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35 reviews
Neighborhood: Financial District
"This place has to be pretty damn good because I ended up finishing both slices!!!! Pizza Lovers unite in the Fidi at Pomodoro Pizza not…" read more »
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OVER-RATED.
are you people serious? this place does NOT live up to the hype at all. i gave it so many chances to prove me wrong, but it only proved me right. please rethink your reviews when you've actually tasted it sober. please.
cliff notes: if you want good pizza don't come here.
12/20/2007
Yeah they make a decent pizza...for really cheap. Their Sicilian slices are pretty good.
But…
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Arinell's is great. It is reasonably priced, deceptively cheesy, with perfect crust and a perfect sauce. In fact, don't think I will set foot in any other slice shop in SF so long as they're open for business. Stick with the plain cheese, and you will be very happy. I almost went back for a second slice later in the night, and will probably have it five days in a row until I burn out on it.
So surely you notice that there are only 4 stars up there. That's what happens to yelp reviews when one lives and works in Chicago for five years. Sorry, heshers!
The last time I was in NY was back in 2002...
I took the advice from a friend that Arinell has the "best slice of NY pizza."
I ordered a slice of cheese.
The pizza could have used a little more sauce.
again...
Did this slice of pizza take me back to NY?
...The last time I was in NY was back in 2002.
SF Food Inspection Score: 92
I am not sure if this is the spot that gave me mud butt last night but it was hella good.
I didn't know that the neopolitan slices were bigger than my face and I ordered two. That probably explains the mud butt....
ANYWAY.
The pizza was thin, therefore all the grease just leaks through but not as much as I would expect. I just got their cheese but the next time I go, I will def ask for more cheese and garlic. The pizza is plain but that's a good thing.
There's also a jar of jalapenos you can pile on.
I just hated sitting at their counters and I don't know about you but I don't watch myself eat like a pig. But I'm probably just self-conscious. So I turned toward the window and people watched. Probably because I'm self-conscious.
Oh! And they give those that appear less fortunate cups of ice. That was mighty nice.
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Good pizza if right. But if you think this is NY style pizza, you must have never been to NY. This pizza is nothing like NY pizza. And it sure costs a lot more than NY pizza.
Large pie with xtra cheese, pepperoni, sausage, onion and garlic. $32.
THIRTY-TWO EFFIN DOLLARS!!
NY style pizza my ass..... But it is good. ;)
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Look, I like my pizza simple, ok? A thin, greasy slice of cheese or pepperoni in a paper bag (Arinell keeps it classy, y'all) is all I require. I don't need variety, or seating, or longhairs who DON'T wear random metal shirts, or actual sound systems vs. the retro boombox. Just gimme my slice (or 4) and let me go on my way, skipping happily down Valencia, past the bums, past the hipsters, scalding hot cheese dangling from my chin, the wind in my hair and a song in my heart.
Never, ever change, Arinell. I love you just the way you are.
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As much as I'd like to give this place four stars -- and don't get me wrong, I still think their pizza is great -- it would just be more great if a certain worker performed a common practice like washing your hands between handling cash and food.
I went here a second time yesterday, waited in line as I watched the cashier prepare a guy's pizza, then shuffle through cash (reminder: this place is cash only), then prepare the next guy's pizza. He made my pizza without washing his hands, too. I can't believe I still ate the thing. It was good, but now I'm here sitting at work with an emerging cold, and I can't imagine what else could've caused it. Definitely not the cranberry juice and Grey Goose I had last night.
Anyway, I don't remember this happening the first time I went here, but now I'll be a little bit more cautious.
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08/11/2008
I had the biggest pizza craving imaginable and I was stuck in the middle of the Potrero district at… Read more »
This is probably my favorite quick/cheap pizza in the Mission (can't quite live up to Little Star, but it's not that kind of joint). You can count on a number of things when you walk into this place. 1. You're going to get a really good slice (I personally prefer the Sicilian). 2. Whoever is working behind the counter is going to be loaded on some drug or other. 3. When you walk in, they probably aren't going to care too much. Customer service not top notch, but I suppose it adds to the charm of the place.
