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Boot and Shoe Service
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
3308 Grand Ave(between Lake Park Ave & Santa Clara Ave)
Oakland, CA 94610
Neighborhoods: Grand Lake, Lower Hills
(510) 763-2668
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Tue-Thu 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 pm
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
489 reviews for Boot and Shoe Service
Review Highlights
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"The ice cream with the olive oil and sea salt." In 26 reviews -
"Margherita di bufala + sausage: Turns out I'm a..." In 13 reviews -
"Great thin crust pizza--delicious." In 42 reviews
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487 reviews in English
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Review from Michelle S.
Oakland, CA
4/30/2012
I don't know what's more difficult - getting a table in under 2 hours or enough light to take a proper photo?
After a dozen visits to the temple of wood-fired flour+water, I finally got both. And once again, when that pizza showed up at my table, I was reminded why no one seems to care about the wait. If it's Neapolitan-style pizza you gotta have - with toppings like potato, pancetta, fontina & rosemary, this is the place you gotta go.
Well, you can also go to Pizzaiolo, the sister restaurant and start of it all - but the line will not be any shorter. Michael Bauer declared it worth it back in 2005, and here we are 8 years later still willing to wait, and wait some more.
You can't chalk those crowds up to newcomer buzz either. Pizzaiolo has been open for 8 years and Boot & Shoe for 2. There's a line out the door every night for one reason - consistency. Consistency in top-notch ingredients, consistency in artisan cocktails, consistency in the über-hip crowd and last, but certainly not least - consistency in that incredible pizza dough.
There's lots of emphasis on pizza here because that's what Charlie Hallowell really perfected after an 8 year stint at the famed Chez Panisse, but the rest of the menu is equally perfect. The asparagus and burrata with black olive tapenade will have you hounding every cheese shop in town for details on their burrata delivery.
The antipasti, the pasta, anything roasted in that wood oven - beef short ribs with cannellini beans, baby leeks and salsa verde, and the incredible desserts - Straus vanilla soft serve with burnt caramel sauce and sea salt. Like I said, it is all consistently delicious.
But you do not have to take my word for it. Those crowds tell you what you need to know.
And speaking of need to know, Inside Scoop SF tells us there's another Hallowell outpost in the works. Add it to the wait list. -
Review from jennifer m.
Berkeley, CA
5/14/2012
Hype much? I went this past weekend to Boot and Shoe with a bunch of fellow pizza aficionados and we all came up with the same vote: "meh, about 4 stars". Not bad, but not mind blowing.
I loved the char on the pizza though some of my fellow diners did not. And I liked the salt added on to the crust pre-baking because it added *some* flavor (otherwise it would have been bland bland bland). The toppings are nice and the selection is fair, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get their pizza again.
I will say though that they had an avocado and pickled beet salad that would make you want to slap someone it was so good. I used my bland crust to sop up all the leftover pickling juice and olive oil. Delicious.
Finally, I'll add that they make a mean drink. I would come back for sure to sit in their outdoor patio, have a drink and some salad. -
Review from Jessica G.
CA
Updated - 5/12/2012
Went back again...this time all I really wanted was beignets and coffee. When I got there I saw that the menu had already changed, beignets were no longer on it and none of the items that were sounded that appetizing. I debated between the mysterious "assortment of pastries" option that offered no further description, or getting a breakfast entree. The two that sounded the least heavy were an egg sandwich with watercress and pancetta (and some other stuff), and a white bean cassoulet type thing with eggs in it. I opted for the latter. Flavor-wise it was good, I suppose, but the eggs were a bit undercooked even for me--and I tend to like sunny side up. The server suggested I order a side of toast because it was supposed to have a lot of sauce. I'm not sure how I could have eaten it without the toast because it was actually pretty soupy...they should consider just automatically adding the toast to the entree description. Furthermore, the toast was on the burnt side with blackened edges but I ate it anyway because it was kind of a drag eating the dish without something to sop up the liquid. Overall, there was nothing about the meal that was worthy of griping to the management or server about, but there was also nothing about it that was particularly memorable at 19 bucks plus tip.
The server was polite and attentive and I can see that they are making an effort here...but I think I will stick to cocktails and pizza next time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/6/2012
Went for an impromptu brunch one day with the bf and got seated at the long bench-tables almost… Read more »
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Review from Violet J.
Oakland, CA
5/9/2012
This place has gotten way too conceited and hipster, well, it's always been uber hipster-guess that part come with the territory, (damn it!)
A friend and I went for lunch after having been MANY times of lunch and dinner....Thinking I didn't miss DiBartolo so much that day and that Boot and Shoe had done some great work on the place, pretty...we order.
