Tucked away in Merced, this little pizza shack delivers legit New York-style pizza by the slice without trying too hard to be "authentic" every five seconds. The slices are large, around $4.50 each, and worth it. I tried the pepperoni and the Tucci special -- roasted tomatoes, pesto, and ricotta -- and that one absolutely stole the show. Simple combo, big flavor. The inside is definitely on the smaller side, so don't expect a big dine-in experience, but the staff was friendly and the food came out fast. Great spot when you want a solid slice without the usual mall-food-court disappointment pretending to be pizza. read more

Little Oven Pizza - Pepperoni and tucci pizza slices - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

This spot has very minimal seating. It's more of a takeout place. However, the cheese pizza here is actually really good. It reminds me of New York style pizza. There's a bunch of cheese and they don't overdo it on the sauce. I also tried the Papas Island pizza personally, it was not for me. However, if you're into like sweet and savory together, I think it would be a good pizza for you. I didn't get to take a picture of the pizzas, but the slices were really big. Also, the staff is super nice here which is a bonus and they are quick. They had a line out the door and they were able to quickly get everyone's pizzas. I would totally come here again! read more

Little Oven Pizza - Menu - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

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Slices were really good! Definitely NY style. Flavorful. Service was nice too, everyone was friendly. read more

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When you walk in and see a brick oven you already know this if different from any pizza place in Merced. It's a small place but there is seating outside. The slice of the day is always worth a try. You order at the counter so service is as far as the line is. No line fast service. Line still means fast service but ya gotta wait your turn. read more

We have been coming here for many years! My family loves this place! Their pizzas are amazing! I love the variety of specials, they are locally owned and operated, farm to table ingredients, the service is always great. We used them to cater our wedding - pizzas and salad The Bee Thousand, The Rucula is my absolute favorite!! Keep it local! read more

Little Oven Pizza is a serious contender for best pizza I have ever had. The pizza is always so fresh and consistent. I've never had a bad experience whether ordering by the slice or when getting a whole pie. Top notch, excellent pizza! read more

Little Oven Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

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This place is in a great location in Merced, I assume the downtown area. There are plenty of other shops and restaurants in the area. I came here with the family on a Sunday to grab a slice. There isn't much seating so good luck if you are trying to chill there and eat. There is some seating inside and a few outside, but it's more of a take and go place. Everyone there was very friendly and helpful with navigating the menu. I have family from NY and I visit there often, I will say this pizza is pretty darn close. Delicious! Ordered single slices yet it was so good I ended up ordering a whole pie to bring home, tasted just as good the next day. Now I know if I want a good slice of pizza this is the place to go. read more

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I'm from out of town and this pizza is really good and cheap. The slices are thin. It's a small place but everything is a great vibe. read more

Little Oven Pizza - Great customer service, clean and cool ! - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

The peppa fig and their capri are my favorites. You can't go wrong with the regular pepperoni tho. Only complaint is there's little room in the place it's crowded. I hope they get a bigger place as demand is growing. read more

Called in two hours to order a pizza and the phone just rang and rang. Made a reluctant trip to this pizza establishment and was told it was an hour and one half away from closing and they refused to make a pizza, only offered by the slice. Will never return as the customer service was bad. read more

Visited this evening for dinner with the family of 5! We ordered 2 18-inch pizzas: cheese & pepperoni/sausage. Wait time was about 40 minutes, not too bad. They were busy, there was people constantly, coming in and out for pizza. The pizzas were exellent! However, seating for a family of 4-5+ is very tight. Definitely a small group of 2-3 or single vibe for dining in! Next time we probably would take the pizzas to-go or eat outside. read more

First time coming in and everything was amazing. Great service, kind staff, and the quality of the food fresh. The environment was friendly. It was really busy but they get orders out quickly considering they are a small restaurant. Truly recommend for anyone looking for a great slice of pizza. Try the specialty pizzas of the day. Wow! read more

