Benchmark continues to be one of my favorite spots when a serious pizza craving hits. Last night, I stopped in specifically hoping to try the eggplant pizza, but unfortunately they were sold out. Since the only other pie I'd previously had there was the brown butter sage -- delicious, though I've learned lemon on pizza simply isn't my thing -- I decided to go with their classic Benchmark margherita instead. It absolutely delivered. This is Neo-Neapolitan pizza done right: bright, fresh tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, torn basil, and a beautifully balanced crust with a perfectly thin base, nicely charred underside, and those airy, leopard-spotted edges that make wood-fired pizza so satisfying. Simple, restrained, and incredibly well executed. It was an unusually warm evening, so I opted to sit outside. My only real complaint is that the tables closest to the street sit noticeably on a slant, making it a bit of a challenge to keep plates and glasses from slowly sliding downhill throughout the meal. A small detail, but worth noting. That said, the staff were genuinely lovely and welcoming, and the overall experience was exactly what I was hoping for. One final recommendation: do yourself a favor and ask for a side of olive oil for dipping the crusts. It's the perfect finishing touch. I'll absolutely be back the next time the craving strikes. read more

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Benchmark's menu may not be extensive, but everything I've had there is good. The pizza crust is the right mix of chewy and crispy: the best I've had lately in the Bay area. Fried sage pizza with a chopped salad is a family favorite. Add a choc chip sea salted cookie for dessert. The dine-in experience is great: outdoor seating with a nice view that goes great with a beer or cocktail on a sunny afternoon. The waitstaff are friendly and skilled. The takeout experience is mostly good, but a few things could be better. I'd like the option to remove onions from my takeout pizza. And: Lately the chopped salad has been presented in a plastic takeout box with the ingredients separated into other plastic containers. This leaves the customer to basically create the salad from the ingredients, then deal with a bunch of plastic waste. Better to go back to the old method: compostable box with the ingredients tossed by Benchmark, giving the customer the option to have Benchmark toss the dressing or do it themselves. When I order an expensive salad, I expect a salad, not a collection of separate ingredients for me to mix myself. And the plastic detracts from the experience and adds waste to the environment. read more

They make spectacular authentic Italian wood-fired pizza and amazing cocktails. Copious outside seating is available, with shade or heaters as needed. This place is always very popular, with good reason! Also a great place if you have little kids or dogs. read more

2025 Pizza Reviews continue... this pizza is very good, 4.6 stars in my book if it means anything to you. Like most people I've heard of Kensington as the land past the Gourmet Ghetto but never ventured that far. Living in Oakland it's a decent trek to that part of Berkley and going to and North of Solano Ave. is its own venture. I've been searching for great pizza this year after going to Japan and having the best the world has to offer, I've been striving to find it ever since.. pizza is very good here, not quite as fluffy a dough as I would like, but this is "Neo Neopolitan " and it's own unique variety, as it should be. The amount of char ("leoparding") on here is phenomenal, it's all around and the flavor of the entire pizza benefits from it. We opted for a caesar salad to go with our Benchmark Pizza and Salami pie. For the Benchmark, you can really taste the ingredients here and the olive oil in particular, their commitment to fresh produce and top notch ingredients is strong and apparent. It was a work of art with all the ingredients working together. Likewise the salad was heavily "cheesed" as I think all caesar salads should be, seasoned well with cold, crisp lettuce that works together. read more

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A good neighborhood pizzeria. Fried sage, goat cheese and pepperoni, and shredded fennel - all good choices

Good Caesar salad. Lengthy wait but worth it Their pizzas are also very good Parking can be difficult, but they brought my order out to my car. read more

My boyfriend and I came here and we cannot recommend Benchmark Pizzeria more, even on a busy, sunny Saturday night! The service was phenomenal; Robert, our server, was friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful (hope everyone gets him!). The drinks, appetizers, and pizza were so delicious! We love the neighborhood-like vibe of this restaurant and are so impressed by how they are able to provide great food service, even with their popularity. They've made regulars of us!! read more

