I'm an omnivore, and tonight I met my vegetarian friend here for drinks and a meal. When we ordered, we were unfamiliar with what 'speck' was, so we ordered the 'speck and arugula pizza', thinking 'speck' was a type of plant. The awesome waitperson let us know it was meat (speck is apparently a type of prosciutto), and so we changed our order to the cauliflower pizza. Apparently a lot of people don't know the term 'speck' in this context (which to me means they need to add that to their menu description, because you write to your actual patrons), but our server had seen it enough times that he just immediately let us know. Turns out he also doesn't eat meat. When we got the pizza, it was actually the speck pizza. Our server immediately realized the error and took it away, and put our actual order on rush. He said he had made a mistake. We got the proper pizza and our server gave us a free round of drinks. I always appreciate it when someone can make an honest mistake and acknowledge it, and make things right. Plus he was fun to talk to and we didn't mind having another drink while eating the yummy cheese curds and waiting for the pizza. But BTW: 'speck' is meat! read more

I enjoyed my early dinner at Forge Pizza. I went with four people and we ordered two pizzas, a round of drinks, two burgers and dessert. The location is great, right on the water in Jack London Square. They have outdoor seating with heat lamps, and a large inside space including a good size bar. The inside space is a mix of tables and booths with soft leather cushions. Our server was really sweet, and provided great customer service. As I've mentioned in my other reviews, I am a pizza snob which is to say I have very high standards for pizza. I was not impressed with the pizza here. It has good elements, excellent crust, fresh ingredients, but the sauce was bland and boring. It had zero flavor. I considered adding table spices to it, but then I thought that that was weird so I didn't. The burger however was amazing! So tasty and delicious. Great bun, tasty grass fed organic beef, and I liked the seasoned mayo or special sauce they put on it. It came on a big plate with a ton of fries that were pretty good too. We ordered soft serve vanilla ice cream with caramel on top. Pretty good caramel and the ice cream was a standard soft serve. Loved the burger, disappointing pizza for a pizza joint, excellent customer service, and lovely ambiance. I would try it again. read more

Forge Pizza - Tall ceilings and great lighting - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Go-to spot for pizza in Jack London. Friendly vibes and great service. In the summer the patio is great. Family friendly and lots of vegetarian options. read more

I ate every bit of the charred crust. It is the highest compliment I can give to any pizza. There was not one piece of it leftover. This seldom happens. I am quite adept at eating all the toppings and leaving the crust behind. The cocktails are also very good. read more

Had a great time at this restaurant. Food was very good. Pizzas were a good size especially the kids menu pizza! They were the same size as ours! Not bad for the price. We ordered the porcetta sandwich. It was bomb!!!! The cauliflower and cheese curd appetizers were yummy as well. The only downside was they forgot to give us our side of fries until we were almost done with our meal. Otherwise, great place, great location. read more

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My favorite place for cheese curds outside of Wisconsin ha, ha. But so true! Get a beer and some yummy fried cheese curds, get a seat on their patio and if it's a nice sunny Oaklandish day, this must be close to paradise! The view of the boats, the bay and the eclectic folks walking by is to be savored. Dogs are allowed on the patio. They have plenty of space inside. On chilly nights, the fire pits have a toasty fire going that is super cool. Service is usually good unless they become very crowded. Parking around Jack London is always iffy depending on day and your knowledge of the best parking spots, so be prepared. They have a good selection of beers, wine and cocktails. Their pizzas are good, but nothing that I would rave about. For me, it has been and will always be about the fried cheese curds! read more

The Cauliflower Pizza is Ahhhhh-mazing! I highly recommend it. I love this restaurant because the menu is simple and the food is good. There's never a wait when I've been (always on a Sunday around lunch) and the service is great. They have indoor seating as well as patio seating. It's a bit pricey for pizza but the pizza is handmade so it's worth it and big enough for 2-maybe 3 people. Another item I always get is the Crispy Cheese Curds.. I describe them as a modern mozzarella stick, so if you love mozzarella sticks as much as I do these are a must and ten times better. read more

