The pizza is the star at Little Star Pizza! Located on a busy stretch of Solano Avenue on the lower…read moreportion near the San Pablo Avenue intersection on Albany, California, Little Star Pizza is just one of many locations of this burgeoning franchise from owner Brian Sadigursky, who began his mini-pizza making empire of his signature cornmeal crust deep dish pizzas in a small location along Divisadero Street in San Francisco's Nopa neighborhood. That location has since closed down, but two locations remain, this one in Albany and another along Valencia Street in San Francisco's Mission District. The team also owns three The Star pizza restaurants with locations in Oakland, Alameda, and Portland, Oregon. With all these locations to keep track of what makes people keep coming back for all these wide varieties of pizza pies? It's the dough of course, but it is not just any dough, it is their beautifully crusty cornmeal dough that is cooked to perfection for their Chicago-style deep dish pizza that is what makes Little Star and all of their subsidiaries so worthwhile. I had originally been to this location when they were located literally right next door in a smaller location on the corner. Now, in a much larger location, with floor to ceiling windows that let in natural light on two sides, and their own communal parking lot, where there is a door for direct takeout orders, Little Star Pizza is thriving here in Albany. What brought me and a dining mate back for a first time visit to this newer location was the affordable lunchtime deal that they serve seemingly seven days a week. From open until 3 p.m. diners can order a Personal Signature Pizza either Deep Dish or Thin Crust for only 11 dollars. You can also build your own personal pizza for 9 dollars which is an affordable option. My fellow dining mate and I knew we wanted to select from their Seasonal Specials or their Signature Pies. I decided to order their Personal size All-Star Signature Pie, which was topped with bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, provolone cheese and served on their signature cornmeal crust, then filled with mozzarella cheese and house-made tomato sauce & finished with parmesan & oregano. My dining mate was intrigued by their Specials menu, and their Personal size Sweet Heat, which was topped with spicy sausage, caramelized red onions, cherry peppers, hot honey and served on their signature cornmeal crust, then filled with mozzarella cheese and house-made tomato sauce & finished with parmesan & oregano. Since both pizzas were so affordable at 11 dollars each, we decided to splurge and order two dessert drinks as I ordered their Golden Gate Orange Soda Float and my dining mate ordered their Dad's Root Beer Soda Float. The wait for our personal size pizzas would be a lengthy one, at least twenty minutes, which for about a nine inch pizza pie, is still a considerable amount of time. But once you do get the pizzas you order, I can report it is well worth the wait, as the pizza has that extra special graininess to it that makes it extra special good. Combined with the fresh tomatoes and an abundance of mozzarella cheese, you cannot go wrong with any type of pizza you order. I liked my All-Star pizza pie with its abundance of meat toppings and I tried my dining mates Sweet Heat pizza pie and it came as delivered as it has a combination of sweetness meets spiciness. Luckily our wait wasn't too long, as we had our ice cream and soda floats to keep us satiated while we waited for our pizzas to be handcrafted. Our total bill was $42.08, which was with tax but before gratuity, which in all reality was very reasonable considering we ordered two rather large personal deep dish pizzas, and our floats were a mere fraction less in terms of pricing. Since they have a Happy Hour on weeknights from 3-5:30 p.m. with reasonably priced cocktails, one-topping pizzas and other menu items at affordable pricing, you better believe it will not be another decade that passes by before I make another appearance. Here's to the continued success of Little Star Pizza, may more locations be in the future, and may their current locations continue to thrive thanks to their delectable Signature Deep Dish pizzas!

