This is not a New York style pizza! I don't even want to call it a pizza. Don't fall for any YouTube advertising like "Best pizzas in Berkeley" and listing them like you need to try them. The only pizza flavors are coming out is oven heated pepperoni. Their Cheese layer is literally Gulag portions ( imaginary). Tomato sauce is sodium concentrate with tomato flavors. They don't even have paper plates. They give you baking wax paper. Skip it read more

Some of the best pizza in Berkeley if you like NY style thin crust. They have a thick crust too but I find the thin much better.

I have no idea what NY Pizza tastes like. However, as a pizza it was great. I got a slice of cheese pizza for $5. I have reduced the rating to 4 stars because the only thing I do know about real NY pizza by slice is that you should be getting it for $1 per slice; at least that's how much a slice of pizza costs in NYC. read more

The original owner passed away a while ago. Since then, the food, service and customer attention has fallen off a cliff. I hope it turns around. The pizza has begun skimping on sauce, cheese and they don't let the pepperoni crisp. Sad. It's not NY style. It's what a grunge punk rocker would make: "here's the pizza take it or leave it and f off," that's what it has come to read more

More like what didn't go well! This pizza joint, in the New York City tradition, is arguably the best slice this side of the Tri-State Area. Period. read more

Oh my god!! What has happened to Arinell's? This used to be the gold standard for a New York slice in Berkeley, or the entire bay area for that matter. I had no idea it was under new management until I had a slice of pepperoni. I have been eating Arinell's for almost 50 years. Sadly, unless they go back to the what they had, I'll never go back. The pizza was bland, and it's texture was brutal. I can't tell you how disappointing this is. Arinell's was an institution! read more

Classic new york style pizza joint. Reasonable prices and pretty good flavor. I really enjoyed the checker board flooring the vintage interior. Apparently the shop has been around for 50 years and is family owned read more

I was inspired to write this review after seeing arinell's has only 3.6 stars on yelp. Saying Arinell's is only 3.6 stars pizza is like saying Steph Curry is a 3.6 star basketball player. It's an abomination. This is the best New York style slice in the east bay. Highly recommend. Grab a slice, load it up with some oregano, garlic powder, chili flakes and parm and experience the magic. read more

Serves drinks with bugs in it. Then have the gall to deny it and refuse to refund or replace the drink. I used to praise their pizza, but never going back. Because I don't want bugs in my drink. read more

Arinell Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

Good when it's good, but extremely inconsistent. I've had pizzas that were raw when I go them, and I've had pizzas that were crispy on the bottom when I got them. They also get my order wrong about 40% of the time. They are lucky the first pizza I ever got from them was excellent, as I've been chasing that dragon ever since, giving them more business than they deserve. read more

Tried grabbing a slice today only to find a new "Closed on Sundays" sign posted. Hours need to be updated on Yelp and on their website.

I've been wanting to try Arinell for a while based on Yelp reviews, and that feeling intensified when I was waiting at the bus stop right in front, then saw a guy dart in, buy a slice, and literally wolf down the whole thing in two minutes before the bus came. I was very impressed. By the man's pizza eating veracity, but also a little by Arinell. This is really a 3.5 star review, because the pizza wasn't bad! A thin crust, nice tomato sauce, hot cheese on top. They do it right. But with Barbarian just down the street and equally delicious at only 62% of the price, I couldn't give Arinell the same rating I did to Barbarian. Plus Barbarian has more adventurous flavors, a proper sitting area, a chill vibe, and better experience overall! I can see the love for Arinell, but I'd take Barbarian any day. read more

Arinell Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

Service is upgraded much more and is much better environment in there. Loved the people had a great talk and loved the pizza it was delicious. Everything is still the same and the people are great. read more

I really don't like giving a bad review unless it's justified and they really have to earn that. In fact this would only ever be my second bad review. I went in on Saturday, July 18th, in the afternoon. The young kid working had the worst attitude, you could tell immediately that he didn't want to be there, terrible manners, etc. I asked for a slice which came to $4.50. After I order it he says "It's a $5 minimum", I didn't have any cash on me (who really does anymore) so I was forced to buy another slice that I didn't want to eat (so I gave it to someone on the street). The part that really got me was the this was the only time he was happy, almost took delight on the fact that I had to spend the extra money for no reason. After I got the pizza, it was still cold. This kid is a joke and should be fired, clearly he doesn't wanna be there. To the owners: If you know one slice is near the minimum, then add a $.50 fee for using debit, problem solved! Or be shady and steal whatever you can from each customer. I wonder how many times a day that happens? This is a terrible way to run a business. Now I will never come back. The whole business model is alike a petty con game, lol. It will be my pleasure to let people know how pathetic, petty and laughable this business is! read more

