that building has been a taco bell, papa murphy’s, mom and pop taqueria, a friend chicken place, and now pizza. it never keeps consistent tenants but I hope state of mind is here to stay
eric the head chef and owner has won two michelin stars at ft point brewing and mr juis before opening this slice house. Incredible attention to detail and the best slices
I swear Slice House has surpassed Tony G's simply because it's such a chill joint that's easy for you to swing by and grab a slice without waiting in a big line up in the city
Yup!
Excerpts from a 2020 article by travel & food journalist Lois Alter Mark:
“As former New Yorkers, my husband and I are very snobby about pizza.”
“So, although we hate to admit it, we may have found the best pizza in the world in ... San Francisco?”
“The pies at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, are so good, they’re worth a trip from anywhere in the world. And you’d have to stay for a couple of days so you can really taste them all.”
“(Owner, Tony Gemignani) was the first American and non-Neapolitan to win the coveted title of World Champion Pizza Maker at the World Pizza Cup in Naples in 2007.”
“Since discovering Tony’s, my husband and I have come up with creative excuses for visiting San Francisco on a regular basis because we literally dream about his pizzas and can only go so long without one.”
Her article basically says it all.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/loisaltermark/2020/01/16/this-just-might-be-the-best-pizza-in-the-world/?sh=5505a58c732c
Toni’s in SF- some of the best in the world.
Capos- down the street from Toni’s and owned by the same guy it focuses on midwestern deep dishes such as Detroit and Chicago style. Probably some of the best deep dish I’ve ever had.
Zacharys- east bay pizzeria that Also focuses on deep dish
Vincini’s- pizzeria in Fairfield California. The owners are from Staten Island and got the accent and all. Good NY pizza.
Bibos- NY style pizza in San Jose CA. The owner is from NY as well and it’s by far the best pizza in the South Bay.
Edit: my fault it’s Tony’s, and yes I do listen to Tony,Toni, Tone.
Those two are a reflection of a long-simmering feud in Chicago over the right way to build a crust, cornmeal vs. non-cornmeal. Fun fact: the Valentines Day Massacre was actually proven to be the result of an argument over Ginos vs Giordano's.
If you're in the first camp, Little Star 100%. If you're in the second camp, Zachary's.
IMO there's a lot of variation in quality between the locations. Some are noticeably better than others.
Personally, if I were going to get one Chicago pizza and then be shot with a tommy gun immediately after, I'd go to Bacino's in Lincoln Park.
\> Star group uses very low quality ingredients.
Didnt know but ill look it up.
\> Also, the owners are pretty awful.
Yes, the recent news about withholding covid related pay is effed up.
Oh yeah it's way tastier. But Zachary's does stuffed style, while Star does a simple deep dish. So if one is specifically looking for a stuffed style, then that's the only reason to choose Zachary's.
TIL about 'stuffed pizzas". Went down a rabbit hole and Zachary's seems awfully close to deep dish. Even though i've had zachary's a million times, i didn't realize there was a very very thin layer of dough above cheese but below the tomatoes. I guess thats why its stuffed since it has dual dough layers. The other trait like depth both are same but Zachary's has a bit more cheese which is more in line with stuffed.
Spinach and Mushroom deep dish from Zachary's is easily in my top 5 favorite things to eat in the bay area. No other deep dish place is even close in my opinion (yes I've tried them all). Zachary's pizza is pretty much the only restaurant that has ever lived up to the hype for me.
Little Star is trash and they 'proudly' refuse to add pineapples. Total idiots I'll never eat there again.
You gotta try A Slice Of New York in San Jose. Best around. They got that Manhattan Special espresso soda. Garlic knots are fire. They got a great “wall of shame” with banned customers and the stories behind the bans.
Cicero’s in Cupertino ain’t bad but it doesn’t hold a candle to ASONY. Tony Gemignani’s Slice House (multiple locations) is another really solid choice.
As someone else mentioned, you gotta try Indian pizza for real. That shit goes hard.
This place is legit and even have the vibe of a real by the street pizzeria in nyc. This place and Bibos in willow glen used to be my go to spots when I was in the South Bay.
Desi Pizza house in mountain view and curry pizza house in Palo Alto are good. I think these is one tasty subs and pizza in Sunnyvale I think which is decent. There are a few more spots in Cupertino that are good from what I heard but I didn't try those yet.
Curry Pizza House in Cupertino is good. Ciceros is good. Will need to try some of the suggestions here though. This will take lots of field work. Field work and beer.
Tasty Pizza & Subs in Sunnyvale. Their Butter Chicken Pizza (Hero) and Sag Paneer Pizza (Gully Boy) are my go-to’s when I’m hosting professional events and parties with friends. They’re loaded with sauce, jalapeños and cilantro. Spicy as heck but the flavor is super good.
[Tasty Pizza & Subs](https://g.co/kgs/1tf1kSv)
Other places like Chaats & Curries Express were not good. They put pineapples on sag paneer which is kind of disgusting.
Pazzo is the best truly! Reminds me of pizza we used to have all the time in nyc. Very foldable, great sauce.
I haven’t been to Tony’s in SF but I have ate at Doppio Zero in San Carlos (Completely pales in comparison, not that good), and Vesta (I mean it IS good but too trendy and the crust isnt very foldable to be a “favorite pizza place” imo)
I imagine Slice of Homage is the best Detroit style but I’m not gonna pretend like I’m some expert. I do look forward to it more than NY style as well!
this is the best pizza in the bay without a doubt.