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My friend took me here to thank me for my help in moving stuff which I was more than happy to take him up on his offer. As for food, this is what we ordered and my thoughts Cheese curds - lukewarm at best which rendered the entire dish flat. I was expecting pieces of molten lava goodness that made the pain of eating them worth it! Wings - tasted nothing but smoke which left an unpleasant after taste in my mouth and on my hands, portions are ok, meat was tender enough Pizza - crust was limp, did a poor job of holding up the ingredients, and overall flavor was lacking Last notes Ambiance is nice and loved the outdoor seating option The variety of draft beers are good and service is relaxed Overall Thoughts While I am not against food coming out quickly, I definitely think Forge could have used more time on quality control read more

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First time here, sat outside, had the 3 cheese pizza, thin crust, very good, great service, nice ambiance. Seems like going in the early afternoon is a good time cause you can tell this place gets crowded cause it's not very big, but I will be back!! read more

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I love the cauliflower pizza. It's definitely a favorite of mine, until I tried the Mainlander !! Yumm. The staff is great and the cocktails are yum. read more

Some of the best wood fired Neapolitan style za I've had in Oakland. Order the forge pep and mainlander (Hawaiian) and you won't be disappointed. Pizzas were tasty, service was pretty good, and the patio is nice. Will probably come back, and would do a full 5 stars, but the place is kinda expensive, especially for drinks. Happy hour might be the way to go. read more

Forge Pizza - Forge Pepperoni Pizza & Mainlander Pizza (extra pineapple) - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here for Mothers Day dinner. Food is subpar and overpriced. Pizzas were soggy, like warm and dry. Salads were tiny and mediocre. Service was terrible. The employees were dress like slobs and obviously don't care about the success of the business. They didn't refill water glasses, hey even went to open a curtain at one point, and it closed on the head of one of the people in our party. No apology was given, the employee just walked away. Won't be back. read more

Been back a few times this summer. Easy stop after taking the ferry (from SF) home and I can continue my beer buzz. Must order the cheese curds - just order 2 from the start, seriously. The octopus is also good and well prepared .... which I think can be hard b/c I've had a lot of chewy octopus. The shishito peppers are also very tasty. We've had a much of the different pizzas and there wasn't one we didn't like. Pro Tip: order the "bread" which is just a pizza crust with no toppings and get the mussels. read more

This place Was excellent on 76 Degree Day Blue Sky hardly no wind. Food was great enjoyed our time at this place will be back! read more

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Had dinner here this evening. No reservation, but was seated at a hightop facing the Jack London Square promenade and the estuary. Lovely and great for people watching! Wait person was Monica. Nice sense of touch. Attentive without being overly intrusive. Good help choosing a cocktail. Went with Pink Fang even though I'm not crazy about ginger. However, as Monica advised, all of the flavors are well-balance so the ginger is simply part of the whole, not a standout ingredient. The warm olives were unexpectedly delicious! Caesar Salad was also very much to my liking (anchovies!). Bucatini Pasta was passable, but I probably should have known better to get pasta when their true strength is pizza. I enjoyed the Malbec and Petite Sirah wines. For an enjoyable dining experience at this time (COVID), I highly recommend Forge. Advice: make a reservation so you get a table with a space heater. read more

Forge Pizza - Jack London Square Promenade - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

I've been here twice now, once for lunch outside with a friend and one for dinner alone. Outside is very nice - they have fire pits and heaters outside. Last night people were sitting outside enjoying both, even with it being rather chilly along the water. The staff have been very friendly both times, and eager to please. When I sat at the bar last night, Daniel (the bartender) became very busy with the onslaught (the restaurant gets busy around 6 PM on weeknights) and another staff member came by and lent a hand at the bar so Daniel could make drinks for the tables. They have free wifi, so I was able to hangout at the bar (those tractor seat stools are surprisingly comfortable) and get a lot of work done, while enjoying a local beer. I've liked my pizza both times. The sauce is good, and I can get a farm egg on it. I love this type of pizza - I can fold it, it's more similar to what you'll find in Naples, and I can eat it every single day. They make great pizzas all around the Bay Area, and while Forge's pizza might not stand out as being life changing, it's good and just what I crave. I haven't eaten anything else on the menu. I'm curious about the salads, but, until I see one up close..I probably won't venture into them. So keep uploading the photos! And yes, you can buy a Forge cozy for a few bucks and they keep it at the bar for you and you get a dollar off when you buy beer. I think it's a clever idea, especially when the can beer is $4. read more