We order a pancetta fontina potato rosemary pizza and an avocado salad and go to sit out front with our little "SUN" sign so they could find us....
Yeah, they couldn't find us while our pizza was hot because it was cold when they brought it to us, or maybe it hadn't been cooked at all because every piece of pancetta was raw and I had to pick it off instead of eating the congealed pieces of pig fat grossness.
When we ask the "SERVER" for share plates, I swear to God----------she slammed them on the table without a single word (little bitch) or any feeling of gratitude that she had a job at all--------------how the fuck did people get so entitled, oh I know because "we" killed, infected, or brainwashed all the Natives of this fine land and then stole it from them and then kicked them out---requiring a green card to return, just to work, diligently and gratefully to be able to feed their families, in what was their homeland....I digress. Shit..........................
This is my favorite part of the story........with a few pieces of pizza left, was taking them home to cook fully (!) I went inside to ask for a piece of foil....The chick says, "I can give you a box." Now having been there said many times, I knew that the foil was on the wait station, seriously like 2 feet from where she was standing. Why am I such a pain in the ass? Because I simply wanted "A PIECE OF FOIL" instead of a great big box for the landfill (it's eco-----ok great, I have no space for it in my super heavy shopping bags.) I go over to a pleasant looking girl who was working behind the line and say to her, "I'd like a few pieces of foil please." She smiles at me walks the 12 feet to get me the foil sitting exactly where I knew it was and grabs me 2 pieces which I wrap around my pizza, sigh and thank her.
So, now what I see is what I had ask the girl 2 feet away (perfect for the job), she could have done it in seriously 5 seconds, took a cook off the line, across the line to get it back across the line to give it to me, thank you, 30 seconds later---it's not the time it took. It is like the joke "How many Boot and Shoe employees does it take to get a piece of foil?"
I know this sound harsh and I guess it is when I just want customer service when I go out. I really try to be so kind and attentive in the world that when people seem to get pissed off when it is their job to help you, it is very frustrating and that sucks.
The one star is really 5, just for the avocado blood orange salad.
Beginning to think this place sucks because the service sucks....daytime servers just don't give a shit. Shit................ Get better ambassadors of service Boot and Shoe. -
Review from G T.
Oakland, CA
5/19/2012
Boot and Shoe is great:
1. If you love specialty cocktails and servers who are great at recommending specialty cocktails
2. If you love wood-fired pizza.
3. If you can get a table or find seats in bar at the back.
4. If you enjoy, or at least don't mind, sitting in close quarters with other parties.
5. If you like to feel a lil bourgie without your wallet feeling like you were feeling a lil bourgie.
So that's the breakdown. Look, the drinks are superb, the wood-fired pizzas are damn good (order without onions though, it's pretty excessive unless you love onions), and the service is always spot on.
For brunch, the selections are a bit limited but the fresh pastries and baked goods are darn good AND you can sit outside in the back.
The menu here is well thought out and all of the dishes have very balanced flavors. I don't know who the chef is but I feel like they really take their time and create dishes that are complex enough while using seasonal ingredients and still being easy enough on the wallet. -
Review from Heather P.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2012
Oh Dear what to say about this place. I have been hear before, and the 1st time was nice, expensive but good amount and quality. So we decided to take some friends back. All of us were looking forward to eating here, and then the BS began.
We arrived and was told it will be a 15-20 min wait, so we went in the back and had some 10$ cocktails. The cocktails were horrible. We always order a Manhattan and i have seen dive bars do a better job for cheaper and the other special drink tasted like a bad long island ice tea.
after about 30mins we ask the hosted what was taken so long, she replied another 10mins, this continued for about an hour, when we were finally sat. when we were at the bar we order 2 apps and a drink, we have finished the apps and waited before we ever saw the drink.
When we were getting sat, we requested that something be done about our terrible time so far. he told my friend it was rude to ask and that something is already being done. We continued ordering our food and drinks. the food come out eventually at random times. after we ate the waitress asked if we wanted desert? being that we order apps, salads, main dishes. we said no were stuffed, another 10min went by and a Free desert arrived at our table. This was barley enough for one person to enjoy (we each got like one bite).
I have NEVER been so insulted. we spent over $140 on dinner and all he did for the BS we dealt with was a free small desert.
I WILL NOT RETURN
miss leading wait times
overpriced and badly made drinks
food came out randomly
management was rude and un- helpful
Food was good ( but not great) -
Review from Jill T.