I have been meaning to try Benchmark Pizza for a while after hearing it was one of the best rated in the Bay Area! We came here and were immediately seated. The place is cozy, but there is enough room inside and outside. I also noticed there were a lot of children, so this is definitely a family-friendly restaurant! We ordered two pizzas based off our servers recommendation, the new mushroom one and the fried sage. The mushroom pizza had a nice earthy flavor, and the sauce was oily without being heavy. It was very soft in the center because of the sauce, but it had a nice outer crust. The fried sage had a thick layer of cheese and the meatball complimented well with the fried sage itself. Overall, I do like the outer crusts, but I feel the bottom could be crispier, and the sauces themselves were more on the heavy side. I'm glad I was able to come and try their well-rated pizzas though! read more

Benchmark Pizzeria - Fried Sage Pizza With Meatballs - Pizza Near Me - Kensington, California

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My first time here. Thinking about this amazing pizza makes me want to belt out my favorite song from my favorite band... while driving of course. I am the egg man They are the egg men I am the walrus Goo goo g'joob Last week a friend and I shared a Benchmark Pizza with Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Meatball Pizza with Tomato, Mozzarella, Grana, Meatballs, Parsley. Perfect is the only way to describe the crust. Crunchy, chewy, smoky and flavorful. It stood up just fine to the sauce and toppings. The Meatball Pizza was my favorite. Super tasty meatballs that complimented the sauce and cheese. I'll take two next time. The place is popular so Matt suggests you go early. I can hardly wait to go back. read more

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I can see why locals come here. The food is good. The pasta was fresh with a nice bite and a light lemony sauce. We enjoyed the pizza. It had a chewy crust and really yummy cheese and a light tomato sauce. However the center was a bit soggy. The meatball put it over the top. Made me wish I had ordered the meatballs and polenta entree instead. Loved the spicy margarita. I could tell it was made with fresh squeezed lime juice, none of that sickly sweet and sour mix. The best part of the meal was the huge chopped salad. It came lightly dressed in a tangy vinaigrette. Perfectly boiled eggs. Fresh crunch greens. Just enough cheese and almonds. Superb! The room could use something to deaden the sound. We could hear every utensil on every plate and the conversations of the other guests. I'm sure that's fun for the regulars. Not so much for us. But that's what you get in a tiny room with tall ceilings. It's also quite pricey for a pizzeria with self-serve silverware in a cup on the table no white tablecloths. Our server was very nice and quite attentive. Parking was easy and free. I might go back. read more

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With the holidays quickly approaching, if you're looking to cozy up for date night or an evening with friends/family in town, Benchmark Pizzeria is calling your name. Nestled in the equally as cozy community of Kensington, you'll find other gems here as well like the Sunday farmer's market, the charming Semifreddi's Bakery (opened in 1984!) and another local fan favorite, the Kensington Pub. Benchmark is well known for their delicious pizzas, comforting pastas, hearty salads/soups and yes, their organic soft serve to round out the menu! Highlights when ordering are always a pizza & pasta to split, with seasonal pasta favorites including the Strozzapreti Bolognese and Cacio e Pepe. Pizza wise, one really can't go wrong with traditional options and also fall/winter options like the Delicata Squash and Sage Pizza, all served "Neo-Neopolitan in style, 11-12 inches". My latest order was the Benchmark (Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $20) with a side of their homemade Caesar dressing to dip the crust in..amazing pro tip from the awesome servers! The pizzas are perfect for sharing or like me last Friday, simply just for one. The Caesar in general is also always a must, brimming top of bowl with fresh grated Grana. We typically always like to order a side of their house made bread & salted butter to start, which compliments any Antipasti quite nicely. Benchmark now has house & specialty cocktails to accompany their awesome selection of beer/wine. I love a good Spritz or Lambrusco, a sparkling red I only enjoy ordering here! Going down the sweet train, you have to make an express stop to try their Buffalo Milk soft serve with (any topping of choice) and Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie on the side to dip in. We usually get the caramel sauce because we're huge fans, but truly anything atop buffalo's milk is a win in my book! Fun fact: Benchmark has now opened a grab-and-go down the street! If you make it to the Sunday Kensington Farmer's Market, they offer morning quarter pizza slices to go and other fun breakfast treats/sandwiches, frozen pizzas, boxed items from their restaurant, and even sides of that super yummy Caesar dressing! Don't sleep on Benchmark this season ~ you're in for a big win! read more

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Finally had a chance to eat here. Nice neighborhood eatery we can walk to. We ate outside in a Sunday evening which got busier as the evening progressed. It was nice sitting outside enjoying the good weather. We had pasta, salad and two pizzas - margherita with wine and beer. All tasted really good. Bonus was the soft serve ice cream and sundae. Service was attentive and friendly. Food came out quickly. We'll be back! read more