Authentic, gritty, cheesy NYC street slices in San Francisco. This is the real deal. I challenge any other NYC transplant to tell me there's a better slice in the city. I stop here every time I get up to the city, if only for a single slice of east coast memories.
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total dive spot in the Mission that serves up arguably the best pizza in SF.
the thin crust was super thin and I got my slice straight out of the oven.
wow! tasty stuff.
it did not remind me of NYC pizza though.
the crust here was thinner and crispier.
still awesomely good though.
it was more reminiscent of Rome. but not exactly.
i also tried the thick crust aka Sicilian.
more cheese, more tomato sauce on a thicker crust.
it was tasty as well but not fresh out of the oven hot.
if you really enjoy pizza, you really must try the za here.
you'd be glad you did.
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Hands down the best pizza in the city. Sure, everyone that works there is practiced in the art of being a zombified asshole, and yes, it's pretty dirty in there, and right, the incessantly bad punk rock (played out of a "My First Sony" boombox) makes me want to murder myself, but it's all worth it.
Fuck a topping--the cheese pizza is straight up delicious. A perfect crust (screw you, Defina's pizza, for that wide band of inedible crust around the outside of your pizzas), THE perfect sauce (not sweet, and just the right amount of kick), and high-quality cheese. Sublime. We stopped ordering a whole pie cause we can't stop ourselves from eating the whole fucking thing.
Oh, and about their practice of folding the pizza and putting it in a bag? RETARDED. You destroy the integrity of the cheese and wind up with a chewy mouthful of shit. Spring for the extra quarter, people, and just buy a box. Sure, they'll give you (one more) dirty look, but it's worth it to get your pizza home in pristine shape. You wouldn't fold a photo of Angelina's face, would ya?
Hands down my favorite thin crust pizza in SF. Brings me back to my east coast roots. Great spot for a slice in between bloody marys at your favorite local watering hole on a weekend morning. Service isn't very good (I've already been there at night and they've told me they were out of pizza- why are you still open then???) but they really have the recipe right. I can overlook alot for pizza that good.
Punk rock pizza, oops, I mean Arinell's is the best I've had so far. The pizza gets 5 stars, the pizza dudes gets three.
Last week, I got a chance to stroll along the seedy streets in the Mission district. Aside from having strong Hispanic representation, various cultures are high lighted especially by a wide range of cuisines. After a grub tip from Thanh, I had to try Arinell, a hole in the wall pizza joint famous for their New York style pizza. I ordered the Sicilian slice ($2.50) and one bite transported me to comfort food heaven. The slice is all about texture.
The thin slice is chewy married with the nutty taste of slightly burned cheese. Simply delicious. An overuse of powered parmesan cheese, oregano, and chilli flakes would simply be a sin overpowering the goodness of the main ingredients.
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Real New York style pizza, quick, cheap, thin and greasy. Sells by the slice, yum.
Eh. That's what I think about Arinell Pizza. If it really is the best pizza in the Bay Area then I think I might cry. I'm also a Jersey native... and I wasn't too impressed.
That said, it definitely satisfied my after-hours appetite, when most of the other options were burritos and tacos in the area. There really isn't much of a seating area here either, it's fine to grab a slice and sit for a minute but don't expect a sit-down dinner with friends. Will I go back? Yea, probably, if I'm really hungry and want pizza. But I might check out the other options in the area first if it's during the hours they're open.
The thing about the pizza here is that it so wants to be NY pizza. But it's missing something. It needs a bit more grease. And a lot more cheese just oozing from the top, that drips off the second you lift the pizza up. And the crust needs more bubbles. Otherwise, it's ok.
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Alright, so I'm obsessed with pizza. My belief is that San Francisco's pizza scene is generally sub-par, however I'm not very easily disappointed. When it comes down to it, I'm eating melted cheese and I'm happy about that.