Updated - 4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have to start by saying I love this place. My last experience started to go terribly wrong but was fortunately saved my the manager who was very understanding and accommodating, which fortunately made up for a rude, unaccommodating hostess.
I had never had take out from here but decided since I really wanted there food for dinner but didn't want to go out I would try take out...it's on their website that they do take out. When the call for the order was made it was stated we wouldn't be there for 30 minutes, the hostess said it would be ready in 10 minutes, we stated we would be there in 30 minutes, the hostess stated it would be ready when it was ready (yes she really said this).
I show up 30 minutes later and was presented with a cold pizza and some cold potato fritters. I pointed this out to the rude hostess who told me it had been ready for a while, I told her we said we wouldn't be there for 30 minutes. She said that the policy of the place was that they don't "hold" orders, they are ready when they are ready (yes! she really said this). I told her I was interested in cold soggy pizza and wouldn't be taking it, as I turned to leave the hostess said that she was going to get the manager. The manager came over and I explained the situation. She told me it was in fact their policy that they don't hold orders. She offered to remake my food and said it would be less then 10 minutes. I took her up on this offer and it was less then 10 minutes and I was on my way with my pizza and fritters on the house.
I understand policies but this needs to be explained to customers in a nice way, not in a rude way "It'll be ready when it's ready" kind of way.
I love this place and will continue to go here but probably not for take out! The pizza was awesome warm but cold it wasn't the same.
Thanks to the manager for making it right. To the hostess maybe you should apply for a job at the DMV or Post Office.Listed in: My Favorites!!, Pizza Pizza!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/19/2012
Came here on my third visit. I love this place! I continue to love this place. Came with two friends… Read more »
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Review from Shannon L.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2012
We took the pizzas to-go, so we did not experience eating at the restaurant. I admit, it seemed like a pretty cool place.
The 1st thing I noticed was the weight of the pizza boxes....they were sooooo light....I wondered if there were pizzas in there. So, I lifted the lids and there actually were pizzas there.
We got the rapini & housemade sausage and the marinara pizzas. Both were super, super thin. The first one was pretty good, but had no pizza sauce and was not filling. The second one was not a pizza. It had no cheese!! All it had was marinara sauce! Pizza needs to have cheese in order to be considered a pizza! Their "marinara" was basically like...Indian naan with a thin layer of marinara sauce.
The pizzas are so thin that they feed only 1 to maybe 2 people. I am not a fan of their pizzas.....they remind me of.....Amici's! (Overall grade for the pizzas: D+) -
Review from Adrian M.
Alameda, CA
4/15/2012
Against the grain I go...
Boot & Shoe....Boot & Shoe...here comes a bit of a lecture. Your food is above par, no one can deny that. The pizzas, both classic and inventive, have never disappointed me. The margherita pizza is a staple and this was definitely a good example. The fried brussel sprouts are among my favorites. I was even a fan of the squid pizza you once had. You really had me.
Now, your achilles heel...the service. It's VERY busy here almost all the time. This is definitely the sign of a healthy restaurant and I am happy for them. I don't mind a busy restaurant, it's how a busy restaurant handles itself.
I want to preface this with the fact that I was a server for near 5 years at different types of restaurants. This isn't a review from the distant observer, I know the pressure of a heavy night. At busy restaurants, if a server is really trying and polite, I do not blame them for forgetting things. I blame the management. YOU NEED MORE STAFF. The best restaurants are the kind that bring in new patrons all the time and keep their regulars. It's hard to keep the regulars coming in if the regulars realize the issues you have. I was a potential regular.
The hosts are very nice, attentive, and prompt. I have three examples of very different experiences here. One, a friend and I sat at the bar the entire time and had fantastic service from our bartender. She was attentive and really helpful. She introduced me to mezcal, bless her soul. I started at Boot and Shoe on a high.
Then on another occasion, I was with my family at a table. The service was on par but slow. I had to ask the seemingly flustered server for water and other items several times. She was kind but so rushed that I could barely get in my requests before she was going to another table.
The last time was very awkward. A group of us were eating and firstly, it took an incredibly long time to get anything done. I'm pro-European style dinners lasting 1.5 - 2 hours but I also believe that it's up to the patron to determine the length of their stay, not the wait staff. We had more than 5 people so we were charged the 18% automatic gratuity, which I'm also fine with. The issue is that when we gave you, the server, cash and a bunch of cards (with specific amounts), you should not ASSUME that the cash is extra tip. Especially when that means you chose a card at random and charged 80 dollars on it. Now we have to tell some waiter who thinks he's scored the jackpot in cash tips that he didn't actually get all that tip.
Sorry Boot & Shoe. It's too much hassle to go to you when other places are really trying with more wait staff. -
Review from Charlie P.
