We’re writing this within earshot of a world-class cringe-fest Starbucks date.
Fact: Nobody should go to a first date at Starbucks. Why not, instead, head for one of San Francisco’s six best fancy pizza spots?
None of the pressure that comes with white tablecloths and dessert menus. Plenty of good wine to keep the conversation properly lubricated.
And if the date sucks, at least the pizza’ll be terrific.
Image via Tony’s Pizza / Facebook
In brief: It’s hard to think of a bigger name in San Francisco pizza than the titular Tony Gemignani, winner of myriad pizza championships and Food Network regular. He makes use of seven different types of pizza ovens, in which are prepared pizzas including “Neapolitan, Classic Italian, Sicilian, Roman, Detroit, St. Louis, New Haven/New York Coal Fired and Gluten Free.”
Order this: Gemignani may be Fremont-born, but take it from a Central Jersey native, he’s got this right: the “Jersey’s Trenton Tomato Pie, De Lorenzo-style” (i.e., with sausage), is a solid tribute to Trenton’s best pizza place.
Come here if: Somebody’s gluten-free but really wants a pizza.
Image via Del Popolo / Facebook
In brief: This one-time food truck earned three three stars from Michael Bauer a few months after its 2015 opening (“The gods should be pleased”).
Order this: The “house made sausage” pie with mozzarella, pecorino romano, charred escarole and red onion.
Come here if: You want the best after-work pizza within a 10-minute walk of most of the Financial District.
Image via A16 / Facebook
In brief: This 15-year-old pizza spot — with two siblings, SPQR and the second A16, in Rockridge — might be the best reason to go to the Marina if you don’t already live there.
Order this: We’d obviously get the salsiccia (with fennel sausage, broccoli raab, garlic, chili, fior di latte, etc.) — but it’s bad form to suggest three sausage-centric pizzas in a row, so instead try the funghi, with pioppini and hen of the woods mushrooms, plus dandelion greens.
Come here if: You’re stopping by the SFAI gallery at Fort Mason prior.
Image via Pizza Delfina / Facebook
Pizzeria Delfina
In brief: Delfina’s one-time little brother has morphed into a pizza empire of its own, hawking 12-inch thin-crust pies in five locations across the Bay — including the brand-new spot in SoMa.
Order: The carbonara, with guanciale (cured pork jowls), a farm egg, pecorino, scallions and black pepper.
Come here if: You’re saving Delfina for the third date.
Image via Pizzetta 211 / Instagram
In brief: “You are welcome to call to ask how crowded the restaurant currently is.” It’s probably crowded (possibly due to the fact that there are precisely four tables), so skip weekend nights and come by for lunch the next time you’re in the Richmond.
Order: The pie with farm egg, ham, braised endive, gruyere and mustard
Come here if: You can finagle a table, because that is an act of serious magic.
In brief: Wood-fired pizzas with charred and chewy crusts, all the way out on 25th Avenue — but look for a new Fiorella in Polk Street this year.
Order: The Saturday-only meat pie, also known as the Apollonia: mozzarella di bufala, parmigiano, egg, salame, black pepper, garlic, and basil.
Come here if: You’re grabbing a bite after an afternoon wandering through the Presidio. (Or you were trying to get a table at Pizzetta … and failed.)
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Main image via Del Popolo
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