We hit up this little gem last minute on our first day of vacation and we're so happy we did!…read more First off the service was impeccable. We sat out on the patio and had 2 servers bouncing back and forth to take care of us, they were knowledgeable about the food and had plenty of recommendations. Now the food, the food was to die for! Everything was delicious between the fried green olives and orange cauliflower fritters (our favorite) for the appetizers and the beef short rib for the main course was divine. We had the dessert sampler as well to share which was quite a treat. The goat cheesecake and the squash torta yum! We enjoyed so much will go again before our vacation is over.

Lovely dinner over at Bellanico!…read more Had dinner as part of a social gathering and participated in the pre fixed dinner. Everything was great! I Started off with the papatas bravas. These were really good, crispy, and topped with cream and a sauce. I really enjoyed this. I then had the grilled caesar which was the first time I've had a grilled salad. It was warm with a light dressing. It was topped with anchovies, egg, and cheese. Really yummy. For my entree, I chose the porkchop and this was so good. I'm a sucker for a pork chop and this one was flavorful and delicious. We ended with a sampler of desserts and I swooped in on the cheesecake. It was perfect. Topped with some crunchies on top. Yum! Great dinner over at Bellanico! I totally want to come back on one of my solo dates and have this meal all over again at the bar.

The service is always incredible and so is the food! My personal favorite is the chicken pesto…read morepizza with thin crust and their garlic parmesan base, so unbelievably delicious. In love with their happy hour menu too, It's become one of my staple spots for sure!

Had a wonderful take out meal tonight at Star Restaurant Oakland…read more The pie was ready upon our arrival. It was hot and delicious. We ordered the Vegetarian pie that was chock full of freshly prepared vegetables. So fresh & delicious. My wife who is a committed carnivore got an order of meatballs to top her slices off. She said those meatballs and generous amount of sauce hit the spot. I would definitely recommend the Star for both a take out meal or an eat in meal in a most beautiful setting.

Classic neighborhood restaurant with friendly service…read more I had the fish and it was delicious. Their olive appetizer is yummy and so are their salads. We are not pizza people, but the pizza is very popular here.

Came last minute to Marzano with no reservation on a Thursday night. It's truly a hidden gem, as we…read morealmost went to Mama in Oakland but there was no space. We lucked out! There was plenty of space @ Marzano and it felt like a true family owned restaurant experience. They have a full bar, TV for sports, wood fire brick oven, and excellent service. I never heard of this place but felt grateful to bring my friend visiting from out of town. Everything was delicious and the drinks were awesome. I would come here on a date night! The ambiance is nice.

TL;DR: Incredible NY-style, fire-roasted pies, stand-out appetizers (heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella…read moresticks, shishito peppers), and great service--all paired with fantastic music and vibrant vibes. A must-visit Oakland spot. Tell me where else in Oakland you can go to enjoy a great pizza, wiggle in your seat because the music is just as good as the food, and get excellent service from people who are happy to curate a good time? I'll wait. Chef Felipe and his team are doing what all the best pizza shops you've ever frequented do & more. We came for the pizza, but were equally surprised by the starters this establishment offers. The service was great and everyone was very friendly to us. Heirloom tomato dishes are typically reserved for your SF/Napa trips but here they serve as a refreshing palate cleanser that will have you scraping the aioli off the bowl. Didn't even have it on my radar but this will be a regular add on in the future. And who said Mozzarella sticks are just for the kiddos? Tap into your own childhood with a properly made gooey cheese stick with a dough that is strong enough to keep it all together as you repeatedly dip these into the marinara sauce you can't get enough of. Chef Felipe flexed some culinary muscle on the dish of shishito peppers, a fun festive dish that is extremely flavorful and impressed everyone in our party. Try this if you want a unique dish as an appetizer to share with friends. The main event was a contest of who was going to grab the last slice of pepperoni or Burrata Pizza. They are experts at the fire roasting technique as our pizza was evenly cooked in NY style pies with a foldable crust that was crispy on the outside and doughy in all the best parts. No bloating after this meal as the ingredients are simple and you'll be happy you spent the extra money on these pies. We will certainly be back to enjoy another pie (or two) and the rhythmic bachata in the background.

Tasty pizza in downtown Oakland!…read more The star is the tasty pizza crust which they perfected with its light airy crispness. It's under a modern apartment complex and across a new bakery with free street parking. Upon entering we were warmly greeted by the Flour and Water team. We ordered 2 pies- the vegan and Margherita with added sausage. Because we got 2 pies there was an add-on mozzarella sticks for just $2. Hubby loved the vegan pie with the tofu burrata- delicious and filling. Toddler and I devoured the mozzarella sticks - cheese pull was legit and breading was flavorful crispy and not too salty. Margherita with added, sausage was classic and so yummy. The fresh mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce was addicting. Ambiance was modern, convenient and open with great lighting from the windows. Highly recommend grabbing a pie or 2!