***CASH ONLY PLACE*** As a fan of thin crust/NY pizza I reaaaally wanted to like this place, but after my first visit I hate to say my opinion is on the other end. From what I saw they premake cheese pizza and when you add a topping that's when they add it on top and then put it on the oven. I'm a fan of having my ingredients under the melted cheese vs on top of it and basically falling off after every bite. Not really a fresh pizza type and they don't even store the premade pizzas under a heat lamp but just on a rack on the side. Pepperoni pizza: this was decent, but the pepperoni much like the sausage seems like it came out of a pack from a grocery store. Sausage pizza: would not get again. The sausage looks like what you would cut out from a processed roll - not appetizing at all. The crust on both pizzas were decent and help up well with the ingredients, but seems over baked with no chew at all. I feel like the pizzas would be decent if you're feeling a plain cheese but other than that I wouldn't make the trip out here again. SERVICE: Cashier didn't really greet us when we walked in, but at the same time I wasn't expecting much. Another concern was that I saw the cashier handle the money we gave him and right afterwards grab some pizzas. YIKES. LOCATION: Close to Bart and bus stops. The place itself though has limited tables around (3) and bar tables lining the wall where you can eat standing up. From what I saw, they don't really bus tables often since all tables were dirty for an empty place and we had to clean them ourselves. read more

Arinell Pizza - Pepperoni and sausage pizzas - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

UNMASKED EMPLOYEE GETS AGGRESSIVE WHEN ASKED TO MASK UP The Berkeley City Council mandates masks for all. Bravo, Berkeley City Council! The green-haired kid making the pizzas around 4:45 on Friday, August 6 wasn't wearing a mask. I asked him to mask up, and he got aggressive. He told me (direct quote) "When the Berkeley City Council does something for me, I'll do something for them!" I worried that he might jump the counter and start a fight, so I shut up. His (masked) buddy at the counter helpfully added "Its all right. He's near the fan!" Neither of these guys volunteered that they were vaccinated, so I assume neither of them were. Let's hope nobody gets sick. Personally, I don't feel safe eating in a restaurant that openly mocks the Department of Public Health, a division of the Berkeley City Council which, after all, regulates restaurant safety. Do Arinell employees wash their hands after using the restroom? Sanitize their cooking utensils? Dispose of spoiled food? Wipe their tables and counters? Or do they wait for the Berkeley City Council to "do them a favor" first? I happen to know a member of the Berkeley City Council, whom I called to tell this story. The member referred the matter to the Public Health Officer. I wonder if the green-haired pizza kid will be aggressively, insistently unmasked when the health inspector makes an unannounced visit. If he does, I wonder how long GHPK will keep his job. For that matter, I wonder how Arinell's customers will stay healthy with a virulent pandemic raging around us. I can't recommend this place. Patronize someplace where the employees care about the public and work to keep you safe. read more

Pizza is great but the service is quite bad. I saw them talk about yelling at a child, and then yell at the parent when they came in. I saw this because I waited 20 minutes for my to go slices; apparently they forgot to put them in, and didn't wonder why I was sitting there. read more

My childhood favorite. No more. Jones'n for a Sicilian slice, it was a disappointment. Hard and stale. Not even warmed up. Oh, a special 2 for 1. I threw it away. read more

$5 vegan slices are back with vegan cheeze I recommend adding a topping so it won't be as plain. Try to get the first 2 slices, they tend to be bigger. The workers are nice! read more

Expect to Tip or be abused! Apparently Mr.Ron Ariinell does not pay his employees A living wage because they are expecting you to make up the difference no matter how shitty the services. I just asked for a different slice not the Burnt one And the employees went off on me like they were only working to save the world so I could have the best pizza well after 40 years This loyal customer will never come back they made me feel so shitty for asking for a decent piece of pizza. Very Unfortunate.... read more

The best. Legend. Staple. A go to for decades, from skate rat to whatever it is I am now.

