Pizzaiolo Pizzaiolo

Pizzaiolo Awards

The food-centric Temescal district is home to this standout pizza joint.
Openings: Dinner nightly
Pizzaiolo, Oakland, CA


Pizzaiolo Restaurant Review:


Oakland's food-centric Temescal district counts this hifalutin pizza joint as one of the sparkling jewels in its crown. Bare brick walls, a rock 'n' roll soundtrack and artisan lighting create a hip, loud, alterna-dining atmosphere. Good food means there's always a wait, but walk-ins may dine at the wine bar or sit communally for faster service. The small, selective menu features daily salads, pastas, meats, side vegetables and Neapolitan pizza from the wood-burning oven. Fresh, house-baked focaccia is turned into croutons for the mild Caesar salad. A plate of milk-braised Niman Ranch pork shoulder is met with turnips and greens, firm, flavorful Romano beans, and delicate fennel. The pizza is worth the wait --- a blackened, blistered crust yields the perfect chew, made better by ricotta-like grana cheese, salty, flavorful speck, and a salad-size mound of piquant arugula. The wine list features a fine Italian selection, including Lambruscos and Barberas. A beautiful, rustic back patio is a treat on warm evenings, a bit of Tuscany in Oakland.