Been here twice. Husband loves the Italian combo. I've had the prosciutto and mortadella and both…read moreare great on their fresh Dutch crunch bread! They're very generous with their meat portions too. Their pizza is amazing!! Reminds me of when our older Italian neighbor would make me pizza as a kid. The owners are always very warm and welcoming and they also sell a small selection of Italian grocery products too. It's more of a grab and go spot as there's only one small table outside with two chairs-there is a dog leash hitch though that's handy! Great place to stop by for your sandwich or Italian fix!

Had the chicken parmesan on garlic pretzel bread -- and it was absolutely elite. Hearty, rich, and…read moreabsolutely delicious. The flavors and seasoning were spot on for all the components. Great texture. Yet despite the heartiness, you can really taste the quality of the ingredients (they source their ingredients from Italy). I've enjoyed talking to the wife (co-owner with her husband). She's really friendly and passionate about the food she serves. She told me her husband is from Italy, and you can really feel the pride in the food. Pro tips: It's best to call in early to order ahead! You can pay at pickup. Why? Because they often sell out early! Once the bread runs out, you're out of luck (and there will be a sign on the front door saying so). There can also be a very long wait time if there are a lot of orders. Lastly, check their IG everyday for the sandwich they're promoting that day based on their available ingredients! Seriously can't wait to return and try the meatball sandwich.

Top. Top. Top 9 pizzas I've had. And I only been here about 27 times. Which could be a wild…read moreunderestimate because I find myself here about once per week. The brewery has great beer, which compliments the delicious neopolitan type pizza dough.... maybe am wrong on the type of pizza. I don't make it and name it, I just eat it. Been coming here for a while now, I want to say years, but I don't remember the first time. I typically get a pepperoni, add shrooms and garlic. Or a Marg add pepperoni. Plus a side of shishitos which have to be the best in the dam worlds, 2nd best so far Zuma in Vegas. Try them out. Best Espresso Martini in the world. Nevertheless, I would check this spot out. It's a safe bet on quality and taste. It never disappoints. Delicious

Great pizza, and those shishitos are top notch. Fast service, nice outdoor seating, and the live…read moremusic indoors on fridays is a great addition. The beer from original pattern is a great way to round up the food.

Just tried one of Bare Knuckle's collab pizzas today, made with Lion Dance Cafe (a former Oakland…read morebased, Michelin-mentioned restaurant created by James Beard Semifinalist Chefs, C-Y Chia and Shane Stanebridge). Oh my goodness was this one of the best vegan pizzas I've ever had! Special Pizza Collab with Lion Dance Cafe: FLAMING PUMPKIN PIZZA - Thinly shaved delicata squash marinated with garlic and evoo, vegan mozzarella cheese, drizzled with LDC's special recipe for Fresno chili sambal sauce with ginger and calamansi, roasted peanuts, and Thai basil leaves. All the flavors and textures melded so well together and it wasn't particularly 'hot' spicy. I especially loved the marinated slivers of delicata squash and LDC's special sambal sauce - especially since it contained calamansi! (one of my favorite citrus flavors). Even though the pizza is vegan (for those on this type of diet), honestly, I think everyone would enjoy and love this gourmet pizza. The thin crust had a perfectly nice mouthfeel and was baked just right. The LDC chef duo is relocating to Singapore next week, but this Collab Pizza will still be available at Bare Knuckle Pizza until tomorrow night, Saturday March 7th, this special collab is to help with the launch of LDC's new recipe book - so get a taste of this collab pizza while you can!

I tried the peaches version of their pear or peach pizza, which has fresh mozzarella, gorgonzola,…read moresliced peaches, arugula prosciutto, and Parmesan, and used vegan bacon. The peaches aren't overwhelming and added a nice sweet tint. The cheese is more pungent. Overall I thought it was really good, the arugula actually balanced out well with the other sweet, salty, and savory ingredients. Bare Knuckle has some uncommon pizza flavors, but so far all of the ones I've tried have been good.

Ambience is whatever, because how much can you do with an a retired McDonald's haunted by the…read moreghosts of a thousand afterschool squabbles? But the pizza and salad are always on point, and you'll never want for a place to sit. Fair prices, professional staff.

My friends and I stopped here for some post-hike eats. I ordered the shroomed chicken pizza at the…read morerecommendation of the cashier (over just getting an exclusively funghi pizza) and took the beeper outside to the table in front of the store where my bestie's sister was waiting with their pooch. When the beeper buzzed, they went in to grab the pizza pie. We were all quite impressed. The goat cheese and rosemary were quite prominent, so if you like either, this is the pie for you. For reference, one pizza pie was plenty for the 3 of us hungry hikers.