I had an amazing time with my friend at Pizzaiolo. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of the food. I give everything 10/10 stars. We found out that their menu changes daily, which is really impressive. Our waiter had great recommendations. He suggested that started with their citrus salad which had fresh grapefruits, avocados, olives, and a delicious green sauce. We then shared their duck and chicken ragù, along with a margherita pizza. I'm not always a dessert person, but the donuts were highly suggested. The waiter said that they always have the donuts, and they are most popular. The donuts were shaped in a nice size ball. very warm inside along with vanilla ice cream. We also ordered some affogato. It was my first time trying affogato and it was delicious The lighting, music volume, decor, and disco ball provided a very delightful experience beyond the food. I highly recommend dining at Pizzaiolo if you're looking for some top notch Italian cuisine in the Temescal district. read more

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Pizza is ok. I'm not the biggest fan of Neapolitan style but it's a solid slice if that's your thing. On the other hand the beef tartare appetizer is fantastic. Best beef tartare I've ever had. Super easy to get a table. There is a nice back patio area where you can sit outside. read more

Pizzaiolo - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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My family and I came in around 8:30 on a Saturday night. My son was in from college and we thought we'd go for a nice dinner on his last night in town. This review is strictly on service. Food was very good. However, sadly, the service marred the whole experience. The servers attitude was inhospitable, short, and downright miffed that we were in her section. My husband ordered a beer and it took over forty minutes to receive it even though we reminded her and she assured us "it's coming right up." Salads came right out. Pizza came out a half hour after. Understandable since there is one brick oven for such a large restaurant. We asked for parmesan when our pizza came out but we were completely finished by the time we received it because "it is grated fresh." Food runner seemed very annoyed we did not wait for her to bring the cheese even though it took so long we finished the pizza by then. We would have cancelled the request if it was communicated that it would take time to grate it to order. All four of us at our table have been in the food industry. I have worked in the industry for 35+ years. I am the first one to admit food serving is not easy. TBH, food service can really suck on some nights. Therefore, we make it a point to be courteous and thankful for the workers hard work. But, you never take your difficult night out on your customers. You are representing the establishment. The fact that not only our server was significantly rude, so was the food runner. Which to me, signals something is off perhaps behind the scenes? read more

I came to Pizzaiolo with a few friends and we were seated right away when we arrived. We decided to share everything family style and started with the Acme bread with salted butter. For our mains, we ordered two pizzas: the margherita and one with tomato sauce, pepperoni, jalapeño, and spicy honey. Everything we had was really delicious, and I especially liked the crust since it had a nice chewy texture. The ambiance was great and felt both upscale and casual at the same time. The servers were very attentive, and I really enjoyed my experience here. read more

Pizzaiolo - Bread + butter - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Long time neighborhood favorite in Temescal. We frequent for pizzas and pastas. Reservation is a must unless you don't mind the wait. It's always packed. read more

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This is such a cute spot. We stopped in for a coffee and to do a little work remotely and it's such a great place for it during the day. We ended up just ordering coffees, but the person who helped us was very nice and there were plenty of tables to choose from. We ended up at a four top in the main dining area and were able to sip our drinks and work, while chatting. I heard the food is good, and after enjoying the space I'd definitely stop by again. read more

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Saturday at noon we came here before it closed. We tried to come here for brunch but they don't serve pizza during that time. So we went down the street to Pizza Ponte for some of the best slices of pizzas ever. read more

Recently came back to Oakland to visit family and had a wonderful time at Pizzaiolo! Loved that the food was flavorful and fresh and that we could share everything!! Who doesn't love a great tasting menu Service was impeccable and had multiple people come in and check on us. You can tell it's a neighborhood fave when you go on a Wednesday evening and it is full and people are engaged in lively conversation. I would probably not recommend coming for a first date unless you're able to project your vice cuz it can get a little loud but it's a great place for delicious food and a nice drink! read more