Little Oven Pizza - Pepperoni,jalapeño,mushroom pizza - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

Cute, quaint little town in Cali. We stopped on our trip from Yosemite to Santa Cruz to grab a bite to eat. Best pizza I've ever had! It was the perfect amount of greasy. The crust was thin and crunchy, and also perfection! I worked in a pizza restaurant through high school, have traveled to some of the US states know for their pizza... nothing tops this! I only wish we'd ordered a pie and not just slices, so we could've eaten again on our trip! My daughters still talk about this pizza 6 months later! read more

Little Oven Pizza was recommended to us by our bar keep at 17th Street Public House. We walked over and to Little Oven to order a pizza to take back to 17th Street PH and have some beers. Little Oven is a quaint establishment with some seating inside and outside. We ordered a simple pepperoni pizza with the "cup" pepperoni. Our order took about 15 minutes since this place gets busy! Our pizza tasted absolutely AMAZING! We shared it with our friends and we all agreed that it was definitely one of the best pizzas that any of us have had. The pizzas come in one side and you can order sauces on the side. The staff were very helpful and friendly and we appreciated their help when we were trying to figure out how to order. When in Merced and you want great pizza, you definitely need to try Little Oven Pizza. You will absolutely love it! read more

Why oh why. Over the last few years I noticed a decline in the quality of the ingredients and how the pizza is cooked. I did not want to believe my taste buds because this place was truly a gem. However, the last pizza I purchased was a sloppy mess. I asked for a well done pizza and got a half cooked pizza. Requested extra sauce and was charged, but no extra sauce on the pie. The pizza sauce was very salty, in the past it had a slight sweetness to it. Not any more. The dough had zero air pockets. It was not allowed to rise. The cheese was a total disaster, low cost oily mess. Some thing has changed over the last few years. A slow change, incremental and gradual. Please go back to your New York - Philadelphia roots and bring back the 5 stars. read more

Came here on recommendation from one of our hosts in Mariposa County. Reminds me of the good pizza places I visited in Atlanta. Definitely very popular, people kept coming in. I sat at the counter. I tried their two specials. Good flavor, but the pizza felt drier than you'd want. read more

Little Oven Pizza - Brooklyns Best & something else - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

It's a quiant lil store. You can sit outside or inside. The cashier was helpful with her service since it was our first time. They sell sliced pizzas and I need to go back and try a certain sliced pizza I was recommended. Again, I would go back to try to their other different pizzas. Go check them out when you are in Merced. read more

I can't believe I didn't know about this place until last week. This is probably a top 5 pizza I've ever had. It's thin and crunchy. There's nothing worst than a soggy pizza, not this one ! The cheese was perfect and the sizes are great. Only problem is they don't have ranch and you can't properly eat pizza without ranch read more

Little Oven Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

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Pizza was very greasy and bland I don't know if it's because they were busy but not worth it , it was my first time trying it and definitely wasn't what I was expecting and we got a whole pizza . We ended up giving it away to a homeless man outside since we were not going to eat it . read more

Great pizza on Main Street in Merced. Eat inside or outside or to go. Rated highly on best pizza in the state of California

I know a lot of people love this place but I would get my pizza elsewhere. Their pizza is really thin and it's definitely edible but honestly it's just not the kind of pizza I'd ever crave. The service was good and the staff are really nice! read more

Pizza served by the slice or whole 18 inch pie. A lot of options for toppings and every day they have two different slices as a special. I had a pepperoni and a slice of the "Baja" which had onion, pineapple and jalapeños. Pizza was so good I had to get a 3rd slice. Price is great , only down fall is they charge 75 cents per tiny ranch cup. In my opinion a ranch should come with a slice. Service was great. Inside the restaurant there's a nice bar to sit at incase you're just stopping by for lunch . read more

