Very straight forward review for a very straight forward place: Best New York Style Pizza in the Bay. You want melted cheese on a cracker, go elsewhere. You want stew in a breadbowl, go to Zachary's or something. This place excels at NEW YORK STYLE. The crust is crispy at first bite with a hint of doughiness on the chew. When you fold a slice it MAINTAINS RIGIDITY and is not overridden with grease. Hello ladies and gentlemen, what more can you ask for from a $2.75 meal? read more

If you are not a Vegetarian go here. I am and I found out that their cheese has animal rennet in it. They should do some more research and get hip. Nonetheless. There is no pizza place that can top this one! Straight out of New York. They must put some water from NY to give it that special taste. Their thin crust is great, but their thick crust is even better in my opinion. It only takes about two thick crusts to get full, but you can eat (or I could anyways)a whole thin crust pie in a few minutes and still want more, thats if you could get up afterwards. The guys who work there are Metal Heads, they dont look like the cleanest people in the world, but its a nice break from the Berkeley yuppie scene. Dont answer your cell phone in there, they will flip out on you. Not that I blame them, its annoying to have people talk on the phone while you are ordering pizza. Ordering pizza is a special thing, kind of like having a baby, would you be on the phone while having a baby? Three thumbs waaayyy high for this place! To you metal heads at Arinell Pizza: ROCK ON!!!! read more

Awesome pizza for the snacker. Bad pizza for the uber-hungry. The guys are dirty and you wonder if you're going to catch anything bacterial, but then I think to myself: these guys think it's cool that they're sort of dirty, wiping their hands on their jeans as they grab your money, pull back their hair, and touch your pizza with their bare hands while they use a pizza slicer. It's an image thing. If you can get over that, the pizza's real tasty, as long as you eat it right there after receiving it from dirty boy's hands. read more

Great, huge thin-crust pizza! Aside from the huge slices, everything else is a turn-off. The toppings were plain, and pretty ordinary. However, my major thumbs down is for the workers there. It was unsanitary how the cashier handled the cash of several customers and went straight to make the pizza without washing his hands, or even wiping them. After ordering 4 huge slices, the cashier even rolled his eyes when I asked for a box. The pizza is alright, but the atmosphere is just a bit grimy and unprofessional. read more

I hate walking by Arinell because I always go in and get a slice. If you order a pepperoni slice IT WILL GET HELLA GREASY. I love it. I feel bad for everyone who complains about the service. I'm actually a bigger fan of the staff here than the pizza. There are definitely some cool dudes working the kitchen and the register. If it's slow, they pay extra attention to your pizza. Got the anchovies last time and the dude who prepared it decided to hook it up with some extra anchovie oil. The end result was delicious pizza. I've never been to NY... Man, we should have an East Bay Yelp road trip to NY just to compare Arinell's to an authentic NY style. read more

This place is like the pizza version of the soup-nazi from Seinfeld, but I wasn't bothered by it at all. I think it gives the place character. It's a no nonsense pizza joint. There are pretty much two things on the menu: the Neapolitan slice and the Sicilian slice. Every slice pretty much come with cheese and sauce, then you can customize it by adding whatever topping you want. I got the plain Neapolitan slice. I've always wanted to try NY pizza. I don't really know how it differs from other types of pizza. Since I'm a novice, I can't really give a full review on the pie but to me, it was pretty darn good. The crust was thin and crispy. The sauce was not as sweet as say Bobby G's pizza around the block (not a good or bad thing, just depends on your tastes). For me, the pizza was a bit oily, but I guess most pizzas are. I would have liked the crust to be chewier and a bit less crunchy, but I'm not sure what the NY standard is. Overall, a pretty good pizza joint. Not my best slice of pizza ever, but that's just personal tastes. read more

The n.y. style pizza was served piping hot and the service was fast and friendly. I am a long time fan and will return again. Tough to get to due to the construction on Shattuck but worth it. read more

Pizza is mostly great from arinels. The wise-ass making the pizza should put more effort into his craft than interacting with the public. Dont gripe about tips or your wages until you can act like a professional. If you respected the art or the establishment you would show some manners. Im sure your moms proud. read more

A-lright R-eally greasy I-t's not as good as Nick H thinks N-owhere to sit E- hhhh... I don't like square slices L- L- ...forget it. Arinell is overrated. So it's cheap and thin crust - so what? The slices aren't exactly crisp and the toppings are unoriginal at best. I don't think badly of this place, its just that there's a lot of pizza places that are better within a two block radius. Maybe for late night... I don't know when Pie in the Sky closes... read more