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Pizzaiolo is hands down the best restaurant I have been to all year! I've been raving about it since my friend first took me there earlier this year. We recently went back again and it still lives up to the hype in my mind. First - the drinks. I normally don't even like gin and tonics, but the gin and tonic here was so refreshing and slightly sweet. Makes for a great start to the night. Now for the food - I love that they have a rotating menu using seasonal ingredients, so everything always tastes super fresh. They also have such interesting ingredient combos which work so well together. The flavors are always so well balanced. Salad - The first time we came, we got a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado. I know this sounds like the most basic combo, but something about it tasted soooo fresh. This time we got a salad with persimmon and fennel, which was light and refreshing. Pasta - I still dream about the lamb ragu rigatoni we had the first time we were there. I'm normally not super into lamb, but it was not super gamey here and was so tender! It went so well with the rosemary or thyme in the pasta. The second time, we got a bolognese rigatoni which was also super yummy. But that first pasta ugh so good. Pizza - I've tried the hot honey and pepperoni, delicata squash and salsa macha, and sausage and pepper pizza. All so good. Their pizza has a thin crust and the crust is crispy and not too overwhelming. My fave was the sausage and pepper one - it was spicy and so flavorful. Def go early since it's a popular spot, so there can be a long wait! read more

Lowkey, intimate vibes here paired with great pizza! One pizza is six slices, so enough to share or have by yourself + bring some home (which is what I did) The mushroom one had great flavor, but the crust was a little chewy so just wish it was a bit crispier! Not sure if the automatically added 'Fare wage + wellness fee' is standard in Temescal? Not against it but would like to know more instead of blindly paying for it read more

Pizzaiolo - Mushroom pizza - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Another amazing meal at Pizzaiolo. Been coming here for 20+ years and it hasn't lost a step. Food as usual impeccable . Paris was wonderful as was Matt. Sweet experience. Thank you. read more

Pizzaiolo - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

All of the food was fine. Nothing necessarily wowed us except for maybe the ragu pasta. Unfortunately, the service was slower than molasses and the pacing between courses was offensive. We noticed it wasn't just us. Other tables had to wait with dirty plates and their cards out for 10+ minutes in order to get the attention of someone to be able to close out. Add on that everything is around $20 or more per plate I don't see a lot of value here. read more

Our second time at this place. Salads are great & can't go wrong with any pizza. The pizza dough is light & amazing. Good cocktails too. Must try when in Oakland. read more

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I didn't take any photos here because the restaurant was pretty dimly lit inside. Came here on a whim on a Saturday evening after a friend was highly recommended this place (she mentioned her friend comes here every week from the north bay!). Staff and Service: - We had a couple of people helping us from taking our order to bringing the food out to us - all were nice - There is a small bar in the front to sit at as your whole party needs to be present to be seated Food and Drinks: - Pizza: we ordered the tomato sauce, pepperoni, bell pepper, and spicy honey pizza. This was so flavorful and had just the right amount of kick to it. - Antipasti: we ordered the brokaw avocado, marinated beets with kumquats, serpent cucumbers and charmoula salad. This salad was spectacular. It was so light and flavorful. I think the charmoula is what did it for us. - Margarita: not on the menu, but they were able to make this for me. Just the right amount of citrus flavor. I ended up having two! Miscellaneous: - Parking available via metered street parking read more

See review below. End review. Just kidding. 2025 update. + Prices are still high and portions got smaller. Entree pasta dishes are tiny. The fried chicken was also tiny. Both were DELICIOUS. Absolutely delicious. The salads? Swoon, but expensive. + Service on a recent Friday night wasn't wonderful, our server never popped by asking for more drinks or even if we were good with food, etc.. But, they have no shame in their game in asking for a 20+% tip. + On weekend nights you get on the waitlist and go have a drink and come on back. + I've had better fancy pizza. Overall, I used to really love Pizzaiolo. The food is still so good (minus the pizza), but the recent visit left something to be desired, imho. Still a fun night out, the place is always buzzing full of Oakland's coolest, but value quite wasn't there for me. read more

my favorite restaurant in all of Oakland. Nothing spells quintessential Oakland with the best food EVER! Farm to table, seasonal ingredients, the best salads, entrees and PIZZA!! And the staff.......seriously, the best management and service ever! It always feels like home! read more

