By the Slice: The Haute 5 Pizzerias in San Francisco

Pizza is a comfort food near and dear to the hearts of the American people. On average, each person in our indulgent country chows down on 23 pounds (yes, pounds) of pizza per year. San Franciscans know that those 23 pounds don’t have to be Domino’s, and with a plethora of gourmet food abounding around us, its only natural that San Francisco has its share of haute pizzerias in every neighborhood, when you need a fix and only a hot, cheesy, epicurean slice will do.

Pizzeria Delfina

Inspired by memories of New York pizza, owners Anne and Craig Stoll have created a neighborhood favorite in Delfina. The two locations for your pizza pleasure are always hustling and bustling with folks getting their comfort cuisine on. With ingredients like prosciutto, arugula, and house-made fennel sausage, you know you are in for something beyond your wildest plain cheese dreams. Rotating specials like pizza carbonara topped with scallions, Guanciale, one egg, pecorino, and black pepper will make you believe in mouth miracles again.

Pizzeria Delfina is located at 3611 18th St., 415.437.6800 and 2406 California St., 415.440.1189

A16

With the philosophy of what’s best is what’s local, A16 has proved that its ideology reigns supreme. Standards like the Bianca (with mozzarella, grana, green olives, basil, chilies, garlic, and olive oil) or the Salsiccia (with fennel sausage, rapini, red onions, mozzarella, grana, garlic, chilies, and olive oil) are treats that your taste buds will thank you for. If you feel like you need a little something stronger, a sommelier is always available to assist with a wine list consisting of more than 500 selections. Amazing wine and delicious pizza? Don’t pretend you didn’t know that’s the recipe for happy.

A16 is located at 2355 Chestnut St., 415.771.2216

Beretta

Beretta prides itself with thinking outside the pizza box. Potato, rosemary, and gorgonzola pizza or broccolini and pancetta pizza may sound a little unusual, but it’s that creativity and use of local lovely ingredients that separate and elevate them to gourmand. Thankfully, Beretta also offers pizza at their brunch, when French toast just won’t do.

Beretta is located at 1199 Valencia St., 415.695.1199

flour + water

Like their name, flour + water keeps it simple. Basic ingredients are transformed into outstanding food. Menu items like the Cozze pizza topped with white wine braised mussels, leeks, and green garlic pesto will make you smile. All the Neapolitan style pizzas are never baked for more than two minutes at 800 degrees Fahrenheit in their Valoriani oven imported from Italy. What that translates to (beyond one HOT pizza pie) is the best crust you’ve ever tasted. And let’s be honest, without a solid crust, you’ve just got sauce and cheese. Boring.

flour + water is located at 2401 Harrison St., 415.826.7000

Little Star Pizza

A real luminary in the pizza game, Little Star Pizza offers classic deep dish and thin crust style pizzas with flavorful toppings and a faithful following of addicts. A more traditional style of pizza with less rapini and more ricotta makes for a heartier, homier, and more recognizable flavor. Those who love deep dish swear by the cornmeal crust and spicy house-made tomato sauce. Those who love pizza swear by Little Star.

Little Star is located at 846 Divisadero St., 415.441.1118 and 400 Valencia St., 415.551.7827