Forge has a great space in Jack London Square. They have a wide variety of personal sized thin crust pizzas, salads and cocktails. My friend and I tried the fennel pizza and I had a salad. Both were really tasty and hit the spot. If the weather is nice, I highly recommend sitting outside. Prices are pretty reasonable considering the location. I can't wait to go back and try the other items on the menu. read more

We have had an excellent experience each time we have been here! The food is absolutely delicious and they have a great selection of beer, wine, and drinks. Sitting outside next to the marina is lovely and the heaters are nice and warm! Extremely friendly and accommodating staff. We live 1 1/2 hours away and still love taking a road trip to visit Forge Pizza. Would highly recommend! read more

Nathan was the best server for our bridal shower lunch!! He really made the experience for us that much better

3.5 stars It was good but it didn't make my eyes roll back in my head and it didn't really offer anything that I hadn't seen before. First the pizza: We ordered the pepperoni pizza. It had olives and jalapenos I believe. the cheese was good. The crust was decent.....a tad thick and not as flavorful as i would prefer. It did have a good char on it. Sauce wasn't super memorable either. Brussels sprouts: Probably the best dish of the night, but again, I feel like I have had crispy, citrusy brussels sprouts done better before (Boot and Shoe and Penrose just across town) Chicken Wings: eh........not sure what the benefit of serving the entire wing with all the parts in tact was. it made it awkward to eat and dip in the sauce. It has a dry exterior as well. I liked the smokey flavor of it, but I wish it had more of a glaze on it and had a more distinct flavor. They served it with blue cheese dressing which didn't really seem to work as well as if it had spicy buffalo sauce on it. Beer selection was excellent. I would come back here just for that. Would be a great spot on a sunny warm day, as they have a large outdoor area. Space is nice. Open. Cavernous. Big. They also have big fire pits outside. I would have opted for that when i went, but it was like 50 million degrees below zero outside and I was coming down with a cold. Side note -- the hostess had HORRIBLE fashion taste. It was distractingly awful. Every time she walked by, the conversation inevitably shifted towards her outfit and makeup. The manager should have said something to her about that. It was just trashy and messy looking. read more

I decided to update my review based on the last two visits since my first review. The food has been ON POINT, the salads were amazing, the fish specials have been inventive and perfectly executed ! I just had the Fat Boy pizza last night and ZOMG! So. Freaking. Good. All the ingredients are like a perfectly orchestrated flavor concert on my palate they just worked so well together, even the freaking side celery /fennel salad that came with the smoked chicken wings! YES! read more

Forge Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

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I went there for a lunch.. and i was really disappointed with service. I was dining solo and I sat there at my table for over 10 mins waiting for someone to acknowledge me. The server didn't check on me. The server wasn't that pleasant either. I ordered a burger that wasn't that great. Overall, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience. The food was "meh" and the service was non existant. I will not go back. This was my second time there and the first time was nothing special either read more

First off, hats off to the folks here at the new Forge for putting a scifi show on the biggest flat screen they had, totally balancing out the sports they had playing on the other screens in the joint. That made my visit worth everything and the 5 stars I'm giving. Secondly, I didn't eat enough here; just had time to cram two slices of yummy spiciness down my throat before being kidnapped on the train. But the wait staff were lovely and most accommodating, the view of Star Trek from the bar delightful, and the decor is fabulous. Thirdly, props to The C. for dragging my reluctant arse there for some vittles and drinks. I suppose I'm not too upset anymore about another Italian joint in my Square. These guys have earned the right to be there. Next time, I'm chilling outside with the huge fire pits! read more

