4. Restaurants

Arinell Pizza

2119 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94704
  • (510) 841-4035
  • Store is closed

Arinell Pizza Menu

  • Arinell Pizza - by the Slice
  • Topppings - by the Slice
  • Arinell Pizza - by the Pie
  • Toppings - by the Pie
  • Drinks

Healthy Meal suggestions for Arinell Pizza

  • Arinell Pizza - by the Slice
  • Topppings - by the Slice
  • Arinell Pizza - by the Pie
  • Toppings - by the Pie
  • Drinks

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  • Pablo H.

    Very straight forward review for a very straight forward place: Best New York Style Pizza in the Bay. You want melted cheese on a cracker, go elsewhere. You want stew in a breadbowl, go to Zachary's or something. This place excels at NEW YORK STYLE. The crust is crispy at first bite with a hint of doughiness on the chew. When you fold a slice it MAINTAINS RIGIDITY and is not overridden with grease. Hello ladies and gentlemen, what more can you ask for from a $2.75 meal?

    (4)

  • Charles L.

    Easy choice for a plain cheese pizza. Thin-crust, hot-to-the-touch out of the oven, and no frills. You actually better be careful when you're handling it because they put it only on wax paper and some grease can burn your hand (or make it smell like delicious pizza all day). I'm not a fan of getting toppings here because they have to add it just on top of the pizza. Don't be trying to go all "the works" or hawaiian here. This ain't no Dominos! Don't get it to go. You gotta eat it there nice and hot and just enjoy the pizza in the moment, reminisce about life, realize how screwed you are for midterms, think about that girl you wanna date, and other activities that take you away from reality. I mean, if you don't live around the area and you came down to Arinell to get a slice, you must think it's worth your time so just effin enjoy it! I guess I never really had a real legit thin-crust slice until Arinell...but I like it. I'll be sure to grab a slice when I'm downtown again. $2.75 per slice is worth it.

    (4)

  • nicole s.

    Try to find a better NY style pizza on the west coast. Just try. (And if you do, please tell me all about it.)

    (5)

  • Laurence W.

    What's funny is that this is their expanded space -- I forget exactly how long they were closed while they did their "remodel" but the impression I had during that time was that they were undergoing a massive overhaul. From what I can tell, the cumulative effect of The Great Expansion is that their pizza oven now fits left-to-right instead of front-to-back. But no matter!! This is great pizza, with probably a little more attitude that anyone actually needs, but it ably breaks up the dreaded monotony of shoving Zachary's deep dish slices down your throat year after year. The same guy has been working behind the counter (the owner?) wearing the same pair of camouflage shorts and samba shoes since... i dunno, maybe 2 decades or so??

    (4)

  • tom p.

    Decent pizza. A no nonsense, no frill place.

    (4)

  • Aaron R.

    I go here 1-2 times a week if I need a quick slice. All in all they have some great pizza, but they get 4 stars since they aren't always consistent. Sometimes they'll put my pizza in the oven for 5 minutes, sometimes they don't at all. I tend to like a firm crust, and without the oven, its just not firm enough.

    (4)

  • Tom O.

    I burnt myself out on this place. Now it just seems good, not great. looking for great? check out Cheeseboard Pizza.

    (3)

  • Calvin C.

    This is one of my favorite pizza places on a budget. They got huge slices of Neapolitan for $2.75 a slice. Not bad for your money. The crust is pleasantly thin and crunchy, the only downside is that the pizza sauce and cheese are a bit mediocre. Nonetheless, the pizza is excellent. Another turnoff was the staff, they were unprofessional and they had no problem showing how annoyed they were when I was asking for a bag for my two slices of pizza (it's either that or having them burn my hand when I carry it back to eat). The cashier didn't bother to wash his hands after giving me change and went straight to serving the pizza. Otherwise the pizza is great.

    (4)

  • Donna K.

    Arinell Pizza is the best place to go for a quick slice with little hassle! Their crust is super thin and crispy. The cheese to tomato sauce ratio is spot on.... and I love the way they haphazardly pile the toppings on. I haven't had the chance to try pizza in NY so I can't say if it is authentic, but many others have said that it is. Either way, I am lovin' it! There isn't too much seating, but the nature of the food makes it easy to get seats. Best of all... there is a no cell phone policy!

    (5)

  • Nicole C.

    No. Just no. Anybody who claims the food here is edible needs a serious pizza wake-up call. True, I don't like thin crust pizza, but that isn't why I give them one star. I ordered a couple slices of pepperoni for take-out, so they put some pepperoni on a cheese pizza that had been fermenting in the open air for Lord knows how long, then ran it through the oven again. And this was all as I was watching and waiting. Needless to say, the pizza was lackluster. Who gives a fuck if the crust is thin and "authentic" if the ingredients suck and the pizza is stale and re-heated? Oh, and the people who work here are douchebags who listen to metal and loiter in my apartment lobby next door in an attempt to look cool and/or badass. Their service sucks, and they also fail as human beings. I take that back. Arinell in general = FAIL. I could have had better pizza at Domino's.

    (1)

  • Greg J.

    If you are looking for good "street style" NY pizza (you know, the place where you wander in and grab a slice for the road), then this is your place. The crust is thin and perfectly done. The sauce is delicious and the cheese is on point. I didn't find the cheese to be excessively oily, but it IS pizza, so you expect some amount of grease. In true NY style, the place is not really designed for eat-in, though they do have tables where you can sit. I found it to be clean and relatively comfortable, but again, its not the kind of place where you go "out to eat pizza", particularly for dinner. So run in and grab a slice or call ahead and pick up a pie. The pie is good and the price is right.

    (4)

  • Kevin J.

    This place is to thin slice pizza what Zachary's is to the deep dish style. I've been going to this place off and on since I was in junior high. We're talking the 70's! Even as a kid I knew this pizza was different. I think the Neopolitan and Sicilian styles are the ones I gravitated towards. The toppings are insane: spices, cheese and flavors that explode in your mouth. These folks know there stuff. I remember going to this spot and seeing the half-door with some tattooed, pierced, spike haired person serving up the pies! Like I said, this was back in the 70's and 80's. I thought WTF is going on but hey, the pizza was slamming. I remember many days grabbing a couple of slices on wax paper along with a fruit punch and then trying to find a spot somewhere to just sit down and inhale the stuff. Pizza by the slice as it should be done.

    (4)

  • Maurice C.

    THE best NY style pizza I've had in the Bay Area, period. Allow me to share it with you in some bullet points: - Super-thin, almost cracker like crust, that, due to the greasy goodness from the cheese, almost melts in your mouth - Tasty cheese - Great toppings - Cheap price! - They serve orange soda: this is the drink to get, somehow it matches with the pizzas perfectly I love to go to this place for quick, tasty, and unmatched pizza experience. Sure, it's greasy, so you can't go there for every meal, but boy is it a special treat. My favorite order is one pizza with anchovies, and one with chopped garlic. Major breath-killer but it zings your mouth. And with the orange soda to wash it down, this is pretty much a 2-slice pizza heaven. Better than Blondie's, Fat Slice...only bad thing is it's a little further from campus. It's nestled next to the BofA on Shattuck, a little hole-in-the-wall. Go try it out!!

    (5)

  • Timm T.

    Sometimes, you just have to stop for a minute and enjoy one of the simple pleasures in life. So Saturday rolls around, and while I really wanted to spend 6 hours working in the garage, I figured that I'd get the hell out of Dodge for awhile because, what the hell, the mess in the garage is always going to be there. So, I ginned up an excuse to go to the cleaners to drop some of the Hawaiians (shirts that is, 50+ and still growing), and loaded up my peeps Trixie Belle (all together now: The sweetest dog in the world) and my wing man Hurricane Hank in the trusty FEH and headed to Berkeley. Once I dropped the clothes, I wanted to make sure that I got right back home. Only my peeps really wanted so pizza, so we were in luck. The greatest NY-style pizza joint on the West Coast is right here on Shattuck. Arinell is a little hole in the wall with a few tables, and a standing counter. Pizza by the slice like god had intended it to be eaten. Whenever I visit my cousin Blossom in Brooklyn, I spend all my free time visiting various pizza joints around town. Arinell is just like that. Pizza by the slice. Yum. I got the pizza, the peeps get the crust. Everybody wins. This place really is....the best Jerry, the best! pizza on the West Coast. And the garage waits for another week-end. BTW, Nicole C, don't ever come back to Arinell. We don't want your kind in here. When you buy pizza by the slice, they don't make up a whole new pizza for you. Every pizza joint on the face of the earth makes up pies and then heats the slice when you buy it. Dumbass. You are too stupid to eat pizza here. Go away and go order a frozen dough pie at some loser chain restaurant PS: Have a nice day.

    (5)

  • G S.

    The workers here think they are super "cool". If failing in life is the new cool then yea. My mom and girlfriend went here to pick up some slices and got some real hardcore attitude from the punk kids that work there. Real tough guys. Wish I was there... This place has really gone to shit. I don't like sexist venues (whether its against girls or guys), so I wont be coming back. If you work here and read this - stick to making pizza, your minds not capable of much more.

    (1)

  • Wendy L.

    Awesome place for lunch and a quick slice. If you're looking for more ambiance or a group spot, I'd recommend Cheeseboard, but Arinell's is great for something simpler. Pizza is very plain, New York style (but without the cornmeal), with minimal sauce and cheese. I love loading mine up with the pepper they have at the counter...yum. The guys who work here look like they are about to start a metal band together; there is always hard rock or metal music playing and I see them emo-ingly smoking outside sometimes. However, they get the job done, and done well. Oh, and they are open late, which is a plus.

    (4)

  • Heather P.

    My NY pizza loving yelp friends all sent me in the direction of this pizza place. Yes it had a NY look and attitude but something just didn't quite do it for me. First of all, you can't fold the pizza because its too crispy on the bottom & the toppings really aren't all that flavorful. They're right, it is closer to NY pizza then most of the other places but its not a clone of GOOD NY pizza. It's a clone of mediocre, I was really hungry and drunk at 4am, NY pizza. The one thing this place did teach me is that I can't eat pizza while also driving a stick up hill. Hey..I wanted to see how it tasted while it was still warm. Luckily for my fellow motorists after one bite I was fine with letting it get cold. Too bad. :(

    (3)

  • Sunny J.

    The best slice in Berkeley! The fact that Arinells is usually empty and there is a 50 person long line at The Cheeseboard just shows that New Yorkers are right when they say Californians don't know good pizza.

    (5)

  • Jennie C.

    It's pizza. It's a bargain though; I'm a fan of the prices. You get a pretty decent slice for your one slice order. But in the end, I feel like it's not THAT special of a place. It's not a bad place for when you're craving a nice fat greasy slice of pizza : )

    (3)

  • Shreya C.

    I have a soft spot for Arinell's since I've been going here since I was ten. Though they've gone through some minor changes in their decor, their pizza has remained the same. And with good reason. This is one of the few places you can enjoy a serious NY style pizza. I mean..these people mean business. Another thing I gotta admit is that I'm not a big fan of thin crust pizza. Absolutely love thick crust, never been a fan of thin. Despite this I can't help but love Arinell's. It's proof that good food can overcome any predispositions you might have. It's one of the few places you can go and feel like you're having a pizza the way it was meant to be made.

    (4)

  • Inga B.

    So, I see that a lot of people here are originally New Yorkers who are trying to find something to satiate their pizza appetites in a city that wouldn't know a slice of pizza from some bread with sauce on it (and don't even get me started on the bagels...). I stumbled into the Arinell Pizza on Shattuck after the smell of pizza struck my senses and awoke my hunger. It smelled moderately like NY pizza! I must try it! I was plesantly surprised. The crust wasn't too thick or too thin, it was soft where it should be soft and chewy and it was nicely crisp where it should have been crisp. The cheese and sauce weren't caked on; it was all baked perfectly to a bubbly brown. Delish. Of course, compared to pizza in NY it is still not the best, but I will trek my ass down to Shattuck and Center any day of the week instead of eating "pizza" from Blondies or Fat Slice. So, if you're in need of a slice of NY in Berkeley, this is the place to go. I think the only problem I had, was how expensive a slice is. But we are in the midst of a recession I guess.

    (4)

  • Susan C.

    Great thin pizza! I usually get cheese pizza. It's a perfect mix of super thin crust, tom sauce and cheese. $2.50 per slice. Yum! 15" pizza is $15. 18" is $20. Extra for toppings. For these prices, it can't be beat! There are a few tables there but it's not very clean. But then again, you're not going for the ambiance!

    (4)

  • Homeschooling M.

    This is a dream come true for those of us looking for authentic NY-style pizza. Thin, crispy, crust...perfect sauce...ooey-gooey cheese...perfection! If you order a slice, they heat it up for you in the oven. One time, not long enough for my pepperoni to crisp up on the edges. Otherwise, five-star pizza. Not much seating though. Doesn't seem like the cleanest place, but I don't really care when the pizza's this good.

    (4)

  • Penguin S.

    Super tasty pizza. Would have awarded 5 stars, but one thing that is sad in pizza by the slice is how they just top it and heat it. Would it kill to add a little more cheese? At any rate, I wanted to get a second slice, but funds were low and time was short.