Went to Little Star Friday for lunch. The place was pretty empty, pretty dark inside and on the…read morecold side We ordered two side Cesar salads which were good. My partner got a personal Sweet Heat pizza, a very value. I ordered the personal Meatball pizza and it was awful. The thing was topped with huge gobs od mozarella cheese. Way too much cheese. I should have sent the thing back but I scrapped off the cheese and went to work. Not very good meatballs and the crust was lame. Def a waste of money

This is the real deal. I love pizza and if it wasn't for pizza and burritos, I might be in trouble…read more Maybe a little pasta too. A small space with a little pick up window and several individual slices to choose from in a lovely neighborhood, which has a handful of groovy, little eating spots, etc. This pizza is the way it should be, thin crust, well prepared, interesting toppings, and freaking delicious!!! The kind of place that could be on just about any corner in any city worldwide! Tonight I had a slice of spinach with garlic and chili oil with some terrific tomato sauce, which made my taste buds explode with "joy-uh"....... (Gioia is most commonly pronounced as "JOY-uh") In Italian, gioia primarily means joy or delight. This is as good as if not better than any pizza tossed within 500 miles! There is another location on Hayes Street in San Francisco. The only area that needs some improvement is in the staffing and service. I've been going there for years and it is reminiscent of a DMV facility. "Now serving G 30 at Window #8." *********************************** Have a slice, take a whole pie home!

20-year loyal customer shocked by the increasingly rude front staff…read more We have been coming to Gioia Pizzeria for over 20 years. It's our neighborhood go-to, and we eat here at least once a week because the pizza is truly excellent. For nearly two decades, the staff was always friendly, but over the last couple of years, the front-of-house service has drastically gone downhill. The people taking the orders consistently seem like they don't want to be there. I've been overlooking the cold attitude for a while now because we love the food, but my experience today was the last straw. I ordered a whole pie and politely asked to have it double-sliced. The cashier looked visibly annoyed by a simple, standard request. It got worse when the pizza was ready: after she handed me the box, I kindly asked for a few paper plates. She literally threw the plates at me with a glaring look of unhappiness. I was honestly in shock by her behavior. Stunned, I asked her what her name was, and she flat-out refused to tell me. There is absolutely no reason to treat a regular, polite customer with that level of hostility over plates and a name request. I believe people need to be held accountable for how they treat others, especially in customer service. Looking at other recent reviews, I see that I'm definitely not the only one feeling this way. Gioia has been one of our absolute favorite pizzerias in Berkeley for over 20 years, but it's a shame to see a great neighborhood spot ruined by the attitude of the people taking orders. I am truly hoping management and the owners will read this and take real action. The food is still great, but the toxic energy at the front counter is ruining the experience, and loyal customers shouldn't be treated like an inconvenience. This incident happened today at 1130am.

Rose Pizzeria, now boasting two locations, obviously is superb to start its Bay Area sprawl. So,…read moreit's no shocker that I'll say she's really good. I tried their pie for the first time, sharing a She Wolf pizza and spicy Caesar between our party of two. They strictly serve 14 inch thin crust pies, which is a decent amount of food split between 2, if you supplement with a starter course. The She Wolf, littered with olives and garlic confit, is sublime, and the dollops of burrata thoughtfully portioned on every slice make a rich, excellent contrast to the tangy sauce underneath. I'd imagine Portnoy being likely pleased with the undercarriage, which was stiff enough to not forfeit any of its structural integrity nor toppings to the almost-inevitable flop. The spicy Caesar is a damn good Caesar and not over nor under dressed. Next time, I'd add some anchovies. In Carrie Bradshaw fashion, I also indulged in a chilled red with my pizza this afternoon while people watching on their adorable patio. Is there really a better lunch to be had?

The pizza here is always a hit. I'm a sucker for fresh ingredients and inspired dough…read more Service is "pizza classy" and you can bet on your pie being piping hot! The setting is perfect for a casual date or family outing. If you go on a nice day sit on the patio.