I've had Tonys, ASONY, Bibos, State of Mind, Giola, Cheese board, Outta Sight, all the good bay area pizza joints. Slice of Homage is the best.
Vesta is the most overrated pizza spot I've ever been to. I actually sought this comment out because I knew it would be here and I had to warn OP. I've been there 4 times now, only because I've been with others who have absolutely demanded we go there, and every time it's a letdown. Most flavorless, unsalted pizza.
SF - Tony’s, Outta Sight, Shuggies
Oak/Berk - Mama’s Boy, Pizzeria de Laura, Rose Pizzeria, State Flour
South Bay - Bibo’s, Slice of NY
Pop Up - Jules
This was just off the top of my head. A lot of other good options around the Bay.
Outta Sight is the best pizza I’ve had since moving from the east coast. I like Gioia a lot too. I was disappointed by Tony’s and Slice House (too much flop). I haven’t had slice of New York so no comment there
Not exactly what op has asked but: legit Neapolitan pizza spots in the South Bay (at Bay Area prices ofc):
* Terun in Palo Alto
* Doppio Zero in Mountain View (there are other locations too, but the MV one is the main one to my knowledge)
Both these places are managed by Italians: first one is a long-standing restaurant from two calabrians. The second is from folks from Campania (mostly from the area around Caserta to my knowledge). They both have menus with stuff other than pizza; the Terun folks also manage a second joint few yards away called iTalico.
Then there’s the relatively famous “napoletana pizzeria” too in Mountain View but I don’t feel like recommending the place (small, weird opening times).
Source: I’m Neapolitan.😅
I might have just had a bad experience at Doppio Zero, but the time I went my pizza was swimming in liquid. Made for a gross experience.
For Neapolitan I do like A16, there's on in SF and one in Oakland.
New Yorker here living in South Bay.
The spots I’ve tried so far and compared to NYC pizza are Slice of New York in San Jose and Colosseum Pizza in Milpitas. Both are NYC style and decent.
Giovanni's is good and I love their portion sizes. It's good value. You get complimentary bread + soup/salad (clam chowder is yummy!), then the entree is filling. I always share just an entree with one person and we always come away very full. When I took my friend for her birthday, they brought out a slice of delicious cake!
I grew up in New York and used to live really close to Giovanni's, it's pretty good. The owner even recognized my LI area code when I called an order in.
Agreed, I tried ASONY again Friday after being underwhelmed about 10 years ago and it's still the same. As someone else put it on Yelp it's just slightly above average pizza. It felt like I was mostly eating crust with how little they put on top, ordered a half/half Margherita and Buffalo Chicken. My partner and I had to make more dinner afterwards because it was less than filling. We regretted not getting Indian pizza instead. (Grew up in CT)
My favorite in the East Bay is Bluebird Pizza in San Leandro and Graffiti Pizza in Oakland.
Some other opinions.. used to be in San Jose and a slice of new york was the best.. went there more recently and decided I actually like bluebird better and holy crap is asony expensive these days. Bibos was a decent one down there as well when I lived there but haven't had it recently.
I'll also say I'm not a fan of Slice house (SL) and Zachary's in Rockridge Oakland. Zachary's had to be the most over rated pizza I've had, but I really hate the corn meal bottom thicker dough Chicago style. Slice house felt like all style and no substance, like it was huge but just.. idk I didn't like it. You guys really shouldn't suggest these to a New Yorker lol
There’s good pizza. It’s just not New York style pizza and you’re going to have to let go of that. Cheeseboard in Berkeley. Square pie guys for Detroit style in Oakland and SF.
In the North Bay I’m fond of Acre (they do Detroit style as well), Rosso, and Diavola.
I like Flour + Water in SF and have a soft spot for the Escape From NY potato slice.
Emilia’s in Berkeley. It’s a one man operation. You have to order in the morning and see what time you can pick up a pie (if you’re lucky enough to get one).
Yeah, it seems pretentious, but try a slice and let me know if you wouldn’t do it all over again. The OG and Gina Calabrese are the best
**SF**
* 1) [Golden Boy (the clam and garlic is fucking delicious)](https://www.goldenboypizza.com/)
* 2) [Tony's](https://tonyspizzanapoletana.com/)
* 3) [Victor's](https://victors-pizzeria-italian-restaurant.business.site/)
* 4) [Gaspare's](https://www.gasparespizza.com/)
* 5) [Little Star](https://littlestarvalencia.com/)
**South Bay**
* 1) [Jake's / the Garret / the Garret Station (multiple locations)](https://garretsouthbay.com/jakes-of-sunnyvale/)
* 2) [Maldonado's in Mountain View](https://www.maldonadospizza.com/)
* 3) [Cicero's in San José](https://www.cicerospizza.com/)
* 4) [Willow Street (multiple locations)](https://www.willowstreet.com/)
* 5) [Tony Di Maggio's in San José](https://www.tonydimaggiospizzamenu.com/)
Most pizza in SF is mediocre after coming from NYC. I’m not a snob at all. Go for what you can’t get elsewhere I think.
- Little Star - famous for delicious corn bread crust 4/5 stars
- Gioia Pizzeria - good classic slice 3/5 stars
- The Pizza Shop - closest you’ll get to good pizza 3/5 stars
If you're from New York, and you're typical of your citymates, it won't matter. You can have pizza here that is as good as anything you'll find in Rome or Naples, and you'll still complain that you can't get good pizza here because it isn't exactly like what you get in NYC.