Forge Pizza - What's that? Tequila, pizza and Star Trek on the big screen? Hokays... - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

This place is just another reminder of how fabulous Oakland is. Forge has been on my "to try" list for some time now and I finally had the opportunity to have dinner here this past weekend. You'll immediately fall in love - located on the JLS waterfront, their patio alone is amazing - fire pits, gorgeous view, and lovely people sippin' wine. We opted to sit inside because fire pits and all, it was a bit too chilly for us. This restaurant is perfect, the vibe - laid back and cozy, the service - fast and friendly, the food - delicious. Our waiter was really friendly and attentive - he checked up on us several times to make sure everything was perfect. We started off with the cheese curds - which, if you're a cheese lover like me, you'll be in heaven! They're a must, so just get them. For the entree, we decided to keep it simple and go with the pepperoni jalapeño pizza - deliciousness! Make sure you order their ranch - it's different, I don't know what it was, but damn, it was good! I will absolutely be going here again! read more

Forge Pizza - Love this place. - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

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Oh my gosh the FOOD HERE! It's so damn delicious. It's the type of place where I will want to come back and try something new each time. Great service and a really lovely outdoor dining area right by the water. Love this place! read more

One of the newer additions to Jack London Square. The space is well designed with communal tables and a mice bar. Also, there a great outdoor patio with heating lamps for chilly nights. Hipsters love it, so there is a youthful and energetic vibe. The pizza is good ,but on one visit it was overcooked and slightly burnt. The competition in the east bay is fierce due to so many fabulous dining choices and while I enjoyed my visits, I am not sure I will ever go back. Worth trying. read more

On Saturday, 11/8/14, my Mom and I ate at Forge Pizza for lunch. I've walked by this restaurant many times when I was at Jack London Square. I finally decided to give it a try. Atmosphere/Decor: When you walk up to the restaurant you'll notice the outdoor dining area. It's huge! There's plenty of tables outside to sit at and enjoy the nice views of Jack London Square. I saw two fire pits located outside which looked pretty cool. The outdoor dining area is really nice! The interior of the restaurant is really nice as well. I like the wooden tables and the hardwood floors. The color contrast flows very well throughout the restaurant. There's a massive huge table near the front entrance that can sit at least 20 plus people! Right above the table sits a projector big screen TV. There were a few TV's throghout the restaurant. I liked the bar area. The open bar sits in the middle of the restaurant. The huge black cast iron cooking oven looked pretty high end. Overall the restaurant is really nice. Food: We decided to split a pizza. We ordered the Fat Boy (bacon, sausage, pickled peppers, red onion, cream.) The pizza was excellent! I could of definitely ate this pizza all to myself. There were 8 slices but the pizza isn't that big. It's about 10-13 inches. The flavors were really good. You can never go wrong with bacon and sausage on a pizza. The pickled peppers, red onion and cream blended really well with the bacon and sausage. The pizza was cooked perfectly! The crust had the perfect char to it. The texture of the pizza was spot on. Service: The hostess was very nice and sat us down at our table right away. Our waiter Kevin was really nice. He had a great positive attitude. He was very friendly and attentive throughout our lunch. When the bill came I tried to pay with my credit card. I later found out through Kevin and the Manager that they were having tehnical difficulties with their online paying services. For some reason their online network was down and they couldn't accept any creidt or debit cards. I decided to pay with cash instead of waiting for them to fix their online issue. Kevin told us that he was going to bring us out some complimentary ice cream. I told Kevin he didn't have to do that. Kevin insisted and said I'll bring out some ice cream on the house. Another waiter who had very long hair and was wearing a hat brought out the ice cream. My Mom enjoyed the vanilla soft serve topped with chocolate sauce. Overall: Forge pizza is a really nice restaurant with a great interior design. I'd definitely recommend sitting outside if you're into people watching or want to enjoy the views of Jack London. The pizza was delicious and the service was supurb. I'll definitely be back to try some of their other pizzas. read more