Oakland, CA
5/13/2012
Pizza here is wack, straight booty. Ordered two pies take out: a margarita and a potato, onion, bruscetta. Both were undercooked with soggy and floppy crusts. The margarita was super spicy for some reason. The other pie had much better flavor. I suggest tying something other than the pizza.
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Review from Andrew C.
After experimenting with Tuesday lunch, they've recently expanded their lunch hours to Tu-Fri, 11-2pm with a smaller pizza & mains menu vs. dinner and adding a few panini that change daily.
I got the Boudin blanc panini ($9-10?) with frisse and pickled shallots which came with a side of beet & farro salad with mint & ricotta salata (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
Frisse is a good choice for hot sandwiches since it doesn't wilt as easily as other lettuces. That and the pickled shallots (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) were a good flavor counterpoint to the mildly flavored sausage.
Good sandwich, but I do have to say that the farro & beet salad (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) was my favorite part of the dish. It was lightly dressed and the mint was an unexpected flavor. There was almost as much beet as in the appetizer beet salad at Mezze we had a week ago. -
Review from L A.
Oakland, CA
5/16/2012
I totally have a mad crush on John the bartender. A sweetheart and a hottie. I did not give a 5 star only because of the wait times for a table. The food and drinks are always delicioius and I have never had a rude server.
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Review from Ann L. F.
Oakland, CA
4/17/2012
YUM!
Insanely good pizza if you like anchovies, and I do. Most places have salty ones. These are not salty, they're flavorful and are as good as you can get unless you go out and catch them yourself. The menu is simple--pasta and pizza and salads and paninis, but always done with a flare--nothing's ever boring and I've eaten all over the world, honey. Desserts are usually quite good.
The appetizers are always interesting and unusual and excellent. The beer, esp. Linden St., a local brew, is terrific. Coffee is as good as the best coffee houses in the area. They also sell it to go, whole bean, for both espresso and drip.
Some people have complained about the service, but every server I've gotten has been attentive and friendly and made the meal fun. They're mostly tattooed hiperster chicks packed into papier-mâché jeans. I'm bi, and I'd do any one of them in a second. Handcuffs optional but preferred. :-)
True it's crowded to the rafters, but that's only because it's so popular. You'll almost never just get a table. You'll have to wait around 15 mins to half an hour. You'll bump into a lot of people and be eating in very tight quarters, with people all around you. They're probably violating the fire dept code with so many people in such a small space, but at least we'll die eating delicious food.
Only issue is the lighting. There isn't much. It's so dim many people take out those little portable flashlights for book reading so that they can see the menu. But that's my only complaint. -
Review from Liem L.
Portland, ME
5/19/2012
one of my favorite places in the east bay, get the olives...everything on the menu is good.
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Review from Tia K.
Oakland, CA
4/4/2012
Delicious delicious food -- we had three different kinds of pizza (including the margarita pizza) along with wine. A quaint vintage feel to the place with their wooden tables and stools completes the place.
The only downside is trying to find parking and a reasonable wait time. We went there for dinner on a Sunday evening once and a Thursday(?)/weekday evening. Sunday wasn't very bad until prime dinner time.
Definitely going back and taking visiting friends and family with me! -
Review from Stu S.
Oakland, CA
3/29/2012
I thought I'd be writing a more positive review. We were excited to see them open for lunch, since dinners have been too crowded to get in.
We ordered the potato, pancetta, fontina & rosemary pizza plus the avocado and blood orange salad. It was not crowded during this noon hour on a weekday, but it took a long while just to get water. It was getting hard to have a conversation, so we asked them to turn down the music, but that never happened.
The pizza arrived quickly (and before the salad). The crust was flaccid. I get it that it can happen with potato on a pizza, but I've had potato on pizzas at other restaurants where the crust holds up. The flavor was kinda bland, and I expected lots more.
The salad was good, but a little small. -
Review from Amber B.
Oakland, CA
5/22/2012
While Pizzaiolo has a more extensive menu, Boot and Shoe is perfect if you live in the neighborhood and don't feel like driving all the way to the Temescal. If you are a fan of Pizzaiolo, you will be a fan of Boot and Shoe. If you have not been to either, you should go.
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Review from meshell c.
Oakland, CA
3/27/2012
Went there on a Tuesday night on a date and sat at a communal table. We were there a little before 6pm and the place was quickly getting packed. I am always skeptical with all the hype, but I had to see for myself.