Little Oven Pizza - Menu - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

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Our favorite pizza place in Merced!! We always get their special slices. On weekends they have a deep dish selection that's not always posted but every one we e tried has been DELICIOUS!! We really like how thin the crust on the regular pizza is. So the focus is on the yummy topping combinations they come up with. ALSO, I didn't have much hope for a pre packaged salad in a cooler but MAN OH MAN is theirs good!! It has Parmesan and roasted pistachios on it and I like the honey mustard dressing best. Whenever I'm craving a salad but am too lazy to make one, I go there! The staff is just lovely as well even though they are cranking all day. read more

Always fresh and delicious pizza here! I love that they use seasonal and local ingredients and that they support the Merced community. Their location is super convenient, the ambiance is very chill and laid back and you're always greeted with a smile! read more

Excellent pizza! If you are in a hurry get here before they open as it takes awhile to get your pizza after ordering especially if they are making new pizzas during. Excellent pizza though and cute little hole in the wall place. They have two specials by the slice everyday that changes daily. Creative and delicious pizza by the slice! I adore little oven pizza. read more

Love the pizza, honestly best I've had, I prefer their plain pies because their specials can sometimes be...different. But if you get the classics, it taste like a NY slice. read more

Quality, consistency, and locally sourced - if you're a thin crust pizza lover, you must check out this central valley gem. Embarrassed (but also not) to admit that I hit up this spot once a week. Little Oven takes you to flavortown with their freaking delicious specials! They update their Insta (@littleovenmerced) daily with what's cookin. Seeing their specials in my feed really is the highlight of my Fridays. They have a great rotation of flavors. My all time favs are peppa fig, wild bill, and brooklyn's best. Honestly, honestly, I'm satisfied with a simple cheese slice. It's that good! Spice it up with some chili oil, literal game changer. Some logistics for y'all: Price point - $3.75 for a classic slice, $4.25 for a specialty slice. Depending on the toppings, a whole pie will run you $20ish - $30ish bucks. Menu - Pizza by the slice, whole pies, a tasty salad that is premade and ready to go in their take out fridge, bottled carbonated bevs, fountain drinks, and a great beer selection. They bust out the Sicilian slice on occasion (I have yet to get my hands on one, they sell out so quick!) Location - Located in the heart of downtown Merced, parking is a hit or miss. The parking lot next to the theater is always a save bet. This spot is tiny. There's maybe 6 bar stools, 2 two seater tables, 1 four seater table, and 2 outdoor tables. Vibes - Straightforward, casual, quick service, chill. It's typically pretty busy in there, the line could seem daunting but they work fast. If you're ordering a whole pizza, definitely call it in ahead of time. OR you can be like me and order in store and have a slice and brew while you wait. Now I've never been to New York but I would imagine that this is the closest damn thing to legit thin crust pizza. read more

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Pros: Good service. Neat and clean dinning area. Food was alright. Cons: Small dining space and waiting area. A bit pricey for food quality and portion size. read more

Little Oven Pizza - Pepperoni pizza. - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

The good reviews here don't lie; this place serves some mean pie! A taste of New York in the Central Valley, this cute little shop is located on Main Street in Merced. Parking is fairly easy to find alongside the street. The inside is quaint with a few tables and bar seating. We came in around 11:40am, ten minutes after opening, on a Thursday and just beat a line! I can tell this place is well-loved based on the line of people waiting for a slice. Service was efficient, and the pizza comes out fresh in a timely manner! They serve one-size whole pizzas - and most intriguingly, pizza by the slice! They have daily special pizzas, with slices available for $4.75. Their daily specials rotate, and for today in particular, they had the Sun King (white pizza with salami, sun-dried tomato, roasted garlic, and ricotta) and the Terra Nova (a red pizza with artichoke, black olives, spinach, and red onion). Though their specials change daily, I imagine you can't go wrong with getting a daily special, no matter what the flavor is! You can check out their Instagram (@littleovenmerced) to find out their specials of the day! My boyfriend and I shared slices of the pepperoni, the Sun King, and the Terra Nova, all of which were 10/10! We both agreed that this is the best pizza we've ever had. It's actually dangerous how good these pizzas are. Even the plain pepperoni one was incredibly flavorful and arguably the best pepperoni pizza I've ever had! The chili oil with the pizza is definitely a must. Little Oven packs a BIG punch! I want to try all their daily special flavors. *sigh* I wish I lived closer! This is definitely a MUST in Merced, and I'm so glad I got to try it. read more