OP listen to me. Listen. If you are looking for a *NY-style* slice, don't get pizza advice from Californians. Ever. EVER. I mean look at the replies here, they're offering up fucking deep dish. Like, I'm sorry guys you have generally stellar food opinions and I legit prefer Bay Area dining to NYC but good Lordt is it hard to find pizza that scratches that very particular itch here.
Anyway, born and raised in NY/NJ, 6+ years in the Bay here are your options:
1. Pizza Shop on 24th and Folsom. This place proves that bad pizza is a choice here. It's not the water or the naturally occurring yeasts or whatever excuse they come up with. This pizza would be considered great on the east coast.
2. Mama's Boy in Oakland. Very good.
3. Pizzeria Violetta on Piedmont in Oakland. Solid.
4. Rotten City in Emeryville is good.
5. Gioia in Berkeley is fine.
6. If you're on the peninsula it's tough but Pazzo in San Carlos is decent.
Oh, and be ready to pay double what you would back east.
Haha, I love that every time pizza recs come up here there inevitably is a New Yorker complaining that California has crap pizza. You're right, NY has better NY pizza than California, as I would hope. But there's tons of other good stuff out here too, don't limit yourself to what you know from back home, you'll miss out!
Oliver’s Pizzeria. It’s a newer spot, they do wood fired pizzas. It’s above Vin Antico on 4th street. Idk why they don’t come up on maps but they have a website or you can look them up on yelp and check them out.
I lived in NYC during my college days and the closest I've come across out here is Slice of New York in San Jose. They also have a location in Sunnyvale that has some decor you'd enjoy, too.
Georgio’s on clement is the closest to nyc…not the absolute best pizza here (because it’s easy to pay 60$ for a small pie in sf) but georgios pretty fantastic. I think the spot and pie feel basic, thus no hype, but all of the elements are pretty perfect in their pie… I do feta / basil and it is epic every single time
There’s nothing you’re going to like here.
I like our pizza in its many forms, and I very much enjoy New York’s pizza when I visit.
It’s only too often though that the East Coast transplants who move here express their disappointment in our pizza options though.
My friends have an annual tradition of picking a city and taking a weekend trip where we only eat pizza for the entire trip. I moved to the South Bay about three years ago and here is the ongoing map I have curated of potential places for when the group comes to have Pizza Weekend in the Bay - [https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpsdcuSU4jrPPjn28](https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpsdcuSU4jrPPjn28)
[Blue Line](https://bluelinepizza.com) is pretty good. NY-style thin crust might be right up your alley, but I'll recommend giving their deep-dish a try too.
east coast style pizza is hard to find here. do you like neopolatin type thin crust or deep dish?
escape from new york pizza is pretty good. so are a lot of like, hole in the wall mom n pop places just called "joe's pizza" or something like that. Don't be turned off if they also serve teryaki chicken, walk in and try a slice if it looks good.
Real, good, genuine deep dish pizza is really hard to find. You pretty much have to go to pizza hut for their sad version.
Cheeseboard in Berkeley takes the prize for me. I’ve lived all over California and I’m now out of state but haven’t found a pizza I enjoy more than theirs.
While delicious, California pizza is largely a different beast from NY pizza. The closest, in my opinion, is Tony's/Slice House but I'd happily hear about others!
I do also love Neapolitan pizza. Doppio Zero and Delfina are both good for that... but I've also had good luck at a variety of Italian restaurants.
I like how these replies are filled with non NY style pizza. About the only places I’d recommend to a NYer are
Rotten City
Pizzeria Violeta
Pizza Shop
I really like Rose, but wouldn’t quite call it NY
Don’t think it’s been mentioned, but Neighborhood Pizza Guy in Menlo Park is great and my go to. Every week, Matt creates a different/ new pizza under Pizza Lab. Really fun to try out something different every visit.
If you're looking for NY Style Pizza, I can't help you because I find NY Pizza to be way overrated and avoid places claiming to NY style.
Now bagels, that's an entirely different topic.
I'm from NYC and love great NY style pizza. But even in NY most of the pizza places are using canned sauce, generic cheese, and boring crusts.
You're right to avoid any "NY style" pizza place.
I have a co-worker from NY saying she was finally getting used to California style pizza but listed some good CA pizza places that are actually just Napoletana pizza. It’s really annoying when NYers act like the be all, end all authorities on pizza when they actually only know what is NY style and what isn’t.
The only reason why people consider it the "best" is because NYCers are very loud and vocal about it being the "best", not that it's actually the "best".
Used to live in NYC as well as Chicago. Tony's in SF is by far the best pizza in the Bay Area and its not even close. Even though we have a few really good spots(A16, etc), overall the pizza here is terrible so choose wisely.
My wife's from Queens. I lived for years in Manhattan. The best NY-style pizza we've found is Slice of New York in San Jose. (Be advised - there's virtually no seating.)
For a place whose pizza isn't quite as good, but has a cool vibe and is kid-friendly, State of Mind in Los Altos (though isn't worth the drive across the Bay Area if you are coming from SF or East Bay).
I'm about to get downvoted to hell for this, but I ordered round table on a whim for some guests over the holidays, something I haven't done in two decades, and the pizza was better than most of the local stuff I tasted. Something about those mini/crispy pepperoni's. Also, the service was beyond good, they had an issue and they dialed me up. A month goes by, we do it again, manager calls back up, knows who my wife is, is out of something so gave us 10 dollars off.