The restaurant itself has a great vibe. The kitchen is open so you can watch the chefs work, which I always enjoy. At night, their lights are very soft with a warm temperature, so the dining room has a very coze feel. The front of house are friendly and give good, attentive service. I had the Margherita pizza and it was great. Good crust. read more

A great time at pizzaiolo! Our group of five ended up splitting 3 pizzas, some appetizers, and a few entrees. Their portions are fairly small, so we added a couple of extra dishes. It was delicious and the perfect dinner spot for a small birthday get together. We got there a bit earlier in the evening as they do not take reservations. read more

Pizzaiolo - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Pizzaiolo was so good I didn't even get a picture before diving in... which, honestly, says it all. We started with this apple and parmesan salad called the "Dirty Girl," and I still don't know how to describe it beyond "shockingly delicious." It's one of those flavor combos that makes you pause mid-bite and look around like, is everyone tasting this?! The castelvetrano olives were unreal. I'm Greek, so I hold olives to a pretty high standard, and these tasted like they were marinated in garlic straight from the tree. Perfectly briny, tender, and addicting. We also had an asparagus and beet starter that was packed with flavor and somehow managed to be both fresh and indulgent. I was full by the time the mains came, but my friends ordered the sausage spaghetti and rigatoni and were nice enough to share. Both pastas were rich, well-balanced, and absolutely worth saving room for. The vibe inside is cozy and intimate: dim lighting, candle-lit tables, and a little sign that kindly asks you to ditch your phone during dinner. It was packed when we arrived, and we almost didn't get a seat, so definitely make a reservation if you're going during peak hours. Every dish felt thoughtful, seasonal, and full of care. If you're looking for a place where even the olives are memorable, Pizzaiolo is it. read more

Snagged two seats at the bar and had a wonderful time chatting for a rare mom's night out. The bartender/server was fantastic and let us catch up without interruption until giving us the dessert menu. The spicy pepperoni pizza was great. As was the seasonal salad with apples. My friend loved her mixed drink with mezcal and I enjoyed the Lambrusco and white wine. Music was upbeat and the vibe is very pleasant. Great place for date night or a girls night out to catch up! read more

Pizzaiolo - Salad - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Brunch here is missing hot eggs! I tried the kitchen sink frittata but something in it disagreed with my tummy. Plus it was room temp. I wish they had some cooked eggs! I also come here for pizza which is absolutely delish. read more

Consistently delicious; great date night spot. Solid music, service is strong, the people are courteous and the drinks: strong!

Pizzaiolo is still one of the best Eat Bay nights out. Lively, chic, always busy. Good drinks, nice wines, fabulous food. The prices are high- but competitive with top restaurants in the area. Best to have a reservation! read more

Our favorite restaurant in Berkeley!! From the food to the environment to the service, pizzaiolo consistently surpasses our expectations and meets our needs in ways very few restaurants can. There's creativity in every mouth watering bite. Every server, hostess, bartender is friendly and welcoming. They never seem like they are doing too much, either. Special shoutout to the beef tartare and lamb pasta:) You can't go wrong with any of the pizzas, which are exceptional, especially when they have the one with black trumpets on it. They use seasonal vegetables, too. Thanks to Chelsea for taking care of us on Valentine's Day. Memorable experience as always. read more

New potato pizza: she was mid. not salty enough imo Really pretty inside and outdoor seating!!! Service is friendly Just very expensive for what you get in food quality read more

Pizzaiolo - New potato pizza - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

