So sad that Spinning Dough will be closing their Oakland restaurant on April 20. Had to stop by one…read moremore time for a round of pizzas. Jeff, the owner and pizza maker, is so nice, warmly welcoming us upon arrival and inquired if we'd prefer indoor or outdoor seating. Beautiful day so opted for outdoor on their expansive back patio. Miso mushroom - new to me, savory and bright flavor. Yuzu and lemon acidity cuts into the savory of the mushroom and miso. Might be one of my new favorites. Soppresata - an OG item on the menu and one of my favorites. Simple classic pizza with soppresata topped with scallions and honey. Savory, sweet. The honey is perfect on this pizza. Longanisa - Filipino inspired with longanisa, baked egg, and tomato. Savory and sweet. Heaviest of the three pizzas. Comes with a side of sweet vinegar to drizzle on top. All three of these pizzas easily are favorites for me. They're super large and best to share with 2-3 people. All thin crust. 6 of us had these three pizzas and were able to finish it but were super stuffed. Wishing the best to Jeff and Spinning Dough's next adventure.

I have been wanting to try this place for a while, but it took the news of them closing to get me…read morethere. At least I got to go a couple times before they closed and was able to try all the unique flavors that I wanted to try. The first time I went was with my family. We got a whole Ube pizza. The taste was good, and love the uniqueness of it. Even the dough is purple! There weren't that many people there when we went, so the service was quick. My second visit was closing weekend with a group of friends. I got to try two more flavors recommended by the server during my first visit - blackberry and longanisa. Both were very good in different ways. I think I preferred the blackberry slightly over longanisa. They had a lot of take out orders that day, and we got the last white dough (there were still Ube). Good thing we got what we got. Even though they were super busy, the service was still quick and pizza came out fast. I heard they opened up again in San Francisco but for take out only. So glad they reopened because after having the amazing pizzas right before they closed on Oakland, my friends and I were sad that we didn't go sooner. Can't wait to try again in the future.

Pizzeria Violetta in Oakland is firing on all cylinders right now, especially with their current…read moreRestaurant Week special. Their pizzas are already reliably delicious, but this deal is genuinely outstanding value since you get a large 18" pizza, your choice of a Caesar or dinner salad, and four very large sea salt chocolate chip cookies, all for $35. We grabbed two of these specials for a group of six and still had leftovers, so I'd say one combo easily feeds three people and could probably stretch to four as long as no one is absolutely starving. The pizzas themselves are ultra thin but still hold up structurally since you can lift and fold each slice without everything collapsing, which is exactly how I like to inhale my pizza. I personally wish the crust were just a touch more burnt and crackly on the edges, but even without that extra char, the flavor and bouncy chew of the dough were spot on. We ordered the Hot Italian and the Sausage & Roasted Garlic pies and absolutely loved both, especially the housemade sweet Italian sausage that appears on each, which is savory, slightly sweet, and super satisfying in every bite. Their house tomato sauce deserves its own shout out because it hits that ideal balance of sweetness and acidity and ties everything together perfectly. On the Sausage & Roasted Garlic it plays beautifully with the rich roasted garlic purée, and on the Hot Italian it stands up nicely to the Calabrian chilis and chili oil without getting lost. The sea salt chocolate chip cookies that come with the special are huge and packed with chocolate chips, and that little hit of salt really enhanced the flavors but the something about the texture was a bit off for me as it wasn't quite chewy or crumbly but rather something in between, which left me a little confused. Another big plus is that Violetta has a full bar so you can pair your meal with a beer, a glass of wine, or a cocktail to match whatever pie you are in the mood for. Between the quality of the ingredients, the thoughtfulness of the flavor combinations, and the generosity of the Restaurant Week deal, Pizzeria Violetta is an easy recommend and a spot I would happily return to with a group (or by myself with plenty of leftovers!).