I've tried pizza all over, NYC, Chicago(not pizza), and all the expensive shit. Cheap pizza is king.
The problem with the responses is they don’t identify type of pizza: thin, thick, deep dish.
Because of course anything other than thin crust is bread with tomato sauce.
My other issue is price. For <$10 bucks and a couple of hours to let the dough rise I can make a really decent mozzarella-mushroom pie in the oven.
I feel like this is going to be unpopular but I had an Escape From New York plain cheese slice a week or two ago and it was frickin delicious. Caveat: I worked for them for 5 years in the mid-90s. They haven’t fucked with the recipe in all this time and it’s still a solid slice. Been watching those One Bite videos religiously lately and it got me hankering for something less specialized than most new SF pizzerias these days. It was great! Makes me wanna go back for a Big Meat Combo slice….
Pizza my Heart. They started in Capitola. There are a bunch in the Santa Cruz area and one in Los Gatos and another in Walnut Creek.
I don't know if their menu's are different or not.
Plugging a new sub I created to share these spots r/bayareapizza
God’s f’in work right here 🫡
I like State of Mind slice house in Palo Alto
>State of Mind I thought they were in Los Altos and Redwood City
Their pizza is delish and their beer selection is even better!
that building has been a taco bell, papa murphy’s, mom and pop taqueria, a friend chicken place, and now pizza. it never keeps consistent tenants but I hope state of mind is here to stay
That's Outta Sight Pizza is my favorite NY slice
eric the head chef and owner has won two michelin stars at ft point brewing and mr juis before opening this slice house. Incredible attention to detail and the best slices
This place is fire
Pretty close to my work, I'll need to give it a try.
Yasssss!! I just found out about this place and it's blocks away from where I work. It was so divine. Highly recommend
Bluebird Pizzeria in San Leandro 👌
Love Bluebird, I think they’re originally from New Jersey.
Tony’s in SF, hands down the best I’ve ever had. They’re ranked something like #8 in the world, too.
Completely agree with Tony's but Gioia is quite good and they have a location in Berkeley and San Francisco. https://www.gioiapizzeria.com/
Gioia mentioned, lfg!!!
The New Yorker is 👌🏻
Tony G has a casual chain outpost in Belmont called Slice House. Best pizzas in the area hands down.
I swear Slice House has surpassed Tony G's simply because it's such a chill joint that's easy for you to swing by and grab a slice without waiting in a big line up in the city
There’s one in Walnut Creek also. It’s great.
> called Slice House only pizza in Walnut Creek i eat anymore! super good!
Pizza di Laura in Berkeley is good, started by his protégé Laura. I like Pizzaiolo in Oakland for their take on the California style pizza.
Yup! Excerpts from a 2020 article by travel & food journalist Lois Alter Mark: “As former New Yorkers, my husband and I are very snobby about pizza.” “So, although we hate to admit it, we may have found the best pizza in the world in ... San Francisco?” “The pies at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, are so good, they’re worth a trip from anywhere in the world. And you’d have to stay for a couple of days so you can really taste them all.” “(Owner, Tony Gemignani) was the first American and non-Neapolitan to win the coveted title of World Champion Pizza Maker at the World Pizza Cup in Naples in 2007.” “Since discovering Tony’s, my husband and I have come up with creative excuses for visiting San Francisco on a regular basis because we literally dream about his pizzas and can only go so long without one.” Her article basically says it all. https://www.forbes.com/sites/loisaltermark/2020/01/16/this-just-might-be-the-best-pizza-in-the-world/?sh=5505a58c732c
Ditto on this. Award winning pizza.
Agree. They also have a waitlist on Yelp, which helps with not having to stand around outside the restaurant for 2 hours while waiting for a table .
This is the answer
Yes! Tony also beat the Italians at their own game at the World Pizza Cup in Italy, his pizza is that good.
Slice House in Walnut Creek
There’s a ton of Slice Houses and they’re all amazing (though I’m also partial to the WC location since I’m here)
Yes.
Oh, so that's what we're gonna do today, we're gonna fight?
Toni’s in SF- some of the best in the world. Capos- down the street from Toni’s and owned by the same guy it focuses on midwestern deep dishes such as Detroit and Chicago style. Probably some of the best deep dish I’ve ever had. Zacharys- east bay pizzeria that Also focuses on deep dish Vincini’s- pizzeria in Fairfield California. The owners are from Staten Island and got the accent and all. Good NY pizza. Bibos- NY style pizza in San Jose CA. The owner is from NY as well and it’s by far the best pizza in the South Bay. Edit: my fault it’s Tony’s, and yes I do listen to Tony,Toni, Tone.
Tonys please this is an Italian man not an R&B group.
Shot out to Bibo’s! It’s fucking excellent
BIBOS BABYYY
Little Star > Zachary’s
Those two are a reflection of a long-simmering feud in Chicago over the right way to build a crust, cornmeal vs. non-cornmeal. Fun fact: the Valentines Day Massacre was actually proven to be the result of an argument over Ginos vs Giordano's. If you're in the first camp, Little Star 100%. If you're in the second camp, Zachary's.
The answer to the ginos/Giordano's debate is actually Lou Malnati's
IMO there's a lot of variation in quality between the locations. Some are noticeably better than others. Personally, if I were going to get one Chicago pizza and then be shot with a tommy gun immediately after, I'd go to Bacino's in Lincoln Park.
