These are photos from my recent trip to Berkeley and Oakland, California. I was helping my daughter, post her shoulder surgery.
This is the Cheeseboard pizza from Thursday. Cremini mushroom and Kale with a side of their famous cilantro pepper sauce to dip the crust. As an added bonus, they top your slice with a sliver! Cheeseboard Collective is an institution in Berkeley.
Here’s the background info from Cheeseboard’s website:
About Our Pizza
Cheese Board Pizza started with a simple, fun idea during one of our shifts
We’d grab some extra sourdough baguette dough, pick our favorite cheeses from the counter, and toss on veggies from the market next door to make pizzas just for us. Then, in 1985, we decided to share the fun and started serving a single type of vegetarian pizza to customers after hours on Friday nights. Each night, we’d make one fresh, unique pizza with veggies, specialty cheeses from the Cheese Board, and a thin, sourdough crust.
Today, that same recipe is still our go-to. The Pizzeria, now located just two doors south of the Cheese Shop and Bakery, is open for lunch and dinner four days a week. We’ve also added salads, roasted garlic, cookies, soft serve ice cream, sodas, beer, and wine. Live music is part of the scene at both lunch and dinner, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Even though the line for pizza often stretches down the block, it moves quickly, with music keeping things lively along the way.
Here’s a rose I saw on my walk from my Berkeley Airbnb and Cheeseboard.
Beautiful Bougainvillea I spotted on a walk in Oakland with my son and daughter-in-law.
I’m not sure what these berries are. I just thought it made a unique shot on my walk to Cheeseboard for a slice.
Berkeley is a beautiful town when you open your eyes and notice the little things like flowers.
The tree-lined streets made for nice walks when I returned to my Airbnb after taking care of my daughter at my son’s apartment.
This was my cozy Airbnb — a separate room with it’s own entrance at the back of a home. I stayed here five years ago when my son had shoulder surgery. It has a bathroom, bedroom and a kitchenette.
Now for everything Cheeseboard:
My last three evenings, I walked from the Airbnb to Cheeseboard for a slice of pizza (and a sliver) before it got dark. It was my daughter’s idea. She told me to go home early so I could have Cheeseboard, which is a treat I enjoy when I visit my kids. Prior to my Cheeseboard walks, I was getting home after dark, exhausted and savoring a cup of chowder I had bought the day I arrived. I wrote about Cheeseboard years ago: How long would you wait for pizza? Hint: It’s Cheese Board.
I’d walk around Shattuck Avenue for about 30 minutes then get in line at Cheeseboard and walk home with my salad and slice. Yes, I’d get in line because there is always a line. There is also a cheese shop two doors down owned by Cheeseboard where I’d buy a few treats for the kids to bring the next day, like their favorite cheese, crackers, chips and homemade tomatillo salsa.
About Cheeseboard: They make one flavor of pizza per day and one salad. No special orders except Gluten and/or Vegan free. The pizza’s randomly change according to fresh produce and they locally source cheese. There is never meat on a Cheeseboard pizza.
I had this one and will say it was really, really good. I liked the Cremini/Kale better, though.
The pizza I had on my last night in Berkeley.
This is the line going into Cheeseboard. The open door near the front of the photo goes into their cheese and bakery shop.
The line wound around the corner and down the street.
If you go to Berkeley, I highly recommend a slice of pizza at Cheeseboard.
What’s your favorite pizza or a pizza spot?
What do you think of my Berkeley photos?
If you’ve never been there, did you think it would be so beautiful?
It is an event, especially on the weekends when the lines get really long. Last time I went people in front of us were sharing glasses of wine while they waited! Interesting that the Catskills look similar. I’ll have to look at photos online.
Yes, sounds lovely. Yes, some part of the Catskills in smaller areas have a similar feeling and vibe without the crowds.
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That sounds so nice!
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I would live at that place and the line tells you just how good it is! Looking at the neighborhood photos reminds me of the trip daughter and I took to San Francisco and all the neighborhoods we walked through around Golden Gate Park with their Victorians and other older homes and storefronts. Glad things were going well enough for you to get back home for a bit and gear up for your son’s needs.
Once my daughter told me I could leave early to get pizza, I did every night I had left. It felt like a real treat to go for a walk in the beautiful neighborhood streets and get pizza! I’m on pins and needles waiting for my son’s surgery date. I’m ready to go in a day if necessary.
It is seriously good pizza! Plus I think the line and live music make pizza more of an event than just take out. They have outdoor seating and it’s a party like atmosphere.
Well if I ever came to USA, especially California, I’ll definitely try it
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You won’t be disappointed!
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I’m sure I won’t be.
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All beautiful photos and I would love to see it in person!! My fave pizza, ny style Joe’s, mamas too for caccio Pepe, Prince street for pepperoni and Lombardi’s for thin crust
I’m craving pizza just reading your favorites. The Cheeseboard has very thin pizza crust. We don’t have anything close to that good here. My husband offered to get pizza last night when I told him I was wanting Cheeseboard. I told him not to bother!
A slice and a sliver – that’s so awesome! Love incredible places like this that know what they do well and stick with it. What beautiful photos of Berkeley. Hope you are home taking it easy now and that your daughter is healing well!
The sliver was such a treat. I never had one before. Two out of three days at Cheeseboard I got a sliver! Yes, they do one thing and do it well. I’m glad you enjoyed my photos. I was so tired and have slept so much since getting home Saturday. I’m waiting for my son’s surgery date and will fly back up to take care of him!