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Yummy pizza and pasta and nice drinks. I love their farro beet salad and keep trying to recreate it at home! It's quite loud and cramped but that's the vibe I guess. They also had nice holiday drinks went we went around Christmas. It's not cheap (although they do have house wine for $10/glass) but the food is tasty! We go regularly. read more

Learned of this place as one of the "best pizzerias" and had to check it out and support local. We had their chopped salad, spicy carrot salad, a Benchmark and a Delegata pizza with sausage added. We also had to try their chocolate chip cookies, for dessert. The carrot salad was fun and fresh with just a little bite to it, not too spicy. The chopped salad was a meal in itself and an absolute rainbow of lettuces, radicchio, apples and pomegranate seeds with blue cheese bites. It was a bowl of happiness and good will! Oh and it had a just barely hard cooked egg that had the creamiest yolk, and felt like a delicacy to eat. Pizzas were thin crust and blistered, with toppings that complimented each other beautifully. The Benchmark was a margarite pizza with fresh mozzarella and the Delicata had squash and fennel with other types of cheeses which combined with the added sausage were crave worthy. We will definitely be back to this place. I can hardly wait to try the pasta dishes. The waitress was great. Efficient, friendly and helpful. We had one cookies to-go that slipped out of it's packaging onto the floor and she was kind enough to replace it for us, which I appreciated. If you love pizza, you need to check this one off as a favorite. It's worth the drive if you're not a local, honestly. read more

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Great family and neighborhood spot with both indoor/outdoor seating for delicious, tasty pizza, with some interesting flavors (fried sage!) on a nice, slightly charred crust. Top it of off with yummy gelato and soft serve or chocolate chip cookie for the kids! read more

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I'm born and raised in Napoli, birthplace of pizza, and I can assure you that this pizzeria is superb! Easily in the best 3 pizzerias I've had in the Bay Area! Keep it up! read more

Benchmark Pizzeria - Margherita Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Kensington, California

I love this place great food. Great service great place to eat and over all a great environment.

Love the pizza and chopped salad. I have it delivered, so it often isn't hot, but still worth it.

A true neighborhood gem, Benchmark is a gathering place for local Italians and Italian-food appreciators who come for their simple menu of high quality food and great drinks. Driving by on any given evening you'll see clusters of diners sitting at the outside tables, regardless of temperature but especially on a balmy evening. The inside dining area is small but feels equally suited for a date night or a couple families meeting up for dinner. Staff have always been efficient and friendly with service. But the food...that's what really matters. And that's why I keep returning and craving a Benchmark dinner. The fried brown butter sage pizza is something that must be ordered. It won't disappoint and you will be thinking about it days later! Other menu items on our regular order include: Strozzapretti Bolognese (priest-strangler pasta), Chopped salad which has the perfect balance of ingredients (large enough to share with the table), meatballs, sausage and pepperoni pizzas, marinated olives, and housemade bread. My recent conversation to plant-based diet has left me still dreaming of the sage pizza but feeling very satisfied with their vegan pizza, loaded with green olives, spinach and cashew-based cheese. On a hot day, add an Aperol spritz and it almost feels like I'm back it Italy read more

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Right next to Semifreddi's (my go-to for granola) in Kensington Circle. My bf came across this spot on recommendation from a neighbor and were drawn by the unorthodox toppings. Try it before saying anything!! We picked up two for a get-together at home. For the size of the pizzas, their pickup time is extraordinarily fast-- only about 10-15 mins (about the time it took for us to drive here, we just left asap LOL). Staff were friendly. FRIED SAGE PIZZA: My bf's favorite of the two :-) I can't say that we've had fried sage before-- definitely interesting! So smoky, earthy, and a little spicy, goes well with the milder mozzarella. The brown butter adds another rich layer of nuttiness to everything. The crust has a lovely chew while still crunchy on the outside (though, I wish there were more topping-- the crust made up maybe 1/3 of the entire pizza lol) CHERRY TOMATO & CORN PIZZA: This is like corn salsa, but on pizza. Peep the tiny bits of onion :P I haven't seen a lot of corn pizzas outside of Taiwan so this was a pleasant surprise. Bits of rosemary added a fun, aromatic twist. Both were devoured immediately, with high praise from all guests. Would definitely recommend Benchmark if you're looking for unique pizzas that stand out from the rest. read more