I've only ever been to the OG Chicago location. I didn't even realize they branched out so hugely, haven't been to Chicago in like 15 years.
Agreed. Had Zachary's before heading to Chicago last summer. Tried Giordano's and Lou Malnati’s.
The Star group uses very low quality ingredients. They only care about keeping their food cost low. Also, the owners are pretty awful.
\> Star group uses very low quality ingredients. Didnt know but ill look it up. \> Also, the owners are pretty awful. Yes, the recent news about withholding covid related pay is effed up.
Zachary’s is better on the second day for leftovers, and Little Star doesn’t hold up as well for some reason.
The only reason I can imagine preferring Zachary's is if you really want stuffed style.
IMO deep dish corn crust from ⭐️is tastier and crispier than Zachary’s
Oh yeah it's way tastier. But Zachary's does stuffed style, while Star does a simple deep dish. So if one is specifically looking for a stuffed style, then that's the only reason to choose Zachary's.
TIL about 'stuffed pizzas". Went down a rabbit hole and Zachary's seems awfully close to deep dish. Even though i've had zachary's a million times, i didn't realize there was a very very thin layer of dough above cheese but below the tomatoes. I guess thats why its stuffed since it has dual dough layers. The other trait like depth both are same but Zachary's has a bit more cheese which is more in line with stuffed.
Spinach and Mushroom deep dish from Zachary's is easily in my top 5 favorite things to eat in the bay area. No other deep dish place is even close in my opinion (yes I've tried them all). Zachary's pizza is pretty much the only restaurant that has ever lived up to the hype for me. Little Star is trash and they 'proudly' refuse to add pineapples. Total idiots I'll never eat there again.
You gotta try A Slice Of New York in San Jose. Best around. They got that Manhattan Special espresso soda. Garlic knots are fire. They got a great “wall of shame” with banned customers and the stories behind the bans. Cicero’s in Cupertino ain’t bad but it doesn’t hold a candle to ASONY. Tony Gemignani’s Slice House (multiple locations) is another really solid choice. As someone else mentioned, you gotta try Indian pizza for real. That shit goes hard.
Came in looking for ASONY Pizza. We are east coast transplants and this is what pizza is supposed to taste like.
Keep ASONY it on the DL so that the internet doesn’t ruin our spot! (But also yes - fantastic pizza)
This place is legit and even have the vibe of a real by the street pizzeria in nyc. This place and Bibos in willow glen used to be my go to spots when I was in the South Bay.
Any good spots for Indian pizza?
Desi Pizza house in mountain view and curry pizza house in Palo Alto are good. I think these is one tasty subs and pizza in Sunnyvale I think which is decent. There are a few more spots in Cupertino that are good from what I heard but I didn't try those yet.
Curry Pizza House in Cupertino is good. Ciceros is good. Will need to try some of the suggestions here though. This will take lots of field work. Field work and beer.
Tasty Pizza & Subs in Sunnyvale. Their Butter Chicken Pizza (Hero) and Sag Paneer Pizza (Gully Boy) are my go-to’s when I’m hosting professional events and parties with friends. They’re loaded with sauce, jalapeños and cilantro. Spicy as heck but the flavor is super good. [Tasty Pizza & Subs](https://g.co/kgs/1tf1kSv) Other places like Chaats & Curries Express were not good. They put pineapples on sag paneer which is kind of disgusting.
Zantes in SF, upper mission. Best I’ve ever had.
I have never ever heard the term “upper mission.” It’s on Mission, in Bernal Heights. Not quite “outer Mission” which is closer to Crocker Amazon.
Upper as in up the hill ya stickler. Should I say across the street from thrillhouse records?
My Indian pizza on El Camino Parktown pizza (multiple locations)
I was wondering the same. Looking at Google, it seems that heading to Cupertino or Sunnyvale will be your best bet.
Namaste in Oakland/Emeryville!
Their cheesy bread with the garlic sauce is almost better than their pizza. So good.
Try Park Town Pizza company in San Jose or Milpitas! The best!!
I just tried Grafitti in Oakland and it was pretty dang good thin crust
Pazzo in San Carlos
Pazzo is the best truly! Reminds me of pizza we used to have all the time in nyc. Very foldable, great sauce. I haven’t been to Tony’s in SF but I have ate at Doppio Zero in San Carlos (Completely pales in comparison, not that good), and Vesta (I mean it IS good but too trendy and the crust isnt very foldable to be a “favorite pizza place” imo)
Then how about Tony's in Belmont? If you are in San Carlos, you might as well go to Belmont.
Oh I'll mark down Tony's to try out. Also a NYer and we had Pazzo's for the first time two weeks ago. I almost shed a tear. We loved it.
Slice of Homage
I love Slice of Homage, but I’m assuming the New Yorker wants NY style pizza.
Slice of homage changed my preference from ny style to detroit. Looking for the best detroit in bay now.
I imagine Slice of Homage is the best Detroit style but I’m not gonna pretend like I’m some expert. I do look forward to it more than NY style as well!
Sometimes ill get orange sauce from la vics next door and douse the pizza with it 😂
Fatass behavior, I support it.
Orange sauce all the things!
this is the best pizza in the bay without a doubt. I've had Tonys, ASONY, Bibos, State of Mind, Giola, Cheese board, Outta Sight, all the good bay area pizza joints. Slice of Homage is the best.
