Zachary's Pizza

Zachary's Pizza on College Ave. in Oakland.

A large chicago style pizza and some beer.

Although Zachary's is located in the Bay Area, it is often worth driving all the way to the Oakland and back. Zachary's serves Chicago Style Pizza, and is quite possibly the best pizza this side of the Mississippi. Anyone looking to make this adventure/homage should be sure to call beforehand to place your order — this can be difficult as the phone lines are often tied up.

You can order the pizza half baked if you're not planning on eating it immediately. However, this is a difficult temptation to resist.

At the College Avenue location, there is a Trader Joe's located across the street... like the Davis Trader Joe's, its parking lot is usually completely full. This leaves College Avenue and its tributaries as the only parking options.

All stores are employee-owned and operated.

Directions

a large, stuffed, sausage and pepperoni pizza If you're a student and you want to go down for a late lunch, take the Davis Berkeley Shuttle at 2:15 from Shields Library. When you get to Berkeley, walk a block or so down (west) University Ave. and hang a Left (south) on Shattuck Ave. Get on a BART train heading towards San Francisco or Fremont. Get off at MacArthur (two stops), go under the station and move to the next platform where you will catch a Pittusbug/Bay Point train. Get off at Rockridge (one stop). Walk two blocks (north) up College Ave. Eat. Do the whole BART thing in reverse to make it back to the shuttle by 6:30.

For the one on Solano, turn Right (north) on Shattuck Ave. instead, and wait at a bus stop for the 43 bus. A few minutes after getting on the bus, you will go through a tunnel. Get off at the first traffic light after the tunnel, and Zachary's is on the next block on your right. If you can't get the bus to stop in time, walk back a block.

How do they compare to Uno? -Jevan

• I think they are better. The original uno's in Chicago is killer, but I have never liked the satellite branches for some reason. - Roger
• Uno is dog food compared to Zachary's, in my opinion. Ok, that was harsh, I like Zachary's better. rocksanddirt

2006-06-11 13:23:52   I went here over the weekend and tried their deep dish pizza (chicken basil) for the first time. I have to say, it was excellent. The sauce was fantastic, very tomato-ey without being too oily. The cheese was light and the chicken was almost non-existant. But overall, very very good pizza. Probably the best I've had in the area. It ate just as well the next day. —AlexPomeranz

2006-06-12 08:14:49   I went here two weekends ago. I would rate the pizza as "nothing special". Flavorless, oily cheese and sauce from a can. It's on par with Steves or Cenarios. The novelty of a stuffed pizza may be worth the drive, or the time spent waiting in line for some, but I don't ever need to go back there. —NikolaiBraun

2006-07-19 15:34:28   Although I'm a FAT SLICE fan and have been known to go to Berkeley just for a slice, Zachary's is too good to miss. —CatStarr

2006-08-09 01:48:09   I was in berkley visiting some buddies a few weeks ago. They introduced me to this place and I must say, it gives symposium a run for it's money for my favorite pizza place. It's good quality pizza, the service you get is fantastic, and the lines aren't outrageous. It is also amazing the next day for lunch. Great artichoke hearts too, good times. —OlinHannum

2006-12-20 13:57:47   The spinach & mushroom pizza is the best anywhere, including the original Uno's in Chicago (which is much better than any of the franchises). —ScottWeintraub

2007-02-24 20:12:27   The stuff is good. End of story. —KokoSorensen

2007-07-25 14:01:08   Any time we're in the bay area we eat here. Excellent!! —Davidlm

2008-07-05 14:04:21   This page has no relevance to Davis, tasty as their pizza may be. —MaryLieth

2010-04-25 22:26:22   Both the one in Oakland (Rockridge) and in Berekely (Solano) are so good. Being from Oakland/Berekely, Zacharys is the thing I miss most about the Bay Area....well get back to me in August when it is 100 degrees here and 85 there, then yes. —BryceH

2011-12-05 16:03:15   Pizza nirvana. Really a California interpretation of Chicago style pizza... unlike traditional deep dish, Zachary's tastes fresh, not too heavy or greasy. Definitely worth the drive, and worth the wait. —OldDavis73