We went for dinner to this pizza place in Kensington, which is basically next to Berkeley. It was quite busy around 5 pm. It was our first time here and it was pretty good. We tried 2 different salads and 2 different pizzas. All were very delicious. My favorite was the spicy carrot salad. So good! A must try. Please be aware it does contain nuts. This place is perfect for a date night or casual meet up with some friends. read more

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We heard about Benchmark from a professional chef at a renowned restaurant, and couldn't wait to try! The place is super cute, small but cosy with outdoor sidewalk tables. We chose inside on a windy night. The wait was reasonable for a no-rez restaurant on a Friday night, about 20 minutes. We tried two salads, 2 pizzas and a pasta bolognese. Caesar salad was wonderful, farro good too- tho the combo of salad, farro with strawberries was odd to eat before a pizza. I loved the pizza, it had that great wood oven char with a chewy and tasty crust. The New Yorkers in our party prefer a crisper crust, that's just personal pizza preference. The toppings choices covered all bases- we chose a vegetarian with brown butter and sage, and another with prosciutto and ricotta. I didn't get much ricotta flavor or texture, and the vegetarian didn't get that brown butter & sage flavor she expected--yet both were tasty pizzas. They're not large or cheap but prices are in line with the competition. The bolognese was quite good. We tried the house red wine and it was tasty and well priced! Too full for dessert but we'll be back read more

Service is poor and the owner is extremely rude. Don't support this business, spend your money where it's appreciated.

stopped by here around 5pm on a whim and were seated immediately. coming from SF with its plethora of pizza and pasta options, i was shocked that this was one of the best italian meals i've had in the bay. we shared: * cucumber farro salad: sooo good. the melon was perfectly ripe and the olive oil on top was some of the best i've ever had. * spaghetti arriabbata: i could not get enough of the sauce! it was so spicy yet well balanced. one of the best tomato-based pastas i've had anywhere including italy. * benchmark pizza: normally i don't go for a margherita pizza but all the ingredients were perfect. the mozzarella especially was out of this world. the neapolitan-style crust was super light and chewy. * wild mushroom pizza: this had a lot of potential but none of the flavors really stood out. i felt like it needed more acidity. that said it was still tasty af. * non-alcoholic aperol spritz: i've been missing aperol spritzes and this really hit the spot! herbacious and refreshing without being overly sweet. the ambiance is super cute and rustic with tons of outdoor seating as well as some indoor tables. read more

I ordered the sausage and mushroom pizza, and each slice had plenty of mushrooms but only about one piece of sausage. When I called to ask about it, I was told that's how it's supposed to be, which was disappointing. The pizza itself was also smaller than I expected, it would be really helpful if the menu listed the pizza sizes. I wish there had been more sausage on the pizza I received. read more

Very nice staff. It was such a nice day we sat outside. The pizzas and salad were good and the drinks were great. We easily found parking. We will dine there again in the near future. read more

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This pizza was pretty perfect! I love Neapolitan style pizza and Benchmark scratched that itch - thin crust & crispy chewy puffy edges. We had the Benchmark/Margherita & the Mortadella with sweet peppers. They were both so good that we ordered a Prosciutto pizza to go. The staff was friendly and prompt. Already looking forward to going back for more. read more

Who knew this little neighborhood existed?! So glad to find this place. Probably the best salad and pizzas I've had. The fried sage pizza was beyond words! Def can't wait to come back here. Everything was devoured, so good. Their house wine wasn't bad at all either, not dry. Def can't wait to try more of their pizzas and try some of their pastas. Don't miss out on this place, it'll be one of your biggest regrets haha read more

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Kid friendly, with great service and good food. Reliable choice for dinner. Seasonal specials are worth trying!

Excellent Napoli style pizza - thin crust and cooked fast. We're never waiting long to get food here. It can be on the louder side at times, so I think it's best for a meet up spot with friends. Will continue to come back! read more