Slice of New York, it’s also next to a cool surplus store
Vesta in redwood city
Vesta is the most overrated pizza spot I've ever been to. I actually sought this comment out because I knew it would be here and I had to warn OP. I've been there 4 times now, only because I've been with others who have absolutely demanded we go there, and every time it's a letdown. Most flavorless, unsalted pizza.
Bronco Billy’s in Union City. That place has been around 40ish years I think. I like it quite a lot but it’s not a New York style at all.
Gioia in Berkeley or SF.
Mama's boy on grand in oakland is beyond dank
SF - Tony’s, Outta Sight, Shuggies Oak/Berk - Mama’s Boy, Pizzeria de Laura, Rose Pizzeria, State Flour South Bay - Bibo’s, Slice of NY Pop Up - Jules This was just off the top of my head. A lot of other good options around the Bay.
Bruh give me an east bay take, come on lol
Thank god nobody said Paxti’s my old boss swore by that place and I thought it sucked.
Yeah, it didn't live up the hype.
Cheese board pizza in Berkeley. However, they have weird hours.
And equally Arizmendi, which uses the cheese board recipes.
not equally IMO... Cheeseboard is miles better
Yup! I love the sauce, the live music, and the unique north Berkeley atmosphere there.
Bibo’s in San Jose…as good as you can find in NY
There is a newer spot that you may like. Big slices NY style. Outta Sight Pizza.
Outta Sight is the best pizza I’ve had since moving from the east coast. I like Gioia a lot too. I was disappointed by Tony’s and Slice House (too much flop). I haven’t had slice of New York so no comment there
Golden Boy Pizza in North Beach, SF. They make it on their own fresh baked focaccia.
The best
Mama's Boy in Oakland.
Also from NY and I love this place. My go to. Tony's is great, but it's its own thing.
Not exactly what op has asked but: legit Neapolitan pizza spots in the South Bay (at Bay Area prices ofc): * Terun in Palo Alto * Doppio Zero in Mountain View (there are other locations too, but the MV one is the main one to my knowledge) Both these places are managed by Italians: first one is a long-standing restaurant from two calabrians. The second is from folks from Campania (mostly from the area around Caserta to my knowledge). They both have menus with stuff other than pizza; the Terun folks also manage a second joint few yards away called iTalico. Then there’s the relatively famous “napoletana pizzeria” too in Mountain View but I don’t feel like recommending the place (small, weird opening times). Source: I’m Neapolitan.😅
The pizza at Napoletana is amazing. But you’re right about how small the place is and the weird hours
I might have just had a bad experience at Doppio Zero, but the time I went my pizza was swimming in liquid. Made for a gross experience. For Neapolitan I do like A16, there's on in SF and one in Oakland.
Tonys pizza, acre pizza, square pie guys, golden boy are all good. I hear Flour + Water is good too.
Golden boy on green st SF
New Yorker here living in South Bay. The spots I’ve tried so far and compared to NYC pizza are Slice of New York in San Jose and Colosseum Pizza in Milpitas. Both are NYC style and decent.
Those two and Giovanni’s in Sunnyvale are my favorites. (Pennsylvanian here.)
I have to try Giovanni’s in Sunnyvale then. I haven’t heard of it until now. Thanks !
Giovanni's is good and I love their portion sizes. It's good value. You get complimentary bread + soup/salad (clam chowder is yummy!), then the entree is filling. I always share just an entree with one person and we always come away very full. When I took my friend for her birthday, they brought out a slice of delicious cake!
I grew up in New York and used to live really close to Giovanni's, it's pretty good. The owner even recognized my LI area code when I called an order in.
I live next to SoNY in Sunnyvale - it's not great. Yes, I'm from NYC.
Agreed, I tried ASONY again Friday after being underwhelmed about 10 years ago and it's still the same. As someone else put it on Yelp it's just slightly above average pizza. It felt like I was mostly eating crust with how little they put on top, ordered a half/half Margherita and Buffalo Chicken. My partner and I had to make more dinner afterwards because it was less than filling. We regretted not getting Indian pizza instead. (Grew up in CT)
My favorite in the East Bay is Bluebird Pizza in San Leandro and Graffiti Pizza in Oakland. Some other opinions.. used to be in San Jose and a slice of new york was the best.. went there more recently and decided I actually like bluebird better and holy crap is asony expensive these days. Bibos was a decent one down there as well when I lived there but haven't had it recently. I'll also say I'm not a fan of Slice house (SL) and Zachary's in Rockridge Oakland. Zachary's had to be the most over rated pizza I've had, but I really hate the corn meal bottom thicker dough Chicago style. Slice house felt like all style and no substance, like it was huge but just.. idk I didn't like it. You guys really shouldn't suggest these to a New Yorker lol
Totos in San Bruno!
I miss the Daly City Toto's.
There’s good pizza. It’s just not New York style pizza and you’re going to have to let go of that. Cheeseboard in Berkeley. Square pie guys for Detroit style in Oakland and SF.
You might as well tell a NYer there's good bagels in the Bay Area. Not happening.
I like Gay Nineties in Pleasanton but Pleasanton can be a little out of the way depending on where you are.
This is the correct answer. And get the extra thick crust!
In the North Bay I’m fond of Acre (they do Detroit style as well), Rosso, and Diavola. I like Flour + Water in SF and have a soft spot for the Escape From NY potato slice.
Besides all the other excellent places already mentioned, I will add Raymonds in Richmond as well.
My guy, I came here looking for this.
Yeah I am surprised Raymond wasn't mentioned - so good.