My cousin's husband LOVES Arinell and has been asking me weekly for months now whether I've had one of their slices yet. No, no, not yet. That is mainly because Arinell closes early. Bad business strategy in my opinion, as the post-bar-closing drunken pizza slice is a crucial way to end the night. I keep having to go to the (lesser - now I know) Cable Car pizza next door. Who even knows when that place closes...
Well, I finally decided to eat pizza before 2am for once in my life, and I gave Arinell a shot. Upon walking in, I could not help but notice the clientele of tweakers that were hanging out there. I also could not help but notice the strung out employees (jamming to the Smiths or some equivalent grimy London band). Years of drug abuse have rendered them 80-pound skeletons and left them with dirty fingernails that they use to handle slices without gloves. Some may think, yuck, walk away. I prefer to ignore these telltale signs of health code violations.
And thank god I do. Their pizza was hands down the best pizza I've had in San Francisco. I value crust above all other aspects of a pizza and their crust was perfect. Flawless. Crunchy, crispy, wonderful. And cheap. I only wish they would stay open a smidge later so I could really grub when the time is right (late-night).
And seriously, despite the mild dirty yuck factor, everyone that worked there was really nice. Fast service, good pizza, good stuff.
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If I judged this place just because of the quality of its pizzas, it would actually earn 5 stars. I penalize them by one star because the cashiers add toppings to their pizzas with the same hands they handle money without washing them.
However, most people's immune systems can handle that, so if you are willing to overlook this, I highly recommend this place. The slices are large, thin, crisp, and delicious. They use just the right amount of cheese and sauce on them.
The fact that the employees don't seem to care about anything and play rock CDs all the time adds to the charm.
The place does not have a lot of seating space, so it's basically just good to grab a slice or two, eat it, and go. But that also adds to its charm.
If you want to minimize the chances of infection, just order a slice of cheese. That's what I do. I love their pizza so much that sometimes I go all the way to the Mission to eat one slice.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
My bf was one serious hungry hippo after dirt jumping in Pleasanton and if we didn't grab something asap, he was about to get Micky D's...wtf?!?!? I can't have that.
The neon sign pointed out NY style pizza...alright let's get it. It was on the way to my pad. CASH ONLY.
Ordered 2 slices of the Sicilian and 1 regular and I asked for pepperoni but I think the dudes that worked there don't give a crap. So all I got was cheese.
It was O.K. I wasn't impressed by any means and doubt I will ever go back.
I loved this pizza! Granted it was late night, and I'd had a few beers...but DAMN it was so good. The crust is thin, the cheese is perfectly melted, and not too much sauce. I got mine with mushrooms on it...and they are sliced thinly and then baked onto the pizza. (Victor's could learn a thing or too from Arinell's).
And an extra bonus...the guys serving up the pizza are yummy in a.."I totally want to do you but don't want to know your last name" sort of way.
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When people say SF pizza sucks, they must not have tried Arinell's. It's the best thin crust, NY style by the slice place that I've tried in SF, and I can say that because I grew up on NY pizza. The underlayer of crust is thin and crisp on the outside; the flavor of the bread isn't the best I've had but it's definitely not just an afterthought. The cheese is melted well; it's a soft tasty layer of moltenness. There's definite tang from the sauce and the oregano is upfront; but there isn't too much or too little sauce, just enough to meld the cheese and crust together. Slices get a little less crisp mid-pizza but that's all right...no one's perfect. Definitely my favorite pizza in all of San Francisco.