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A friend and I decided to meet in Jack London Square and landed on Forge as our lunch option. We were seated at a tall table near the back. I was excited to hear that they have hooks under the tall tables for purses since the chairs don't have backs. I love the ambiance at this place. It's big and open. There is a patio, with heaters, where you can enjoy your beer and pizza while people watching. Our service was great! The server arrived shortly after being seated. She was great! I only wish I had her name to give her props! We ordered beers (proving ground IPA for me!) while we decided on pizza. We went for the Margherita Pizza.... And pretty much inhaled it. We initially were going to get only one pizza, but decided on a second. We ordered the spicy salami, which was also a hit. Can't wait to go back to eat more pizza! And try those cheese curds, I'm disappointed we didn't order those. read more

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Huevas rancheros & Bloody Maria!! Excellent service, and the location's awesome. Great views, lots of outdoor seating. read more

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I had the good luck of coming to Forge pizza for my first Yelp Elite Event. I really enjoyed the ambiance, food, and service. In terms of food, I enjoyed the cheese curds the most. According to the owner, this is an original creation; it's their spin on a mozarella stick (it comes with a tomato dipping sauce), but instead of a heavy crust, it's light and fluffy on the outside. Beautiful and tasty! I also had the opportunity to try 3 of the pizzas. The unanimous standout at our table was the 3 cheese. I really liked the sausage pizza as well. The third was the spinach with speck (an Italian cured meat). While the last two were a little salty, they were still delicious. The pizzas themselves are super super thin... artisan Italian style. I had the devil's slipper (tequila, hibiscus, agave), and it was definitely not a weak sauce drink. There's plenty of tequila in that little slipper. There's outdoor and indoor seating; thought I sat inside for the YEE, I would really like to try the outdoor seating. Since Forge is located in Jack London Square, there's a beautiful view outside. Inside, they have a sleek, hip decor. They also had a big screen playing the Warriors game for those inclined to watch sports. Despite the big screen, the ambiance at Forge is such that it would make for a great location for a little date. After leaving Forge, I saw a random playground on my way to the parking garage. There's a swivel thing on there where someone can spin you. It's super fun! Just make sure you don't spin too much on a full stomach :P read more

I came here for HH thinking the drinks would be spectacular based on the reviews here, but it was alright. They are strong, but I've also been living in Utah for 3.5 years and anything is strong for me at this moment. I ordered the pink fang and it was very tart, which I like. I sat outside so I can people watch and see the marina. Only reason I gave it 3 stars because the server didn't realize it was HH and charged me full price for the drink. Normally it wouldn't bother me, but he also didn't check in with me. I'm sure the food may be better, but it was just a quick stop for a nice drink. read more

I'm not really sure why this place is only rated 3.5 stars on Yelp. Every time I've been there, the food and cocktails have been delicious and fairly priced, the waitstaff has been friendly and attentive, and I suppose the overall decor and ambience isn't necessarily top tier, but that's not something that bothers me personally. Just go ahead and order any drink/cocktail you find tempting, cause trust me, you won't be disappointed. If you're a fan of spicy flavors (and bacon), get the Fat Boy Pizza and if you're a seafood lover (like myself) STFU and get the Baby Octopus over Mash Potatoes appetizer. I love this place and plan to keep coming back as long as they're in business. read more

Forge Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Who would have thought the roasted chicken at a pizza place would be amazing?! Great atmosphere, good service, and a full belly. read more

Forge Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

Pretty cool spot to grab a bite and hang out! Located near the waterfront in the Embarcadero, this place is in a prime spot! Outside seating provides beautiful views of the harbor and a cool breeze, with heaters when it gets a bit chilly. The food is delicious the although the service could use a little love. To clarify, the waiter was amazing and friendly but took a while to get refills on drinks, a long while. They were pretty packed so this may be the reason in their defense. They offer a great selection of salads, pizzas, appetizers and a few non-pizza items like burgers and seafood. I recommend the shashito peppers (flavorful peppers, not hot) as an appetizer, grilled to a light crisp with salt and lemon -OMG they are good! Tried the fat boy and heirloom tomato pizza, both were delicious! They cook the pizza in an open fire pizza cooker, nice thin crust and very flavorful! If you love pizza, check this place out! Also ordered the crispy chicken Cobb salad, pretty good! If your looking for yummy food with beautiful views and a fun atmosphere, give this place a try! read more