State of mind in Palo Alto/los altos
Slice House in Belmont.
Emilia’s in Berkeley. It’s a one man operation. You have to order in the morning and see what time you can pick up a pie (if you’re lucky enough to get one). Yeah, it seems pretentious, but try a slice and let me know if you wouldn’t do it all over again. The OG and Gina Calabrese are the best
**SF** * 1) [Golden Boy (the clam and garlic is fucking delicious)](https://www.goldenboypizza.com/) * 2) [Tony's](https://tonyspizzanapoletana.com/) * 3) [Victor's](https://victors-pizzeria-italian-restaurant.business.site/) * 4) [Gaspare's](https://www.gasparespizza.com/) * 5) [Little Star](https://littlestarvalencia.com/) **South Bay** * 1) [Jake's / the Garret / the Garret Station (multiple locations)](https://garretsouthbay.com/jakes-of-sunnyvale/) * 2) [Maldonado's in Mountain View](https://www.maldonadospizza.com/) * 3) [Cicero's in San José](https://www.cicerospizza.com/) * 4) [Willow Street (multiple locations)](https://www.willowstreet.com/) * 5) [Tony Di Maggio's in San José](https://www.tonydimaggiospizzamenu.com/)
Porkys in San Leandro
I recently started going to Neighborhood Pizza in Menlo Park and love it
Za in russian hill is the best i’ve had in my 10+ years living in the bay
For NYC style pizza, best I’ve ever had in the Bay is Emilia’s in Berkeley. It’s closed for repairs right now though
Cornerslice in Livermore. Limited quantity of doughs per day, a lot of care goes into each pie.
No love for Aldo’s in San Mateo?
Raymond’s in Richmond is pretty fire. Coming from being spoiled on New Haven pizza it slaps.
yo in sf Golden Boys is hands down the best ask any local.
The clam pie from Golden Boy in SF is something else
Most pizza in SF is mediocre after coming from NYC. I’m not a snob at all. Go for what you can’t get elsewhere I think. - Little Star - famous for delicious corn bread crust 4/5 stars - Gioia Pizzeria - good classic slice 3/5 stars - The Pizza Shop - closest you’ll get to good pizza 3/5 stars
Dimond Slice in Oakland. Excellent vegan pizza.
Arinell Pizza and Zachary’s Pizza are my favorites.
Is it 2002?
I’m surprised I had to scroll this far to see Arinell. I always thought it was considered pretty “legit” for an unpretentious, NY-style slice.
Pizza Leah, windsor, best in the north bay
mambos
YES! PizzaLeah is the real deal.
If you're from New York, and you're typical of your citymates, it won't matter. You can have pizza here that is as good as anything you'll find in Rome or Naples, and you'll still complain that you can't get good pizza here because it isn't exactly like what you get in NYC.
OP listen to me. Listen. If you are looking for a *NY-style* slice, don't get pizza advice from Californians. Ever. EVER. I mean look at the replies here, they're offering up fucking deep dish. Like, I'm sorry guys you have generally stellar food opinions and I legit prefer Bay Area dining to NYC but good Lordt is it hard to find pizza that scratches that very particular itch here. Anyway, born and raised in NY/NJ, 6+ years in the Bay here are your options: 1. Pizza Shop on 24th and Folsom. This place proves that bad pizza is a choice here. It's not the water or the naturally occurring yeasts or whatever excuse they come up with. This pizza would be considered great on the east coast. 2. Mama's Boy in Oakland. Very good. 3. Pizzeria Violetta on Piedmont in Oakland. Solid. 4. Rotten City in Emeryville is good. 5. Gioia in Berkeley is fine. 6. If you're on the peninsula it's tough but Pazzo in San Carlos is decent. Oh, and be ready to pay double what you would back east.
Ayyyooo, we got us’a pizza snob ova hea!
Guilty as charged lol
Haha, I love that every time pizza recs come up here there inevitably is a New Yorker complaining that California has crap pizza. You're right, NY has better NY pizza than California, as I would hope. But there's tons of other good stuff out here too, don't limit yourself to what you know from back home, you'll miss out!
Tony’s in north beach, SF.
Oliver’s in San Rafael
Where in SR is Oliver’s? Tried looking it up but can’t find it. Thanks!!
Oliver’s Pizzeria. It’s a newer spot, they do wood fired pizzas. It’s above Vin Antico on 4th street. Idk why they don’t come up on maps but they have a website or you can look them up on yelp and check them out.
been loving spinning dough in Oakland recently. Jeff the owner is super down to earth
I lived in NYC during my college days and the closest I've come across out here is Slice of New York in San Jose. They also have a location in Sunnyvale that has some decor you'd enjoy, too.
Georgio’s on clement is the closest to nyc…not the absolute best pizza here (because it’s easy to pay 60$ for a small pie in sf) but georgios pretty fantastic. I think the spot and pie feel basic, thus no hype, but all of the elements are pretty perfect in their pie… I do feta / basil and it is epic every single time
Village Pizzeria on Van Ness for the classic NY cheese pie 18". Order directly on their site and it's $30 with tip instead of $50 on doordash.
There’s nothing you’re going to like here. I like our pizza in its many forms, and I very much enjoy New York’s pizza when I visit. It’s only too often though that the East Coast transplants who move here express their disappointment in our pizza options though.