    (4)

  • epic j.

    YES. ALl I have had here is the plain cheese pizza that is always a way to tell whether a pizza joint is on top of its game Arinell's is the best ive found in SF, berkeley, etc. and being served by heavy metal fans with some old school Death in the background makes it more special. If you don't like this pizza, head over to the dominos at shattuck and university since thats where you belong.

    (5)

  • R W.

    Slice of pizza is alway good.

    (4)

  • Mike S.

    Without a doubt, the best NY-style pizza in California. Crust on the Neapolitan pizza is thin and the perfect mixture of crispy and chewy. I usually get a slice with mushrooms and sausage. Delicious. Other reviewers have had negative experiences with the employees... I haven't had any bad experiences myself, but the complaints definitely sound in-character. Nonetheless, a great pie. I really miss this place now that I live in SoCal - there's no equivalent down here.

    (5)

  • Wendy H.

    Delicious thin-crust pizza. I don't know how they make it so thin, but they definitely got skills.

    (4)

  • Scott F.

    Arinell's is NY style pizza, the most authentic I've ever had in California. I love this pizza. Both the plain slice and the Sicilian slice. Yes, the heshers/punks/skaters that make the pizza don't seem to particularly care about *you*. But they must care about the pizza because it is consistently crispy and delicious. And they're nice enough if you actually bother to make eye contact and talk with them. Those of you complaining about "reheated" pizza or that the toppings are put on after the pie is cooked just have to accept the fact that you don't like NY style pizza. They have beautiful neon inside, too. Usually the music is pretty good. The only complaint I have is about that crappy bench; it is not comfortable and too close to the floor. A board sitting on cinderblocks would be better.

    (5)

  • Eric A.

    I would imagine if the pizza came out with a more consistent quality, it would be decent. But the first time I ate here, the crust was beyond crispy--it was practically burnt, which is a guaranteed way for me to dislike their pizza. The second slice I tried wasn't any better. Beyond that, the staff is rude (looks like I'm far from the first to notice that), and them not accepting credit or debit cards is kind of a pain. If you find yourself in Berkeley and wanting a good slice of floppy, NY-esque pizza, do yourself a favor and go to somewhere like Bobby G's instead.

    (2)

  • kimberly v.

    I usually love this place, mostly because it reminds me of New York: slightly squalid decor, with thin-crust, relatively unadorned pizza. I discovered today, on my lunch break from my 1st Aid training, that it is at its best BEFORE noon; don't know why. There is was, in its almost crispy light glory, with that ideal marriage of cheese and sweet/tangy tomato sauce, and then...wait, a minute, what's that I'm tasting??? Dishwashing detergent? Can that be? Yeah, maybe hiring slacker boys means that their dishwashing, or at least rinsing skills leave a bit to be desired. Still pretty good, though...

    (4)

  • Maria Z.

    I've never been a big fan of this place. The few times I've been here, the pizza didn't taste that fresh. I understand that some reheating has to be done because it's pizza-by-the-slice, but it just wasn't great. And it's cash only, which can be an inconvenience. You're better off going to Bobby G's around the corner.

    (2)

  • Vince L.

    Great East coast style pizza. I've never been to New York, but I imagine it would be similar to the great pizza they have here. Arinell specializes in thin, New York style pizza with quality ingredients. The key is in the simplicity. The crust is crispy/chewy and always tastes fresh. The light sauce and layer of cheese is perfect. Top it with a generous amount of toppings of your choice and you're all set. I usually get a slice of pepporoni and a slice of olive or mushroom. You can get cheese pizza by the slice for about $2.75 or a large pie for $22. Toppings are extra ($.50 /slice, $2 /pie). I prefer the regular pies, but they also have a Sicilian-style pizza that is a thicker, rectangular pie for a little more $.

    (5)

  • sean m.

    Solid new york style pizza, hilarious ambiance. Reliable & fast.

    (5)

  • Cara Y.

    If you prefer the doughy, thick crusts at Fat Slice or Blondie's, then skip this place. But if you love classic Neapolitan-style thin crust pizza, Arinell's is your place. Their crust is perfectly thin and blistered, and barely supports the molten layer of cheese (you'll need 2 hands free per slice) on top. The sauce is tangy and amazingly delicious. A cheese slice from Arinell's is perfect culinary simplicity. Make sure you eat it straight out of the oven for the full experience. Arinell's is esentially a walk-up counter, and their "dining room" seats approximately 8-10 people, so plan on standing up to eat your slice. Seriously some of the best pizza I've had. EVER. Pros: Bloody awesome pizza.

    (5)

  • Adi S.

    Super tasty NY style pizza, i.e. so thin that if you don't have a plate underneath, it flops over. Pretty much the perfect comfort food. Its my favorite plain pizza in Berkeley (Chicago style = Zachary's, Bourgie = Cheeseboard). I don't really like the Sicilian thick crust since I think its too dry. The neopolitan was too dry/overbaked only once. Yes, probably not the cleanest place around, but not a complete shithole. I'd venture to say most college student apartment kitchens are significantly worse.

    (4)

  • Steven R.

    It was good, albeit a little burnt. I'm a fan of NY-style pizza, and it's a generally acceptable substitute. I prefer Gioia's, but I'm sure I'll have Arinell plenty because it's conveniently located.

    (3)

  • Michael H.

    Arinell's offers two kinds of pizza, thin crust or thick crust. I opted for a pepperoni thin crust. The super casual pizza joint offers quick eats or greasy crumb laden tables. It's definitely a snack kind of place. I was content with my pizza. Although there's cheese on the pizza it's hardly discernibly visually or taste-wise. What does make this pizza quite different from neighboring pizza parlors is the crunchy crust. It's good, but if you're not a fan of toast like crust you'd be best to stay away. The pizza has a lot of grease. Well, duh, it's pizza. The one problem with this is that they serve their slices on wax paper. Once you put your slice on a counter or table top, the grease seeps right through and makes a smeary mess. ____ Good cheap fast food.

    (3)

  • Ashley R.

    I was craving pizza bad and decided to take a chance here today. I walked in and the only customers was a group of unwashed teenage punks seemingly appreciating the grating music playing throughout the place. This group of boys would have made my little teenage heart a pitter-patter. But now I've moved on to grown men who appreciate hygiene. Just as I have outgrown dirty boys trying to make a statement, I have also outgrown dirty pizza places trying to do the same. I decided to try a slice of the thick crust Sicilian and a slice of the thin crust Neapolitan. The pizzas that the slices came from seem to have been sitting out for a long time before they were reheated when I ordered them. The Neapolitan crust was quite reminiscent of cardboard. The Sicilian crust was OK, but definitely not delicious enough to warrant the extra calories or the extra price. Both the slices had extremely bland sauce and rubbery cheese. If you're going to be a random hole-in-the-wall restaurant you better be delicious. Cause then you're the coolest find around. If you are not, good luck. Arinell's is not of the former category.

    (2)

  • Gabe F.

    If you are not a Vegetarian go here. I am and I found out that their cheese has animal rennet in it. They should do some more research and get hip. Nonetheless. There is no pizza place that can top this one! Straight out of New York. They must put some water from NY to give it that special taste. Their thin crust is great, but their thick crust is even better in my opinion. It only takes about two thick crusts to get full, but you can eat (or I could anyways)a whole thin crust pie in a few minutes and still want more, thats if you could get up afterwards. The guys who work there are Metal Heads, they dont look like the cleanest people in the world, but its a nice break from the Berkeley yuppie scene. Dont answer your cell phone in there, they will flip out on you. Not that I blame them, its annoying to have people talk on the phone while you are ordering pizza. Ordering pizza is a special thing, kind of like having a baby, would you be on the phone while having a baby? Three thumbs waaayyy high for this place! To you metal heads at Arinell Pizza: ROCK ON!!!!

    (3)

  • Caleb H.

    Greasy, big slices of NY style pizza for pretty cheap. I like it better than Blondie's and Fat Slice on Telegraph and I often find myself taking a detour after class for a midday snack. Plus you can get anchovies! The place is kinda dirty and the guy at the register is a douche who ignores you, but that just adds to the charm.

    (4)

  • Ben K.

    HUGE new york style slice. Cheesy and greasy, good value for the money. Only problem seems to be consistency - sometimes the crust is great, other times it's soggy. In short, a decent place to get your pizza fix.

    (3)

  • Ada T.

    Definitely my favorite pre-BART guilty pleasure. I love love love thin crust pizza, which, between Fat Slice, Blondie's, Zachary's, etc., is surprisingly difficult to find. I really like the tomato sauce/cheese/crust ratio they have. Maybe this is only strange to me, but when I ordered a pepperoni slice, they basically just grabbed a slice of cheese, threw on a few pieces of pepperoni, and stuck it in the oven to heat it up. I don't know how that affects the taste (vs. pepperoni pizza where the pepperoni was baked when the pizza was baked), but it sort of makes me disinclined to order anything but plain cheese in the future. The employees are a little gruff and there are only three tables in the entire establishment, which often leads to communal eating...but, eh, whatever -- it's just a $3 slice of pizza.

    (4)

  • Lee T.

    I don't eat pizza that much, but I love Arinell for just a quick slice. When my NY friends come to town, they say they are surprised that a pizza place in California "almost" has it right :-) Arimell opened up when I was in high school, so it's been here for over 30 years, making consistent "thin slice" pizza (I haven't tried the thick slice in decades). When they remodeled a few years ago, they installed a few tables, so now you have the option of either those or their traditional stand and chew shelf. Bring your NY friends here and see if they feel at home again.

    (4)

  • Melody L.

    Came here once while I was waiting for the Perimeter bus to re-time itself. It's okay pizza, very oily/fatty, but the people working here are kind of gruff.

    (3)

  • Alena G.

    When we lived in El Sobrante I would drive to Berkeley just to get pizza from Arinell. I would then grab at least three napkins so I could gobble slices on my way home because there is no waiting on fresh, hot, cheesy, greasy goodness! Arinell is the best. The BEST. THE BEST. EVER.

    (5)

  • Jennifer W.

    When I reminisce about the delicious pizza only available across the country in NYC, I'll come to Arinell to get a slice of their yummy pizza. It's cheap, it's easy, it's Arinell. I can probably eat a whole medium pizza on my own...wait, I think I've actually done that before. Friendly staff, cheap prices.

    (3)

  • Ron M.

    I really like the pie crust here. It is satisfying to hear that crisp crunch that only a NY style pizza can deliver. Too bad that is the only thing I liked about Arinell's pizza. I wish the sauce had more flavor (it is lightly seasoned) and it was a little on the greasy side for me. I think it's great that they don't use any sugar and msg in the sauce and salt is only used in the leavening process. It makes for a semi-healthier pizza, but I don't see the hype about this place. The people working here were super cool and had some Demon Fuzz blaring over the speakers - nice! This is a literal translation from their take out menu: __________________________________________________­___ | | | ARINELL PIZZA | | All prices include sales tax. | | | | | | by the slice | | | | NEOPOLITAN (regular) ..............................................$2.5­0 | | SICILIAN (deep dish) ..................................................­.2.75 | | | | Pepperoni, black olives, .50 per topping | | onions, fresh garlic, ..................................................­per slice | | | | Mushrooms, anchovies, sausage, .75 per topping | | green pepper, extra cheese, ....................................per slice | | | | by the pie | | NEOPOLITAN (regular) | | | | Medium (16" diameter) ...............................................15.­00 | | Large (18" diameter) ..................................................­..20.00 | | Sicilian 18" x 12" x 1" thick .........................................27.50 | | | | | | Toppings....add to above prices | | Medium Large & Silicilan | | per topping .................. 1.50 .............................. 2.00 | | extra cheese ................ 2.00 .............................. 2.50 | | | | Drinks | | Small Large | | Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Root Beer .............. 1.00 ........... 1.50 | | Fruit Punch, Lemonade .............................. 1.25 ........... 1.75 | |_________________________________________________­__|

    (3)

  • ELLIS D.

    What ever! they think they are so great, that their pizza is king... I say screw you you stupid hipster wanna be. The pizza aint so great .wanna good pie go to Gioia. PS if you think their pizza is that great you have been on the west coast for too long.

    (2)

  • Missy T.

    So, my roommate told me about this place and I decided to give it a try. It was a good decision they make the best pizza I had so far in Berkeley. I am from NY and I love NY style pizza and it has been a mission finding a decent place to have pizza here in Berkeley or California in general. Well, I am hoping I find a better place because their pizza is great but their service is average since they know that their pizza is good and they don't care about customer service. I would have given them a 5 star review if they would have a least smile at me . It does not hurt to smile right?

    (4)

  • Madame X.

    OWWWWEEEE, someone call the fire department my ass is on fire! Thanks a lot Arinell, you suck.

    (1)

  • Stan G.

    Decent slice of pizza. NYC style. Could be more clean. Expected more.

    (3)

  • neil c.