My daughter and I get an 18-inch pie from this place every other weekend because she loves their…read moresweet little pig pie and pizza in general. I don't know why the pies cost so much, but they are only a few blocks from our place, so I want to support the few restaurants that set up shop in West Oakland. However, I'm starting to sour on this place. I don't mind overpaying for pizza; that's just edible, but on a few occasions, I've been appalled by what these folks try to get away with. A couple of months ago, they gave us a pie that was so burnt I had to call to complain, and they replaced it with a less burnt pie. Perhaps they don't know that extremely burnt food is full of carcinogens. This week, we ordered our usual 18-inch pie. This pie was a Frankenstein pie; half of it tasted like it had been sitting under the lamp all day. A telltale sign is how stiff the cheese is; the old dough feels as if I'm chewing on rubber, and the slices are stiff and salty overall, though some slices taste a bit fresher and crunchier. I was disappointed. If you're going to overcharge for mediocre pizza, the least you could do is give people what they are paying for. If I wanted old, stale pizza, I would've asked for the slices that sit under the lamp all day. Moving forward, if we order from this place, I will walk over, place the order, and wait for it, so we don't get cheated again. This place is a reminder of why certain restaurants often fail. The food is overpriced, and they are inconsistent with their service, if not disrespectful, in how they sometimes treat and feed their customers. We're not pigs; we just like eating the sweet little pig.

Mama's Boy Pizza is my go to neighborhood pizza spot. The White Pie is my favorite, but the sausage…read morepie is also really good. It's a great spot to hang out over pizza and a beer. The pizza is simple and consistently good. They never disappoint and are a regular on my Bay Area Pizza Passport.

Haven't explored East Bay's food scene yet, but I happened to be in Oakland and stumbled across…read moreMama's Boy Pizza. It's a classic neighborhood slice shop that immediately reminded me of places back on the East Coast where I grew up. You order up front and the cashier was super friendly and recommended the Burrata slice. The pizza was fantastic. I went ahead and ordered the burrata slice (no surprise if you've been reading my reviews), topped with burrata, hot honey, and fresh basil. My partner got the burrata and the cacio e Pepe grandma slice. It was easily one of my favorite slices I've had in the Bay Area so far. I'd honestly make the drive just to grab pizza here again. There are a handful of seats inside and outside, plus additional seating upstairs. If you're looking for a great slice in the East Bay or even the Bay Area, this place is absolutely worth checking out. I will be back for sure!

F-ing incredible pizza. I don't even know where to start. PIZZA SO GOOD you won't want to eat…read moreanything else. Seriously every time I'm hungry I'm thinking about this place. I went there ONCE. THREE WEEKS AGO. I'm still thinking about it. Allllllllllllll the time. I can't wait to go back. Yes it's a bit slow. It's 12/10 worth the wait. Order ahead if you're impatient. Yes it's slightly expensive but not at all overpriced. This is not quick cheap sustinence. This is edible heaven. Just go already. (Get the mushroom one.) Don't order to go. Sit down and eat it hot, fresh, PERFECT. PS the background music is really terrible. Bring headphones?

I ordered togo today during a rainy Tuesday. As soon as I walked in the staff greeted me and was…read moreimmediately helpful. The food came out pretty quickly after I ordered online. Pretty much the exact time it says to arrive. Inside the was quaint and had a few small tables to enjoy. Next time I will dine in! The pizza was great. I love the taste of the crust and sauce. It's been a while since I have had a pizza this tasty.

It's the PIZZA. Sooooooo good. Crispy crust. Fresh ingredients. Just the right blend of sauce to…read morecheese ratio. Love it.

I love coming to this place! The pizzas are fantastic and they always have a gluten-free option. I…read morealso like it because it's priced right. I feel like I'm not being punished because I cannot eat wheat and the pizza is very, very, very good. I usually don't have the way more than five minutes once I get to the pizzeria. Because my pizza is ready. Contrast that to another place where I would go, have to go to the front and order my pizza, and then get in a very very very very very very very very, very, very very long line and ask for my pizza. I pity the person who doesn't read the directions telling them to do this and weights for up to an hour in a line and find out that they have the weight even longer for their pizza to be ready. This place is fast and efficient. The inside is fine. It is nice and clean and while there aren't a lot of people there, it seems well taken care of. I think the reason why there aren't so many people there because most of the pieces are taken to go. But that's just a guess. This is a spot with a very good pizza and it comes at a decent price. I'd recommend it to anyone.!

