Opening today, Tuesday April 17th, is GIOIA PIZZERIA, the first San Francisco location of the Berkeley favorite from husband-and-wife team Will and Karen Gioia. The 50-seat location moved into two former storefronts that were combined into one space on Polk Street. The 1,800-square-foot restaurant is larger than the Berkeley location, featuring a semi-industrial look with warm finishes, like reclaimed wood and wainscoting, along with subway tile and concrete floors.
Unlike the Berkeley location, which just has one pizza size, there will be two pizza sizes here: 14-inch and 18-inch pizzas (but the pizzas will be the same). The menu is expanded, with appetizers like salads (including a Caesar salad, and one with asparagus, farm egg, pancetta, brown butter, capers, and Parmigiano), plus two-three pastas (like radiatore with guinea hen ragu, peas) and entrées (including skirt steak with broccoli di ciccio, pickled spring onions, bagna cauda, and fried smashed potatoes).
Lunchtime means there’s a Philly roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe and provolone, a chicken parm, and an Italian “muffaletta” hero with mortadella, salami, shredded lettuce, and olive-caper-Calabrian chile relish. Desserts include cannoli, zeppole, cookies, and fruit tarts. Check out the menu here. The wine list is all-Italian, with six reds and whites each, plus four-six draft beers (which will be local, craft beers). Hours are Tue-Sun 11am-10pm, open until 11pm Fri-Sat. 2240 Polk St. at Green, 415-359-0971.
Gioia Pizzeria’s exterior signage. Photo: Rebecca Kinney. © tablehopper.com.