Drinks: Whiskey Mule was AMAZING. So yummy. But all the mint leaves with each sip was annoying. I had to literally scoop it all out so I can just enjoy my drink. My date had their housemade tonic which I helped name "Moctonic". It's got a ginger kick to it, but it was yummy.
Food: For starters, we had the onion soup. It was basically an onion broth with onions in it. Came with a bread slice with cheese on top. All very tasty, but my date was hoping for something a little more hearty. The halibut confit with endive was tasty. Something different and I liked the olives in it. For the main dish, we had the pizza with potato, cheese, and pancetta. I wasn't totally impressed. It's like a fancy version of Arizmendi. Now, their soft serve with caramel and sea salt was on point. Yum!
Atmosphere: When I read the reviews about how "hipster" it was, I warned my date to bust out his black framed square glasses. Haha...we saw at least 2 people who worked their with them on. Yes, the place gives a total hipster vibe, but the patrons were a mix. The ambience is nice but it can be a little cramped. I had to wind my way around other tables to get to the restroom. Oh yes, the restrooms are clean.
Service: Our server Jen was very attentive and very sweet.
Bottom line: Even though I wasn't totally blown away, I will return. Their drink menu looks very tasty and with a rotating menu, I can always try something new. -
Review from Momoko S.
Oakland, CA
3/15/2012
Perhaps I shouldn't give a review based on a cup of coffee. But it was so bad that I couldn't drink it.
Or perhaps I was wrong about ordering a cup of coffee "to-go" because I was on my way to go to 25 minutes driving trip for my work.
They were out of the french press coffee so it took a while to get the cup of coffee.
There was nothing to stir the coffee with, except for the regular clear plastic straws. So I used it to stir the coffee with sugar. The plastic melt in the hot coffee... The Batista brought a spoon for me to borrow. Stirring a cup of coffee has never been so complicated until I came to this place.
I went onto the short driving trip, sipping coffee as I planned. I grabbed a coffee to go so it would make the driving less boring, I thought. The coffee didn't taste like coffee. I tried to drink it as I needed caffeine, but finally I decided that I couldn't continue sipping it and thought about throwing it away. It was not drinkable, but I thought since I paid for it and since it's not my fault that the plastic straw was melt into the coffee and made it impossible to drink, I decided to return the coffee and get something else. I couldn't tell if I really didn't like to coffee or it was the melt plastic making it taste bad.
I drove back to this place and gave an extra dollar to switch to a cup of macchiato "to-go," but they started complaining that they didn't have a to-go cup for small drinks. I couldn't understand why they couldn't put it in a regular cup. I didn't have time to sit down and enjoy the coffee. My plan was to enjoy the coffee while I drive on the boring road. I was already 30 minutes behind of my schedule of driving to somewhere, but since they were bitching about the cup, even though lots of to-go cups were sitting right in front of me, I had to engulf the double shot macchiato, which, by the way, tasted good but I was in a hurry and they won't make it to-go. It was a shame that I had to engulf the whole thing because I really had to go.
Other coffee places use the regular to-go cups to put to-go macchiato.
Like I said, this place does not cater any "to-go" coffee. Or this place does not cater person with dirty work outfit.
So the cup of coffee this morning cost me $61 because I was fussing in this place too long and got a parking ticket, which is my fault but I was not planning to be there that long just to get a caffeine fix to-go.
Like I said, I wasn't aware of the to-go unfriendliness of this place. Maybe this place is meant for dining in only? The first terrible cup of to-go coffee was given without rid. Maybe they didn't want to serve me because I was wearing dirty work outfit? I was on my way to go driving to pick up something. I hope people don't judge others by appearance.
Thanks for making my day miserable. -
Review from Bronwyn S.
Oakland, CA
4/19/2012
I have only gone to the Boot and Shoe Service's amazing new cafe, and I love it! The natural light streaming though skylights combined with the exposed original brick of this old building, and many more beautiful decorations give it the feel of an urban oasis. And the coffee is great!
Here's why I'm choosing to give it one star: there is a picture framed in one of the bathrooms that is not only pornographic, but outrageously sexist and offensive beyond belief. I actually took a picture of it and texted it to some girlfriends who were shocked. We can not understand with all the beautiful art around the restaurant why such a vulgar picture would be placed right across from the toilet. Go in and view it for yourself - it's the picture in the bathroom on the left side, in which a man is violating 8 women at one time. The expressions on the women are not happy, and I worry (as a therapist) about the potential the picture has to trigger women who have been sexually abused.
Until this picture is removed, I will not allow myself to eat at this restaurant.
Also, if you take children to this restaurant, I encourage you to use the bathroom on the right, as this picture only contains women engaged in self-eroticism. (Yes, it's true, but I am being slightly sarcastic about allowing children to see this picture).