I have a soft spot for Arinell's since I've been going here since I was ten. Though they've gone through some minor changes in their decor, their pizza has remained the same. And with good reason. This is one of the few places you can enjoy a serious NY style pizza. I mean..these people mean business. Another thing I gotta admit is that I'm not a big fan of thin crust pizza. Absolutely love thick crust, never been a fan of thin. Despite this I can't help but love Arinell's. It's proof that good food can overcome any predispositions you might have. It's one of the few places you can go and feel like you're having a pizza the way it was meant to be made. read more

This review is based on 3 visits to Arinell. OK...so, I guess I'm in the minority here, but this place doesn't seem that special to me. The pizza is ok, but nothing special. Good enough to fill that little hole in the tummy, but nothing outsdanding. The ambiance is non-existant...dark and dingy. Prolly better to order take-out. I've actually only eaten at Arinell twice. The first time I had the thin crust pizza and the second time I had the thick crust. My third visit here - tonight - was the clencher in determining my long term relationship with this pizza place. The guy in front of me was ordering and the dude behind the counter quite obviously had some serious attidude - you know...the rolling eyes, sneering, reluctant worker scenario. This is the kind of guy that, when you approach the counter you think to yourself, "OK...let me just place my order and get a slice to fill my belly without pissin' this guy off." So the guy in front of me finishes his order -accompanied with the forementioned eye rolling- "dude" behind counter puts his slice in the oven to warm up & pulls some pie out of the oven. The pie he pulled out was the equivalent of two slices (one cheese, one pepperoni) but was not yet sliced. He puts his grubby hands on the crust to hold it and runs the slicer down the middle separating the cheese & pep slices. One piece of the pepperoni fell off on to the counter due to his slicing manuever and he proceeds to pick it up with his (yes, GRUBBY!) fingers and put it back on the slice of pep. Right at this point, he asks who is next to order. To this I say, "Uh....I'll come back later." NOT! Now, I'll tell you...in this type of (non) service situation, I'll tolerate a little (just a little, mind you) attitude. What I will not tolerate is unhygenic practices around food that I'm about to eat. This guy was handling money 30 seconds before he put his nasty digits on that pie & he never washed his hands. I guess I should express my bias here...I have many (far too many) years of experience in food service. There are certain things that are totally untolerable at any time (such as poor hygiene / lack of cleanliness) and some things that I might tolerate more than other people (such as a server obviously having a bad day). Rudeness & nastiness just don't mix. Sure, the pie might fill your belly, but I'd much rather walk over to Pie In The Sky and have some tasty desserts after my slice. (Which is exactly what I did!) The staff over there are much friendlier as well. Sorry Arinell...you just don't cut it in my book. read more

Greasy, cheap, pizza that you NEED to eat fresh. Fold and eat, NY style. This is more of a pizza "stand" than a pizza "sit." Get over it. The large pizza that we got today was perfect for 3 big eaters (think 6 ft, 230lbs each). It's a little gross eating off a piece of wax paper on the table and having the wax paper fill up with your grease and then getting the grease stuck to the table... so you've created a table-grease-pizza connection it seems. I got over it and asked for another piece of wax paper. read more

Arinell's is NY style pizza, the most authentic I've ever had in California. I love this pizza. Both the plain slice and the Sicilian slice. Yes, the heshers/punks/skaters that make the pizza don't seem to particularly care about *you*. But they must care about the pizza because it is consistently crispy and delicious. And they're nice enough if you actually bother to make eye contact and talk with them. Those of you complaining about "reheated" pizza or that the toppings are put on after the pie is cooked just have to accept the fact that you don't like NY style pizza. They have beautiful neon inside, too. Usually the music is pretty good. The only complaint I have is about that crappy bench; it is not comfortable and too close to the floor. A board sitting on cinderblocks would be better. read more

My wife and I have enjoyed a quick slice of New York thin crust a few times in the past at the Berkeley location. This week we were downtown Berkeley and ordered two slices of mushroom thin crust. The pizza was cold and soggy. The pizza had a minimum of sauce. Very disappointing. Will not return and pay $5.00 for a second rate pizza slice. Too many pizza joints in and around Berkeley serve better. read more

Easy choice for a plain cheese pizza. Thin-crust, hot-to-the-touch out of the oven, and no frills. You actually better be careful when you're handling it because they put it only on wax paper and some grease can burn your hand (or make it smell like delicious pizza all day). I'm not a fan of getting toppings here because they have to add it just on top of the pizza. Don't be trying to go all "the works" or hawaiian here. This ain't no Dominos! Don't get it to go. You gotta eat it there nice and hot and just enjoy the pizza in the moment, reminisce about life, realize how screwed you are for midterms, think about that girl you wanna date, and other activities that take you away from reality. I mean, if you don't live around the area and you came down to Arinell to get a slice, you must think it's worth your time so just effin enjoy it! I guess I never really had a real legit thin-crust slice until Arinell...but I like it. I'll be sure to grab a slice when I'm downtown again. $2.75 per slice is worth it. read more