    I have a feeling that Arinell succeeds in its chosen mission, I just have to admit that I am no expert in the mission parameters. NY style pizza is not my forte, but I do appreciate it for its utility. Unlike my favorite deep dish, NY pizza can serve as a walk around food, or even a snack. I dare you to eat Chicago style on the move, or make a snack out of it! Fans of grease, this is your mecca. Foes of grease, however, beware. I recommend blotting some off with napkins before diving in. The pizza itself - the crust is very thin and mostly "soft" but crispy in places. It has a good flavor. The sauce has a good flavor, but I'm pretty sure that the aforementioned grease is part of the reason. The sauce to cheese ratio seems about right for pizza of this sort. The cheese itself - well, it's fine. I'll leave it at that.

    (3)

  • Jack K.

    Probably the best ny-style pizza in the city.

    (4)

  • Nathan M.

    The greasiest pizza I've ever had. Decent, but almost as overwhelming as a Deepwater Horizon Pie.

    (3)

  • Michelle J.

    I just went for the 4th time today the first couple of times i had plain cheese and it was okay nothing special. then i went today and got some pep pizza and it was DEEELLLIICCCCIIIOOOOUUUSSS!!! i read a re-view a couple of spaces below me, and it seems like she just has a problem with metal heads. damn fuck off deal with life. the pizza is re heated but it def makes the pizza taste GREAT!! and the employees are hella metal heads, always playing some mercyful fate and shit... but today they were playing fucking ELVIS hahaha GREAT pizza okay people, shitty seats but fast service. NO CELL PHONE USE! OR THEY WON'T GIVE U PIZZA! HAHAHAHAH

    (4)

  • Theresa H.

    Arinell's Pizza. Yes, the crust is thin. All the better to fold and eat. Yes, the place is a dive. Yes, the location and parking stink. Yes, the service can be a bit terse. But I can't help myself. I really, really, like their pizza.

    (4)

  • D. T.

    Greasy, cheap, pizza that you NEED to eat fresh. Fold and eat, NY style. This is more of a pizza "stand" than a pizza "sit." Get over it. The large pizza that we got today was perfect for 3 big eaters (think 6 ft, 230lbs each). It's a little gross eating off a piece of wax paper on the table and having the wax paper fill up with your grease and then getting the grease stuck to the table... so you've created a table-grease-pizza connection it seems. I got over it and asked for another piece of wax paper.

    (4)

  • Mari C.

    A-lright R-eally greasy I-t's not as good as Nick H thinks N-owhere to sit E- hhhh... I don't like square slices L- L- ...forget it. Arinell is overrated. So it's cheap and thin crust - so what? The slices aren't exactly crisp and the toppings are unoriginal at best. I don't think badly of this place, its just that there's a lot of pizza places that are better within a two block radius. Maybe for late night... I don't know when Pie in the Sky closes...

    (3)

  • Rocco B.

    Arinell pizza is very good. I saw lots of people raving about how it's the best NY style slice in the bay area, and I think it's close. The pizza tastes "natural", ie. they don't use a lot of salt or sugar. Personally, I say the crust needed some more flavor, but that's really a mild complaint for a very tasty pie. My #1 NY slices are Village Pizzeria on Van Ness, followed closely by Pizza My Heart (Emeryville). Arinell is third.

    (4)

  • Kevin L.

    Authentic NY-style pizza in Berkeley? You got it. Neapolitan or Sicilian, this place will feel at home in Brooklyn.

    (4)

  • J S.

    6.12.2009 What I Liked: -The crust was crispy. What I Didn't Like: -It wasn't custom made. -They only have cheese pizza and if you wanted toppings they just add them and heat it. -The way he looked at me when I asked for pepperoni as if something was wrong with me. -Guess what? Those added pepperonis all fell off! -I'm sorry, but I like my cheese stringy - not in a sheet form. -Pizza got cold after walking back to work one block away. -So greasy (a lot more than other pizzerias) !!!!! I can get better in the frozen section at my grocery store. NEGATIVE 3 STARS

    (1)

  • Jessie B.

    Great tasting cheap pizza by the slice. Today I had a slice of cheese Sicilian-style, love the thick crust, seasoning and greasy cheese. I've had the regular thin-crust cheese before, and it too did not disappoint. Cash only.

    (4)

  • This P.

    WORST PLACE EVER. DO NOT GO HERE. I got so mad at the service and the disgusting food I made this Yelp account so I could tell people how this place really is. I've never been this disgusted with a place before. First of all, as we were walking in three loser douches were walking out to have what was probably their 20th smoke break. One slinks back in, and we (my friend and I) order 6 slices. The greasy, cracked-out shit-for-brains behind the counter mutters some nonsense about how there is a five-slice limit. We ask why and he says because he needs to make sure he has enough to sell. Ok, so either this guy is the biggest idiot alive, as we are paying customers and willing to buy more of the pizza he needs to sell, or there is something else going on (Sexist? Racist?). So then I say I will buy five slices, and my friend will buy one. As his brain slowly begins to process this earthshattering idea, he actually puts his hands up and starts waving them around while he utters some nonsense words. After a while, he says there is a five-slice limit per group. Really? So if 10 friends came in, they would all have to share 5 slices? He then quickly offers to make us a large pizza, which he says is $24.99. So there are about 8 slices on a cheese pizza, at 2.75 each, so $22.00. Why should we pay $3 more for the same thing? Because my friend and I had driven quite a way to get pizza from there, we just ordered the five slices and went home. The pizza was cold, the cheese as stiff as a board, and as tasteless as cardboard. Obviously something was going on behind the "5 slice limit" bullshit. I don't know if they were trying to make money by attempting to shovel a pricier full pizza, if they are racist or sexist, or if they are just imbeciles. Whatever the reason, I am never coming here again, and I'm advising everyone I know to avoid this place like the plague.

    (1)

  • J J.

    Haven't actually been here in years...The last time I had a slice was right before I left for Boston and that was in 2004. Does that tell you something? From what I remember, the thin crust was awesome and the price was right...still can't find one as good as Arinell's except when I go to NYC.

    (4)

  • Elliot W.

    Pretty much what everybody else says. Tasty thin slices at a good price. The atmosphere has grown on me, personally.

    (4)

  • Chelsea P.

    Thin and foldable NY pizza. I wasn't immediately a fan, but this place has grown on me. I had no idea what NY pizza was but people tell me this is pretty authentic and it's the real deal. Sicilian thick slices are also available. They pop the slices back in the oven when you order. Two slices is the way to go. Golden, greasy and goooood. This is a get your pizza and go kind of place. Minimal seating, but it was worse several years ago before they remodeled when it was the size of a small walk-in closet. We used to come here for lunch in high school and it would take so long because all the students crammed in and get stuck with their fat backpacks. Same goes for those diligent UCB students.

    (4)

  • Andrea C.

    cheap thrills, yes. greasy greasy greasy. but it is convienient, kind of a hole in the wall, and the slices are big enough to fill you up. i got a free slice here once (minimal flirting, i was just on my game that day) and the staff is pretty chill. but alas, so so greasy. it's the kind where once you get your slice on top of a slice of wax paper (that's right, no plates. yeah baby.) you have to throw a few napkins on top of it to soak up the layers of grease. so bring a towel.

    (3)

  • kevan h.

    Awesome pizza for the snacker. Bad pizza for the uber-hungry. The guys are dirty and you wonder if you're going to catch anything bacterial, but then I think to myself: these guys think it's cool that they're sort of dirty, wiping their hands on their jeans as they grab your money, pull back their hair, and touch your pizza with their bare hands while they use a pizza slicer. It's an image thing. If you can get over that, the pizza's real tasty, as long as you eat it right there after receiving it from dirty boy's hands.

    (4)

  • Joe K.

    You want real New York/New Jersey style pizza in the East Bay?The only place able to deliver the real deal is Arinel Pizza in Berkeley. It is a hole in the wall, and it is not the real Rays on 7th in Manhattan (also a hole in the wall), but it is solid, good quality east coast pizza, honestly. After living in CA for 29 years, coming from New Jersey, this is the only pizza that reminds me of the halcyon days of my youth.

    (4)

  • MC R.

    Really good NY style pizza. Just the ticket for a quick bite while running errands downtown.

    (4)

  • L J.

    This is pizza done right! My friends and I have a theory that there's a wormhole inside the pizza oven at Arinell's and they're actually reaching into pizzerias in Northern New Jersey, or Brooklyn, maybe, when they stick the paddle in and pull out your pie, thin of crust and aswim in a molten orange mozzarella flow. It tastes like home.

    (5)

  • Mary F.

    Situated a few mere feet from the Bart/Bear Transit stop, it's home of the now famous "fuck, I just missed my bus" pizza slice. Perfect cheesy slice if you're in the mood for east coast pizza. Thin, slightly oily, and simple.

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    Had a friend who used to work here when I went to UC Berkeley. He would sometimes give me some of his free slices. Thin crust pizza, tasted good, and prices were good.

    (4)

  • Dori H.

    Yes, the filth factor is high. Every [affordable] place in Berkeley is filthy. I've burned the roof of my mouth on many a slice here. Excellent thin crust and tangy tomato sauce. Grab a fistful of nappies to catch the oil off the crease. This hole-in-the-wall place encourages you to fold and go. *Also acceptable un-reheated if you can't wait.

    (4)

  • Zeke S.

    If it was not for Arinell Pizza I am pretty sure that my father would have left Berkeley and headed back to New York, but with the little safety blanket that was a large slice of darn good greasy new york pizza my dad stuck around long enough to hook up with my little blond goyish mom, and wala, Morty's your uncle, they made me. 4 stars for giving me my life. I would have given 5 stars if I was a little better looking and richer.

    (4)

  • T B.

    This is the best pizza in Berkeley. I think it's even better than Zachary's Chicago Pizza. It's so thin and flavorful! Definitely reminds me of New York style pizza. Unfortunately this place is cash only, doesn't stay open very late, doesn't have great nearby street parking, doesn't deliver and is really expensive. I think a medium pizza with pepperoni was $24 and when I got home I found that they had forgotten to put the pepperoni on it! They give you pretty big slices if you order by the slice, but they give it to you on parchment paper or wax paper and if you want a box for those slices it's an additional 25 or 75 cents or something like that. And it's a huge box. They have a little sit down area, but its nothing special. I am not a huge fan of the place itself, but they have amazing pizza. I crave it and it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. It just tastes so delicious.

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    seriously nearly NYC style. nearly. it's the only pizza in Berkeley i can say i crave. went here once to get a couple of slices - without my son, which ended up a good thing. one of the (now former) employee's swore incessantly, including while taking my money. it had nothing to do with me and had been happening previous to me getting to the counter. something about the person before me really set the guy off. i found it rather "true-to-berkeley" but would have had a hard time with it had my son been there.

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    what, are you freakin' kidding me? I would stand on line in my dungarees and sneakers all day to sample this REAL taste of NYC by the slice, neo or sicilian, no goddam pineapple or jalapeno - this is the real deal for any former nu yawker. the true measure of a great slice is how much olive oil runs off your elbow after you folded this bad boy and savored every memorable bite. i have soiled and oiled many a pant leg devouring this pure heaven. if they had italian ice i would move in upstairs.

    (5)

  • Nate T.

    I went to this place today an expected better. It was tasty but then, it had a greasy salty after taste to it. That and its a by tha slice cheese only topping. Tha toppings u want are extra and are thrown on tha slice separate, cooked a few minutes and when done hardly stay on the pizza lol. Not worth four dollars, at least two dollars yes $1.99. A dollar more an i could have had a large pizza at little Cesar's lol. I Would not recommend this place. ohh no my belly is starting to feel a lillte wierd I wonder why.....

    (2)

  • Danielle J.

    This is the good stuff, I love this pizza just plain ol'cheese, thin crust, it's delicious! Its true that the staff is not your friendliest in appearance, but they have never been anything but perfectly cordial to me and that's all I need, give me the good stuff and I'll be on my way, I don't care if you love death metal or worship satan, as long the pizza is good you got my vote!

    (5)

  • Rochelle F.

    I've been going to this pizzeria for awhile now since my parents took me here awhile back and I still would recommend it especially if you like NY style pizza with the thin crust. I love thin crust light pizza and this is exactly what it is. You can get a slice or two, a soda and be set for life. Sometimes I even order a whole pizza to take home because it tastes great heated up in the oven for a snack or for dinner the rest of the week. Haha! Great sliceeeees, delicious crust, good sauce and just the right amount of cheese. I love it! A story: One day I was hella craving Arinell's pizza and had my friends drive me out to Berkeley from Oakland to grab a slice. I got myself two slices and as we were on our way home we got pulled over by stupid Berkeley police who happened to be following us around the entire time messing with us - more like biasly profiling us more than anything.. Anyways, we got pulled over and the car was impounded and towed away and we were left on the streets of Berkeley with no way to get home. The cop told us to find our way and walk. WHAT A JERK! But guess what?! I had my two slices of pizza left with meeee!!! =)

    (5)

  • Lyly D.

    What the f? Walking into this sliver of an oven and seeing that greasy teen twirling his dirty locks while handling cash and serving pizza might squelch the apetite of the weak, but I'm strong (lazy).. Good thing b/c Arinell's has some great freaking slices. Perfectly crisp crust, great sauce, just enough cheese... Just the perfect slice of pizza. Beware, never order whole pies. That kid's dirty paws adds special taste to the slices that don't make it to the whole pies.

    (4)

  • Penny P.

