Refreshingly Unhip: SF's Top 5 Cheese Slices

In the frenzy over blistered Neapolitan pizzas made with tomatoes blessed by a Catholic priest and quadruple zero flour, the appreciation for a plain ole cheese slice is in threat of extinction. Not to mention, when the urge strikes for a slice of hot, greasy goodness, waiting for a table at Delfina Pizzeria just won't cut it. A slice has to be fast, cheap, and in our control. (And preferably near a good dive bar.)

So who's got the best? After tasting my way through the city, I picked Tony’s Napoletana. It satisfies all cheese pizza requirements: Oozy mozzarella, tangy tomato sauce, a flavorful, chewy crust and a forbidden—yet delicious—trickle of grease. Very close runner-up: Arinell’s. Classic fold-and-go slices that hit the spot every time. Plus, pizza just tastes better with punk rock.

TONY'S PIZZA NAPOLETANA/ITALIAN SLICE HOUSE (North Beach) (photo above)
1570 Stockton St., 415-835-9888The most “gourmet” of the bunch, with a coal-fired oven cranking out New York, Sicilian, Detroit, and Romana-style slices.
Cheese to sauce ratio: Very saucy. Bright and fresh-tasting.
Grease factor: High. This one’s a blotter.
Crust: Soft in the middle (you’ll need two hands), with a pleasing note of smoke.

ARINELL PIZZA (Mission)
509 Valencia St., 415-255-1303

This hole-in-the wall serves up NY-style slices with plenty of attitude and a blaring soundtrack. Purely a to-go joint, there's no chairs or tables.
Cheese to sauce ratio: Proportional. Just the right amount of both, and the sauce has a pleasant tang.
Grease factor: Medium.
Crust: Crispy and thin, yet durable enough to fold.

GOLDEN BOY (North Beach)
542 Green St., 415-982-9738

You can’t miss the line snaking out of this beloved late-night haunt, a favorite of North Beach bar-goers. Speaking to the shape of their slice, their motto is "It's Hip to be Square." Ask for a corner.
Cheese to sauce ratio: Heavy on the cheese, but the seasoned sauce cuts through.
Grease factor: Low.
Crust: Sicilian-style and reminiscent of focaccia. Great crunch.

ZA GOURMET PIZZA (Russian Hill)
1919 Hyde St., 415-771-3100

A cozy neighborhood joint with a distinct Mom-and-Pop vibe. This is where you’d bring the kids. Gourmet in this case doesn't mean San Marzano tomatoes
Cheese to sauce ratio: Proportional.The sauce is tart but slightly sweet.
Grease factor: Medium.
Crust: Thin, crispy, and cornmeal-dusted.

NIZARIO'S (Castro)
4077 18th St., 415-487-0777

One of the many locations of this pizza joint, the nondescript space is quiet in the afternoon but bumping once the bars close. Bonus: They’re open til 2am.
Cheese to sauce ratio: A load of cheese blankets this slice.
Grease factor: High.
Crust: Thick and crispy. Definitely the most dough-y.

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By joeny (not verified) on February 21, 2011

And SCUM still sucks, too. Why are you so bitter anyway?

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 18, 2011

Why are we getting recycled articles? And junkie pizza still sucks.

By SCUM (not verified) on February 18, 2011

Avellino (sp) is probably the best I've had in the city, definitely legit. I've had my fair share of various slices since moving here a couple years ago after living in NYC/Boston.

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 17, 2011

yep, agree on the costco comment - worst. pizza. ever. she's def not been to the east coast.

i have tried arinell's since i gave my top 5 list, and while the crust was AWESOME - crispy, crunchy, stood up with every bite, i felt the sauce wasn't all that flavorful and the cheese was quite thin. def not bad, don't get me wrong. i'd have that over amici's any day of the week.

why is amici's popular, anyway? i think it's the 2nd worst in the city, behind costco, lol. any slice i've ever had droops down like a wet noodle. it's also greasy as hell. i dunno, i see all these people sitting at amici's and i think, ha, what a bunch of suckers...

By dave (not verified) on February 08, 2011

you have got to be kidding.........????????????? COSTCO???!! yeah a cheap eat but obviously you've never been east girl! COSTCO = Cardboard - Arinelle gets my vote and the pizza place but am dying to now try the others on the list - of the writer!

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 08, 2011

Where's Avellino?

By Lalalola (not verified) on February 07, 2011

Go-getters is surpringly not on this list??? Very good locations , taste , price , and service speed

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 07, 2011

1) Milano's is the best slice! Great crust and sauce.
2) Giorgio's is really tied for #1, but it's the best NY style slice (i've never had arinell's so it can't be on my list. i'll have to try it)
3) North Beach pizza on Stanyan. A fresh slice is heavenly
4) Za - great crust and flavor
5) Escape from NY - same as Za

By dave (not verified) on February 07, 2011

A slice from The Pizza Place on Noriega in the Outer Sunset is as good as any mentioned in the top five (except for Tony's, who might make a top five in NYC).

By staceyinsf (not verified) on February 07, 2011

Yes, Arinell's is decent pizza, but clearly you haven't been to either Victor's on Polk near Pine or Marcello's on Castro, across from the Castro Theater. BTW, what's up with SCUM and Racline?Wow. A lot of waaay too angry people in this city, in need of medication. It's only pizza, people. Holy crap.

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 07, 2011

Black metal is the best condiment....Love you Arinell's!

By Anonymous (not verified) on February 07, 2011

Hey "SCUM" go eat a dick.

By Racline (not verified) on February 07, 2011

For me, it's Milano Pizzeria in the Sunset on 9th between Irving/Judah across the street from Arizmendi.

By Deborah (not verified) on February 07, 2011

A bunch of loser junkie fucks work at Arinell.

By SCUM (not verified) on February 07, 2011

Whomever that was that just claimed that Deja Vu makes a better slice than Arinell's should be put inside the pizza oven.

By Jared Rivera (not verified) on February 07, 2011

Come on, Deja Vu on 16th/guerrero, slices made to order, far superior to Arinell

By DTM (not verified) on February 05, 2011

I love Marcello's Pizza in the Castro and Uncle Vito's on Bush and Powell.

By Larry Gentry (not verified) on February 04, 2011

Since you are embracing the unhip - you have a glaring hole....COSTCO! Don't have to be a member to eat their food. Cheap and HUGE slices. Not my favorite - but you can't beat the price.

By Girl on the Hill (not verified) on February 04, 2011