The Other Critics

Michael Bauer and Patricia Unterman Both Review Gioia Pizzeria

 Gioia's Salsicca pie, which Patty says
Gioia’s Salsicca pie, which Patty says “satisfies.” Photo: Courtesy of Gioia

Gioia Pizzeria, which made a name for itself in Berkeley and only recently opened a San Francisco location at 2240 Polk Street, gets the double-review treatment this week by both Michael Bauer, and the as-of-late web-only Patty Unterman. Bauer, always a pizza lover and long a fan of Gioia’s original location, says the pizza is still good at the new location, but not always perfect — on one of his three visits, a formaggio pie came out limp in the middle and dripping with “rust-colored grease.” Also, his other favorite thing, fried chicken, isn’t so well done here, with too thick of a battered crust on it. Still, he likes the salsiccia and the prosciutto-arugula pies, and he recommends the stuffed shells, vegetable fritto misto, and the meatballs too. All told: two and a half stars. [Chron]

As for Patty’s take, she’s also a fan, but goes into a bit more detail about the pizza. She says that the pies here are “more about the topping than the dough,” and adds, “the crusts … are not as chewy, elastic or distinctive in flavor as the current crop of thin, wood-fired, Neapolitan-style wonders.” She’s also a fan of the meatballs, and calls out the “airy” arugula salad, and the fritto misto as well. [Unterman on Food]

Michael Bauer and Patricia Unterman Both Review Gioia Pizzeria