I've been to The Star on Park before, so when my wife and I were craving pizza, Little Star Pizza…read morewas an easy choice--especially since they have deep dish around and gluten-free options for her. We stopped in early on a Friday evening and were seated right away. The space has a great, casual vibe with plenty of indoor seating and some outdoor tables for nicer weather. Our server was friendly and checked in to see if we had any questions (we didn't), and we got drinks started right away--a local beer from Faction and a Black Basil cocktail. Both came out quickly and were solid. For food, I went with one of their signature pies--the All-Star deep dish. It's loaded with bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, and cheese... and it's massive. I always go for the 12" because it easily turns into 4-5 meals (no regrets there). My wife built her own gluten-free pizza with a thin crust and really enjoyed it. One thing I appreciated: even though deep dish takes longer to cook, both pizzas came out at the same time, which isn't always easy to do. They also offer a good variety of salads, starters, and sandwiches, which all sounded great--but I was here for the pizza. Overall, great service, excellent food, and a relaxed atmosphere. Definitely a go-to spot for a casual pizza night.

I was visiting family out by Albany and was planning on getting sandwiches from Zara. Sadly Zara's…read moreclosed after a car drive into the Delicatessen. I was in a mood for a sandwich and by brother-in-law suggested Little Star Pizza. He recommended the East Coast Sandwich (combination). My sister and brother-in-law ordered the East Coast Sandwich which they both loved. I ordered a Meatball sandwich which was pretty good. It tasted liked meatballs in a grilled garlic roll. The meatball is sliced so the sandwich is on the thin side. Overall, the nice gooey cheese, grilled garlic roll and meatball created a pretty good sandwich. They have a good menu with pizzas, sandwiches and salads. I plan to drop in again but will try the pizza and see if it is as good as the sandwiches. If you order take-out, you need to walk down the side of the building to the take-out sign and enter that door. The take-out counter is right inside the side door.

Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon for lunch after stocking up at Monterey Market. I'm luckily…read morewithin walking distance but parking may be tricky for those driving in. Ordered slices of pepperoni, Julian, and Spinaci Aglio. All were amazing. Thin, crisp crust, tangy pizza sauce, good olive oil, great cheese pull. Simple ingredients coming together for a satisfying and piping hot bite. Pepperoni drips with the golden orange oil, characteristic of a solid pep slice. Spinaci has just enough garlic that works perfectly with the mild spinach. The star of Julian is the near crunchy kale complemented by pops of sausage. Place your order inside and pick up at the window just outside when they call out your order. There's a park a block or so down the road that's a great place to stop by and enjoy your slice if the small bench in front is filled up.

Tucked into the side of your average street in Berkeley is the best pizza we've had in the Bay…read moreArea. GIOIA is serving up some VERY good pizza out of what feels like a hole in the wall. Beware that parking may be hard to find as it's right off the street although there is a lot just down the road. The inside is very bare bones, which in this case is a good sign. The smell of the oven and dough just hits you once you step in and it's fantastic. Ordering was quick and easy and the slices are priced a bit high but for the quality of pizza we'd say it was worth it. We got some classic slices and also their fungi slice. From ordering to eating it took about 5-10 minutes despite a few people ahead of us so it was relatively quick. And now time to try it... man was it good. It's clearly a good representation of NY style. The crust is firm and crunchy but the pizza has a nice flop to it. The cheese is tasty with a good sauce under it too. The fungi also popped with flavor from the mushrooms, parsley, and olive oil; just a great series of slices. The best place to eat it is probably the bench seating they have outside but it may be full as a heads up. As far as we see it, GIOIA is a must stop in Berkeley. It came very highly recommended and was devoured in less than 5 minutes. We almost wish we didn't have plans to eat later that day because we could've eaten 2 more slices each then and there. This is as close to true NYC style pizza as you can get outside of NYC.

Great setting if you get a table in the back yard/deck. Pizza is crispy and we loved the toppings…read more You can't go wrong with any of the pizzas. Good choice of wine nothing complex mostly easy to drink wins with pizza. Salads are good too. We have enjoyed this addition to Berkeley!

As someone from Brooklyn that has eaten pizza her whole life, I'm very critical about it. I can say…read moreRose Pizzeria makes fantastic pizza. Their marinara sauce is perfectly sweet & not too acidic, perfect amount of cheese, and the taste of the dough in the pizza, plus the char on the crust was incredible- truly no notes for the Margherita pie. The Champione pie was a white pizza with mushrooms and charred leeks, this was sort of a 3.9/5 for me, and this is my personal opinion. Mushrooms and leeks are a good flavor combo, but I think it works better on pasta than as a pizza topping. Plentiful mushrooms in each bite, but I felt like they were competing with each other instead of complimenting each others. This review was for a takeout order (ordered in person, took 30 mins) and I can't wait to dine in person!