We visited Pizzaiolo midweek, and despite it being fairly packed, we were seated quickly--a nice start to our first visit while searching for a good pizza and pasta spot. To drink, we tried the house-made tonic, which was perfectly balanced and incredibly refreshing. It's a drink worth revisiting on its own. For food, we ordered the chicken ragu rigatoni and a margherita pizza. The rigatoni was enjoyable overall--the chicken was tender, and the creamy sauce was delightful, but it could have used a little more flavor depth. The rosemary garnish felt a bit overpowering, so I ended up removing some of it. The pizza was the highlight of the meal. Made fresh in a wood-fired oven, the crust was light, fluffy, and perfectly crisp. The margherita pizza was a classic done right, with just the right balance of flavors. Ambiance was fantastic, moody lighting and very warm. We had great service and felt very well taken care of. Parking was a bit tough on the street since it's right off of Telegraph but the lot across had plenty of spots with free parking. Overall, a solid spot for pizza lovers, with some room for improvement on the pasta. I'd definitely return for the pizza and the tonic! read more

Pizzaiolo - Chicken Ragu Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Really intimate vibe! Came by to celebrate a friend's birthday. Heard good things and was glad to finally try the food. Sat at the bar, where the bartender took our order. Seasonal salad - yummy with every bite. Can't go wrong with beets and avocado! Pasta of the day - wish I caught the particular name. Unfortunately, this was very underwhelming. Didn't think I was picky about pasta, but this missed the mark. I believe the spices and herbs were just too overpowering, as every bite tasted like roasted rosemary. Gelato and sorbet - very tart sorbet paired with rich gelato, and some sort of olive oil drizzle? Drinks were fine, food wasn't the best, and being at a pricier point, I'm just not sure. However, their menu does apparently rotate often, so I might try again in the future. Parking is street parking on Telegraph. read more

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The restaurant, outside, and booths are lovely but the music is SO LOUD that it made the meal tense and miserable. If they could just not play music and let people enjoy conversation this could be a great spot read more

What a fun, casual place with great atmosphere and tasty pizza. The wine list has some interesting bottles which adds to the special experience. Our server was attentive and helpful but not intrusive. It may be inflation so maybe I should expect the prices but I did get sticker shock when the bill arrived. read more

Delicious pizza. Perfect presentation of margarita pizza. The texture was awesome and flavor superior. The hostess was kind and communicated times for wait. Ambiance, by and large the coolest playlist that I've ever heard in a restaurant. It was perfect Prince and R&B on deck. read more

Had the hot honey pepperoni pizza, rappini pizza, and margarita pizza. All tasted great and full of flavor. Waiter said that each pizza is good for 1.5 people, so keep that in mind Had to wait 30 minutes on a Saturday night, but worth the wait. It's walk in only so you're gonna have to unfortunately wait to eat on busier evenings. Servers were all great! Interior is very pretty with exposed brick walls, art, dim lighting, and able to see the chefs hard at work. Perfect place for a date night read more

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Food deserves a 4-star - good Margarita pizza. Would be better if they were more generous with the ingredients. Wine (16 dollars) was served not in a wine glass but a small water glass? I feel cheated. The broccolini wasn't what I expected to taste like. It's tasted sour (probably from lime)and honestly wasn't a big fan of this style. Preset tipping of minimum 20% AND a surcharge? Not coming back. read more

