The Cheeseboard Pizzeria

The Cheeseboard Pizzeria 

The Cheeseboard Pizzeria is perhaps Berkeley’s most coveted pizza shop. With a loyal following and a sterling reputation, the line extends down the sidewalk, sometimes even winding around the corner, at almost every hour this famous pizzeria is open. It’s the kind of place that legend precedes, so you should try it if you’re ever even nearby. Having been a Berkeley staple for decades, it's my experience that it’s not an exaggeration to say it’s pretty much known to everyone who’s ever inhabited Berkeley for any long period of time.

The Cheeseboard Pizzeria is not your typical pizza place. It has a large patio with lots of seating, where people of all ages love to gather. Unlike your typical restaurant, it’s a great place to enjoy some live jazz music performed by a selection of talented jazz artists with real instruments in real time; they almost always have a group of musicians performing their hearts out. This creates the fun ambiance that makes it such a famous pizzeria.

Also, unlike a typical pizzeria, there is a set menu each day, consisting of only one type of pizza, which is always vegetarian. You can have the pizza of the day by the pie, or by half of a pie, or by the slice, which is the most affordable option. If you want to buy the pizza whole, you can also opt for a gluten-free crust or a vegan pizza. The pizzas are made fresh each day in the Cheeseboard’s own ovens, which keep working all day to keep up with the high demand.

The ambiance alone (with real music and lots of happy people) makes it a fun place to linger, but the flavorful pizza makes it even better. The pizzas are served warm and have a garlicky, chewy crust that most people find to be irresistible. The toppings are carefully chosen to add to the pizza’s complexly textured bite. But, true to its name, the high-quality cheese that is heaped generously onto each piece is what elevates this pizza place to the next level. Each cheesy, garlicky bite will have you falling in love because the ingredients and textures balance each other out.

The line to order is almost always long, and the pizza is moderately priced (not inexpensive, but not expensive). But after spending some time eating the generous portions of cheesy, chewy, garlicky, and buttery pizza while witnessing the musical performances alongside other patrons who share your taste in pizza and your love for Berkeley’s laid-back attitude and nice weather, I think you’ll be hard-pressed to have any regrets about having come here. When it’s all said and done, I predict you will decide to come back sometime if you can.