Pizzeria da Laura in Berkeley is a fantastic spot for Italian food right in the heart of downtown,…read morejust steps from the university. The location gives it a lively downtown vibe with lots of energy from the surrounding area and nearby students. The reservation and check-in process was very smooth. The staff were incredibly courteous, welcoming, and helpful throughout the visit. I actually arrived about 30 minutes earlier than my reservation time, and they were kind enough to seat us early, which was a really nice touch. One thing I really like about this place is that they update their dishes a few times a year, so every visit can feel a little different and exciting. The menu has great variety, especially when it comes to pizza styles as you can choose from New York, Sicilian, Detroit, and Grandma-style pizzas, and the pricing is very straightforward for all the sizes they serve. The pizza was perfectly cooked and tasted great. They also allow you to customize your pizza by adding or removing ingredients, which makes it very convenient for everyone to choose based on their liking. And they add toppings with open-heart. The pasta was also excellent. We ordered the Peperoncino pasta, and it tasted amazing. The garlic flavor and breadcrumbs were really the highlight and brought out the authentic character of the spaghetti. Another big plus is that they have plenty of vegetarian options, making it easy for different dietary preferences. The portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable for what they serve. Food arrived quickly, and the service from the servers and staff was great throughout the visit. The restaurant also has plenty of space and handles reservations well. The atmosphere is lively with lots of people around and students from the nearby university, which adds to the downtown Berkeley energy. A little more upbeat music could add even more charm to the place. Overall, this is a place I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Berkeley. It's the kind of restaurant I'd happily come back to again and again.

disappointing…read more ordered a "Sicilian Style" expecting the pastry-thin style of, uh, y'know, Sicily, and got something almost 2" thick; apparently their idea of "Sicilian Style" is more like Cheese Bread. (it's hard to tell from the cartoon depiction on their website, so be forewarned,) furthermore, was told it would be ready in 30 minutes and timed our arrival to be there just before that, only to get a text message 12 minutes after ordering that it was already ready. makes it really hard to plan to pick up your pizza fresh when the staff can't even tell you when it's really going to be ready..

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!

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

Unfortunately they are gone, for good, I heard. I will miss it…read more the service ,the food , the ambiance WAS wonderful. very sad to no longer have this restaurant. My rating was the past.

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.

We visit Sliver whenever we come to Berkeley and it never disappoints. The pizza is always hot and…read morefresh and the flavors are great! Previously I wouldn't have liked that you only have one pizza flavor to choose from, but they've all been great and with the green sauce, even better! The service is always fast and friendly, though I will say we tend to pop in during odd hours of the day (like mid afternoon) so it's never crowded when we go. The interior is clean enough and pretty spacious. A good place to hang out with friends and enjoy some pizza.

I am going to be honest here, and I am not a fan. I don't usually like pizza, but my standards are…read morehigh. The pizza is THIN and greasy, the flavor is completely overshadowed by the grease, you can't even taste the flavors of the pizza and toppings because of the sheer layer of GREASE on each slice. It is disappointing to say the least. The sauce they give you for their white pizza has random hints of spice but is, for the most part, flavorless. The pizza took a while to be ready (3 pizzas), and every drink option I attempted to order was out of stock. There are many seating options and the space is well decorated, but that cannot make up for the dish they served.

I love this worker owned place. Its a co-op. Pizza flavor choses you: one a day. You can count in…read morethere being a line and almost no seats but its that good that you go anyway! @baybitesnsips on tiktok

My daughter is in town from college & I wanted to take her out for pizza…read more Last minute we yelped & picked Cheeseboard because we wanted to be able to bring our dog. Pizza flavor the day I went: Crushed Tomato, Red Onion, Mozzarella, Garlic, Olive Oil, Basil-Pine nut Parmesan Unexpectedly... which was fine, I learned: 1. they serve a different flavor pizza every day so check online for the flavor of the day 2. Some days have live music 3. No DoorDash or Togo orders (unless you're ordering a big order like 6 whole pizzas) 4. Everyone has to stand in line to order Pros: -pizza is delicious & everyone seemed to love their food -vegan , gluten free & half baked options -music -the line was long , to me that means the food is good -people get up constantly, so finding a seat was not hard -pet friendly Cons: -the line wraps down the street, didn't really want to stand in a long line -mostly outdoor seating options

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.

Benchmark's menu may not be extensive, but everything I've had there is good. The pizza crust is…read morethe right mix of chewy and crispy: the best I've had lately in the Bay area. Fried sage pizza with a chopped salad is a family favorite. Add a choc chip sea salted cookie for dessert. The dine-in experience is great: outdoor seating with a nice view that goes great with a beer or cocktail on a sunny afternoon. The waitstaff are friendly and skilled. The takeout experience is mostly good, but a few things could be better. I'd like the option to remove onions from my takeout pizza. And: Lately the chopped salad has been presented in a plastic takeout box with the ingredients separated into other plastic containers. This leaves the customer to basically create the salad from the ingredients, then deal with a bunch of plastic waste. Better to go back to the old method: compostable box with the ingredients tossed by Benchmark, giving the customer the option to have Benchmark toss the dressing or do it themselves. When I order an expensive salad, I expect a salad, not a collection of separate ingredients for me to mix myself. And the plastic detracts from the experience and adds waste to the environment.

The food was fine but giving 5 stars for the service! There was a small selection of pastas when I…read morecame about an hour before closing, didn't have all the items I saw on the menu on other recent reviews unfortunately. The portions were pretty small and the sauces were fine. The pasta itself was great though and tasted fresh! The gelato was amazing, I highly recommend the tiramisu and matcha! The restaurant has a homey vibe. Fernando was our server and he was great! Super accommodating and helpful with the menu and made us feel welcome with conversation. Would come again if I'm ever in the area again!

Services is 10/10 great The pizza was a little disappointed…read moreas we had been here before few times the gluen free pizza is not the same The pizza dough changed not the same which used to raise and reminded of Italy pizza And they had two options of gluten free dough