Exploring the Bay Area

State Flour Pizza Walking down College Avenue in the Elmwood area, what at first appears to be a small hole-in-the wall place to grab pizza-by-the-slice turns out to have a a cozy upstairs eating area, perfect for diners wanting a restaurant environment for lunch or dinner.  My first experience with State Flour pizza was when I was looking for a mid-afternoon snack and stumbled upon a reasonably priced piece of pepperoni pizza, which I gratefully devoured. After that, I had it in my head that this was simply a place where you order at a counter in a small business and are given a small portion to eat at one of their few tables or take with you. I liked it, but I was surprised when my friends invited me there for dinner. I discovered that night that although they do offer takeout to people stopping by and those who order online, their second-story dining room upstairs offers an ideal restaurant experience.  My much-loved afternoon pizza stop turned out to become one of my favor...

In the Wood In The Wood is a relatively informal sit-down restaurant with mid-range prices. The menu features a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, entrees, and sides. They also have a bar that serves a variety of alcoholic beverages. Like many restaurants, you come in and wait to be seated. Then, you study the menu, and a polite server takes your order. After that, you wait for them to make your food, which, in my experience, takes ten to fifteen minutes or so, if they aren't too busy. The food is tasty and easy to eat. When you're done, they will bring a bill to your table, so you can pay and tip. The vibe is laid back, the food is simple but hearty, and the service is good. The prices are moderate for a casual full-service restaurant. When I visit In The Wood, I usually order the classic burger because I know it is a good bet. The classic burger from In the Wood has a patty that is nicely seasoned and has a great char. It has a lot of flavor from the patty an...

Bobby G's Pizzeria  This pizzeria is a real find! I was walking by when I saw an advertisement for inexpensive pizza sold by the slice. Naturally, I decided to stop in.  The restaurant was dimly lit with lots of televisions for airing sporting events. One wall was green like part of the Italian flag, and there was some nice modern art, as well as some nice Cal regalia. The menu hung above the counter on chalkboards.  Looking at the menu, I discovered that they also sold whole pies, salads, pasta dishes, and paninis as well as a variety of alcoholic beverages. But I came to try the individual slice. I ordered and paid at the counter and then I chose a seat and waited for them to bring my pizza slice. When my slice first arrived, I was taken aback by how large it was! The price was so low that I was expecting something smaller. It was very attractive, and the server offered me parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. It was served hot. The cheese was salty, hot and stretchy....

Lucia's  Lucia's is a pizza joint in Berkeley known for providing an incredible dining experience. I came across it by word of mouth (a couple of my friends were crazy about the place), and when I went to check it out, I was blown away by the quality and quickly became a fan. Lucia's pizzeria is a high-end, semi-casual eatery dedicated to authentic Italian classics, like pastas and pizzas, as well as other Italian side dishes and appetizers. Even the salads are made with a signature Italian twist.  The dishes demonstrate incredible quality while adhering to traditional Italian recipes. Their culinary mastery is hard to beat. This is not your typical casual pizza joint. It is a sit-down restaurant with good service where you order off an extensive menu at your table, wait a fair bit of time for your dish to be prepared by trained chefs in the kitchen, are served at the table, and then when you are done, you pay at the table. The prices reflect that it is a high-end establish...