01/26/07

Fabulous Pizza!

by mzelle23

Pauline's Pizza is NOT the place to compare to NYC-style pizza. If you want that, go to Arnell's on Valencia. Pauline's is a completely different style of pizza (just as Zachary's is Chicago-style) that in its own right is really amazing. I just went for the first time last night with 4 friends. We had a fantastic salad and the Veggie pizza special and it was REALLY great. Our server was also very accommodating. We're all very picky eaters and are very critical when it comes to dining out, as are most San Franciscans. If you have a kid and want a cheap nasty pizza, don't go here. Stay at Pizza Hut. The ambiance is OK, but if you want a great meal and welcome new ideas for pizza, check it out. Oh, and our bill with a bottle of wine and salads was about $70. I think that's pretty damn good.

• Pros: Pizza
• Cons: Ambiance

12/12/06

the point is... the pizza is killer.

by mepmep1

I am just laughing reading all the other reviews. I can see where some of them are coming from. First of all, this is my favorite thin-crust pizza place anywhere, bar none. (I also like Zachary's-type pizza, but that is a different category.) We are about to move to the 'burbs after almost 10 years living in SF, and this is on our list of restaurants to hi t one more time before we leave.

It is true that the servers don't waste time with saccharin smiles for fussy diners. This is mainly due to SF or Mission culture though. When waiters don't act like your robotic smiling servant in SF, that is part of the fun/challenge, if you appreciate that sort of thing. Cf. Paris or New York - totally the same thing. Enthuse about their unusual tattoo, that is sure to break the ice. Bring your young kid and you get smiles all around.

Also the comments about the expense are basically true... that's SF for you.

The point is the pizza, and it is awesome, with unusual, organic ingredients. A little corn meal dusted on the prep table so that the dough picks it up and it crisps on the bottom. There is always one meat special and one veggie special, you can't go wrong with those. Mmmm when it comes out piping hot, and you take a bite with a sip of the house merlot... killer.

This is an authentically SF place. A little expensive, a lot of character, interesting people working there, awesome food, which they are deservedly a little snobby about.

• Pros: killer pizza, decent win list

08/03/06

If this is California Pizza...

by Lord_Billiam

you can keep it. This isn't Pizza. BTW I like greasy pepperoni. I'd rather have a 3 dollar slice than this overdone mess. Awful stuffy atmosphere didn't help. Anyone who claims this is the best pizza knows NOTHING about pizza - they are, quite simple not "pizza people"

• Pros: ?
• Cons: lots

01/13/06

Sticker Shock!

by sf_foodlover1111

My husband, 5 year old son and I went finally after years of forgetting to try this special pizza gem. i guess we over ordered! ( fabulous salad of the day, small veggie pizza, regular special pizza of the day); to her credit our v. competent server toned us down from 2 full sizers and make no mistake, the pizza and salad were excellent, but out the door, with a carafe of house wine, a soda and tip (20%) our bill was 95.00. Pizza out for 3 should never be that much.

• Pros: fun for kids, coloring! , far from the norm
• Cons: costs can add up

09/28/05

Best Pizza in the city!

by handsome4u

This place rocks! If you don't like greasy heavy pizza, well this is the place to go!

09/11/05

pizza is good, but come on....

by buckywunderlick

okay, the pizza is good here, but all the others complaining about the service aren't just whining. i went there a few days ago with a three other friends, and after leaving our name on their sign up sheet, they announced they were closing almost an hour earlier than their posted time. why? because they RAN OUT OF DOUGH. that has to be the lamest non-excuse i've ever heard, especially considering they sell pizzas! frankly, their attitude is they just don't care about your buisness. with all the other places to eat in the mission, that is kind of surpirsing and not really necessary to deal with, even if you like the pizza....

05/22/05

More than great pizza

by slipera

Not only does Pauline's have great tasting and interesting combinations of pizza, but they use locally and organically grown veggies. Everything tastes great and it is produced in a sustainable fashion.

05/16/05

Best pizza, salad in SF

by polskajason

I went here last week with two friends, one of whom is an SF native & a graduate of a culinary school (Johnson & Wales), and we all agreed this is the best pizza we've had in San Francisco.

We ordered the vegetarian special pizza (roasted red potatoes, sorrel & stilton) and the special salad, which was heavy on watercress. Both were phenomenally delicious. The salad, in particular, was extremely fresh, and light on the dressing (which I liked).

We will definitely be going again. The service was okay (typical Valencia street--curt but competent), and prices decent, especially for the quality you get.

• Pros: pizza crust, fresh salads
• Cons: limited menu

07/22/04

Great pizza, lousy service

by memdesa

The pizza is extraordinary, with a thin crust, superb combinations of herbs, meats, and cheeses (seldom including mozzarella). My wife and I have lived on the east coast for a total of thirty-five years, in New York, New Haven, and Boston; those cities have nothing as good as Pauline's. If you're looking for cheesy, heavy, Italo-American pizza, go elsewhere. However: be prepared for appalling service, especially for takeout. The staff generally has a bad attitude, and some of the people who take your money would rather die than smile or say thank you. We visit twice a week, and they never acknowledge having seen us before.

• Pros: Pizza

06/16/04

Gourmet slices, organic salads and crayons on the table highlight this Inner Mission pizzeria.

by Contributor

The Scene
Don't be fooled by the faded sign outside; this is no greasy slice joint. Locals in the know come in to sit at candlelit tables sheathed in white tablecloths and adorned with wine glasses and linen napkins. But Pauline's has a sense of humor: On top of those white tablecloths are sheets of scribble-ready white butcher paper and glasses of crayons.

The Food
Because the pizza is gourmet (read: fresh ingredients, exotic toppings), the price is higher than the average pizza place, but the cost is worth it. Basil lovers swear by the pesto pie, which gets its vibrant green color from the pungent (if salty) pesto that's slathered on after the pie comes out of the oven. Don't miss the delicious, organic green salads, served with a chewy, cheese-laced pizza-dough bread stick.