Pizza has always been a college staple, so Spoon is here to help you figure out the best places to spend your hard-earned dollars. We tried six pizzerias and judged them on taste, atmosphere, and price per square inch—all in the name of public service, of course.
1. Pieology: Best Taste
Photo by Smita Jain
The Pieology chain stretches across 48 locations, with 14 more opening soon. Their appeal lies in their customizability; Pieology always suits your taste whether whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose intolerant or you just don’t like olives. Pieology is, without a doubt, the best pizza on South Side.
Price per square inch: 12 square inches per dollar.
Taste: Pieology pizza is characterized by its thin, crunchy crust, fresh ingredients and lack of grease.
2. Gypsy’s Trattoria Italiana: Best Atmosphere
Photo by Smita Jain
Gypsy’s Trattoria serves up fresh, handmade, personal pizzas for a reasonable price. Combine with a loud, lively crowd and you have the perfect pizza joint. The only downside? A crazy long wait.
Price per square inch: 10.3 square inches per dollar.
Taste: Gypsy’s pizzas tend to be super cheesy, but they’re fresh, flavorful and filling.
3. Seniore’s: Best Bang for Your Buck
Photo by Smita Jain
Seniore’s is a chain of five restaurants in San Francisco, San Matteo, San Bruno, Santa Clara and Berkeley. A slice of cheese pizza is only $2.80, making it the best value pizza in South Side.
Price per square inch: 13.1 square inches per dollar.
Taste: A Seniore’s pizza is thick, crunchy and greasy, but it also has a high cheese-to-sauce ratio.
4. Artichoke Basille’s
Photo by Smita Jain
Famous for their gigantic slices, Artichoke’s is a chain with five locations in New York City and one in Berkeley. Because it’s open until 2 am on weekdays (3 am on weekends), this joint has a reputation for being the go-to place when you have the munchies.
Price per square inch: 10.3 square inches per dollar.
Taste: Artichoke’s always has right amount of cheese, but their crust is subpar. Their crab pizza is a must-try.
5. Blondie’s
Photo by Smita Jain
Blondie’s has two locations in Berkeley and San Francisco. Though Blondie’s and Fat Slice claim to be the cheapest pizza places in town, they actually cost the most per square inch.
Price per square inch: 8 square inches per dollar.
Taste: Blondie’s pizza is greasy and needs a little more cheese. Their chipotle chicken, featuring jalapenos, bell pepper, onion, mushroom, sausage and chicken, might be the only notable item on the menu.
6. Fat Slice
Photo by Smita Jain
Fat Slice is a Berkeley institution. Unfortunately, their pizza doesn’t stand a chance against all the other choices in South Side.
Price per square inch: 8.6 square inches per dollar.
Taste: Fat Slice is known for their incredibly thick crust and endless layers of cheese. Try their pesto pizza if you need a greasy pick-me-up.
We were too lazy to go all the way downtown, but other notable pizza places in Berkeley include Sliver, Cheeseboard, La Val’s, and BUILD. Tell us what you think!