I found out why this place is so good: The servers don't wash their hands in between handling money and moving the pizza. Their slices taste like cash money. read more

Normally, after I gorge myself on pizza, I end up doing the food walk of shame (waddling, bleary-eyed from food coma, side stitch from moving, etc.). These slices, however, are amazingly fresh and light - I felt completely fine on my run right after. The pizza's flavor is simple but so delicious! My experiences with toppings have been mixed, however...they definitely seem like an afterthought compared to the pie itself. For me, one slice leads to another...to another...to another...no shame. read more

I LOVE the pizza here. Have been coming here since freshmen year and the food has always been consistently excellent. I always get a slice of the pepperoni thin crust every time I come. A+ pizza with really good cheeze. The cheeze pizza is usually premade, but they heat it up for you with whatever toppings you want so that it comes out burning hot and the pepperonis just start to curl up on the sides. I usually hate premade food, but I don't mind it here at all. Only complaint is that I love mushrooms on my pizza, but I don't like how it doesn't get baked with the pizza from the beginning so I just stick with the pepperoni here. Only $3ish for a slice. It gets crowded during lunch though when the Berkeley High kids come out, so try to avoid coming during that time. Cash only. read more

The best slice going. Simple is better, cheese only and of course, thin crust. And it's pretty much the same as it was 25 years ago. There are other places that have full pies and are also as good, but when it's gotta be NYC style slice that you fold in half and run? This is it. The one on Valencia and 17th in the city is just as good and close to several music venues and bars and is open late, which is a very good thing. read more

I don't know about the pizza and the whole processing of how they make it at Arinell's since every time I arrive the pizza looks like it has been sitting out for a while (which oftentimes gives the slice an old and dry taste) and I have never seen them actually make it. But I can tell you what I saw today when I ordered a slice I walked into Arinell's today and ordered a slice of pepperoni pizza. Since Arinell's makes there pies with just cheese, the cashier later adds the toppings you order. So the cashier put the pepperoni on the pizza with his bare hands, no gloves and did not even wash his hands. Since I don't know if he actually washed them before I arrived, I waited to see if he would give the courtesy of washing them for the next customer. After he took my money and put it in the register, he took the next customer's order and did not wash his hands as he placed the toppings on the next customer's slice. He continued to do this for about 4 or 5 customers. When everyone had placed their order I asked him if he thought he should wash his hands or wear gloves before handling money. He claimed that he did not touch the pizza slices which could be true but I did see him touch several slices as he repositioned the pie to cut slices from it. I also saw him touch everyone's toppings after they placed their order so I pointed this out to him. He just shrugged his shoulders and stared right through me as though to disregard my comment. I told him I wasn't trying to tell him how to do his job but asked him if he didn't think it was more hygienic to wash his hands or wear gloves in between orders. He shrugged again and looked at me in annoyance. I know it must suck for an employee to hear customers complain about how they're doing their job, but when you're touching MY food that I PAID for, I expect it to be done with better hygiene. It's gross to think that everyone ate the germs that were passed onto their slices from the money. I'm not a germaphobe but doesn't that sound disgusting to you all? That's not right. I don't think I'll be going back to that place. Other places actually bake their pepperoni or other toppings into the pizza and have a cashier who handles the money and another who handles the pizza but the latter does not touch the money. Why can't this place do that or at least be more cleanly about handling food? read more

Damn good pizza. Period. The Neapolitan here is better than sex. Screw the cheeseboard and those other greasy places around town, this place is legit. read more

Arinell has some of the best thin crust cheese slices in the Bay Area. They moved to a spot (next door to the old one) about two years ago so now there are four tables. But this place is so popular they're usually filled. read more

This place has been serving up thin crust pizza slices in Berkeley since 1975. And it remains the best place in the bay for real New York style slices. I came here after a very annoying day dealing with traffic court. I was hungry and suffering from low blood sugar and a general malaise. Where can I find some quick and tasty food? A little light bulb went off, and I turned and headed down shattuck like a heat seeking device. The pepperoni slices were more delicious than I even remembered. The neapolitan crust was perfectly thin and crispy. So I ordered a second slice to go with my root beer. That came to $7.50. After chomping down those two slices, and finishing off the soda while driving down University, I finally felt a sense of calm. Arinell's delicious thin crust pizza is quick working stress relief! read more

