Zachary's Chicago Pizza

Every time I'm in the Oakland I make a stop to this small but enjoyable Chicago style pizza joint. Since the pizza takes at least 30 minutes to make I recommend calling before hand so its ready when you pick it up and no waiting involved.

OK, #1 Zachary's deep dish pizza is very good. But...

This reminds of the time I visited the Eiffel Tower.

After thousands of dollars in airfare and hotels, and hours and hours of travel, there it was. Just like in a picture book... Blah, boring...

When you've heard and seen something hyped up for your whole life, the actual experience is a bit deflating.

So, the Eiffel Tower is a big pretty tower, as you all know.

And, Zachary's is really great pizza, as you all know.

It's not a mind blowing experience, and I'm not sure it's worth all the hassle....

I guess you need to try it once in your life! Then you can move on!

There's a reason the wait for a table is super long, because people know this is the best Chicago style pizza around! You can't go wrong, especially with the thick crust and fresh toppings.

Really, Zachary's is in my Top 5 Reasons to live in Berkeley. If I had to leave, I know this would be the place I'd miss.

Deep dish is awesome, but filling. A Real Man™ can be hard pressed to finish two slices sometimes.

The thin crust is equally excellent, just a bit lighter than its heartier brother.

Beer selection is top notch. Salads are surprisingly good. They have one of the best Caesar salads anywhere (in part due to Semifreddi's super garlic crotons, a local treat). They focus on a few simple things and they do them perfectly.

They are employee owned which is pretty cool.

They're always busy, but it's worth the wait no question. Lunch is never that busy and they have pretty cheap slices ready to go.

World class indeed!

All-time favorite pizza joint in California! Order anything! Stuffed or thin variety and it will be an experience. It can be extremely busy on a Friday or Saturday night, but it is a must to dine in considering the atmosphere is really great and the service is top notch (great energy from the servers!) The stuffed (or thin) Mediterranean is my order! Lots of great brew on tap as well!

PROS: Great pizza and service
CONS: wait times can resemble "It's A Small World" at Disnyland....

Tired of flat boring 5 dollar domino pizzas? Go to Zachary's for a taste of authentic chicago pizza. Definitely try out the stuffed deep dish chicken pizza. One slice is usually enough for the average person, but will leave you wanting another. I suggest going early as it definitely gets crowded during dinner time any day of the week.