Anyone else care to join in this discussion of sexism in a very hip restaurant? -
Review from Chris J.
Berkeley, CA
5/9/2012
Really...3.5 to be exact. My wife and I wanted to get out of Berkeley from our usual haunts, and as the chef comes to our store to buy crockery for the place, I remembered that place with the odd name...
Ordered the Cinco de Mayo special with jalapeños...quite tasty. Not used to thin crust pizza but the taste was deightful. Our beet salad appetizer was OK and good, but the only problem is this penchant of some restaurants that serving less food on the plate is chic or something: it just leaves you hungry (my wife and I shared both items). Beer was good.
Place is nicely appointed, and perhaps next time we will sit down at a table for some nice meal. -
Review from justin p.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
it's pretty good pizza, for california pizza standards. i'm from the east coast, so i'll never quite love california pizza as much as new york style. (i didn't even know it was new york style, growing up, i just thought it was pizza!). anyway, pizza is decent. they didn't have the nettle pizza, which i really wanted to try.
pretty crowded. pretty good service. i got a lemonade for $4. and it came in a short tumbler. that was kind of disappointing. i kind of hoped that a $4 lemonade would come in an ice tea-style glass. kind of a small thing, but to me, that is the sort of thing that would make me more likely to return. now, every time i nearby, i'll say to myself, "well, i could go there, but they'll charge me $4 for 6 oz. of lemonade. better try somewhere else!" -
Review from Brooke F.
Oakland, CA
3/25/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Amazing hand crafted dishes with fresh local produce!
Great pizzas! (perfect crust, unique ingredients)
Tasty wine list!
Perfect for a special night out! -
Review from anjou k.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 4/26/2012
In addition to the delicious dining, one can also get a divine cup of drip coffee and some amazing freshly baked pastries to go along with that coffee.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/11/2010
I have a friend in Seattle who laughs like a cackling hen and loves eggs. We call him Chickon. My… Read more »
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Review from Art O.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2012
That's a strong 4 star rating or 4.5 stars.
Got in about 7:00 on a Friday without a reservation. Ended up getting two great seats at the bar and the funnest spot in the restaurant. The cute, lithe brunette bartender made us some wonderful drinks - can't remember the names right now - but mine was whisky-based.
The marghartia pizza was fine - not mind-blowing - and was good as expected. But the spaghetti with shrimp was exceptional. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, the shrimp were tender and juicy, and the sauce was very bright with many subtle flavors (does that make sense?).
Great service from said cute bartender and even though I was a little under-dressed (a rarity) I was treated with grace.
Looking forward to coming back. -
Review from Laura B.
2/28/2012
Def a new favorite spot for me as my new apartment is 1.5 blocks away! Good thing the walk back is up a huge hill to burn the many MANY calories I will be consuming here.
We ate in the first-come-first-serve bar area rather than wait 40 min for a table and it was a fine choice. Full menu in the bar, so if you have a small party (e.g. two people) it'll work for you. The wine list is extensive and well-curated. The menu changes daily but there are a few standards among the pizzas - sausage and broccoli rabe I think was one?
I got the Margherita and it was perfect. My roommate got the sausage/rabe and steeled herself to save leftovers for lunch the next day. I, however, was not so fortunate and stuffed myself full. We also got the brandade fritters which were so tasty. The salty cod fritters were accompanied by a wonderfully acidic pickled salad of sorts.
The atmosphere is dark and hipstery, but I didn't hold that against the place. I'll be back, even if I have to wear my dark-framed glasses to get in. -
Review from Martin C.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2012
Had one of my best dinners here- ever. Delicious. Great service. The more
I go to other "hip Italian" places the more
I realize this place really has it going on. 5 stars. And great prices- good value. -
Review from LJ R.
Oakland, CA
3/14/2012
Boot and Shoe Service is overpriced, overcrowded, over loud and, with a less-than-seller wait staff, vastly over rated.
Overpriced - Their food is fine, but definitely not worth what they charge.
Overcrowded - I was there twice on a Tuesday night and you could barely move; and that was when I was seated at a table. This is definitely not the place for someone who's claustrophobic.
Over loud - Forgive me for wanting to actually hold a conversation with my dining partner without having to scream at them. I had to ask the wait staff four times to turn the music down to a bearable level. Trust me, even after the place filled up, you could still hear the music just fine.
The staff - They were adequate, but didn't go out of their way to ensure you had a pleasant, efficient dining experience. They took your order, eventually, and delivered your food, eventually.