Brief Summary: - Close to the Downtown Berkeley BART station…read more- Indoor and outdoor seating available - Right next to it there is a shop where you can purchase slices and ingredients Lately, this is the family's favorite pizza place. The first time we tried this was a few years ago, and one of my family members wanted to try a new place to eat pizza and had been exploring one almost once a month cadence. Then we tried here, and we were amazed and became our favorite. One of the reasons why we like going here more often than the other restaurants, the food of course, but the comfortable restaurant atmosphere. Still to this day we chose to walk-in and test our luck than take a reservation, and so far we were able to get a seat. In the most recent visit, there was a university game, so there was a longer wait time. The good thing about waiting was there were dedicated seats to wait, or in the first few minutes we hung out in the shop next door. Here, visitors can choose to buy and take home a slice instead of dining in, order food or shop for ingredients. The pizzas we've eaten so far are the Sicily style and this one has a lovely texture. Its appearance is like pillows. It's lightly-crispy on the edges, even the under-layer. It holds the pizza toppings without bending. We also tried a pizza named the most thinnest pizza, and we loved this one too. This one was located under the Speciality menu, so this didn't have topping customization. We loved that while it was very thin it still held the toppings too. I also love stracciatella cheese, so I also tasted the milkiness while eating this slice. We've also loved the pasta and have been trying a new menu each time. The one we tried recently had a fun texture, like a gentle crunch, and the pesto sauce was easy to eat, didn't get heavy in the end of the meal. I also tried a salad that was being served to most of the tables on this particular evening; a bowl of purple leafs, purple onions, and beets. The chicory leaf had a subtle bitterness to it, but with the sweet beet, it balanced it out. I also love goat cheese, and it was creamy. Wrapping up the review, it gave me a soft joy when the staff recognized and greeted us. The staff were kind and attentive since our first visit,, so his was another part that we liked during our eating experience. We'll definitely visit again when we're craving pizza.

Such a cute spot for a date night! The pizza was absolutely delicious, with a great variety of pies…read moreto choose from. Our server was incredibly hospitable and made the experience even better. The arancini with lemon was a unique touch and definitely worth trying. They also have an expansive beverage menu, so there's plenty to choose from alongside your pizza. Overall, a great little spot for good food, drinks, and a cozy date night!

Massive slice of pizza by the slice…read more Had the supreme with everything on it Ingredients were pretty good, nice sauce and cheese distribution Came out to 9.50 a giant slice If you want a snack, it's not for you because this is a whole meal. Pizza is reheated in less than 3 mins, very quick. They do have other smaller items like 6 or 9 inch hotdogs if that's up your alley

Massive slices. I thought it was far more than I needed but then...I finished…read more Above average on the picky pizza scale! 3.5 star rounded up. We had one cheese one pepperoni. Come in the late afternoon and they were close to selling out of things!

Street parking, in a residential-ish area. They have…read moreoutdoor seating too, not a long wait on a Sunday evening. Its more of an adult, for drinks type of vibe & if you don't have a big appetite. Only giving stars for the great service. Food didn't take long, quality of the food was ok, portion was not filling at all, especially for the price. More of a bougie, place. The pizzas we ordered were super thin, not a lot of toppings & toppings seemed like they were just thrown on in the middle. Restroom, only 1, pretty spacious & clean

We stopped here for the 1st time ever for dinner after a concert in Berkeley…read more The food, service and ambiance were swanky and smooth. We ordered whiskey and a margarita with blanco tequila. We split the Brussel sprouts and an East Bay pizza pie. Everything was really tasty! If you're looking for good food and a good vibes come and eat here! I look forward to coming back the next time I'm in the area, hopefully to check out their happy hour menu! Support Black Business check out Three One Four pizzeria.

Half corn & Half potatoes: It was pretty darn good. We got another whole pizza after finishing the…read morefirst one. Never had corn or potatoes pizza. It was pretty good. The place used to be known for their vegetarian pizza when my friends went to school in Berkeley. Serivce was great! There were only 2 people working today when we got there and pizza came out pretty fast. They were accommodating with us also which we really appreciated. 5/5: because of the service. The pizza is pretty pricey. It came out to little over $40 with tips. The space is huge.

Amazing pizza, great location, lots of interior space, slight sus bathroom…read more.. Food: Sliver is probably one of my favorite pizza shops in the bay, maybe in general. I went last week and they had a summer corn pizza that was loaded with juicy kernels of corn, fresh tomatoes and peppers, plus a ton of parsley for garnish. I am a corn fan so I knew I'd like this flavor. And I wasn't disappointed. Sauce: Sliver could even be more well known for its sauces. You have to try the green sauce! Perfect blend of savoriness, freshness, and a kick of heat! Location: right off the Berkeley BART station, This shop is super easy to transit to whether you're taking bus or the bart. Lots parking nearby too. Bathroom: maybe I just went too early in the day before the employees had time to clean up the bathroom, but it had no toilet paper, no seat covers, no paper towels, and the hand soap was simply in a cup that you had to dip your fingers into... kinda sus? Overall I'll definitely be going back because sliver become so popular because of their incredible pizzas and not their bathrooms!

