Pizza is one of my great loves. I have to admit, I was not the biggest fan when I was a young lad; it must be the options that were given to me – Pizza Hut, Domino’s, etc. Well, something must have clicked during those long nights studying in Berkeley and the pie and I became buddies. While Cheeseboard first got the juices flowing, the Bay Area provides quite a myriad of options when it comes to pizza. Golden Boy Pizza always does the trick when I’m in North Beach. If you’re craving the Sicilian stuff, this is your spot. In fact, Golden Boy is arguably the best pizza in all the city. I said it.

I grabbed three of their slices here: pepperoni, combo, and pesto veggies. They also have a delicious garlic clam joint, which seems to have a knack for selling out right before I get in line. Sicilian pizza means square slices, which can be tough to eat (it’s okay to use a fork and knife for this one), but damn the crust on these suckers are to die for. Crispy and flaky, just the way I like it. The toppings are perfect with a sprinkle of oregano. These pieces are big, but a tad bit overpriced at $3.50 a slice. You’re paying for a piece of history here, though, so no complaining. Plus it’s cheaper than anything else you can find in that neighborhood. Golden Boy’s little neon sign acts as a delicious beacon during the late night; all the hungry ghouls who just finished hitting the club in North Beach (or is en route to another) flock here. Oh yeah, no deliveries, and no whole pies to go. Gotta make the trek to taste the goods, haha. And you should, because you might be depriving yourself from one of the finest pizzas you will ever lay your teeth into.

Golden Boy Pizza
542 Green Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94113
415-982-9738
Another cash only joint. Oh well, I can never resist this place. Great hangover cure (that’s what I heard, at least, haha).

Well, this is easily one of the all-time greats in my book. As a Cal alum, eating a slice of pizza here on the median of Shattuck was and always will be one of my fondest memories as a student. Born out of the Alice Waters’ food revolution, Cheeseboard Pizza encompasses the distinct magic of Berkeley so well, preaching a perfect mixture of flavors and a love of all things delicious and fresh to the students and families of the area. From the flowing sounds of the jazz to the tantalizing smell of garlic in the air, Cheeseboard Pizza represents all that is good in the city of hippies and radicalism with a slice of simplicity and a spirit of both hard work and passion for life.

The Cheeseboard Collective has a rich history here in Berkeley. Nearly 40 years in fact. They started out just selling cheese and it’s grown significantly to pastries and pizzas. Gotta say, if you’re looking for rare cheeses, they probably have it or know somewhere to get it. As a collective, each member is both a worker and an owner. Everyone gets paid the same wage and all decisions are made as a group. Sounds about as close to culinary socialism as you can get. That’s Berkeley for ya. They’ve been making pizzas since 1985, the same way – one pizza a day.

Today’s was heirloom tomatoes, onions, mozarella, campo montalban, garlic, and herbs. The crunchy chewy crust is a sourdough-base and there is no sauce and no meat. They pile on the toppings and they throw it in the oven. A little plain, maybe, but appearances are incredibly deceiving. Makes the menu a breeze and definitely cuts down on inventory costs for the collective. How do they get away with this? Easy, the ingredients are fresh. The flavors are always spectacular. The pizza is so simple, yet so delicious that Berkeleyites are more than willing to come back another day for a different pizza.

Cheeseboard just recently expanded to take over another store that once separated the pizzas from the cheeses. The result is a much larger and more modern looking place, which is great for the collective. More seating for customers and now even fancy little bathrooms to use means that business is better than ever. I do lament the loss of the old look, though. The previously cramped, narrow store had a certain character that gave the pizza more distinction and made the sweet sounds of the local jazz echo even more. Speaking of which, the collective never ceases to bring out the best of local jazz talent and showcase them on a daily basis. What better way to spend a warm Friday afternoon than with the sounds of an upright bass and a savory slice of pizza? Cheeseboard is that place, where the grungy Cal second-year electrical engineer, the weather 30-something social worker, the middle-aged mom with kids in two, and the very affluent retired investment banker can all sit back and enjoy two of God’s greatest gifts to the world in peace.

The Cheeseboard Pizza Collective
1512 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709
510-549-3055
Seriously, one of the best pizzas ever and one of the best places ever. Love it.