    The best pizza in the Bay Area. We've ordered a large pizza with mushrooms, onions, and pepperoni and the crust stays crisp and does not get soggy. The only drawback is the lack of parking when picking up a pizza. You basically have to park illegally, run in, dash out, and hope your car is in tact without a ticket. That said, I'd risk a ticket just to get a slice of heavenly Arinell pizza from time to time... Don't forget it's cash only

    (5)

  • Giofreddo W.

    Every time I've walked into this place it's a disaster. It typically looks like there was an explosion that splattered Parmesan, pizza crumbs, and congealing grease all over the place, so that every table and seat and most of the stand-up counter space is covered in debris. Service is gruff with only a modicum of communication. I swear on one occasion the guy behind the counter just grunted at me. I'm told the thin-crust pizza here is an excellent example of NY style pizza. If that's the case, it may not be entirely my thing, but that's okay. What matters is that I've found Arinell's slices to be consistently bland. Sure, they've usually got the texture nailed (perfect amount of stiffness, not soggy, etc...) but who cares when the pizza itself is about as flavorful as cardboard? Adding insult to injury, Arinell's so called "Sicilian" is a complete affront to the beautiful region and gastronomic traditions from which it takes its name. It is basically a small, square-shaped piece of pizza on thicker crust, reminiscent of the greasy, bland wedges served up on "pizza Friday" in the cafeteria back in elementary school. Now, I sure wasn't expecting some rich, flavorful sfinciuni or anything, but I don't understand how Arinell saw this as even remotely good enough to inflict onto the public. So, I've tried several times to locate the appeal of Arinell and each time I walked out underwhelmed. The pizza at Pie in the Sky, down the street and around the corner on Center, is infinitely more flavorful. Even better is the Cheese Board, located approx. half a mile north up Shattuck. The ingredients may not be trad. NY style, but the flavors are much more interesting, and to me that is what really counts here.

    (1)

  • Nick F.

    I've only had worse pizza once in my life. The pizza here is slimy and the crust has a consistency similar to cardboard. Service was rude too.

    (2)

  • Power F.

    This is the best pizza in Berkeley. Authentic NY Style pizza with no gimmicks or unauthentic additions. This is the only pizza I am willing to eat in Berkeley the rest has too much cheese or tastes more like a fruit salad than a pizza.

    (5)

  • Tasia J.

    I love this pizza! It's so cheesy and crunchy. Whatever topping you get on your pizza, you'll enjoy

    (5)

  • Tempe M.

    Love the thinnest of thin pizza. Definitely go for the regular. Cheese only. I could eat a whole piece in about 10 seconds. Great walking and eating Berkeley establishment. If I could get a smile out of one of the greasy skater guys behind the counter, I'd give this place 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Karen W.

    Thumbs up for the thin crust pizza!

    (4)

  • Mo P.

    I lived in NYC and ate plenty of tasty pizza. This stacks up to traditional NYC pizza and is my favorite NYC pizza in California. It reminds me of home and fills a large pizza void. Grab 2 slices, a soda, and enjoy. The toppings seem to be an after thought and would not recommend unless you're ordering an entire pie. This way the toppings can be cooked properly (ask for it well done). I've eaten at: Jupiter, Zachary's, Lanesplitters, Chez Panise, Cheese Board, Oliveto, extreme pizza, fat slice and would recommend Arinells.

    (5)

  • James L.

    When I found this place in my last year of Berkeley, I never did go back to Blondie's again. Blondie's was just the nasty kind of greasy you get when you're drunk or just wanted something really quick to eat. But NY style thin crust pizza is the good type of grease. I swear, I must have had this pizza every other day. The only flaw is that I couldn't get full off of just one so I would spend quite a nice amount here.

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    God I wish the pizza here was just a tad less delicious.Then I could turn my back on the surly dipwad that owns the place. But to my undying shame I can't.This is the only place that I have EVER found anything that comes close to the good (great) simple pizza of my beloved birthplace. New York City. I give 5 stars after deducting for the nut job owner.Superb.

    (5)

  • Heather W.

    Arinell's has been around a Very. Long. Time. Since before I lived in Manhattan 22 years ago, which is when I discovered that I had, in fact, had New York style pizza -- at Arinell's. Made me proud to be a Bezerklian, back then, gotta tell you. So I took S.O. to Arinell's last week on a whim, too late for lunch, too early for dinner, and we both ordered a slice w/ pepperoni and olives. It took about 2 minutes for the slices to emerge from the oven, thin and perfectly covered with a layer of cheese, just as I remembered them. But you know, the place was virtually empty, save for a dad and his little girl, and they rushed our slices like they had a line out the door. The slices weren't hot, they were tepid, and the pepperoni, which should have had that little glimmer of oil from being hot, hot, hot, were just limply laying there. About 1/2 a cup of sliced black olives tumbled all over the place (again, tepid) as I tried to fold my supposed-to-be-crisp slice in half, New York style. I ate about 1/3 of the slice just because it didn't taste good enough to waste the calories. The nasty signage about getting kicked out for cell phone use, among other things were off-putting, but perhaps there's a reason... but limp, luke-warm slices when there ain't nobody else waiting is just, well, rude. S.O. who ate his slice without comment, and had a long-term existance in Manhattan did NOT comment that this was a New York Pizza. That says a lot. What he would have added to my comments would be the lack of that extra handful of mozz before being reheated in the oven, a New York MUST. I wish I had some Famous Ray's right about now... but that's a 3,000 mile trek. Next time I'll ditch the olives and ask Arinell's to make my slice extra crispy. That oughta do it. Then my 3 star rating will be truly, A-OK. The slices were about $3.50 each with two toppings. A little spendy, but seems par for the course.

    (3)

  • steve t.

    Excellent thin crust NY style pizza in a hurry. There's virtually nowhere to sit in here, save a couple small tables and a bar along the wall (no stools) but even those are usually covered with a few inches of a mixure of parmesan cheese, pizza drippings, and pepper flakes. If you like anchovies, this may be the best pizza Ive had topped with anchovies.

    (4)

  • Maria S.

    When it comes to pizza, I am either a simpleton or a purist, depending on how you see it. That means I am seriously disturbed when ingredients like chicken, feta, or (God forbid) broccoli are allowed to run wild and unfettered on top of pizza. Throw that stuff back in the salad where it belongs! Only a perfect marriage of sauce and cheese should grace a pizza, with the occasional supporting appearance by pepperoni, sausage, or perhaps mushrooms. A pizza must also, ideally, be somewhat oily (Lean Cuisine or anything vegan is not, and never will be, a pizza). A pizza should also be served in unpretentious surroundings (candlelight, like barbecue sauce or other ludicrous toppings, is usually merely part of a futile attempt to mask a subpar pizza). Arinell satisfies my pizza needs perfectly. The decor does not appear to have been upgraded in the last 15 years, which I personally like to interpret as a sign that they have been focusing on more important things, like making pizza that doesn't suck. Arinell also only has pizza on its menu--it appears that the owners believe in doing one thing and doing it darn well. The classic slices are large, with a thin crust and an excellent tangy sauce that isn't too sweet. They are served up quickly, flopping over a flimsy piece of wax paper (you aren't coming here for what they call "presentation" on Iron Chef, you're coming here for some serious pizza done right) which does not seem sufficient to hold the hot triangle of cheesy, saucy bliss. Although I am partial to the classic Neapolitan slices, the square Sicilian slices are also delicious (and easier to transport for those eating on the run). The crust is hearty without being doughy, and the edges are crisp--if it's your lucky day, you may be blessed with a corner slice. So, Berkeley, you may offer arugula-topped whole grain vegan white pizza and caramelized onion and gruyere slices with wine lists and ambiance to match, but know this: nothing will ever beat a slice of cheese and a fountain coke at the counter at Arinell.

    (5)

  • Carl R.

    I've been going to Arinell Pizza since 1996 and I love, love, love it. Reminds me of legit East Coast pizza. Good things happen when I eat Arinell pizza.

    (5)

  • Christopher S.

    I used to always get thin slices of pepperoni and be very happy, as one should be when eating pizza, but now there is not as much cheese or sauce or something - it is not as good. I will give it another try some day I'm sure.

    (2)

  • Peter C.

    Great freaking pizza ! The crew and I always get our cheap pizza by the slice fix here! We don't come here for the ambiance or service. We come here to eat greasy NY style pizza by the slice on wax paper! Beware no paper plates available but that just adds to the authenticity lol!

    (4)

  • Joe D.

    If you don't like NY style pizza, stay away. Service is fine as long as you don't pull attitude. They are there to take your $2.50 and give you a slice, not to blow smoke up your ass with some have-a-nice-day BS. The owner looks perpetually angry, but he's actually a good guy. The staff have what hipsters are trying for, minus the irony, plus an extra serving of grease. And the pizza is hands-down best NY slice in Berkeley, if not the whole Bay Area. Thin, crispy, hot, with a fine layer of molten cheese, glistening with oil: fold in half and eat. So simple.

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    If you want a true NY style pizza, this is it. The sauce is simple, tasty, non-acidic. The crust is thin, yet firm, you can easily fold in half if that's how you like your pizza. The interior is not very pleasant but you go here for a good slice, not for ambiance. Also, the Sicilian (thicker breadier crust) is also pretty tasty. I've never wanted to add extras on their pizza because I've never liked adding extra's once pizza is done and just reheating. Arinell has been around since 74/75 when its slices were only .45 cents. Now a slice is $2.75. Its an institution not to be missed.

    (4)

  • Brian S.

    This review is based on 3 visits to Arinell. OK...so, I guess I'm in the minority here, but this place doesn't seem that special to me. The pizza is ok, but nothing special. Good enough to fill that little hole in the tummy, but nothing outsdanding. The ambiance is non-existant...dark and dingy. Prolly better to order take-out. I've actually only eaten at Arinell twice. The first time I had the thin crust pizza and the second time I had the thick crust. My third visit here - tonight - was the clencher in determining my long term relationship with this pizza place. The guy in front of me was ordering and the dude behind the counter quite obviously had some serious attidude - you know...the rolling eyes, sneering, reluctant worker scenario. This is the kind of guy that, when you approach the counter you think to yourself, "OK...let me just place my order and get a slice to fill my belly without pissin' this guy off." So the guy in front of me finishes his order -accompanied with the forementioned eye rolling- "dude" behind counter puts his slice in the oven to warm up & pulls some pie out of the oven. The pie he pulled out was the equivalent of two slices (one cheese, one pepperoni) but was not yet sliced. He puts his grubby hands on the crust to hold it and runs the slicer down the middle separating the cheese & pep slices. One piece of the pepperoni fell off on to the counter due to his slicing manuever and he proceeds to pick it up with his (yes, GRUBBY!) fingers and put it back on the slice of pep. Right at this point, he asks who is next to order. To this I say, "Uh....I'll come back later." NOT! Now, I'll tell you...in this type of (non) service situation, I'll tolerate a little (just a little, mind you) attitude. What I will not tolerate is unhygenic practices around food that I'm about to eat. This guy was handling money 30 seconds before he put his nasty digits on that pie & he never washed his hands. I guess I should express my bias here...I have many (far too many) years of experience in food service. There are certain things that are totally untolerable at any time (such as poor hygiene / lack of cleanliness) and some things that I might tolerate more than other people (such as a server obviously having a bad day). Rudeness & nastiness just don't mix. Sure, the pie might fill your belly, but I'd much rather walk over to Pie In The Sky and have some tasty desserts after my slice. (Which is exactly what I did!) The staff over there are much friendlier as well. Sorry Arinell...you just don't cut it in my book.

    (2)

  • Emily B.

    I'm not a religious person by any means, but THANK GOD for you Arinell Pizza! Whenever I'm having a bad day, I can always count on a yummy slice of pizza from you. If you're an east coast pizza lover this is where you want to grab a slice. I'm tempted to slash a star bc of the hipster attitude from the guys slinging slices, but just the thought of a slice makes my mouth water and my stomach growl.

    (5)

  • Quinn G.

    Pssst...this is what pizza is supposed to be about! Perfect, crispy, thin crust, and no ridiculous gentrification of my pizza real estate! If you get the slice, you may want to ask them to put it in the warmer for a little extra time. That's a big slice, and it takes some time to get it all hot.

    (4)

  • David S.

    Arinell has changed, and not for the better. Over the past 5 years, I have had many good pizza slices here, usually ordering Neapolitan-style (thin crust) cheese, pepperoni, or olive. I used to consider this one of the best NY style pizzas in the Bay Area. Not any more. Recently, I had some slices here that were bad. Why? Because they have some people making pizzas who really skimp with the ingredients. The cheese & tomato sauce were extremely thin and, as a result, were baked dry & crispy, like a coat of dry paint. Also, the cheese & sauce were applied only to the center, leaving a wide strip of crust with no ingredients. Arinell has never been known for putting a lot of cheese or sauce on their pizzas. But I always thought that the cheese & sauce were adequate & the flavors were nicely blended. Not this latest batch. That's what happens when you skimp with the 2 main ingredients. You end up with a pizza that doesn't even taste as good as what I can get at Trader Joe's or the supermarket. Although I now dislike Arinell, I continue to be impressed with the generous ingredients, reliability & reasonable prices of Sorrento Pizza in Walnut Creek (Treat Blvd. & Bancroft Rd.). Think I'll stick with that & not waste my time driving into Arinell.

