9 Postcards
Pizzaiolo is a cozy spot in Temescal serving up standout wood-fired pizzas and inventive Italian dishes, all crafted from carefully sourced ingredients.
"Wood-fired, blistery crust pizzas are the stars here, with options ranging from the simple, spot-on margherita and pepperoni and spicy honey, to a combo of sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, and ricotta salata. Petite primi and secondi lists change regularly; jump at the chance for housemade pasta with any sort of ragu, especially pork. Grownups should sample the cocktail menu — some drinks feature housemade tonic — and kids should try alcohol-free specialties like elderflower soda. Open every day of the week for dinner, plus weekend afternoons for burgers in Temescal Alley, there’s a reason this neighborhood gem has persisted over the years and is still going strong." - Justine Jones, Laura Smith Borrman
"Pizzaiolo is a casual Italian spot with a wood-fired oven, specials written on a chalkboard, and vintage posters. The pizza is delicious, the service is excellent, and they do a really good caesar salad. It’s small, but never too crowded if you decide to have your entire family or group of friends meet you for dinner. Or come with a date and split the margherita and pesto sausage." - Aimee Rizzo
"Chef and restaurateur Charlie Hallowell opened mega-popular Pizzaiolo in Temescal in 2005. The restaurant is known for its seasonal, wood-fired pizza and pasta. Hallowell received a Rising Star Chef nod from the San Francisco Chronicle in 2006 for his work at Pizzaiolo." - Paolo Bicchieri
"The folks at Pizzaiolo value their suppliers as much as they value their customers—an obsession Chef Charlie Hallowell picked up during his tenure in the kitchen at Chez Panisse. And it's this belief in good ingredients (organic flour, responsibly raised wild stock from local ranchers) that manifests itself in some of the best casual food in Oakland: veggie-centric antipasti, incredible proteins, and pretty epic thin-crust pizza. Oh, and the breakfast is not to be missed."
"Pizzaiolo is Charlie Hallowell's original restaurant, located in the East Bay. It has continued operations and enjoys support from local business improvement districts, despite the owner's controversial history involving sexual harassment allegations. This support indicates a complex public response, with some community members continuing to patronize the establishment." - Eve Batey