Has rotating pizza flavors of the day, no decision paralysis on picking from the menu!…read more The one I had was sooooo delightfully cheesy the racictte cheese was amazing it has a nice chunky texture that isn't too stringy and flavor was savory with a tinge of sweetness - very balanced cheese. Paired with the Yukon potato very well. Overall pretty balanced in flavor It was veryyyyy oily but so worth it Also crust was decent it had nice crisp at the ends with cheese crunch bits too but the bottom got a little wet from all the oil and moisture Really good portion sizes, it seems they might give out extra half slices with your order? Their "special" green sauce was nice it reminded me of green salsa I'd use for tacos Also has pretty good salads, they gave a pesto / raisin combo dressing (salad is on the drier side) This is definitely a standout eatery in Berkeley and worth the hype :)

Each day is a new combination of an ingredients. One type of pizza serve per day and they have many…read morespecial combinations! Gluten-free and non-dairy pizzas available. It's the perfect place to get a pizza and eat on site or take it with you to go. They also have par baked pizzas available that you could take home with you to bake. Their green sauce is worth trying out if you haven't yet, providing a nice kick to the pizzas. If you get a large container of it, you'll have more sauce for meals later on at home. They also have cooked garlic that is ready to purchase and add to your pizza for when you're ready. It's a co-op and I believe in what they stand for. Can't go wrong with this place. It's worth the wait! And the wait generally isn't too bad.

Benchmark continues to be one of my favorite spots when a serious pizza craving hits. Last night, I…read morestopped in specifically hoping to try the eggplant pizza, but unfortunately they were sold out. Since the only other pie I'd previously had there was the brown butter sage -- delicious, though I've learned lemon on pizza simply isn't my thing -- I decided to go with their classic Benchmark margherita instead. It absolutely delivered. This is Neo-Neapolitan pizza done right: bright, fresh tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, torn basil, and a beautifully balanced crust with a perfectly thin base, nicely charred underside, and those airy, leopard-spotted edges that make wood-fired pizza so satisfying. Simple, restrained, and incredibly well executed. It was an unusually warm evening, so I opted to sit outside. My only real complaint is that the tables closest to the street sit noticeably on a slant, making it a bit of a challenge to keep plates and glasses from slowly sliding downhill throughout the meal. A small detail, but worth noting. That said, the staff were genuinely lovely and welcoming, and the overall experience was exactly what I was hoping for. One final recommendation: do yourself a favor and ask for a side of olive oil for dipping the crusts. It's the perfect finishing touch. I'll absolutely be back the next time the craving strikes.

Delivery by Doordash: tough, because it was cold. Small and would only taste good it it were…read moreabsolutely fresh.

Delicious food, friendly service Nice gluten free selection…read more Next time will definitely try the gelato

With my friend in town, she wanted to try good Italian food. We came to Passione Emporio based on a…read morefamily recommendation. We were satisfied and left full. The restaurant is quaint and has neighborhood charm. It's a cozy space with a decent amount of seating for various party sizes, plus outdoor seating. They have fresh gelato and a wood-fire pizza oven you can see. The service was fine. Our food came out hot and fast, and our water was refilled, but we weren't checked on much. Their menu offers specialties and seasonal items. I had the Salmon Ravioli and my friend got the Lasagna Ragu. The ravioli was good; you can taste the creamy spinach filling. The sauce was light and bright. I wish there were more ravioli plus veggies. My friend enjoyed her lasagna. Their menu online can be a bit misleading compared to their in-person menu. I wouldn't mind getting this dish again. Passione Emporio is a nice spot for Italian food in West Berkeley. I'd come here if I lived in the area but wouldn't go out of my way. They're located off Fifth Street with free neighborhood street parking around.