Pizza is unreliable and inconsistent, sometimes very good other times inedible. The worst thing is the level of employee they hire, terrible customer service, no manners at all they just grunt at you when they hand you your change no thank you. Been coming here a long time won't be back. It's a shame as the owner is a nice guy. read more

Visited for the first time. The pizza is delicious. True NY style and enjoyed every bite. 3 stars for overall experience... The young kid taking the order unfortunately lacked in customer service & manners. Plainly put, he has a mouth on him. He makes smart comments, & cursed a couple times to a paying customer. Maybe he wanted to "sound cool&tough". This is the kind of service that will ruin a 1st time visit, an establishment's persona & not have returning customers, regardless how good the pizza is. There will always be a good or better place for a NY style pizza, especially with customer service. read more

Who orders Anchovies and Olives on a cheese pizza anyway? me. xoxo read more

Arinell Pizza - Olives and Anchovies?! Who orders this? ME. - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

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A medium pizza and 2 drinks came out to $39. A bit steep, but whatever. Service was friendly and timely. The pizza itself had good flavor, but was very wet, which made it difficult to eat. Also, this restaurant does not give you paper plates to eat with, but rather parchment/wax paper, which was interesting. read more

It's probably looks like a shady hole-in-the-wall pizza joint. And, well, it is. It replicated Brooklyn pizzerias perfectly! Hey, I grew up in lil crooklyn and if anyone's every been there, you know it ain't the fanciest sh*t ever. But if I do say so myself, Brooklyn makes a one-of-a-kind thin crust rarely anywhere else outside of New York replicates. But Arinell, you have certainly achieved the perfect slice. At $3 a slice, you can go in and out for a quick bite. Plus they have a VEGAN version. Le gasp. Ofcourse I had to go try it. And the they claimed to be "Brooklyn style" ofcourse as a fellow New Yorker I had to try! Shady interior and crisp cheezy pizza. You guys nailed it. read more

Arinell Pizza - Vegan slice $3 - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

Best vegan pizza I've had so far. I'm usually skeptical about vegan pizza since I'm not a huge fan of the cheese. But the cheese and great marsauce made an awesome combination. However, I would only give it 4 stars and not 5 simply because the cashier is EXTREMELY sarcastic and abrasive. Second time being there and same uncomfortable vibe. read more

Arinell Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

It's an unwelcoming vibe as are most places nowadays. The guy behind the counter looks miserable. No customer service. My dad used to bring me and my brother here when we were little, it's been years and I wanted to go back to the 90s. The pizza was fine but if you're treated like an annoyance instead of a customer, it doesnt set in well. Of course, some people could care less about the service and just enjoy the slice, and well, this place is for you, pizza wasnt bad. read more

Arinell Pizza has excellent NY style vegan pizza by the slice for $3.25 per slice. They use daiya tapioca vegan cheese that is soy free, gluten free, & dairy free. daiya is made from tapioca. The crust here is dialed as it is firm & has just the right amount of sauce. Daiya isn't my favorite vegan cheese yet it is still great especially here as Arinell Pizza does vegan pizza right. I have been vegan for nearly 20 years. I was born in NYC while being raised in Long Island & FL. I used to have NY style pizza & since I have eaten it in a long time this is the closest I remember it. It is awesome that Arinell Pizza makes a commendable vegan pizza in the tradition of a NY slice. Besides slices they also have a medium vegan pizza for $19.50 & a large vegan pizza for $26.50. Next time I want to branch out & explore some of the toppings. Toppings such as black olives, onions, & fresh garlic are .50 cents per topping per slice. Mushrooms & green pepper are .75 cents per topping per slice. Besides being in Berkeley there are other branches in San Francisco at 509 Valencia & 16th St in the Mission District. I'll be back here for sure! read more

Consistently very good pizza. I have been going there for the past 16 years. They use good ingredients and they do a great job on both their thin crust and sicilian pizza. read more

Great pizza obnoxiously unreliable hours Third time I have tried to go and arrived an hour before close and they still just decided not to be open. So sad when the mission location closed. This one is on its way :( read more

Wanted a mid-afternoon snack, and this place did the job! The thin-crusted pizza tasted pretty good, nice and crispy, but kinda lukewarm. (I feel like they just reheat the pizza whenever someone orders so it's not that fresh) I liked how they had a vegan option, so my friend was able to eat there. I also like how environmentally sustainable the place appears to be, since they compost their trash. The pizza was a pretty good deal because the slice was bigger than my hand and was 3$ (so sad because they apparently raised their prices according to past yelp reviews)... What bothered me was that I had to eat the pizza off a wax paper, which is kinda gross, especially when you put it on the table. The grease was just getting everywhere... read more