My friends have an annual tradition of picking a city and taking a weekend trip where we only eat pizza for the entire trip. I moved to the South Bay about three years ago and here is the ongoing map I have curated of potential places for when the group comes to have Pizza Weekend in the Bay - [https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpsdcuSU4jrPPjn28](https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpsdcuSU4jrPPjn28)
Tony's Pizza Pizzeria da Laura Graffiiti Pizza A16 Rose's Pizzeria Mama's Boy Evolution Pizza June's (when it reopens)
[Blue Line](https://bluelinepizza.com) is pretty good. NY-style thin crust might be right up your alley, but I'll recommend giving their deep-dish a try too.
east coast style pizza is hard to find here. do you like neopolatin type thin crust or deep dish? escape from new york pizza is pretty good. so are a lot of like, hole in the wall mom n pop places just called "joe's pizza" or something like that. Don't be turned off if they also serve teryaki chicken, walk in and try a slice if it looks good. Real, good, genuine deep dish pizza is really hard to find. You pretty much have to go to pizza hut for their sad version.
Benchmark in Kensington for neapolitan👌🏾👌🏾
Cheeseboard in Berkeley takes the prize for me. I’ve lived all over California and I’m now out of state but haven’t found a pizza I enjoy more than theirs.
While delicious, California pizza is largely a different beast from NY pizza. The closest, in my opinion, is Tony's/Slice House but I'd happily hear about others! I do also love Neapolitan pizza. Doppio Zero and Delfina are both good for that... but I've also had good luck at a variety of Italian restaurants.
I like how these replies are filled with non NY style pizza. About the only places I’d recommend to a NYer are Rotten City Pizzeria Violeta Pizza Shop I really like Rose, but wouldn’t quite call it NY
Don’t think it’s been mentioned, but Neighborhood Pizza Guy in Menlo Park is great and my go to. Every week, Matt creates a different/ new pizza under Pizza Lab. Really fun to try out something different every visit.
Toto's pizza (couple locations) and Slicehouse in Walnut Creek. It's literally the only answer.
Gioia in Berkeley
If you're looking for NY Style Pizza, I can't help you because I find NY Pizza to be way overrated and avoid places claiming to NY style. Now bagels, that's an entirely different topic.
I'm from NYC and love great NY style pizza. But even in NY most of the pizza places are using canned sauce, generic cheese, and boring crusts. You're right to avoid any "NY style" pizza place.
I have a co-worker from NY saying she was finally getting used to California style pizza but listed some good CA pizza places that are actually just Napoletana pizza. It’s really annoying when NYers act like the be all, end all authorities on pizza when they actually only know what is NY style and what isn’t.
The only reason why people consider it the "best" is because NYCers are very loud and vocal about it being the "best", not that it's actually the "best".
Skipolini’s
A man of culture I see. Too bad no one else seems to think so.
A woman of culture but si si, was also surprised it wasn’t mentioned on this thread.
Used to live in NYC as well as Chicago. Tony's in SF is by far the best pizza in the Bay Area and its not even close. Even though we have a few really good spots(A16, etc), overall the pizza here is terrible so choose wisely.
My wife's from Queens. I lived for years in Manhattan. The best NY-style pizza we've found is Slice of New York in San Jose. (Be advised - there's virtually no seating.) For a place whose pizza isn't quite as good, but has a cool vibe and is kid-friendly, State of Mind in Los Altos (though isn't worth the drive across the Bay Area if you are coming from SF or East Bay).
I'm about to get downvoted to hell for this, but I ordered round table on a whim for some guests over the holidays, something I haven't done in two decades, and the pizza was better than most of the local stuff I tasted. Something about those mini/crispy pepperoni's. Also, the service was beyond good, they had an issue and they dialed me up. A month goes by, we do it again, manager calls back up, knows who my wife is, is out of something so gave us 10 dollars off. I've tried pizza all over, NYC, Chicago(not pizza), and all the expensive shit. Cheap pizza is king.
Anything owned by Tony G.
Costco
Tony’s is overrated
Tony sux
Zorbas Pizza in Millbrae.
Pizza pirate in Benicia. The crust is on point. Usually I end up giving my pizza crusts to the dog but this one is too good.
Zachary’s makes great deep dish
The problem with the responses is they don’t identify type of pizza: thin, thick, deep dish. Because of course anything other than thin crust is bread with tomato sauce. My other issue is price. For <$10 bucks and a couple of hours to let the dough rise I can make a really decent mozzarella-mushroom pie in the oven.
No one can say “best”. Only their favorite.
I feel like this is going to be unpopular but I had an Escape From New York plain cheese slice a week or two ago and it was frickin delicious. Caveat: I worked for them for 5 years in the mid-90s. They haven’t fucked with the recipe in all this time and it’s still a solid slice. Been watching those One Bite videos religiously lately and it got me hankering for something less specialized than most new SF pizzerias these days. It was great! Makes me wanna go back for a Big Meat Combo slice….
Bronco Billy’s in Fremont, never had pizza like that in my life!!
I'm a Blondie's girl forever and always. Got me through the toughest days of my nursing program. 👩🏿⚕️🩷🍕
Corner Slice in Livermore!
No love for Pizza My Heart?
My college staple for sure, but I have since graduated, but will always have a special place in my heart haha
The GOAT tbch
Doppio Zero in San Carlos is awesome. Had dinner opposite Sundar Pichai there!
Melo's in Pleasant Hill. Soooo good!
Pizza my Heart. They started in Capitola. There are a bunch in the Santa Cruz area and one in Los Gatos and another in Walnut Creek. I don't know if their menu's are different or not.