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Easily my favorite pizza in the Central Valley. Maybe CA. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is it's incredibly difficult to order a whole pie. I've tried multiple times and it's never possible. The amount of $$$ they are losing daily must be staggering. I was there 10 minutes yesterday waiting for my slices to get heated up and they had 4-5 phone calls asking for whole pies and the wait was 90 min to 2 hours. That's crazy. read more

Very random hole in the wall pizza place with great pizza. The pictures don't do it justice. Because the pizza crust is really good and fresh. There's not too much space in the pizza place, but most people I saw were buying pizza by the slice. The service here is good. There's a restroom in the back which is nice and clean, but you have to go down a long hall to get there. read more

Little Oven Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

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One of the best pizza places I've tried in a minute! Ambiance was great service was good pizza came out fast. I've been about three times already and every time the pizza has been delicious. The price for a slice is very affordable. read more

Stopped by this awesome place for a slice. Usually I get pepperoni but they were still cooking it so I got this slice that was ready to be served, Manco. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I tried it. Let me tell you, it was good! The mushrooms were juicy and flavorful. Guess they soak the mushrooms before topping the pizza. Doesn't surprise me. This place is always good. It's small inside, and busy, but that just goes to show that although small, it's mighty and the locals enjoy it. read more

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This cute little pizza shop has some nice hot slices for your lunch. I was killing time waiting for my husband who had a lunch meeting and decided to stop in here and try a slice. I was surprised how small the place was inside but it smelled wonderful and there was a window seat available so I ordered the special slice with arugula and bacon on white sauce. After a short wait they called my order out and it was crispy, hot and had nice flavor. One slice was plenty but if you want more or have more people to share I think ordering a whole pizza would be a better deal for sure. The place was pretty busy at lunchtime on a Friday and I can tell why, this pizza is really good. I love the crust so thin and crispy and chewy at the same time. read more

Little Oven Pizza - Pizza by the slice - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

Eating at this place reminds my bf & I of June Pie pizza at June Lake which is a MUST the next time your there but for now LOP is thee best pizza place in Merced. We've been here a couple of times, and they sell pizza by the slice which are the size of a Costco slice just not nearly as greasy, the ingredients here are absolutely tasty and fresh, our fave has been the Sunset Pizza which has white sauce, sun dried tomatoes, and a balsamic reduction but there traditional pep pizza is def a hit as well! They sell craft beers and tasty ciders, there's no non-alcoholic beer selections, inside dining could get packed but people are always leaving, and I don't remember if there was a public restroom... When ordering on a busy night I would suggest calling in because you will be waiting for about 30-40 minutes unless you don't mind waiting and walking around downtown. read more

Little Oven Pizza - Aroma so delicious my pup couldn't get enough! - Pizza Near Me - Merced, California

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Pizza was top notch h like always. The pistachio salad is wonderful as well. Love the oil, garlic and herbs they leave out for you to use.

Well I sat a waited for almost an hour for this pizza and I have to say it's pretty good. If you are in the area be sure to phone in ahead because they are very busy doing by the slice and their specials, Be sure when you call in to ask them what the special of the day is because they change daily. I have to say I really like their crust, it's nice and thin and makes a good cheese to topping ratio! The ambience is nice and mellow & places to sit. read more

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Best NY style pizza in town!! Chewy crust, fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked!! If you want by the slice, they have that too.

Best pizza I've had on the west coast. Perfect slices every time. I love the thin crust and it's the closest thing to New York I've had!

Pizza is really good I love the variety of the specials I'm able to try pizzas i normally would not even try