Arinell Pizza - Vegan pizza - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Now this would be the gold medal of 5 star reviews if we were going off taste alone! Oh it's true, it's dam true! This is the absolute best pizza on the planet. It's perfect old fashioned New York style pizzas they serve here, as well as a thick crust Sicilian style pie. They also have vegan pizza as well. They offer a lot of toppings, and they are very generous with them. With all that being said, this place hires the very worst employees in terms of politeness and customer service. I have come here about once a week for the last 2 years, and there are a few good employees (skater guy with long hair, girl with blue hair, grungy guy who wears a raiders hat)...but every single person besides these 3 have treated me with less than respect. I am talked to almost as if they're scolding me, sometimes they raise there voice and come off as defensive. I have been told I cannot order more than 5 slices at a time (wtf I'm trying to give you business) and just the other Saturday I was told I cannot order more than 2 toppings on my slices, even though I ALWAYS order more than 2 and have NEVER had a problem in the past! Then when my friend orders so has a lower tone of voice the employee screams at him saying "YOU NEED TO TALK LOUD LIKE THIS DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME OR NOT NOW HURRY UP!!! I literally could not believe it, if I was a manager at any job I'd instantly fire his ass, it was one of the most unprofessional things I've ever witnessed in a place of business. Besides that disrespectful show of events the other day, they routinely act rude and even close their doors early before the stated closing time of 9pm. They also commonly run out of pizza and tell you to wait 30 minutes or they just force you to leave. After what took place this last Saturday I've decided to find a new pizza place to go to.....I just can't do it there anymore. There is no positive vibes from that place despite how good the pizza is. Maybe if they clean up their act I'll consider going again in the future, but for now I'm done. Worst feeling I've had ever writing a yelp review. Goodbye arinells. read more

Arinell Pizza - Pepperoni and onion slice with jalapeños and extra Parmesan cheese I added at home. - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

Hole in the wall pizza joint. But who cares when the pizza is this good and sold by the slice. Either N.Y. style or Sicilian square cut. Both excellent. And very convenient location next to the shuttle for the Cal football games. read more

Arinell Pizza - Pizza by the slice before the football game - Pizza Near Me - Berkeley, California

Sometimes you just want a slice, you know? A solid pizza spot to come in for a slice right downtown by campus. I was walking by and realized I didn't have lunch and I could go for something quick and cheap! The crust isn't the tastiest, hence the three star review. It's thin and more cardboard-like vs doughy. Not a ton of flavor going on in this bad boy. I also don't know when the pizza was made as it was just reheated. Seems like they make a few pies of cheese, serve those and add any toppings to the already cooked cheese pie. $3.25 was kind of steep for a pretty simple slice of cheese. A few tables, vegan pizza available, solid slice - it gets the job done. read more

I love Arinell Pizza, and I've been regularly eating their slices for more than 20 years. Arinell's NY style cheese slices are even better than the slices that you can get in New York! The crust is thin and crisp, and the cheese melts perfectly into the sauce. You can get a slice and a soda for $4.25, way cheaper than flying out to NYC. Quick, fast, cheap, and delicious. What's not to like? read more

Best pizza in the Bay Area, period. Nobody else gets the ratios right. Eat it fast, cheese pizza needs to be fresh and hot

I went here for dinner Sun 7/9/06 and thought it was pretty good. I didn't remember what others liked so I winged it. Neapolitan slice is good: thin crust, tomato sauce, and Mozzarella cheese $2.50. It's a good size-about 2 full size, I'm a big eater and that would have been enough. Order and the guy reheats it for you. Then I added a Sicilian slice: thick crust, lightly spiced, tomato sauce, olive oil, Mozzarella cheese $2.75, then I added sausage $.50 more. Sicilian is just ok, get the Neopolitan..it's much better. Just did the math after the fact but all prices include sales tax-the jerk charged me $6, but it should have been $5.75. So I'll only give it 3 stars. Free tap water w/ cup off on the side near the cashier. Near Downtown Berkeley Bart. read more

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Review for lunch on 1-11-13 Admittedly, I also can't boast about travels to NYC's five boroughs jumping from one pizza joint to the next for the best pizza in my life. However, this spot in Berkeley is a must try and it's located conveniently close to the downtown Berkeley Bart station. Countless times I would walk by without so much as batting an eye here. Well, not no more, Arinell is definitely on my radar now. Ordered a pepperoni pizza and a cheese pizza for my son and me at the front counter. The layout is small. Half the restaurant is sit down at tables, and the other half is stand up eat at the long counter. Pizza didn't take long (5 min) and we picked up our food at the counter. i also ordered a tango punch with our order and wow, was that surprisingly good. My little two year old was more worked up about the tango punch than the pizza. That being said, the pizza was a thin crispy crust, roll into a taco, one is not enough experience. Seriously, who can just have one pizza here? Can't wait to keep coming back :) (++) tango punch drink (++) great affordable prices (-) parking read more

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Always a favorite for an ex New Yorker! Real New York style pizza just like back home!