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Yes, finally, pizza that I can really rave about....oh arinell, I blame you for my current "fat" feeling
The Scene:
Yes, it's in the Mission, yes it is a hole in the wall....but wow! Call ahead and order so you can double park, make the death defying scramble across the street, and quickly swoop up the best pizza in san francisco...BEST!....cash only kids, so dont carry around only plastic like I used to
The Food
Thin crust, crispy, bubbling cheese......need I say more? Add whatever toppings you like, this pizza is AMAZING! Personally, I opt for mushrooms, artichoke hearts and pepperoni. The sauce is just tangy enough, that it is perfectly balanced with the combination of cheeses....my mouth is watering as I type.....I now need pizza, arinell, I'm eating you tomorrow
I am Brooklyn, NY-born and raised and Arinell's is where I go when I am homesick and craving a NYC-style slice. Let's get one thing clear though: West Coast pizza cannot hold a flame to a real NYC pie. However, Arinell's efforts are the best I've seen in the city. Super-thin crust, delicious sauce, and the occasional crusty bubble - what's not to like? I also like that they always have some crazy music blaring like death metal or punk and The Ramones-rejects-staff serves the pies up delicious and without any fake "see ya next time" smiles. Loves it.
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Arinell - It's like being back in Queens in the early 80's without having to ever go back to Queens or the 80's. Flat, greasy plain cheese slices with the occasional crust bubble.
If only Harrington's Furniture down the street didn't sell off that free Ms. Pac Man they had going on in the back - my Valencia St. dream would still be alive.
The pizza is damn good and the staff they fetched straight out of Joey Ramones basement really knows how to make a pie.
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I lived in NYC for 6 years, and Arinell doesn't taste like any of the pizza I had while living there. However, I think their pizza is wonderful anyway. The sauce has a nice, clean flavor; the slices have a good cheese to sauce ratio, and the crust has a good texture (crispy and thin but not so thin that it's soggy). Yes, the place is a dive and the cashier is surly, but whatever.
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Pretty classic after reading the other reviews, I too am a Jersey native, this pizza hands down is the best one you will have outside the Tri-State area (NY, NJ and Conn for those of you who don't know that). It's not fancy but it's taste delicious! We once did a taste test, had pizza in NYC, got off the plane and came right to Arinells, very comparable!
The BEST pizza in SF - being that I'm a Jersey native this means something.
If you can get past the 'interesting' neighborhood it's amazing. Since there is no delivery the best recommendation one can give you is to call in advance, bring someone with you in the car, drop the passenger off to pick it up, drive around the block, then pick up your passenger and the pizza. Don't even attempt the parking.
The pizza is to die for!!!
So good the homeless people prefer digging through Arinell's trash can than any other pizza restaurant in San Francisco! You may have to step over a few bodies before walking through the door, but don't let that stop you from experiencing the best NY style pizza by the slice (and the whole pie) in the city!
Thin, crispy, tasty, perfect! After living in Manhattan for six years I really missed good, thin crust pizza and had givien up trying to find it here. I tried "Escape From NY" but it just isn't that great. I most likely would have never ventured inside Arinell's because of its appearance....small, dingy, cramped, bad lighting, etc....but after a friend's insistence and one bite into a delicious slice I was hooked.
I give it five yums. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum.
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You'll go for the long haired, disgruntled metal heads serving greasy pizza that has just the perfect combination of mozzarella and a sweet tomato sauce, but you'll stay for the endless collection of mix tapes blaring Iron Maiden out of a boom-box that looks and sounds like it's been in continuous use since the early Reagan administration.
Arinell Pizza is a magical, wonderful place. It's the kind of place they write about in fairytale books and those awful "Remember When?" programs on cable...and don't even THINK about getting a napkin and dabbing off those little pools of grease forming at the top of your pizza. That's not just grease, that's credibility!
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I don't care what anyone says--This is some slammin late-night pizza! It's thin crusted and all about the topping. Hole-in-the-wall style for sure, but when you're just getting out of the bar on the late tip, what more do you need?
Once I got over the feeling that I wasn't wearing enough black and didn't have long enough hair to buy pizza there, I really started to enjoy Arinell's. I've never had pizza in New York, but if it's any better than this I better get myself out there ASAP.
The subtlety of flavor in the crust--you can somehow taste that they use really good water--is what really does it for me. Plain cheese, folded in half, good to go.