I have been to Berkeley to do research at the Bancroft Library on campus. It is quite lovely. I don’t care for lines so I’d skip that Cheeseboard. My own pizza is my favorite!
They open for dinner at 4:30 p.m. I bet there wouldn’t be a line at that time. I was there around 6 p.m. and the line kept growing. It’s a beautiful place to stay and take walks and eat!
Let me make this perfectly freaking clear….there is NO Pizza good enough to make me stand in a line longer than 2 people. I am perfectly content with the Racetrack pizza that is buy one, get the second slice for $1.00
That’s the way my husband feels. But I got him to wait in line once at Cheeseboard because our kids were with us. I told him to look at it as spending time talking with his kids, rather than waiting in line for a pizza.
Beautiful photos! Pizza is a food I could take or leave, so probably wouldn’t wait in line for. But, if I ever do go to Berkley, I may need to check it out. It really says something about the quality when people will wait in line for something.
I agree. The quality is so good with all the fresh produce and ingredients. A lot of the waiting in line is part of the experience. It’s festive and fun. People are happy to be there. They have live music every night. My favorite was the Berkeley High School Jazz Quartet.
The pizza is wonderful and I loved the variety of flowers. I took many more pictures than I posted! We are waiting for my son’s surgery date. He needed to get a referral in for an appointment to find out about surgery! My daughter is doing well. Thanks for asking.
It looks like an event from the 90’s. Beautiful view. Reminds me of the Catskills when we visited about a decade ago.
It is an event, especially on the weekends when the lines get really long. Last time I went people in front of us were sharing glasses of wine while they waited! Interesting that the Catskills look similar. I’ll have to look at photos online.
Yes, sounds lovely. Yes, some part of the Catskills in smaller areas have a similar feeling and vibe without the crowds.
That sounds so nice!
I would live at that place and the line tells you just how good it is! Looking at the neighborhood photos reminds me of the trip daughter and I took to San Francisco and all the neighborhoods we walked through around Golden Gate Park with their Victorians and other older homes and storefronts. Glad things were going well enough for you to get back home for a bit and gear up for your son’s needs.
Once my daughter told me I could leave early to get pizza, I did every night I had left. It felt like a real treat to go for a walk in the beautiful neighborhood streets and get pizza! I’m on pins and needles waiting for my son’s surgery date. I’m ready to go in a day if necessary.
That must be seriously good pizza, look at those lines!
The lovely blooms make for a nice walk though…
It is seriously good pizza! Plus I think the line and live music make pizza more of an event than just take out. They have outdoor seating and it’s a party like atmosphere.
Looks so tempting, especially its meat free.
The flavors are amazing!
Well if I ever came to USA, especially California, I’ll definitely try it
You won’t be disappointed!
I’m sure I won’t be.
All beautiful photos and I would love to see it in person!! My fave pizza, ny style Joe’s, mamas too for caccio Pepe, Prince street for pepperoni and Lombardi’s for thin crust
I’m craving pizza just reading your favorites. The Cheeseboard has very thin pizza crust. We don’t have anything close to that good here. My husband offered to get pizza last night when I told him I was wanting Cheeseboard. I told him not to bother!
😉we do have good pizza here
I know!
A slice and a sliver – that’s so awesome! Love incredible places like this that know what they do well and stick with it. What beautiful photos of Berkeley. Hope you are home taking it easy now and that your daughter is healing well!
The sliver was such a treat. I never had one before. Two out of three days at Cheeseboard I got a sliver! Yes, they do one thing and do it well. I’m glad you enjoyed my photos. I was so tired and have slept so much since getting home Saturday. I’m waiting for my son’s surgery date and will fly back up to take care of him!
I have been to Berkeley to do research at the Bancroft Library on campus. It is quite lovely. I don’t care for lines so I’d skip that Cheeseboard. My own pizza is my favorite!
That linne is crazy. What time would you have to be there to be first in line?
The pizzas do look good as does the walk to and from the AirBnB
They open for dinner at 4:30 p.m. I bet there wouldn’t be a line at that time. I was there around 6 p.m. and the line kept growing. It’s a beautiful place to stay and take walks and eat!
Let me make this perfectly freaking clear….there is NO Pizza good enough to make me stand in a line longer than 2 people. I am perfectly content with the Racetrack pizza that is buy one, get the second slice for $1.00
That’s the way my husband feels. But I got him to wait in line once at Cheeseboard because our kids were with us. I told him to look at it as spending time talking with his kids, rather than waiting in line for a pizza.
Looks delicious, and your photos are beautiful!
Thank you! It was so delicious!
Beautiful photos! Pizza is a food I could take or leave, so probably wouldn’t wait in line for. But, if I ever do go to Berkley, I may need to check it out. It really says something about the quality when people will wait in line for something.
I agree. The quality is so good with all the fresh produce and ingredients. A lot of the waiting in line is part of the experience. It’s festive and fun. People are happy to be there. They have live music every night. My favorite was the Berkeley High School Jazz Quartet.
I love that they have one pizza and one salad offering daily. I don’t love meat on my pizza and I’m a salad fiend, so this is right up my alley!
Lovely photos of the flowers in that area. I’ve not been to Berkley before.
How are the kids doing? Are the shoulder and hernia surgeries healing?
The pizza is wonderful and I loved the variety of flowers. I took many more pictures than I posted! We are waiting for my son’s surgery date. He needed to get a referral in for an appointment to find out about surgery! My daughter is doing well. Thanks for asking.