Pizzaiolo - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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We waited about almost an hour for a table on a Saturday night dinner when we put our name down on the waitlist at 6:45pm. We were told it'll be 45 mins but it was more. It was very busy and there's other people waiting ahead of us. They don't take down your phone number to let you know when your table is ready. So we had to check at 30 mins and then at 45 mins. We grabbed a beer at Roses' Taproom nearby to kill some time. You can order drinks at the bar while you wait for your table. Service was good. The food did take a while to make. ESP the pizzas. For pasta, we ordered Spaghetti with morel mushrooms, Rigatoni with pork ragu. Both were unique and had good flavor. But the spaghetti was under cooked and hard. The pizzas were quite burnt. The mushroom pizza was so black on the bottom that we had to send it back. We were trying to eat just the topping. But for $30, it was not cheap. We would still be hungry so we had to tell them to remake. They were nice about it. The sausage pizza was a bit less burnt so we were able to eat some of the dough part. The second mushroom pizza that came out was so much better. I've seen people complain about the burnt pizza on Yelp too so I guess it was a thing. Maybe some people don't bother to check and eat the burnt parts....the lighting was very dim inside. They have both outdoor and indoor seating. Good flavor pizza and pastas but watch out for the burnt pizzas and undercooked spaghetti. Parking is street or parking lot across the street. read more

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I was excited to visit since I'd stopped here once for brunch and enjoyed their avocado toast. However, when we came for dinner, I was stunned by the portion sizes and prices. The pasta was $26 and hardly enough for 4 spoonfuls. Plus it was raw (I know the difference between raw and al dente). The broccolini was also under whelming. Our bill fr three was $95 with one app, one side and one main. Service was ok, felt a bit pressured. The drink was so so and again small in quantity high in price. I was excited about the desserts but ended up no ordering as I wasn't sure what we'd get for the step price. This place is very very pricey and food isn't worth it. I don't recommend. read more

The vibe here is nice but apparently there are a few flaws here that show the place needs to improve. First up the portions are okay if you want to eat a light dinner but for those who eat a lot, it's not a place to consider. You are paying a lot for very little food. My stomach is still making noise after I finished the food. Not worth the 96 dollars. However, it's not bad news at all. Staff is very friendly, they are always willing to talk with people about anything. The guy who took my order is very nice. This place is always packed but only if you eat a lot. Food quality is nice. Some of the ingredients are locally grown or are from places I never know. Thus the salad I had today was very on point. Food did look promising on Check Please Bay Area though. read more

Pizzaiolo has been my favorite restaurant in the Temescal Rockridge area for many years. There is a reason why they are still so popular: it's the food. It's the vibe (always great music). It's the wait staff. Whether you are sitting inside or on the lovely back patio, it is California / Italian-inspired dining at its best. The salads are amazing. Tonight the tuna crudo was like the most sublime sashimi only better because it was giant slabs of tuna. Always love the pizzas. Even the bread to start with the salty butter is to die for. Be sure to order olives. The drinks are fantastic, with house made tonics. You will not find any restaurant with more carefully sourced, local ingredients than Pizzaiolo. read more

Pizzaiolo - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Intimate ambience, good pizza, but unpleasant service. Despite a longer line, we were seated in about 20 mins for a walk in but we didn't get the best welcome from the hostess who had disgusting attitude, which set the tone for what could have been a romantic experience with my partner. Enough for me to knock a couple stars down and actually never come back or recommend. We got the potato pizza which was pretty good - I grew up in New York so I've set my bar low but this is one of the better pizza's I've had in California! The star of the night was definitely the broccolini with breadcrumbs and red pepper flakes. read more

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We arrived early and had indoor seating immediately. The restaurant was bustling but not loud even though we were seated near the entrance. We tried seeded bread/butter and the Eggplant pizza. Both were Delicious! The service was excellent. Will definitely visit again soon. read more

Pizzaiolo - Roasted Eggplant Olive Eggplant, olive, mint pizza - Italian Near Me - Oakland, California

Pizza is always good as well as the service. However the music is too loud especially near the speakers. Otherwise, I would give them 5 stars. read more

I LOVE pizzaiolo!!! I almost had my wedding here! I wish I did! The food is phenomenal and the interior is a vibe. Staff has gotten better the chefs kill it at anything they cook and cocktails are yummy! Try the pizzaiolo drink! I'm excited their cafe in the mornings has came back. I loved it years ago. Try it! You won't be disappointed! read more