Also I love the drawing of the guy on a Bluetooth by the counter that says Bluetooth = No Pizza. One time after closing the bars down I stumbled into Arinell's and made the mistake of answering my cell while I was ordering. I'm never that guy, I hate that guy, and I was dumb (drunk) enough to be that guy in Arinell's of all places. But they still let me have my slice anyway, cause I was all drunk and apologetic and self flagellating. Never underestimate the power of a good self-flagellation.
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Pretty. fucking. overrated.
Would you like some attitude with your pizza?
Seriously, tasteless pizza with mediocre toppings. A huge hipster following.
To be fair: I thought this place was GREAT the first time I had it...after about three fill pitchers....
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A slice from Arinell's produces a harmony in your mouth. Each ingredient unique and delicious. Each ingredient combining for a seamless slice. Unlike most pizza slices, there is no one ingredient that overshadows the other in a slice from Arniell's. The crust is the perfect amount of thinness, crispness and flavor. The sauce is flavorful without being too acidic. Cheese is gooey. The perfect NY slice without being in NYC.
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getting a slice of pizza here and comparing it to NYC is like going to NYC and getting a burrito and comparing it to here. anyways yes this is the closest thing you are gonna get to being a NY slice. it's always good and worth dealing with those shitheads behind the counter. not all of them are shitheads depending on how many of there hipster friends are in there with them. would give them 5 except for that. so check it out
Arinells.......Two reasons I have ever eaten here...
1. Wasted and it smelled aight
2. My boyfriend lives at the place. Seriously. Loves the pizza and swears by it.
I personally suffer through Arinells for the sake of not starting an arguement, but really anyone who thinks this is great pizza I question your intelligence.
Two stars for the staff however, punk rock lives.
Thanks Arinells for the drunken stomach aches and the smile on my BF face.
Being a New Jersey native, I've had my fair share of pizza in NJ/NY and was deeply saddened to find California just doesn't serve a decent slice. For someone who loves pizza as much as I do--and only gets home about twice a year--this is a pretty big disappointment (though I can't say I wasn't warned before I moved here).
Thankfully there's Arinell to curb my pizza cravings--it's as good as it gets from what I've sampled out here in the past three years. No frills pizza that's just like home--I'll eat this drunk AND sober!
for SF, this is a pretty good attempt at NY-style pizza. it's fast, pretty cheap, and if you get a fresh pie, it's pretty damn good.
ANATOMY OF A POPULAR YELP REVIEW
Humorous one-liner opening the review.
So, I came here last night with a drunk friend/mom/cheap hooker and it was great. Eating here resembles fucking, not because it actually does but rather because I just really like saying "fucking." And now, I present some crazy, poopy-filled dialog between me and some people you will never know...
(standing in line)
Keane: What toppings do you want?
Mom: Why am I in this scene? I was never here before.
Keane: Bluetooth headset - no service. Isn't that funny?
Monkey: Sheep plural is still sheep.
ScarlettJohansson: Keane, I want to fuck your brains out know.
Keane: Great idea, but you spelled "now" wrong.
Arinell serves the most NYey take-out slice in town, and would take place as my favorite if not for Victor's superior crust flavor/texture and much-reduced grease levels. But too much of any pizza will still make you a fatty and life's not fair and OMG CAPS MEANS I'M FUCKING SHOUTING!!
Outro bathed in finality.
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BEST PIZZA IN CALIFORNIA!
well maybe that is a bit over the top.. But if you have ever eaten pizza in places like chicago, new york, or boston. you will agree that CALIFORNIANS SUCK AT MAKING PIZZA. I don't care what you say; Roundtable, Californa Pizza Kitchen, or any other place in the bay (minus maybe napoli in the T.L.) all suck-diddly-uck! I will even overlook the lack of a bathroom and apathetic philosophy of the staff because THE PIZZA IS JUST THAT GOOD!
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