Arinell Pizza! A great place, the best basic thin crust cheese pizza in the Bay Area. Another dive, a hole in the wall (literally), I started going here in the early '80's when I was working down the street. At least once a week I'd have lunch for something like $3.00 for two slices, and I was done. Great stuff. The crust is very thin, perfectly made, soft yet crisp. The tomato sauce is basic, not too tart or punchy, a good background sauce and this is a pizza where the components are subdued to make the overall integrate and soar. The cheese is likewise, not memorable, just rich and yummy enough to work with the other ingredients. No garlic, cornmeal, etc., necessary. The place is very small, tight even. They expanded a while ago, so that more than five people could fit into the space - it'll hold maybe twice that many now. There are some tables, but the real regulars eat standing up at the wall mounted counter, just like we used to at the old place where that was the only place you could eat, besides the sidewalk. I've had pizza at their San Francisco location, and it's just as good. This is not a fancy, loaded gourmet pizza - it's more working class, but genuine. read more

After a number of friends telling me how good this place is, I finally tried it last week. This pizza blows every other pizza in Berkeley out of the water, the park, and the continent. I got a slice of the cheese Neopolitan and added olives and mushrooms. The reheat process is just the perfect amount of time, just long enough for the flavors to blend and not too long to where the juices from the olives and mushrooms (fresh thick slices too) evaporate. I loved how it added to the flavor. The pizza is so cheap, too. I wouldn't mind making Arinell's a weekly stop. read more

Love the pizza, but the service sucks. Do not believe the opening time of 11am. Ive been by several times over the last couple of weeks and they still weren't open at 11:30. I left, each time pizza-less. read more

If you don't like NY style pizza, stay away. Service is fine as long as you don't pull attitude. They are there to take your $2.50 and give you a slice, not to blow smoke up your ass with some have-a-nice-day BS. The owner looks perpetually angry, but he's actually a good guy. The staff have what hipsters are trying for, minus the irony, plus an extra serving of grease. And the pizza is hands-down best NY slice in Berkeley, if not the whole Bay Area. Thin, crispy, hot, with a fine layer of molten cheese, glistening with oil: fold in half and eat. So simple. read more

I've been coming here on and off for like 25 years. They don't seem to skimp on the toppings which is a plus. Totally authentic thin crust New York pizza with the New York type employees too. read more

Arinell's makes a great slice. The style of slice is akin to a NY slice, thin crust, bright tomato sauce, solid amount of cheese. They don't do fancy toppings that you can't pronounce (thanks obnoxious chef culture for introducing that into the simplest things in life like the hamburger and pizza), but their flavors are delicious. read more

What's funny is that this is their expanded space -- I forget exactly how long they were closed while they did their "remodel" but the impression I had during that time was that they were undergoing a massive overhaul. From what I can tell, the cumulative effect of The Great Expansion is that their pizza oven now fits left-to-right instead of front-to-back. But no matter!! This is great pizza, with probably a little more attitude that anyone actually needs, but it ably breaks up the dreaded monotony of shoving Zachary's deep dish slices down your throat year after year. The same guy has been working behind the counter (the owner?) wearing the same pair of camouflage shorts and samba shoes since... i dunno, maybe 2 decades or so?? read more

New York Style Slices in Downtown Berkeley! Arinell's is literally right next door to my job so I frequent habitually. They make the pizza fresh, a few times a day and I know this because I can smell it in my office! The pizza itself is delicious. The place is always clean. The guys that work there are super laid back, sweet and eye-pleasing. You can either eat while standing and fold up your pie slice or take a load off and sit down and relax. It is a classic, Americana pizza joint that wouldn't make Downtown Berkeley whole. read more

Love the thinnest of thin pizza. Definitely go for the regular. Cheese only. I could eat a whole piece in about 10 seconds. Great walking and eating Berkeley establishment. If I could get a smile out of one of the greasy skater guys behind the counter, I'd give this place 5 stars. read more

Arinell is a solid old-school pizza joint. There's nothing fancy here-- just an incredibly well done NY style slice. Cheesy, greasy, crisp crust, and huge flavor. I always get the cheese slice, so I can't tell you much about the other toppings. Right now it's $3.00 a slice for cheese, and I believe $3.25 for vegan, $3.50 for pepperoni. It's simple, it's filling, it's cheap. It's a very specific type of pizza done just as it's meant to be. Arinell is usually the place I go if I need a quick bite after drinks downtown, or if I am on my way elsewhere. One of these days I'm sure I'll take home a whole pie. If you're caving NY style pizza, I absolutely recommend checking this place out! read more

