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

I grew up right around the corner from Gioia's and have so many memories of riding skateboards…read morethrough the neighborhood with my siblings and stopping in for pizza. The old owner was always so cool to us as kids and would sometimes give us free slices (usually ones that hadn't sold and probably would've been thrown out anyway), but as kids we thought it was the greatest thing ever. He was just genuinely kind and made the place feel like part of the neighborhood. I know Gioia's has since changed ownership, and unfortunately the friendliness I remember hasn't really carried over. My experiences with the newer staff have been pretty rude and unwelcoming, which is disappointing when you have such fond memories of a place. That being said, I have to give credit where it's due: the pizza is STILL just as good as I remember it being. I just wish the warmth and neighborhood feel of the old Gioia's had stuck around too.

Hidden gem in the berkeley hills! Great place for a quick bite!…read more * Julian pizza: A little spicy but had a lot of toppings. Maybe too many because it was falling apart on me, but the crust was yummy. * Funghi pizza: lighter and did not fall apart. I loved the mushrooms and overall flavor! Pizza came out fast and hot. They have parmesan and chili flakes at the pickup window. Service was typical for a take-out only spot, but they gave me some good pizza recs. It is take out only but the pizza is good price for what you get. I definitely want to come back and try the other pizzas!

I came to Rose Pizzeria on a Thursday night and the 45 minute wait was worth it…read more It's a cute small restaurant that if you're not paying attention while walking or driving, you will miss this gold mine. Their menu is stacked with so many items from appetizers, drinks, and then pizzas. I started off with some olives, and they were perfect. Not sure where they sourced them from. I ordered the Old Faithful and I should've ordered two. It was so good with all of the flavors combining in each bite, and pairing it with their hot honey, it was the perfect combination among sweet, spicy, and savory. I can't wait to come back and try more pizzas!

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?

Everything about our experience at Pizzeria Da Laura in Berkeley was absolutely perfect!…read more The meatballs were delicious--so flavorful, tender, and moist, and the sauce was absolutely incredible. And the arancini... hands down, the best I've ever had! Perfectly crispy on the outside and so delicious on the inside. We ordered The Standard pizza, and it was baked to perfection! The crust was perfect, the sauce was delicious, and every topping could be tasted in every single bite. Everything came together so beautifully. The ambiance was amazing too--warm, inviting, and the perfect setting for a great meal. The service was great! This was one of those meals where everything was just right. Amazing food, great atmosphere, and an experience we truly enjoyed. We'll definitely be back!

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.

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.

Wonderful, amazing pizza with top-notch ingredients you can see how to use fresh mozzarella cheese,…read morethe way that it just pulls. The crust is absolutely just marvelous. The cheesy thin, crusty burnt ends gives it an appeal that most pizzas don't have .Thats what distinguishes this place from (ALL ) others ..Jupiter and Rose to name a few. This place absolutely distinguish itself from all the other pizza places here in Berkeley .near campus. The service was amazing very hospitable very warm and accommodating . Wonderful service.and the ambience is wonderful low-key music real college feel to the building with people just coming in and out, but at the same time, pleasing and welcoming. 5 /STARS for this place. !!!!! just keep in mind at the other location. on Shattuck (doesn't do slices like they do here. They only do slices for the special of the day. Other than that you have to order your pizza hole, but the telegraph location there's two slices anywhere you want them this place is a mess if you're at Berkeley a student or just family visit out of town.!!!

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.

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.

I came here for dinner on a Weds night. For two people, we ordered a pizza, some drinks and a…read moreseasonal lemon pasta. The crust on the pizza was a little thick but had a good chew. There was too much sauce on the pizza, which made the pizza very wet in the center and difficult to pick up. The flavor on the pizza was good but felt like it wasn't baked well. We also ordered the lemon pasta, which I do not recommend. There was crisped up breadcrumbs in the dish, that was meant to add crunch to the dish, but the texture ended up resembling crushed eggshells when chewed in the mouth, and it lacked lots of flavor. I would definitely not order their food to go, as I don't think it would travel well. I don't think I would return to benchmark if I had a pizza craving.

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

DICK MOVE, ADDING HIDDEN "SERVICE FEES" AND TIPS TO THE TAB WITHOUT DISCLOSING THEM IN ADVANCE. Of…read morecourse, this seems to be common in the restaurant and "hospitality" industry. Unfortunately, the employees bear the brunt of this disreputable practice, since they get smaller tips (or no tips at all) because of their employers' avarice. Pro-worker? I beg to differ.