Zachary's Chicago Pizza
34 ratings since posting on Thursday, October 7, 2004
Overall Rating  based on 34 ratings |
 Being from Chicago and an absolute foodie I was very interested in tasting what many (small minded locals) call "the best pizza ever". The original shop on college ave is a quaint shop with Chicago signage but little other Chicago paraphanalia. So I approched with skepticism to its autheniticity. They are famous for their spinach/mushroom cheese pizza (figures berkley hippes dont make the one with meat famous). I know that the spinach pizza is famous at Edwardo's in Chicago I began to wonder if this was stolen.....Since I wanted to make a true comparison to a classic chicago pie I chose to go with the Zachary special (Sausage, onion, green pepper, and mushrooms) a classic combo. I chose a 12 inch pie (medium) which translates to a small in Chicago. Sticker shock wold be the best word to describe the price. Almost $26 for 12" pizza. 35minutes later I get the pie. The weight was good, the aroma was that of your local deep dish shop in Chicago. Garlicky sweet with a small hint of the pool of cheese that awaits. Upon opening the box I noticed its authentic look. The thickness was a little shallow. The thick crust was sturdy enough to lift the pizza but the soft soggy bottom gave away its contents. The first bite was reminiscent of th pizza shop in my home town. Also a local favorite. HOWEVER that was where the Chicago in this "Chicago" pizza stops. The sausage was OK, The sausage is key to the pizza as it creates a base of flavor to which the onion and bell pepper acentuate. So needless to say the follow up was about as shallow as the pie its self. The attempt to fill in the space with italian spices and chunky tomatoes in the sauce is failed attempt to feed hungry senses. The dough left an old sour taste in my mouth as the dough cooled. Any good pizza can be eaten just as well cold as hot. THere is just something mising....somekind of authenticity that I can not point my finger on. Bottomline this pizza was WAY to over priced and MUCH TOO OVER hyped. True this may be the closest thing to Chicago pizza I have eaten in the Bay area. I have tasted better attempts in both Seattle and San Diego for much much less. The pizza was good and close to Chicago deep dish however its price, shallowness (less than 1/2 inch depth), poor dough, and lack of cratsfmanship keep me from saying "This is the best pizza ever". This pizza is far from it. While techincally baked in a pan or deep dish this pizza is far from thick. The pool of cheese was non existant. This is a regular pizza with a really tall crust. I could get a pizza twice as good for $12 at Lou Malnati's in Chicago. They even sell them frozen. Ill be bringing some back with me when I go home. Better than the dissappointment I just ate. Nice try Zacharys but you need more work. And shame on you Californians for tying to critique something you could not know anything about. - lou , posted 05/19/07 |
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Too crowded, too much attitude, and the pizza is really not that great. - daxle , posted 05/29/06 |
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Best damn pizza I ever had. I was blown away w/my first 1/2-baked (take home) pizza, and since I've just been ever-more impressed. Italy would be jealous... - REkz , posted 01/24/06 |
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Maybe I'm nearing my lifetime quota of Zach's pizza. I can't seem to eat it as often as I used to. But you can't go through life in the Bay Area without trying it at least four times. Bring cash as that's all they'll take. And come before you're *very* hungry, otherwise you'll be starving while waiting in line. Best yet, order by phone, then pick it up. But it takes 2 people for pick up: one to drive and double park, the other to go inside and get the pizzas. The place is just too darned popular. - Wella , posted 01/08/06 |
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the pizza is good, even better when you're really hungry. deep dish and pizza tastes "take'n'bake". The place has good location, atmosphere, and is convenient for locals. i personally prefer blondies which is way better pizza and less artificial tasting. - crystalgotsoul , posted 10/02/05 |
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I couldn't hack the piled on tomato filler heaped on this deep dish. Was OK, just can't see the acclaim. Now Ledo's of D.C. that was ORIGINAl. Not that I know where to duplicate that out in the Bay Area, so it's all just OK here to me. I'd prefer Dario's or Amici's to this tomato soup. - "cOOch" , posted 09/26/05 |
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What can I say? It's a Rockridge institution! I've lived in the bay area all my life, and I've never had a better pizza. - Ron , posted 07/26/05 |
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Being from Chicago, I know good pizza.. I like Zachary's, sometimes it's better than others.. But it's the only decent deep dish I have found in the bay area... If we were in Chicago I'd say it is average, but for California, I recommend going for sure... - Paul , posted 05/11/05 |
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Unsu...
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they charged me a corkage fee... - Unsubscribed , posted 03/15/05 |
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their regular pizza is good but nothing out of the ordinary, the deep-dish chicken pesto though? fabulous...and that crust is just even better the next day...thank god they dont deliver or i'd weigh one million pounds - merideth , posted 03/10/05 |
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It's just tomato soup pie... :) Overated, methinks. - mo hu , posted 02/21/05 |
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Good joint for a real deep dish. But be prepared to stand and wait as seating is often not available and hit the ATM before hand because cash is king and credit is not accepted. - Dave , posted 02/07/05 |
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I grew up in Chicago and have never been impressed with any pizza places that claim to have Chicago-style. Zachary's is the exception. Their deep dish is so reminiscent of places in Chicago. I always think Zach's has to be owned by someone that lived in Chicago because it is so authentic. - Tree , posted 01/10/05 |
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I try to stop here and get a pizza whenever I am in the east bay. This place has the best pizza I have ever had, including the few places I have tried in Chicago. It is deep dish pizza with real tomatoes instead of sugary tomato sauce. - Josh , posted 10/16/04 |
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So I used to live in Illinois, and the best pizza in the world Zachary's is not. However, it's really damn good. Definitely the best deep dish pie you're gonna get in the bay area. The zachary's special (spinach, mushroom, etc) is not to be missed. AND they're moving to be a worker-owned cooperative. That's just even cooler. - kris , posted 10/13/04 |
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Unsu...
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Zach's has no comparison. Chicago natives may claim that it isn't authentic Chi deep dish, but it doesn't matter to me. Their tomato sauce is way beyond any other. Prepare for long waits on the weekends, or better yet, order a half baked pie to take home. - Unsubscribed , posted 10/13/04 |
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This place has the best damn pizza I've ever eaten. A local legend. Worth the drive over from SF. If you haven't eaten there you're seriously missing out. Go there, eat now. - TANJA , posted 10/12/04 |
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Zachary's Chicago Pizza is hands-down, the BEST Chicago-style pizza I have ever tried! (but I admit I've never been to Chicago :) Seriously, every pizza I've ordered from them is a *substantial* pie! Fantastic sauce and tons of delicious toppings. Bring your biggest appetite to Zachary's!! A++ (they also have another location up in North Berkeley. see their website for details.) - - ColdCold , posted 10/10/04 |
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This lively pizzeria has hands-down the BEST pizza I've ever had. They are famous for their deep dish specials but their thin crust pizza is just as savory. If your mouth is watering for deep-dish (faux-chicago style pizza) then run down to Zachary's, you won't be disappointed! I highly recommend the Spinach Mushroom Special! My stomach is grumbling just thinking about it! Beware, this place is always crowded in the evenings because the pizza is just that good, so maybe you want to get take-out. Call-in your order, so you won't have to wait. - zeena , posted 10/08/04 |
Zachary's Chicago Pizza was recommended for:
- Tribe: Berkeley
