Pizzaiolo Restaurant Review: Oakland's food-centric Temescal district counts this hifalutin pizza joint as one of the sparkling jewels in its crown thanks to chef-owner and Chez Panisse alum Charlie Hallowell. 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. Breakfast café service features two Oakland specialties: Blue Bottle coffee and Blue Chair Fruit Company jams.
|
Send to Phone 
Pizzaiolo Restaurant is one of GAYOT's 2013
| Top 10 SF Pizza Restaurants
|
Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area.