    (1)

  • Dan S.

    Greasy pizza, as close as Berkeley gets to the NY joint. Would get four stars if a slice was 50 cents cheaper, but I'm just remembering Gino's of Great Neck back-in-the-day

    (3)

  • Alan O.

    Arinell Pizza! A great place, the best basic thin crust cheese pizza in the Bay Area. Another dive, a hole in the wall (literally), I started going here in the early '80's when I was working down the street. At least once a week I'd have lunch for something like $3.00 for two slices, and I was done. Great stuff. The crust is very thin, perfectly made, soft yet crisp. The tomato sauce is basic, not too tart or punchy, a good background sauce and this is a pizza where the components are subdued to make the overall integrate and soar. The cheese is likewise, not memorable, just rich and yummy enough to work with the other ingredients. No garlic, cornmeal, etc., necessary. The place is very small, tight even. They expanded a while ago, so that more than five people could fit into the space - it'll hold maybe twice that many now. There are some tables, but the real regulars eat standing up at the wall mounted counter, just like we used to at the old place where that was the only place you could eat, besides the sidewalk. I've had pizza at their San Francisco location, and it's just as good. This is not a fancy, loaded gourmet pizza - it's more working class, but genuine.

    (5)

  • BB Q.

    If, as some say, Arinell is a restaurant fit for sewer rats, then I proclaim myself King Rat. I will never, ever give anything but five stars to this place. Why? Well, as they might say in Brooklyn, "it's an 'insti-fuckin-tution!'" Arinell is an integral part of my personal history. It's the germ of my pizza consciousness, the standard by which I judge all other pizza. Yes, it can be hit-or-miss, but you're not going to Arinell for a world-class dining experience. You're going because you have a pizza jones. You're going because you're catching a concert at the Berkeley Community Theatre, and you want to fill up. You're going because you need ballast before you get your drunk on, or because you're drunk and you need to get your food on. You're going because you don't mind your slice served with a little attitude, and an extra helping of Black Sabbath's War Pigs playing over the sound system. You're going because you don't want to look at a sign that prominently and preciously proclaims, "Arinell is a worker-owned collective," and because "Arinell" is simple to say, and rolls off of your tongue easily; it doesn't have a pretentious name, like "Arinellaiolo." You get the picture. Get your slice any way you like it. I prefer two slices, unheated and folded in two--it's like morning-after pizza, only better. Eat it standing up, or sitting down. I like it standing up, at the end of the counter near the door, where I can watch the hustle-bustle of downtown Berkeley while I'm wrapping myself in my pizza safety blanket. A few things to know: Don't go during weekday, school-year lunchtimes, otherwise you're competing with Berkeley High students and Cal Students. If the place is too crowded, the low, stone wall surrounding the landscaping at the nearby BofA is a great place to sit and people-watch.

    (5)

  • Tiffany O.

    There are only 2 things I miss about the east coast. Bagels, and amazing pizza. Arinell's is the best NY style pizza I've found since coming back home to CA. Super thin, simple, delicious. Now if I could just find a decent bagel place....

    (4)

  • Nick H.

    Hahahah, Hana M. is right on when she says the people who work there "always look entirely apathetic to life." The pizza is good and fresh and I always try to get a slice, or 3, when I pass by. Mmmmmmm.

    (4)

  • Paola L.

    I am down with the crust @ this place- thin not too crispy mmm. My tiff is the whole adding toppings thing on pre done pizza. Yeah its quick but if you pick more than one topping you totally get screwed over. I ordered olive and bellpeppers -4bucks- and by the time i picked up my slice 1/2 of the bellpeppers just fell off. & i got like a tiny bit of olives :( The cheese isn't very cheesy either, it just sits there like on cold pizza....I like my cheese to be stringy when i bite it- so i was NOT impressed.

    (3)

  • Sean S.

    This is about as close to street corner New York pizza as you'll get out here. Cheese slice and a lemonade flavored drink for cheap. Notice I said lemonade 'flavored' drink, not real lemonade, that would just ruin the experience. Also fruit punch flavored drink too. yum. Dont get toppings. If you do, you're missing the point. The only thing that would make this place even more New York is if you could get a soft serve cone after... and have it still be under 5 bucks. But, this is California, What'd 'ya friggin want !!!??

    (5)

  • Marie A.

    When I was a starving student, would eat here all the time. It's super cheap, super greasy, and used to be super divey. It's since received a remodel, and they now have better seating, but I kind of miss the old hole-in-the-wall vibe. There's something about the plain thin crust cheese pizza that just really hits the spot. And once in a while, when I would come in here, I swear there was something magical about the pizza, and I would go into a trance and would have to go back up to the counter, my lips glistening with the grease from the first slice and order a second one. I think the weirdest experience I had coming here was once when one of the employees took my order and then turned around to grab my slice. The back of his jeans were absolutely covered with dirt. Literally crusted with thick, muddy dirt. I have to say, I wasn't quite as pumped about my slice after seeing this sight, but somehow got over it. The fact that I kept coming back (even knowing that cleanliness was, er, not a priority for the employees) says something about the pizza (or maybe about me).

    (4)

  • A C.

    Love this place. Perfect thin crust texture. Crispy, not soggy, super thin, perfect amount of cheese and sauce. Wish I could walk to this location because I would definitely be here once a week!

    (5)

  • Erika R.

    Damn Good Pizza Nothing fancy, but closest to a NY slice I can find. Good cheese/sauce distribution and flavor. Why can't the rest of y'all get it together?

    (5)

  • David G.

    I used to like this place. But consistently bad pizza and rude service over the last couple years has caused me to change my mine. The service bad and the place is just dirty.

    (2)

  • Anastasia B.

    What is this CRAP they call pizza? By far the biggest waste of 300 pennies EVER! Sorry for cheating on you, Pie in the Sky.

    (1)

  • Alicia v.

    My kids LOVE this pizza. I've gotten over the lack of sanitation - they eat about a pound of dirt a year anyway, right ? I DO tend to make everyone wash their hands before and after... The kids actually ask for it by name and will eat (which when you have a picky 2 yr. old is nothing short of amazing). Oh yeah, my hubby and I are hooked as well (as is my displaced Brooklynite Mom)...

    (4)

  • Zach D.

    I tried this place on my way to a Cal football game. We chose it because it smelled fairly tasty from the street and it was next to the the shuttle stop. I had a slice of the pepperoni and cheese. The slice was large and greasy. It seemed like the only option was thin crust. Nothing wrong with that though. It wasn't horrible, but there a many places out there that are better. The pizza was two stars, but the attitude of the guy running the cash register was deserving of one star. I'll round the average up to 2.

    (2)

  • Daniel B.

    Whenever I get sick of the East Bay's gourmet pizza stylings and just need a cheap and easy slice, I hit up Arinell. The pizza and the gruff attitude here bring me back to the East Coast when pizza was simpler. Classic thin crust New York style pizza with a tight balance of cheese sauce and dough and heaped with red pepper flakes. All very authentic and delicious.

    (4)

  • Blake T.

    +Good Pizza (Great pizza if you're drunk) +Cheap +Cool guys work there +Fast, easy -Small -Not clean whatsoever -Not sure the service is sanitary at all -Cash Only

    (2)

  • william h.

    I am from Brooklyn NYC. This is the most authentic NY classic neapolitan-style thin crust (Ray's style) pizza you will ever find in the Bay Area period. Ron the owner is an NY transplant from Manhattan and a true NY pizza purist. The only thing that would make them any better is if they had longer hours. That is my one and only complaint.

    (5)

  • Josh B.

    10 years ago, I would have given this joint 5 stars without hesitation, but alas, things have changed drastically. I have eaten pizza here hundreds of times. Back in the day, you could get a slice and a small coke for $2, they did not fill the soda cups with ice, and the place was literally 5 feet wide (a true hole-in-the-wall). Now, they have a neon sign, a surveillance camera, prices nearly twice as high, hit or miss pizza, and they engage in the age old rip-off scheme of filling the soda cups with ice (the soda is under pressure and will always be cold when it is dispensed!). The guy who owns this place is a real jerk, and so are most of his employees. Mouthing off at customers seems to be a tradition here. I understand that this is Berkeley (I was born and raised in Bezerkeley, so I know a thing or 2 about it), but these kids take the cake. I now boycott Arinell. Zachary's and Pizza My Heart are both more consistent, and have much better service. I give this place 2 stars (rather than 1) because their pizza is still better than average (although the average pizza joint is pretty lousy, so take this comment in context). Your mileage is likely to vary considerably based on who cooks the pizza, how fresh it is, and the attitude of the workers.

    (2)

  • Monica T.

    I'm probably not the best judge of NY pizza since I've never lived in the area, have only made it out to Lombardi's in Harlem once, and am not a die hard fan of cheese. For me, it's all about the sauce and Arinell's fell short of meeting that expectation. The huge slices of pizza at $2.50 a piece are a good deal and supposedly as authetic as it gets west of the Mississippi. Though I enjoyed the flavor of the crust, the cheese pizza itself didn't do much for my taste buds. The cheese lacked subtlety--it was just cheese. The sauce was spread thin--I could hardly taste it. And the crust, though it tasted good, didn't have quite enough air pockets. I think that I've just about described everything that a NY pizza purist would hold to highest pedigree, so if that's you, then you might have just found yourself a haven on the West Coast.

    (2)

  • alexa c.

    Damn, I love me some Arinell's, I tell you what. I used to come here all the time when I worked in Berkeley as it was just up the block from BART. I absolutely love the New York style thin crust pizza. So much, I would often get two slices, slap one on top of the other and just go for it!! Forget the fold, I've got another agenda. I used to spend a lot of time at Jupiter, just down the road. Often times, I would duck out on my friends, shoot up the block and get a slice of Arinell's. Rather than waiting 30 minutes for a pizza at Jupe, I would make way to Arinell's, order and have a slice of heaven for just $1.50 in a matter of minutes. Now, sadly, I don't get Arinell's as much, but I always make a point of stopping in on my way to a show at The Greek.

    (4)

  • Steven G.

    As others have said, this is the best pizza in the West. Stopped here last night, as I usually do if I'm in Berkeley around lunch or dinner time. As always, we weren't disappointed with our large slices of fresh NY style pizza. Besides the thin crust, there's something that differentiates the sauce and cheese as being more East Coast. I don't know what it is, but I think most of us New Yawkas can taste it.

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    good place for NY-style pizza, food is cheap and good. Great lunch spot, the pizza is very flavorful for such plain ingredients. warning: the neapolitan pizza...not worth it, just stick with the thin crust. Enjoy.

    (4)

  • Blake S.

    I am originally from the East Coast and Arinell's is the best example of thin crust pizza in the entire East Bay. For some unexplainable reason, the Bay area has difficulty making good New York/Greenwich Village thin crust pizza. Rumor has it that it has to do with the water. I am not sure if there is any truth to this; however, there is a serious deficit in good thin crust pie. I appreciate the take out feel to this spot. I noticed that they added approximately 3 tables in there but its still a "grab a slice" type of place. I am a pizza purist, so I get a couple slices of the plain cheese pizza and I am in heaven. The slices are relatively large, so you have to do the tuck and fold technique. Love it!

    (5)

  • Donald D.

    What a let down another DRY old slice. The Pizza maker makes 6 pies and goes on break for 1 hour and 2 hours later the last slices are being sold. It is hit or miss there. ARINELL'S NEVER FRESH PIZZA. On the counter a burnt brown thick crust sitting for hours. There is no managment at all, the tables are NEVER CLEAN.

    (1)

  • catalina m.

    The only place that can cure my east-coast pizza blues. The slices are always consistently tasty and are the closest thing to NY pizza I've encountered. I'm not surprised with some of the low reviews. I haven't found many west coast peeps that can appreciate the deliciousness that is NY-thin-crust-with-a-hint-of-spice-in-the-sauce-­pizza.

    (5)

  • Cindy F.

    Best NY style pizza you will find on this side of the country. Hands down. Ingredients not of the highest quality but this pie is the real deal.

    (5)

  • Will L.

    A slice of New York (or maybe New Jersey) in the heart of Berkeley. There's nothing complicated about it: thin crust, minimal sauce, cheese, and maybe a topping or two. But that's how they roll on the right coast, and this is the best west of the Rockies. Eating this reminds me of the Liberty Bell, Times Square, muggy hot summers at the beach, and being lost in a jughandle in Joysey. If only I could find a cheesesteak or soft pretzel done so right ...

    (5)

  • Mr T.

    This is the place! Get a plain slice. Don't mess it up with toppings. And for gods sake, leave a tip. It encourages the staff to bathe.

    (5)

  • cari r.

    mmmmm! great new york style pizza. cheap. tasty. no gross additives. every price is calculated with tax to make paying easy, even if it's with cash. i just wish they were open later!!!!

    (5)

  • Nick F.

    It's pretty good New York style pizza... kind of like walking into any random pizza joint in NY. Not spectacular, but pretty solid with a crunchy crust and stringy cheese. They've got the look down: brick and mirrored walls, fruit punch machine, etc. But I don't know how they get away charging $2.75 for a slice of plain pizza, when everyone else around is charging the same or less for organic and local ingredients.