Was headed home and hungry after a social event on a Friday, but thought it's a good time to give…read moreHeshers a try. Live in Jack London square but haven't tried Heshers since the Crooked City Cider changeover. So glad I gave this a try. While Heshers gives this punk rock, aggro vibe online, inside the staff were warm and super friendly. My bartender helped me find the right drink (a Humboldt blueberry cider at 11% abv) and then I ordered the Meat Fungus pizza (lots of ground meat plus mushrooms). Sat at the bar and enjoyed my cider as well as convo with the other guests and bartender. In about 20 min, my pizza was ready. I took everything to go but was home in minutes. Couldn't wait for the first bite, and was NOT disappointed. Crisp crust pizza... not quite Detroit. Not Sicilian... def not New York style. But absolutely delicious. Came with a few packets of Parmesan and crushed peppers. Added it all and it was too good to leave a single slice for tomorrow. I'll be back, Heshers! Take my money! And thank you!

Ordered a pizza to go from Hesher's and it definitely delivered!…read more First off, the theme here is unapologetically metal. The decor, the attitude, and the music all lean into it--they were blasting metal while I was there, which gives the place a fun, high-energy vibe that feels a little different from your typical pizza spot. If you're into that scene, you'll probably love it. The setup is super casual. You order at the counter and can hang out while you wait. They've got a great beer selection, and there's even an arcade area where you can play some games while your food is being made. It feels like the kind of place where you could easily kick back with friends for a while. I went with the Mortian, their all-meat pizza, and it was absolutely packed with toppings--pepperoni, sausage, and bacon, all garnished with prosciutto. If you're a meat lover, this one delivers. Every slice was loaded and really flavorful. The crust deserves a shout-out too. It's not thin crust, but it's also not deep dish. It lands right in that perfect middle zone--crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Really satisfying and a great base for all those toppings. Even though I ordered it to go, the pizza held up great and was seriously delicious. I'd absolutely order their pizza again and look forward to trying more of the menu next time.

I love that they offer many gluten free options! My best friend is very allergic and she's able to…read moreenjoy her fav!

We tried two, check my photos. Absolutely delicious! Kale ceasar salad is perfect, the kale is in…read morethe dressing! Romaine, mixed greens, tomatoes & croutons are perfect combo for their pizza! Cashier named Coral is amazing! She handled orders and the register flow like an expert. She was kind and super efficient! Tables inside & outside they will bring your pizza to your table if you dine in. 1st time customers, do a Yelp review and get a cookie. Clean bathrooms always appreciated! Pizza modifications can only be ordered before 3pm. After that its whole pies only. They are pricey but well worth it!

Walked in on a Saturday and was immediately seated. There aren't a lot of tables but that's the…read morecharming part about the restaurant. The vibes reminded me of me as a kid going to a pizza restaurant after winning a basketball ball game, especially with the whole cup of Parmesan cheese sitting table side. The server was great, he walked us through the menu and the way he described each dish, made us want to order everything off of the menu. We ordered the meatballs, bolognese tortellini, burrata salad, and a pizza, loved everything and will definitely come back again.

This was my first time here and I absolutely loved it! I ordered the bolognese and was so happy…read morewith how generous the portion was - tons of noodles and plenty of meat. The complimentary bread came out piping hot and made the perfect appetizer. The space is pretty small, so it does get busy - I'd recommend coming early. We were a bit cramped at our table, but it wasn't a huge deal. We were lucky to be seated quickly since they had a table for four available on a Sunday evening. I'm already excited to come back and try more of their pastas and pizzas!