Vastly over rated - I rarely rate a restaurant on only one visit. I've now been here twice. I shan't be returning. -
Review from Rworange C.
San Francisco, CA
2/23/2012
Breakfast pastries at Boot and Shoe Service
It is not a bad three star rating. The quality is great, the prices reasonable and the service is friendly and efficient. However, on this first visit there was no real wow factor.
The cafe opens at 7am and offers ever-changing baked goods. Today's selection included coffee cake, cherry scones, chocolate chip cookies, pistachio biscotti, croissants, frittata and probably something else I'm forgetting. There's house-made granola too.
The website doesn't mention weekday breakfast offerings so i wanted to stop by and check it out
The croissant was excellent. It was uber buttery, soft inside and crisp out, but not so crisp it shatters and showers down on your shirt.
The parsnip, potato, pepperoni, asparagus frittata was a generous slice for $3. All was good, the pepperoni was the beefy, goodness standout.
Regular $2 cup of coffee - god awful. I'm sorry I didn't ask what roast it was because I'd avoid it in the future. I know it is good coffee, but this just made brew was super sour and acid.
On the plus side it was so jolting it woke me up.
The biggest plus is the price. No item including the frittata was more than $3
it is also pleasant in the morning. The staff is friendly and keeps the line moving. there's a long counter than runs accross one wall with tables in back and an outdoor patio area. -
Review from Eryka V.
Oakland, CA
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Boot & Shoe is definitely the baddest b*tch on the block.
Let me start with the beautiful eye candy they call their staff. Yes customers you will be guaranteed amazing food, and promised gorgeous people serving your needs. The ambiance is always vibrant with conversation in the air.
How do I even begin to tell you about the drinks. Mixed beyond perfection, served with a purpose. I mean Hana the bartender makes me fall in love with every drink she has ever mixed for me. The drinks taste refreshing, crisp, and plenty of liquor!!
The food is the soul mate to every perfect sip. Even the Olives as a little snack melt in your mouth. The Brussel sprouts blow the gasket off your taste buds. Every bite is like the first kiss. The Monterey Squid Pizza kills it as well. There are no fancy words to fill your imagination with the pleasure you will receive when you bite and swallow here. -
Review from Alicenne P.
Oakland, CA
3/28/2012
So good. Their pizzas are great. I'm absolutely in love with the wild nettle, which luckily is one of their regulars. I've had some lovely appetizers too. I am not a fan of mixed drinks but have had some fabulous concoctions here. I've often ended up eating at the bar while on the wait list and the bar tenders are friendly, witty, and will give you tastes of their recommendations if your not sure what you want and are usually heavy on the pours. Never a bad thing.
They are now running a cafe during the day - everything I've had from there has been delicious. -
Review from Jenny M.
San Francisco, CA
2/21/2012
What a horrible experience.
This is one of those places that is always packed, so they don't really care about service.
There was a 2 hour wait for tables, so we tried our luck at the bar. We noticed a couple that were paying their bill. We waited behind them, with our drinks, chatting casually. As soon as they stood up, the couple sitting NEXT to them said "oh this seat is reserved". EXCUSE ME!? How is that seat reserved when these people are leaving and the bar is first come, first served??
"It's reserved for my daughter". And who does their daughter turn out to be? An employee of Boot and Shoe!! She was just getting off work.
This to me, and anyone with a background in hospitality, is truly unacceptable.
And for the next 20 minutes they continued to talk about us questioning their "reserved" seat.
Never will I return or recommend. Horrible service and mediocre food at best. -
Review from Jebidiah P.
Oakland, CA
3/27/2012
I love this place. The pizza and cocktails are some of the best in the bay area. Yeah it can get crowded. But since they've blown out the whole left side and expanded the space, there is plenty of room in my opinion. The wait staff always seems friendly to me. The second time I went with my brother, we definitely felt rushed at the bar....turn and burn style.
But the last time i was there we had an awesome server who asked the kitchen to make us an amazing pizza that I asked about that wasn't currently on the menu. I highly recommend this place. -
Review from Elise H.
Oakland, CA
3/26/2012
The food here is absolutely amazing. I lived in Italy and haven't found authentic tasting Italian food until this place! I went here on a date (which it is perfect for) and we had pizza and a pasta (rigatoni, I believe) and everything tasted delicioso!
The place is a little small but has a charm to it. They don't take reservations but there's a bar area that's nice to wait in and have a glass of wine, etc if there's a wait :) -
Review from Joshua B.
Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA
3/25/2012
This place is pretty great. An offshoot of Pizzaiolo, they have some of the best artisan pizzas in the Bay Area. Their bar cranks out some seriously creative and tasty cocktails, and the food is always rocking.