    (4)

  • Ryan T.

    I'm definitely not a big pizza eater. I had a very long day yesterday and found myself in downtown Berkeley after all my appointments, and wanted something quick and fast. Tried the Sicilian slice. I really liked the size and crunchiness of the corners of the crust. very hearty, but I could have used more flavor, like perhaps stronger herbs or something. I do recall having a Neopolitan slice at one point, but it was awhile back. Three stars for the crust, expediency, and location--two for overall food appeal. If I have a choice, I'd rather go for a pesto slice at Fat Slice or if we're talking straight up pizza appreciation, Zachary's for sure.

    (3)

  • Alice T.

    This pizza is the closest you can get from an authentic NYC pizza. It's soo thin and crispy....sooooo good. I stopped by for dinner while running errands in berkeley, and I almost forgot how yummy the slices are!!!!!!! You can buy them by a slice. You get the basic cheese pizza slice so all the toppings are extra. The decor and ambience might be too grundgy for others....but hey, go to any other pizza joint in NYC...this is much cleaner!!! But you better have cash on you because that's what they only take. I LOVE THEIR PIZZA!!!!!! Yum!

    (5)

  • Matthew D.

    Really good, New York style, thin crust pizza. The sauce is seasoned well, the crust has a wonderful consistency, cheese is tasty. Toppings can be a bit sparse (based on who is working) and the service in general can be hit-or-miss (I don't understand why these guys aren't more friendly - you are making pizza!! smile once in a while!!!). Bottom line, Arinell is a great place for a slice anytime.

    (4)

  • andrew f.

    I have been frequenting this joint since opening day back in 1975. It is one of the reasons i am still in the bay area rather than back in nyc. The pizza, neo, is in the top two or five percent anywhere including new york. I have made an informal study. Taste wise it's primo; the right combo of cheese,tomato, great crusts and of course thinly sliced. The vibe is quite reminiscent of new york in the bad old days before it became friendly and californiaized. People are efficient and easy to talk to once you get through the sullen/detached exterior. Fine with me. A bit of home. I indoctrinated my son and daughter and they are hooked as well, especially my son who when he went to berkeley c.c. hit the place 1-2x a week. What can I say , the place has it.

    (5)

  • sandy c.

    best ny/nj pizza in nor-cal!!

    (5)

  • jennifer g.

    Legitimately the best thin-crust pizza in Berkeley. Always perfectly crispy crust and the right proportion of cheese and sauce. I recommend adding either garlic or sausage to your slice!

    (5)

  • Eric R.

    Quick service, great pizza, simple (in a good way) selection, good pricing. Who cares if it's a little dingy, this place gets it done right where it counts.

    (5)

  • maiko h.

    Eeerrrmh. This is the place to get the most decent pizza, and by pizza, I mean the archetypical New York slice. The crust is thin and crispy, and there are pools of orange grease on top. But come on, it's not quite big enough for me to do the de rigeur fold-and-eat maneuver. And even in Manhattan where the real estate per square foot can have an astronomical price tag, the cost per square inch of pizza is not as expensive as the Bay Area. And the dudes who dish out the pizza for you...well, they're ok. I make sure to tip them but they're still grumpy.

    (3)

  • Mare L.

    Good place to grab a slice on the cheap and on the run. Not much in the way of seating. So, get your slice and a soda, park your butt on a nearby bench while you wait for your bus (AC 65, 67, Cal). If you get there after school lets out, you'll get to hear what passes for conversation amongst the teen set...probably won't understand it though. I got a plain thin slice. It was alright. I see from other reviews I should try the pepperoni. Kind of close to what I could get on the East Coast. I'll be visiting there again.

    (3)

  • Brent H.

    Arinell's Pizza is the ONLY good New York pizza in the bay area. If you do not like the attitude of the staff, you have been living in California too long. The recipe is from Brooklyn. It is the real deal if you like NY thin crust pizza

    (5)

  • Marina N.

    Solid pizza but not exciting and too greasy. And the place was very dirty. I lined the bar with napkins before I even put down my plate on there.

    (3)

  • Rachel B.

    I had my first Arinell experience when a coworker brought two huge pizzas to a lunch-time meeting. The first thing I noticed was that the pizza was square. The next thing I noticed was that the slices were huge. Then, when I took a bite, I realized that this wasn't just big, square pizza. It was delicious big, square pizza. Good ratio of sauce to cheese to toppings (mmm, mushrooms). All the flavors were great, the crust was thin and crispy, and I spent most of the meeting concentrating on limiting myself to just two slices.

    (4)

  • Brad L.

    Returned here to make sure their astronomical Zagat rating (higher than Pizzaiolo, jeez) was daft; in the past I've found their wares inconsistent. The pepperoni slice topped and reheated by the pleasant punk kids was one of the better ones I've had here, yet compromised by their one constant: an absurd amount of grease, and not even the good-tasting kind. You have to tilt your slice to drain it. I realise many transplanted Nu Yawkers love it this way, but then many ex-cons miss prison food. For the rest of us, as others have mentioned, Pie in the Sky is around the corner.

    (3)

  • grey h.

    Had a slice of pepperoni pizza here. I loved that the crust was crispy (NY style- just the way I like it! Yup I'm biased) but the sauce was just alright, kind of plain tomato flavor. The cheese was good, not melty enough. This place was the most unique that i've been to so far in that they have shakers of granulated garlic to put on the pizza, and let me tell you, it makes o-k pizza taste absolutey Great!! Nice workers. Cash only Note: This was Meal #3 after Bonger burger and top dog.. so I was somewhat full. But flavor wise it was lacking..

    (2)

  • Karen A.

    They are very rude on phone orders, I would not bother going there to waist my time with poor service.

    (1)

  • Jonathan T.

    This place is awesome! I used to grab a slice when I worked at Wells Fargo accross the street. I ordered the sicilian if I wanted something more substantial and cheesy. Just remember that their toppings are a little crappy here. i remember ordering the mushroom and I think they put on canned/bottled mushrooms. Go for the cheese or sausage slice. Also, their plain slices are some of the thinnest crust pizza's I've ever had. Just the right amount of cheese and flavor. I know people who will travel far and wide for an extra slice here.

    (4)

  • Trevor M.

    If you're from New York, you'll love this pizza. Californians may not appreciate it as much. The neo and sicilian slices are great, but for some reason it's better by the slice than by the pie. Their pie by the slice is larger and thinner, that may be the reason. Only place for pizza in California that I truly enjoy, aside from arinells in sf...not a very good place to sit and eat. They remodeled a few years back to make it more appealing, but accidentally made it appalling, their booths are like sitting on a cold metal fence. BUT...the pizza is what matters!

    (5)

  • Amaker L.

    thin crust slices. nuff said.

    (4)

  • Tito Y.

    There is something tremendously oldschool about Arinell Pizza; that while biting into a the classic thin crust cheese and pepperoni you get the sensation that you are back in days of 1969, with flower power, Vietnam and lots of VW busses everywhere. Made by a couple of nice draft dodgers; don't expect exceptional pizza here, a matter of fact don't expect good pizza either. The ingredients are average, the ovens are nothing special, and the cooks... well.. you're lucky if you like what you eat. Even the cleanliness is much below par. Do expect atmosphere, lines, and that hot greasy receipe that will never change.

    (4)

  • Charlie E.

    This is the best pizza in the Bay Area, and for that I give it 5 stars. Back in Philly it wouldn't rate quite as high, but for what it is, I love it. The guys that work there (except the owner, a Bronx native, I've heard) are mostly pain in the ass punk-rock stoners, or at least they were 6 years ago when I lived with one of them. Well, he lived in a tarped-off half of our bathroom, but that still counts, right? What ever happened to you, Bobby Diamund? I remember Bobby telling me stories about throwing people out if they asked for shrimp or pineapple on their pizza, and how he always hooked the same homeless dude up with the extra slices from house pies each night. That's heart. And the pizza's got heart, too. If you're a transplant from the northeast, and are sick of pizza imitations like Papa Johns, Round Table, and the weak pies they sling at North Beach Pizza and Lanesplitter, this place is for you. And all you Zachary's zealots can eat Triumph's pink thing. That stuff ain't pizza.

    (5)

  • Randy D.

    i never really appreciated this place when i worked at the shattuck cinemas down the street back in the mid-'90s. it was just a place to get a quick cheap eat. i guess i was in my deep-dish stuffed phase. now that i'm a thin crust kinda guy, i look back fondly on those days when i needed something quick and cheap. arinell is one of the better pizzas out there....

    (3)

  • Mary T.

    Cal prefers Arinell's over Blondie's, vice versa for me! It was okay. Not greasy enough for my taste.

    (3)

  • Sara J.

    just as good as the one in sf however what's with the smaller slices? seriously. one slice is enough for me when i go to the sf location but the slices were so small at the berkeley location i needed two. annoying.

    (4)

  • Susan M.

    Great pizza. Thin crust, delicious toppings. Our great Berkeley pizza decision is always between Gioia to the north, Cheese Board and Lococo's in the center and Arinell to the south. We usually decide based on where we're going next and (so far knock wood) we're always happy with any of the four.

    (4)

  • Adam S.

    I've been eating their zzas since they opened in 1975. (shut Up!!! I was 13, ok?!) Possibly the best thin crust pizza ouside of Brooklyn, Manhattan and certain parts of Jersey and surely the best in the East Bay. Yes, I've eaten at Dopo and Pizzaiolo, but for my money you can't beat Arinell. Haven't tried their Sicilian since I was a kid, so I guess I'm overdue on that count. My fave is just their large, plain cheese pie: simple, blistery crust, great sauce and never overly CHEESY. Ok, so there'e no atmosphere to speak of but so what. Take the damn pie home w/ you if U want ambience.

    (5)

  • Kaity R.

    Arinell is like the evil twin of my favorite tiny pizza place in new york (Carlo's Pizza). in new york, everyone who works there is super italian and really really clean and sweet to you and knows your name and your family, and the plain slice still costs 1.75$ to the best of my knowledge, and kids can go there, and its so cute and honestly its the best pizza in the world. at Arinell, they are filthy metalheads (i mean, really really dirty and dont wear gloves or was their hands or long metal hair ever) who generally dont seem to care if you die forever and ever because that is metal, and they are kind of super dicks, and the place is a filthy shit-hole, and all the signs are really intense ("read the menu first", "if you talk on your cell phone/dont wear shoes you cant have pizza", etc), and the plain slice is close to 3$, and honestly, when it is really fresh, it is a hot contender for the second best pizza in the world. do it. it could only have gotten five stars from me for actually being Carlos.

    (4)

  • Kevin Y.

    The pizza is pretty good and the service was passable until a server yelled at me for asking for water. I didn't know if he heard me the first time and I asked him again, and he snapped back at me. I'm sorry that you make minimum wage and your tip jar is consistently empty, so please continue taking it out on customers who will visit your competitors instead.

    (1)

  • Shyam P.

    Great thin crust neopolitan pizza that is served warm. They charge extra for toppings but they really pile them on. I made the mistake of getting garlic, that hurt. At least it was tasty. Probably the best neopolitan style you'll find the bay area. The berkeley location used to be a charming hole in the wall but I guess they made enough dough (haha!... groan) to renovate the place.

    (4)

  • Brian M.

    NY-style pies with accompanying attitude. I like these guys, I like their cash-only shoebox location, and if you play it straight - one simple topping instead of heaping it on - this is very good pizza.

    (4)

  • Nicole I.

    I love the neopolitan (thin crust) pizza. Mmmmm so good. Just a thin slice of crust so that it doesn't overwhelm the flavors of the toppings. I could probably eat a whole pie of neopolitan cheese by myself-its that good. I also love the way they changed it from a hole-in-the-wall to someplace where you can actually sit.

    (4)

  • Yael E.

    Arinell is my favorite nostalgia spot in Berkeley. I grew up in NY (Born/Grew up in Manhattan, lived in Queens, Brooklyn, and Northern New Jersey) and this is the most authentic NY pizza around right down to the ambiance. If you can't take the attitude, then please stay west of the Rockies because you'd never make it out east. People who want toppings should stick to "California" pizza. Pizza is perfect with just cheese and sauce. THAT'S IT and don't fuck with the cheese either. One type (mozzarella) will do just fine. The reason they don't pre-bake the toppings in is because people in NY are more than happy eating just cheese pizza and so that's the authentic way to do it (if wikipedia says it it must be true!). Also, you know the place is great because they have that continuously percolating 'punch' fountain. That's the real authentic stuff (don't actually drink it, it's super sweet, but it's a real throwback to my childhood). Some of you complain about the price. Yeah, guess what: the price of pizza in all major cities is going up. This is how much pizza costs in a good part of NYC as well! Inflation and the economy creep up on you like that. It's still cheaper than going just about anywhere else. What I'm trying to say, to me, Arinell's is like the NY embassy of crazy, granola-loving Berkeley.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    Some of the hipsters that work in there have an attitude problem (though some are nice too). Othwerwise, the thin slice pizza is good: Crispy, with well-seasoned marinara sauce and just the right amount of cheese. Prices are definitely a bit expensive, and I'm not crazy about the thick crust slices they have, but it's a tasty NY Pizza place.

