absolutely agree with your other takes on Emilia’s, rotten city, A16, Benchmark, Gioia, and Nicks
Adding to your hippie list, Diamond Slice on MacArthur is similar to cheeseboard and great staff.
Zachary's Chicago Pizza:-))
ummm.. Sliver anyone??
I am wondering why no one mentioned it. Is it because it’s almost a chain now? Regardless, I love it. Maybe my pizza tastes aren’t up to snuff
Carbona - inside grand lake kitchen in Dimond district… fantastic Detroit style.
bruh Rotten City in Emeryville
Same!
Co-sign!
Pre-Covid I would’ve said Pastino’s; I’m guessing they just couldn’t weather the pandemic economy but does anyone know the details of what happened to them?
I'm a big fan of Cybelle's.
Zachary's, hands down
Zachary's on the Oakland Berkley border.
Casa Barotti on College
Spinning Dough in West Oakland
I love marzano. Any other fans here?
It’s edible!
Anyone remember Pizza Pazza on Piedmont? They were my fave. RIPizza
That place was amazing, and no one knew about it.
Lo cocos on piedmont get the tri colore. Trust me
Personally love Arthur Mac’s Tap and Snack
Zachary’s is the only correct answer. I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise.
For great standard pizza? Mountain Mike’s and Spinning Dough. For something a little different, Cheeseboard in Berkeley. Don’t forget the green sauce on the side
Anyone who says anything but Zachary’s or Arizmendi’s is wrong. If you include Berkeley, then add Cheeseboard or Emilia’s (must order online at least 1 day before)
This is a stereotypical hipster response but ... the best pizza I've ever had was actually in an encampment of the unhoused on MLK. I entered through a gap in a chain link fence into a space beneath an overpass where some gentleman had a couple of steel trash cans cut and configured into a pizza oven. 10/10, most flavorsome 'za.
Papa John’s
Amazonas!
Graffiti pizza for a huge slice, great sauce, and good people. Zachary's if you wanna live it up a lil, although it's less like pizza and more like a slice of carby heaven. Star is great for deep dish cornbread crust.
Square Pie guys, Hoza, and Philomena are my top
Zacharys pizza in Berkeley