Arinell Pizza: NYC Quality Slices In San Fran

There's a slice join in San Francisco's Mission District that has lines out the door every evening. It's on a strip where bars outnumber any other establishment.... which begs the question: Good sober pizza or just good drunk pizza? To answer this question, I visited Arinell Pizza (509 Valencia Street) on a Sunday afternoon... completely sober. What I discovered was that the crowds at this spot are justified. Their pizza is delicious.

 

 

I'm always weary of any place that promotes itself as "New York Style" pizza outside of New York. It might generate some incentive for non-New Yorkers to stop by. But most people from the east coast know that its hard to find a slice joint comparable to what you'd actually find in New York. I'd heard good things about Arinell, so I was cautiously optimistic when I walked in. Immediately, I felt at home. The place is bare-bones -- a counter to order and few bar stools to scarf down your pizza. Slices are $2.75 (NY prices) and you can add nine different toppings. I didn't get any, but I noticed that they will put your topping on an already prepared cheese slice and then reheat it in the oven. Not a great method -- and perhaps the place's only fault.

My cheese slice was crunch and chewy... oily and cheesy. It had every quality I love about a New York slice joint. Add in the sustainable San Francisco advantage (they don't offer paper plates and compost/recycle any waste) and you have what has been one of my favorite San Francisco pizza experiences thus far. Most places I've visited have been decent. But this is the first that truly reminds me of home.