    (3)

  • Andy M.

    I occasionally crave Arinell pizza, but I can't really say why. It can be pretty decent if you eat it fresh and hot - once it cools it turns into greasy drywall. I love East Coast style pizza, but this pales in comparison to the real thing. I thought all the effusive talk about great New York pizza was total nonsense since we have such great pizza here in the Bay Area, but then I ate at John's of Bleecker Street and had true pizza revelation. Arinell is not John's, not by a mile, but sometimes it seems just close enough.

    (3)

  • Pat T.

    Unremarkable thin-crust. This is not a restaurant for pizza snobs, it's a place to get a big hot slice o' pie for cheap. Best choices: neapolitan cheese or pepperoni. To the reviewers who are put off by staff attitude, a word of explanation -- they're just stoned. Close to Downtown Berkeley BART. When I need a slice, this is where I go.

    (3)

  • Herbert S.

    One of the best places to get real New York style pizza, albeit in a whole in the wall. With pizza this good who cares that their recent renovation doubled their space, giving them roughly the sitting room of a closet. The crust is thin and crunchy, making it the perfect consistency to eat while running to catch your bus. It's location is perfect, in the heart of downtown Berkeley, adjacent to movie theatres, shops and all sorts of fun times. Take your pizza to go, it's only courtesy to the person behind you who mgiht also need some room to stand.

    (5)

  • John T.

    This place is literally a hole in the wall that serves Good NY-Style pizza. The location sucks that's why they don't get 5 stars from me but other than that their pizza is great, the best thin crust pizza in town.

    (4)

  • Erin R.

    Health Hazard. I have gone to Arinell's for over a year. The pizza is pretty good, New York style. And I was a returning customer because it was the better pizza on Shattuck. Yesterday, I ordered a slice and midway through eating it, I found a HAIR baked into the pizza crust! Disgusting. This place should get a public health inspection ASAP. And those guys making the pizza need some hair nets and hats. I don't mind long hair on a guy, just keep it out of my pizza.

    (1)

  • George S.

    Best place to grab a Slice Berkeley. I would only recommend cheese or pepperoni if your grabbing a slice since they cook the topping when theyre just warming the pizza up. Arinells reminds me of the best pizza I've had on the east coast. I enjoy the simplicity of the place.

    (5)

  • Cassie P.

    My all time favorite pizza place. I go here every time I'm in Berkeley. Been going here for almost 7 years now. Got some great memories here. Awesome!!!!

    (5)

  • Brian Aaron J.

    Good pizza, $2.75 a slice (cheese), people that like metal working there, next to BART who can really complain? this place is consistent and very good for east coast style/cheap slice pizzeria. As a person that recently ate a lot of this type pizza in Boston and Brooklyn I love this place and I think its the best for east coast in east bay. Though Lanespliters is great with toppings, its a toss up.

    (4)

  • Andrea G.

    I always get the plain cheese pizza. Yummy thin, crisp crust with the right amount of sauce and cheese. The workers can have a bit of an attitude at times, but it doesn't matter their pizza is good.

    (4)

  • Maddie B.

    Very yummy, greasy pizza. This is my favorite pizza after Cheeseboard in all the East Bay. They did a great job cleaning the place up with the remodeling too. The staff seem to have a "whatever, i hate my life" attitude but are generally nice enough. Lemonade is way too sweet for me.

    (4)

  • Caroline C.

    Great, efficient and tasty pizza in the neoplotian tradition. While they offer sicilian deep dish and a variety of optional toppings, it is clear to myself and other long-time patrons that a slice of neopolitan cheese is the only thing to get. $2.25/slice or 13.50 for the smallest whole pizza. 1-2 slices is pleanty for a meal. The help is always rude and in need of a bath but it's part of the atmosphere--there are many regulars but the staff is too cool to make any comment.

    (4)

  • peter k.

    price: reasonable taste: great the pizza here is simple and unpretentious and good. and that's all i want from pizza. gourmet pizzas are fun, but after a while a nice honest slice is just right.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    If you don't like Arinell's pizza you're either pretentious or don't know pizza. This is as authentic NY style pizza as you can get outside of NY itself. Huge slices, wafer-thin and crispy crust, the toppings are good and plentiful. If cheeseboard's olive-oil and goat cheese puffery is your idea of good pizza, avoid this place at all costs, because it's REAL pizza with REAL pizza ingredients. Fast, cheap, friendly, delicious.

    (5)

  • jill p.

    A plain slice, not heated-up, is one of my top 5 private food indulgences. The crust is sturdy and crisp, the cheese is salty and greasy, the sauce holds it together perfectly - and the slice is huge! When the idea of getting a slice of this pizza pops into my mind while I am in Berkeley, there is almost nothing that can stop me - not even circling the block for 15 minutes trying to find a parking spot.

    (5)

  • John C.

    Some of the best thin crust west of the Mississippi! Perfectly provided to you by tatted-up NY-style workers. Love the place. Informal and always cooked hot. Napolitan' style is not bad either. This place is quick and easy to reach. Perfect for on the go.

    (5)

  • Xander M.

    Always a reliable pizza adventure. The pizza is above average, my second favorite in Berkeley. I love the atmosphere of the place, true Berkeley, although the metal benches are very uncomfortable and so low that they put the table at chin level. I'm just glad I can see what they do (or don't do) with my food since I would expect some less-than-ideal treatment when I'm clearly not a Ramones-wannabe punk musician cranking out pizza before I go to a gig. But they're amicable enough.

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    there's something very comforting about lifting up a slice of pizza and not having to worry about all the tomato sauce and cheese just sliding off like mud.

    (4)

  • Quyen T.

    3.5 stars. My husband hates it that we don't come here more often. I've had the pizza and it's good. Remember to get the cheese only, which is the way to go. The pizza is good (nice thin crust, tastey cheese), but I don't like eating at the pizza joint. It smells like ass in there - at least the two times I've been. Not sure what it is. But it smells a little bit sour, like the tables were wiped down with a dirty old rag that needs to be thrown away. Both times I lost my appetite. So I had to subtract the 1.5 stars. But the pizza is decent and I'd take it away and eat it anytime.

    (3)

  • Johnny J.

    I was ecstatic to find an Arinell Pizza in Berkeley!!!! I really like the one in the Mission and just as we were looking for a snack to tide us over till dinner there it was!! I give this one five stars it is newer and nicer than the on in the Mission Dist. The pizza was awesome. The crust is crispy and melts like butter. The toppings were good too. They actually slice the sausage rather than use crumbles.

    (5)

  • Irene S.

    when i lived in berkeley, i ate a lot of pizza. forgoing the usual spots - fat slice, blondie's, la val's (all of which i find disgusting) - i would walk much, much, much further than necessary to get a slice or two of arinell's. thin crust, perfect sauce, just enough cheese but not too much, please. i was in pizza heaven. and my belly showed it. now i live in oakland, and it's very much further to walk. too far, in fact. so far that i won't. and i always seem to forget about while i'm tottering around downtown berkeley, buying video games and touching everything in the comic book store. someone, please, remind me. i need this pizza. (and it is gross. it will surely cause you to think again when you see unwashed hands touching your slices, and feel your shoes sticking to the floor. don't think again. close your eyes. order that pizza & eat it anyway.)

    (4)

  • ML N.

    gotta love the thin crust! not enough toppings tho and kinda pricey.

    (4)

  • Kris G.

    my go-to place for a greasy slice of cheese pizza. nope, never had anything else from there, and i doubt i will, either. it's NY-style, thin and crispy, which is my fave. slices are good-sized; one or two will definitely do you for lunch, but there's hardly anywhere to sit, and the pizza-slingers could be a little more friendly in my opinion. however, i don't think that's the gimmick they're looking for. :) but a good place for a fast and tasty slice of cheese. probably even better post-happy hour.

    (4)

  • Jonathan Y.

    Great thin slice pizza that has good taste. Your typical Berkeley $3/slice pizza, however its not too filling so you'll definately need at least 2 or 3 slices. With soda that's almost $10!! eeek

    (3)

  • Aviva K.

    love this pizza! every time i drive by, i stop...mmmmm.

    (4)

  • Aly D.

    a good pizza standby, this place wasn't as crowded as everywhere else in berkeley on game day. the two guys working were complete stoners which was ok, considering its a super tiny pizza joints and for some reason i trust that stoners can make good pizza. something about them being munchie experts or something.... anyway, pizza was decent and speed of service was ok. the place is kinda grubby, but it is only the size of my closet so you can't fault it. my stomach didn't take to kindly to it, but it was really good when i was hungry. maybe i'll go back.

    (3)

  • Kristin L.

    close to new york style but the bottom of the crust is a little too crispy so it breaks when you fold it. the cheese is good and greasy but i am looking for the floppy, greasy, disgusting new york style slice that i remember from out east. this is the closest i've gotten so far in the bay area though. maybe if they cooked the crust a few fewer minutes.

    (4)

  • Josh O.

    An amazingly well kept secret. This place, which is as literally a hole in the wall as you can get while still passing inspections (although it actually used to be in an even smaller hole in the wall right down the street), makes fantastic pizza. Easy walking distance from the Downtown Berkeley BART. Give it a try if you're in the area.

    (5)

  • Roony P.

    It looks like new york pizza... it smells like new york pizza but it don't taste like NY pizza ..crust wasnt there..the sauce wasnt great.. and the cheese wasnt all dat..maybe because it didnt have all the grease oozing off the top of it.. I was thinking bleeker street - ave of americas on the corner type pizza.. ...I may try one with pepperoni next time.. dunno if it was worth the trip up here but maybe next time if im in the area.. ...good value, though!! love all the highscool kids lining up too.. damn, i feel like a very old man.. bahahaha..

    (3)

  • Lauren G.

    Had a great cheap lunch here today: one large slice of the Neapolitan. Ingredients tasted fresh and it was fast. I didn't eat there, though, and when it was handed to me just under over a little slice of wax paper I could barely hold the slice it was so hot! I folded it and proceeded to walk down the street with my sandwich pizza. After doing this, it was a-ok.

    (4)

  • Amy E.

    The truth is, I did not really need to eat TWO giant pieces of this thin 'n greasy pizza for lunch, but I did. Even though I am a glutton, I don't see what is so special about this pizza, or maybe I just don't appeciate that floppy "New York style." The flat tepid soda was not worth the $1 I paid for it, although counter dudes engrossed in a discussion about art, fire, and cranky old people were entertaining.

    (2)

  • jennifer s.

    been going here since tutoring kids at berkeley high during my college days! it's seriously the best pizza if you are into thin crust, no-fuss pizza. and i like that the place is so small that everyone just hustles and your order is ready in a flash. i like eating here with the husband, because he loves this place sooo much and yet his OCD flares up in this ghetto space. i like watching him pick up the red pepper shakes with a stack of napkins :P and how he is aghast when i pick it up with my bare hands. one thing though--the cashier/server, depending on the person and the night of course, doesn't really have the best hygiene. i watched him wipe the floor with a dishcloth, put the dishcloth back on the counter, ran his hand across it, and then turned and grabbed our pizzas with the same hand. ugh...well, i've eaten in dirtier places before, so i just shrugged and took some vitamin c when i got home later. but it would be nice if he could at least pretend to wash his hands. i like being ignorant of how dirty my food actually is.

    (4)

  • Anh N.

    AWESOME place to get thin pizza by the slice. Cheap, fast, and savory are reasons I get my thin crust fix here. If you don't want to come off as an noob the thin crust is called an 'Neopolitan'.

    (5)

  • Andrew N.

    Baller. Arinell's has been my favorite pizza place since I first had it (6th grade?). As a child, I grew up on Little Caesar's (best "fast food" pizza) and Cybelle's (cheesy, doughy). La Val's was always good which switched it up with different cheeses on top (mozarella + orange color + good arcade games). I was never the biggest fan of Zachary's cuz as a child, I enjoyed fairly bland, easy foods that require less chewing (Zachary's is too crunchy or chewy) and less salt. Arinell's was perfect when I had it being easy to eat and perfectly tasty. From then on, NY style pizza has become my style of choice. Easy on the toppings and thin enough that I can finish a 18 inch pie by myself.

    (5)

  • Jennifer C.

    I don't think I have ever been so thoroughly disappointed by yelp. I convinced my husband to go here and it was not good. It wasn't terrible, but meh sums it up pretty well. We ordered the regular slices and it took a while because they needed to open a new can of olives. I think a cheese slice here would be fine. Basically they have ready made cheese pizzas, they slap whatever toppings you want haphazardly on top, bake a few more minutes and hand it over. We had 4 slices and they just put it on paper. My husband was not aware of how weak the crust was, so as he was carrying it, half of his pizza fell on the floor. As we were trying to eat the food, the slices kept falling apart. Most of the toppings fell off as well because they aren't cooked into the cheese. I like my pepperoni to be crispy, somehow it was barely warmed. The sauce is good, the cheese is good, crust and toppings definitely leave something to be desired. This isn't even that cheap considering once you start adding toppings you are generally over $4 a slice. Gioia is definitely better but in a much less convenient location.