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After sampling the Forge fare in Danville, I was excited to check out the Jack London Square location. We brought the mutt, and sat outside with the big heaters. It's a nice view of the bay. Service was perfect, and our pizza was just as good as before. I had the spinach pie (not vegetarian!), which was delicious. Mr. M had the Fat Boy, and the kids had pepperoni and white pizza. The pizza is delicious, with a crispy crust and excellent flavors. The children's pizza was a very generous portion. We were able to try some samples of brews before making our decision, which was nice. My only complaint were the prices. Specifically, littlest M ordered the kids' cheese pizza plus pepperoni. The individual pizza was $8, which I was okay with, but the pepperoni add on was another $4. I know rent has to be high in Jack London Square, but that seemed a little extreme. It won't keep us from coming back. We thoroughly enjoyed it and will return. Just not every week. read more

Honey and I came here for a late dinner after doing house errands. So glad their kitchen closes at 10:30 pm. We were starving to death so we ordered the following: 1) crispy chicken salad 2) brussel sprouts 3) chicken wings 4) arugula salad 5) braised octopus Everything was really good and served in really good portions. Our server was really nice and very helpful. We also ordered a drink each and the bill came out to a really affordable price. This will be our go to place now since we can walk to here. Thanks FORGE! Will have to try their pizza next time. read more

WOW! So I haven't really explored the East Bay much, especially Jack London Square. But after reading about The Forge, I was sold. Then when I saw their menu and started tasting everything, I was amazed! Great restaurant with delicious food! Good for groups, with options for indoor and outdoor seating. We started off with several appetizers. The Cheese Curds were amazing and will be a hit with every person in your group! The octopus was also delicious, but not for the plain Jane eaters. Then for pizzas, everything that we ordered was FANTASTIC! Mushroom, Cauliflower, Corn, Fat Boy. But the Cauliflower and Corn are MUSTS! What great meal doesn't end with dessert? We got the Hummingbird and Cheesecake to share, but they were a bit underwhelming compared to the rest of our meal. But that's ok. :) Can't wait to go back! read more

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Good pizza and good beer selection. We had the sweet corn pizza, mushroom pizza (my fav because it has truffle oils on it) and a bunch of others. All the wood fired pizzas are good. Service was excellent too. Last time I got here was during a warrior game and needed to wait a bit. Normal days should be okay :) read more

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Completely changed my opinion on cheese curds... thank you! I've been here a handful of times and always have a pleasant experience. First and foremost the location is great. I've literally never sat inside... their patio is beautiful! Enjoying a cold brew and some delicious eats while looking out onto the Marina on Jack London Square. C'mon people, it doesn't get much better. The beer selection is great. They always have a wide range of styles and the tap wall changes pretty frequently. Not to mention they keep it local - gotta love that. As I said before the cheese curds are incredible, a MUST order! All of the pizzas I've had have been great as well. My favorite was the Cherry Pie which wasn't on the menu last time I went... sad face. Service is always friendly and entertaining, no complaints here. This is a place I often bring family or friends to from out of town. A great spot in an up and coming part of Oakland! read more

Forge Pizza - Cheese curds nom nom nom - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

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This is a good place to get a light dough pizza. Their pizzas are very tasty, I specially like the cauliflower one. You won't be disappointed. The chicken wings are also good and the cheese curds are a family favorite. The drinks are excellent, good variety, no free refills on the lemonade . Also, what gives this place a huge, huge plus is the service provided by Monica. We have been there when other servers had some hiccups and she took over and made it better in a heartbeat either by talking to us, taking care of us, taking something out of our bill...you name it, she took care of us and showed that her customer service skills go beyond what is expected. If possible, ask to be seated at her station, you won't be disappointed by her friendliness and superior service. Tell her cauliflower lady sent you, haha. read more

Forge Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Oakland, California

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