It does get a bit crowded, and the service staff can sometimes be a little hipster-judgemental (like you know their judging you because you have no neck tattoos, aren't wearing skinny jeans, and probably don't ride a fixed-gear), but overall this place is pretty cool.
Dark ambience and romantic (the loud volume forces you to lean in a little closer to your date for conversation).
Also, it's great that they've opened for coffee and breakfast snacks, and the back patio makes for a nice respite.
Definitely recommended, especially for a date-night.Listed in: Grand-Lake
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Review from Animal G.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 2/16/2012
OVER-RATED!!!
Been several times since the opening and it's a most disappointing spiraling decline of service...(held out for a true review after the remodel).
As soon as my jolly party of 5 stepped foot in...the hostess came off as complete lifeless soul w/out a smile NOR people skills what-so-ever!!! After she gave us lip-service about NOT seating our party of 6 because one single person was missing...I regret not going w/my gut and walking out that very instance!!!
The wood-fired pizza is still yummy (IF served hot & eaten promptly of course).
I appreciate the fact the chefs are thoughtful about the ingrediants by using local produce, changing up the menu, etc...
The cocktails are tasty, (bartenders are making an honest effort @ mixology) but def. overpriced for one shot only!!!
Come on People...REALLY??? I thought ya'll would've stepped-it-up a notch for the Urban folk of Oakland from your predecessor of Pizzaiolo!
Ambiance is cool, but anyone can dim the lights, have an awesome playlist of music and light some candles! The real magic Ingredient missing is making sure the patrons are treated/served well. A real spirit and heart of this place is sadly lacking. I had higher hopes, sooo you only get 2 stars!!!
*Don't forget it only takes one person to make an experience a COMPLETE FAIL!!!Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/14/2010
YUMMY PIZZA!!! However, I could easliy pass on the other small-portion sized/$$$$overpriced-stuf f… Read more »
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Review from Joe M.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 4/28/2012
Love the food. Love that it's open for lunch. Pastries change daily and are superb. Have to deduct a star for the coffee. Tried two different roasts and couldn't finish either one.
One more thing: I love the pastries which generally change from day to day and season to season. Woman making the pastries is great. Counter people should take the time to learn what they're selling. I frequently ask them "what's this?" and they either don't know or they have to go back into the kitchen and find out.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/26/2009
We live in the neighborhood and love Pizzaiolo so we were really excited to try this place. It's… Read more »
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Review from Michele D.
Oakland, CA
4/30/2012
Love the pizza, but the service (or management/ chef) are a little hard core about not changing the dishes. I mean, when it comes to pizza, there is a palette for everyone... and telling you that you cannot take something to go when pizza is the worst when served cold, is just ridiculous. I am customer, willing to pay, let me pay for my food, especially if I am just going home to eat it. Why must I eat it in the very dimly lit restaurant if I only want a lovely meal at home with a great bottle of vino... you could up the service, but the quality of food is yummy. We call this Tony's east side, since it is the closest to Tony's Pizza Napoletana we have gotten to... and Tony's is the World Champion for pizza, truly. Enjoy, but be prepared for a short menu, tight spaces, and to play by their rules. You don't get a say.
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Review from Jessica C.
San Francisco, CA
3/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here for the pizza. One of them had potato, which was good and soft to chew. The other had spicy sausage and it was actually very spicy to me so I only ate a slice from it.
Our pizzas had burnt patches. But I think it's okay since is brick oven. But I also felt the dough a little bitter. Maybe it is the smokey effect but I didn't like it.
The service was good. I would come back to try the other things on the menu -
Review from Jaweed N.
Alameda, CA
3/23/2012
Great ambiance, the pizza is amazing, and my favorite has to be the cappuccino at 10 am. Home made pastries that are unique and quite tasty.
Love bringing my iPad and getting some work done on a friday afternoon. This place has a particular following, the crowd is courteous and calm, no riff raff.
One thing I wish for is that I don't eat pork and they have pork everything, makes me want to eat it but doesn't sit well in stomach (not used to it), wish they had beef meatball sandwiches. C'mon guys cater to the non-pork eaters.
Had a margharita pizza, not what i expected, didn't see a plain cheese pizza either. My son, who is a pizza aficionado at age 2 was not fond of the pizza either.
So to sum it up, great place to hang out and have a coffee and wonderful pastries, but the food needs some work. Possibly going TOO unique. Otherwise 4 stars, super clean, nice design, love the wood, and people have great energy and are very nice.
Read more reviews for this business:
German (1),
Italian (1)