    (2)

  • J. R. F.

    I first discovered this place roughly 30 years ago when I would wait in front to take the "Humphrey Go-BART" up to LHS. Back then, Arinell's was next door to its current location in an even smaller sliver of a store front. A massage parlor offering "Swedish massages," was next door, as was a Moroccan import shop that always had pipes in the window. Back then slices were 85 cents for a "Neo," (thin crust ) 95 cents for a "Sicilian" (deep dish ). For 15 cents more, you could get a small soda. While the location has changed (slightly) and the prices have increased, the slices remain fantastic. The Cheese Board's pizza is slightly better (pies only there), but this place runs a close second. And it has the added advantage of short lines, long hours, slices, and a long history in the same block in Berkeley. Each slice is reheated in the massive pizza oven when a customer orders--at no apparent loss of quality. Toppings are unnecessary--the pies are extremely flavorful on their own. They are liberal in the application of olive oil when constructing the pies, but olive oil is not "grease." No delivery, but you can order pre-order baked or par-baked pizzas (pies only) for pick up by phone.

    (5)

  • Heidi K.

    i must be on a pizza reviewing kick. I used to work across the street from Arinell and got hooked. A big double sized slice nice and greasy hit the spot for lunch most days. Cheap too. Good stuff

    (4)

  • Hong C.

    I went close to noon during my lunch break. In NY, this is the best time to get a slice as they're prepared for the lunch rush and everything is fresh. Not so at Arinell. The 2 slices of Sicilian I got appeared and tasted like leftovers from the previous day. The cheese had been burned and the crust was drier than toast. It was clear the slices started out ice cold as they were barely warm coming out of the oven. Price was ok if the pizza was decent. If you go, you should definitely analyze what they have before ordering but I would just stay away.

    (2)

  • Jennifer B.

    Yes, it's as close to a NYC slice that we, the displaced New York family, have found. But the greasy cheese and thin, bendy crust cannot make up for the level of filth in the restaurant. I sat there tonight disgusted by the grime all over the floor, tables, and trash can. I had to continually insist that my three-year old not run his hand along the dirt and dust that had built up along the wall's edge just behind his head. I couldn't help but wonder where the Dept of Health is? Also wondered if this grime is the owner's idea of 'cool'? I mean, does s/he care about the place? So sad Gioia's ovens were down today, 'cause that's NYC meets California pizza served up in a place that's clean, too. Imagine that - a clean restaurant. Oh, or is that not hip enough for downtown Berkeley? Come on, Arinell's, you're serving food. Clean up your act.

    (2)

  • Mary B.

    I used to visit Arinell's between classes when I was a student at Cal and loved it. Since then I had moved to New York and got a taste of what real New York pizza tastes like. I just had my first post-NYC taste of Arinell's pizza and was disappointed. It isnt' bad, but it isn't New York pizza.

    (3)

  • Stumbalina b.

    Arinell in San Francisco is amazing. Its sister in Berkeley has a few issues to deal with. First, they recently raised the price to $2.75 a slice and the slices are not the gigantic ones you get in SF. For the price, you'd expect huge, but it's not huge. It's sadly normal. Next, (and this is where the offense becomes egregious) you have a one-inch ring of tomato sauce between the crust and the body of the pie where there is a lack of cheese. The cheese should be spread from the center outward to the very edge where the dough becomes crust. There shouldn't be any visible sauce that doesn't have cheese melting into it. Then, you have oven temperature. It's key to have your oven hot and it's very important to reheat the slices so that they are not just warm but HOT---so hot that they give you the "Arinell flap." The "Arinell flap" is customary at the San Francisco location, where the oven bakes the slice so hot that you burn the roof of your mouth upon first bite, thereby creating that little flap of skin that dangles after you finish eating your slice. Berkeley Arinell, you gotta turn up the heat! Still, this is one of the best slice-only truly NY-style pizza joints around. I love the pizza at Jupiter's down the street, but I'm not sure if you can buy their pizza by the slice only.

    (3)

  • Quantum L.

    But the reason I give such a low mark is for the service I got at this place. It was pathetic! I guess the only people they can find to work at places like this is Rock & Roll wanna-be flunky's. That's the type of service you can expect to get here- here's your pizza, now take it and get the f*#@ outta here service. Not that I was looking for someone to serve me with a napkin folded over his arm but geez! I saw that some pizza was taken out of the oven and asked for one of those slices and they told me I'd have to wait for 5 minutes. The pizza was warm and ready and I asked why do I have to wait 5 minutes. There was nobody else in the restaurant, it was empty middle of day one Sunday. The pizza was just sitting there warm. Didn't need to be re-heated,etc. and when I asked why it's necessary to wait 5 minutes the guy retorted because that's what I said. (he sounded like some sort of police officer or something). I asked for clarification because the whole thing didn't make sense and he retorted "well I guess you don't understand English, because I said so." Then the other rock n' roll flunky feeling a little embarrassed for his petulant mgr's attitude butted in and said "oh, we just need it to cool off a little so it will hold together after we cut it." Amazing cockiness going on over there. Then I called and explained this scenario to the owner and I really saw where everything comes from. The owner was almost as bad as his rock & roll flunky mgr!! The owner wanted to argue with me about this asking me how old I am etc. What a nut!! Then the owner asked me "what did I bring to the table?" When all this happened. I couldn't believe it! What a nut. Please if any of you have any feelings of self worth, respect, value do not give your business to Arinell's. They are a bunch of cocky, arrogant, self-centered rock & roll flunky wanna be people who don't deserve the publics business! Don't give it to them, there are plenty of other places who appreciate your business much more than this place- don't go there!

    (1)

  • Peter C.

    Hats off to Arinell for nourishing me with thin-crust pizza goodness during my college years. Their cheese slice is easily my favorite; ignore the toppings and order the cheese slice untainted. Sprinkle on some oregano, garlic powder, parmesan, and chili flakes, and welcome yourself to fatty heaven. Better yet, order a whole pie and sneak it into Shattuck Cinemas (ah, good times...)!

    (4)

  • Mark P.

    A decent slice of pizza. Dough has enough structural integrity to hold the slice together and to be foldable without being crunchy. But it still bothers me that ordering a slice with toppings involves them taking a cheese slice, putting topping on it, and placing it back in the oven to warm up.

    (3)

  • Amy J.

    Best crappy pizza west of the Mississippi!! Makes me homesick for $12 large cheese pies from NJ, (not NY at all) and is an awesome cheap date due to great music chosen by perfectly punk rock pizzatenders, and a bona fide casual atmosphere. Follow up with Naia gelato nearby for a completely satisfying trip through the 2 most important food groups.

    (5)

  • Britton D.

    You're not coming to Arinell's for the atmosphere, 'cause it's so tiny that you can barely move, even with the renovation. You come for the NY-style pies and slices, which are crispy and light on the sauce, in the best New York tradition. Avoid the disappointing deep-dish pies. It's not Lillian's in Queens, but it's darn close.

    (3)

  • Kathleen M.

    Arinell has some of the best thin crust cheese slices in the Bay Area. They moved to a spot (next door to the old one) about two years ago so now there are four tables. But this place is so popular they're usually filled.

    (5)

  • Alyssa O.

    This place, for the Bay Area, is great! You'll notice that in my review of Gioia, I compare it to Arinells...well, Gioia is perfection, but this is one step down. It's not subtle by any means...tasty cheese, out there punch you in the face with how tasty it is sauce, and a crunchy crust...but god, when you want Arinell's...you want Arinell's. It becomes an addiction. And it's so much fun listening to all the cute punk!

    (5)

  • Andrew W.

    I'm not a pizza man. Sorry. However, everyone else I was with seemed to love it... so I'll just echo their sentiments.

    (4)

  • James E.

    Best thin-crust pizza in the East Bay. Period. It's fun to grab a slice or two and sneak it into the movies on Shattuck.

    (5)

  • Russel S.

    I cannot recommend their 'deep dish' by-the-slice pizza.. but that's all I've tried.

    (2)

  • Mori Y.

    A slice of New York in a left coast college hippy town. Whodathunkit? Arinell's is true to form when it comes to their NY style slices, and cheap too. The pizza is as close to perfect as you can get out here, but the service is a pain. Whatever, dude. Just grab a slice, fold, and walk on down the street eating your piece of pie to envious that-looks-good! stares of other pedestrians.

    (4)

  • chris l.

    Greasy, bare bones pizza that tastes good.

    (4)

  • Stephen W.

    There's no better slice to-go in the city of Berkeley.

    (5)

  • Eric P.

    Good pizza, when served hot, so try to go there when its crowded (lunch, or order a whole pizza). The slices that are reheated after sitting for an hour ... not so good.

    (4)

  • lisa g.

    Great thin crust pizza served up by cute punk rocker boys.

    (4)

  • Wing G.

    Love their thin crust. I dislike pizza in general, but I can easily eat 2 slices of their neopolitan cheese. They come super greasy, but for some strange reason they don't make me gag like other greasy foods. These are the only pizzas I go out of my way to eat.

    (4)

  • eric g.

    the pizza here is solid thin crust new york style with no frills. huge slices of pizza served alongside a helping of new york attitude by the *super* cool high school kids. don't expect a plate (you'll get wax paper and you'll like it) and don't expect service or eye contact from the guys behind the counter. and don't be surprised if you don't feel like leaving a tip. but do be surprised if the pizza isn't good.

    (3)

  • Jill k.

    scrumptious, thin, by-the-slice pizza!

    (5)

  • Rob M.

    I guess I have a higher tolerance of staff "attitude" or else just didn't notice but I didn't find them rude. They didn't greet me with a big, plastic, corporate smile or anything like that but they did what I wanted, they took my order, took my cash, made my pizza in the time they said they would, and then gave it to me. Period. As long as they're not intentionally abusive or spit in my food I couldn't care less if they don't want to otherwise interact. I don't require anything else because truth be told, I don't go to most places to interact with staff, I go there for the product. Took a large pizza to go, it was nice, hot, and tasty. A little more garlic than I needed but it was very tasty. It was more than enough for three people and fed us the next day too.

    (4)

  • Ehaab Z.

    Went in there once -- won't be going in again. Pizza was overly greasy, flat, and wasn't all that tasty. The second star is only because I actually got food. I felt like they were doing me a favor by serving me. The service was terrible, and undoubtedly the place would fail health standard's check. I recommend you read Brian S.'s review, below... my experience was similar.

    (2)

  • Kalvin K.

    Huge slices, badly made. I don't understand these good reviews... Zachary's is a million times better.

    (2)

  • Marie D.

    BEST pizza in berkeley, by far! I'd even take it over cheeseboard and gioia. And one of the closest I have found to yummy, thin crust, light on cheese style that I fell in love with in NYC. The crust is perfect and crisp, never gets soggy. The customer service is no frills but what else would you expect from a by the slice, pizza joint?

    (5)

  • g t.

    this is no california style gourmet pizza loaded with so much fresh stuff that you can somehow manage to convince yourself its good for you. nope. actually there is really no convincing yourself around the greasy goodness of a slice here. you just have to be in the mood, accept it, and love it. arinell's serves up pizza so thin, so greasy, so salty--so scrumptious. this is damn good stuff. not of course that i don't love an upscale slice as well, but an ample wedge from arinell's is just a fantastic lowbrow pleasures in my life (right up there with snickers bars and waffle crisp cereal--shhhhhh...)

    (4)

  • Kris H.

    Service is not hostile, but not overly friendly. Nice guys beneath it all, though, just the way it should be in a New York-style pizzeria. It just adds to the authenticity of what you're getting: A damn fine pizza. Keep it simple: pepperoni, maybe mushrooms or just plain cheese. The toppings are not high quality, but that's not what the pie is about. It's about the crust and the right balance of cheese and sauce. The slices are great, but are sometimes just a little too crispy when they're reheated. Get a pie if you can. I am usually very satisfied but I've gotten at least one crust that was too dough-y. Lack of complete and total consistency... 4 stars!

    (4)

  • Rey R.

    I go to NYC annually, and let me tell you, Arinell's is the best slice outside of NYC. It is better than half the places in Brooklyn. My mom ate this pizza will pregant with me, so I am made of this stuff. Best slice of pizza anywhere in California.

    (5)

  • Ketu P.

    This place is the closest thing to true NYC pizza I've had in the bay area. Perfectly crisp crust w/ a good sauce to cheese ratio. Not too heavy, not too dry. It took me a couple trips here to appreciate how great it really is - now I'm hooked.

    (5)

  • Jeff W.

    One of the great 'college-town' pizza places. Don't go there for the service or the seating. Grab some slices, head out to some of the benches and people watch while you are enjoying some of the best NY-style pizza around. If you're really hungry (or have enough people going with you), call in advance and order a whole pie. It's the same price as ordering by the slice, but faster.

    (4)

  • Hannah H.

    love it love it love it! all cal students should avoid blondies/fat slice like the plague, and get over to arinell's where it's scrumdiddlyumptious. don't live in berkeley anymore, but when i am craving, i will even drive circles around shattuck to find parking to get me a slice of arinells. yummmmm....

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : No

Categories

Pizza

Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.

Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.

Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.

Arinell Pizza

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