Long ago I was skeptical of this place. I don't know why. I take my pizza seriously, and was somehow prejudging this place. Our family began ordering from them during Covid. We've never looked back. We generally get pies to go, and sometimes order an accompanying salad. Our family has eaten over 100 of their fine pizzas. I've never been disappointed. The consistency is unmatchable. They have also never messed up our order in any way. And, they are super friendly. I lean heavily towards pies with tomato sauce, so that's mostly what I've had. I love them all. The meatball, salami, sausage, etc. The crust is perfect. Chewy, yet crisp and airy. They spread on just the right amount of tomato sauce and don't over-cheese the pies. It's always cooked to perfection, with a little char. I've eaten a lot of pizza in the area, and they remain my go to place. The salads are great as well. Flavorful, balanced, and fresh. I've also had the Bolognese and it was almost as good as my own. This place is bustling because it is so so solid. I feel lucky to have it around. It's so hard to make it in this business, so please don't bash it with crappy reviews for petty reasons. They know what they are doing and they are doing it well with a smile. read more

I fell in love with the fried sage pizza...there was a hint of lemon that cut the richness of that brown butter. The pasta was fresh, and the Bolognese sauce was meaty and creamy. Finish your meal with the Benchmark sundae and butterscotch sauce. Service was friendly but efficient. Score yourself an outdoor table and enjoy the small town feel of Kensington. read more

This place is so cute and the food was delicious! We were seated right away inside and ordered promptly. The portion sizes are generous and the food is phenomenal. The pizza was cooked to perfection. I've never had a wood fired pizza crust cooked like this. It's so soft and chewy and not hard and crunchy like I usually get. I loved the salad as well. It was so fresh and the dressing was delightful. The salad was huge! I shared this with my mom and we had leftovers to take of both the pizza & salad. By the time we left, the restaurant was PACKED. I will definitely be coming back here for more deliciousness! read more

Benchmark Pizzeria - Salami pizza was delicious! - Pizza Near Me - Kensington, California

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Benchmark is a small and chill pizzeria in the most unassuming place. As a pizzeria, it's only right that their pizza is amazing. Each pizza crust is cooked to perfection with no shortage of popping gluten! We tried both the benchmark (margarita) and Calabrian Bomba. Our favorite of the two was definitely the Calabrian Bomba because of the extra kick and the surprisingly good eggplant on the pizza. The chopped salad was a super flavorful combination of greens, chickpeas, an egg, and their vinaigrette sauce. It's a must have appetizer! The cookie was great, but wasn't able to be warmed. But this isnt a reason to avoid this cool spot in the hill! read more

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Fantastic spot for Neapolitan style pizza, cute ambiance and great service, one of those rare places that could be nice enough for a casual, but romantic date night or a family dinner with young kids. Really appreciate that they open at 4:30pm and the first set of tables were mostly families with young kids. Nice welcoming touches like crayons and coloring menu, staff bringing out the cheese pizza for the kids quickly (and first) before the "adult" salads and pizzas. All the food was delicious, the bolognese was a surprise favorite with perfectly cooked al dente pasta. Definitely will be coming back! read more

Nice neighborhood spot with a large variety of pizzas. Really enjoyed both the Fried Sage Pizza and the Nduja and Eggplant Pizza. They've got both indoor and outdoor seating and very friendly vibes. We didn't feel rushed and service was very kind. read more

Benchmark Pizzeria - Fried Sage Pizza Nduja and Eggplant Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Kensington, California

A pleasant pizza place with great service and delicious pizza! We got the oak view cocktail which was delicious if you like sweet drinks that taste like juice. The pizza was very good! Super buttery. It would be more filling if you wanted to add a protein on top but other than that it's DELICIOUS. We also got a sea salt Chocolate cookie which was really great, I wonder if you could warm it up though because I think it would have been 100% better warmed up. We also got sundaes and was pleasantly surprised with the sunflower seeds. The whip topping was really good I'm not quite sure what it's made out of but I really enjoyed it. We went on a Wednesday night and there was a lot of people, probably a hometown favorite (we drove 30-40 minutes away). Parking wasn't too hard to find but it is street. read more

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Their pizza and salads are fantastic. The pizzas are more Neapolitan style, homemade dough and baked in a pizza oven. The spicy salami is our favorite. The Caesar is always a winner, very strong flavors, crisp romaine. Overall it's a bit on the pricey side but ingredients and service are top notch. Only suggestion is for them to improve their new cocktails in terms of flavor/style, but wine is delicious. A real neighborhood place where you and family always feel welcome. read more

I'm gonna say it- the sage brown butter pizza is the best pizza in the bay. So good! We also had the farro asparagus salad and it was delicious. Will be back read more

Kid approved!! Strozzapretti leftovers for the win. Great and very friendly service. Soft serve is delicious. read more

Benchmark Pizzeria - Pizza Near Me - Kensington, California