It's a shame that so many people at Cal don't know about this place. Arinell's straight up serves a tasty no-frills NY style pizza. I was writing this review, which made me crave this pizza so much that I went and bought a slice. The Neopolitan slices are large, super-thin, and perfectly chewy and greasy. I wish the crust was a little bit softer though. The Sicilian deep dish is great as well. Sometimes, when I'm eating at Cheeseboard or any other pizza joint, I try to fold my pizza like I'm eating a Neopolitan slice, but it's just not the same... read more

Pretty great pizza place for a pretty decent price. The slices are BIG and you can customize by adding toppings for something like 50 or 75 cents each. My only disappointment with this system is that the toppings aren't baked right into the pizza with the tomato sauce and cheese, but rather plopped on top and then heated up again. Not terrible, just a minor thing... but I thought I'd mention it. And they now have vegan pizza (by the pie or the slice) which is awesome! This place is CASH ONLY but are conveniently located right next to Bank of America and a couple of ATMs, so that's not really a big deal. :) Service is fast and mostly very friendly. Haven't had any issues with having to wait too long. For the price and size, I'll definitely keep coming back here. edit: Oh! My other biggest complaint (which is mostly a joke complaint) is I could not for the life of me read any of their signs out front. When my boyfriend asked where I got the pizza I just brought home, I had no idea what they were called until I checked in on yelp and found it :P read more

About six months ago, the cheese on their pizza was different. Different in not a good way. Kinda slimy and weird. Tried it again yesterday, same thing. Am I crazy, here? Been enjoying their pizza since 1977, and now the cheese is different. Did they change it, or what? I want my old Arinell back! read more

Thin and foldable NY pizza. I wasn't immediately a fan, but this place has grown on me. I had no idea what NY pizza was but people tell me this is pretty authentic and it's the real deal. Sicilian thick slices are also available. They pop the slices back in the oven when you order. Two slices is the way to go. Golden, greasy and goooood. This is a get your pizza and go kind of place. Minimal seating, but it was worse several years ago before they remodeled when it was the size of a small walk-in closet. We used to come here for lunch in high school and it would take so long because all the students crammed in and get stuck with their fat backpacks. Same goes for those diligent UCB students. read more

Was in town to visit friends. We wanted to go to Zachary's but, short on time, ended up at the conveniently located Arinell Pizza. We parked kind of illegally but whatever. Arinell is no Zachary's, but the food tasted superb, the punk-rock dude behind the counter didn't give us sass, and it was probably half the price. Definitely a win-win. If you live in Berkeley, you owe it to yourself to go back to Arinell because you can! -A sad Southern Californian Golden Bear PS: bring a bottle of Purell if you hate greasy finger syndrome read more

THE best NY style pizza I've had in the Bay Area, period. Allow me to share it with you in some bullet points: - Super-thin, almost cracker like crust, that, due to the greasy goodness from the cheese, almost melts in your mouth - Tasty cheese - Great toppings - Cheap price! - They serve orange soda: this is the drink to get, somehow it matches with the pizzas perfectly I love to go to this place for quick, tasty, and unmatched pizza experience. Sure, it's greasy, so you can't go there for every meal, but boy is it a special treat. My favorite order is one pizza with anchovies, and one with chopped garlic. Major breath-killer but it zings your mouth. And with the orange soda to wash it down, this is pretty much a 2-slice pizza heaven. Better than Blondie's, Fat Slice...only bad thing is it's a little further from campus. It's nestled next to the BofA on Shattuck, a little hole-in-the-wall. Go try it out!! read more

I've been going to this pizzeria for awhile now since my parents took me here awhile back and I still would recommend it especially if you like NY style pizza with the thin crust. I love thin crust light pizza and this is exactly what it is. You can get a slice or two, a soda and be set for life. Sometimes I even order a whole pizza to take home because it tastes great heated up in the oven for a snack or for dinner the rest of the week. Haha! Great sliceeeees, delicious crust, good sauce and just the right amount of cheese. I love it! A story: One day I was hella craving Arinell's pizza and had my friends drive me out to Berkeley from Oakland to grab a slice. I got myself two slices and as we were on our way home we got pulled over by stupid Berkeley police who happened to be following us around the entire time messing with us - more like biasly profiling us more than anything.. Anyways, we got pulled over and the car was impounded and towed away and we were left on the streets of Berkeley with no way to get home. The cop told us to find our way and walk. WHAT A JERK! But guess what?! I had my two slices of pizza left with meeee!!! =) read more