Zagat Guide and Zachary's Chicago Pizza

ZAGAT San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants 2010

Zachary's Named Most Popular PIZZA Restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most "child friendly" in the East Bay. Noted in the "worth a trip" to our cities section. Ranked in the top 50 most popular Bay Area restaurants (#36).

“If God were to order a pizza” it would be one of the “zantastic” pies at this East Bay “legend” claim converts who call the trio’s deep-dish “gut-busters” a “religious experience” thanks to the “buttery, rich crust”, “wonderful chunky-tomato sauce” and “fresh” toppings “heaped high”; since it’s “always mobbed”, mere mortals may want to “call ahead for takeout” or “pick up a half-baked” pie.

ZAGAT San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants 2009 names Zachary's Most Popular Pizza Restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area.

And Zachary's is 26th Most Popular Restaurant in SF Bay Area, Most Child Friendly in the East Bay and is listed in Zagat's "Good Values" listing. Zachary's Oakland and Berkeley are listed in "Worth a Trip" category

"The hyperbole is true" say 'za zealots hooked on the "delectable deep-dish" pies at this East Bay trinity that conjures Chicago via "pan-tastic" pizzas "the size and weight of manhole covers"; "cult" members "brave the masses" of "loud" "college students" and "brusque" staff for a "mouthful" of the "crispy, chewy, cheesy, meaty, tomatoey" "manna"; impatient sorts "order a half-baked pizza to go" to avoid the "aggravation" of "very long" waits.

Zachary's voted the #1 kid friendly restaurant out of all of those in the book!

"Swooning East Bay fans" and "Midwest transplants" "high on the garlicky sauce" and "stuffed" on the "gut-busting" "deep-dish" pies (try the "Pride & Joy") consider this "lengendary" outfit the "mother of all" "Chicago-style pizzerias" (better climate", natch); it's worth braving the bridge traffic" - "or the busy signal" - to reach "cheesy heaven".... "
— ZAGAT SURVEY 2008 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants

Zagat Survey Released 2007 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants Guide and names Zachary's as Best Pizza and ranks Zachary's 24th for ALL San Francisco Bay Area restaurants.

"Pizza is an event" at the "undisputed king of Chicago" "deep dish that's the best this side of the Mississippi", if not "this side of the moon" opine pie people who shuffle over to this Berkeley-Oakland duo (and soon San Ramon too) and endure "controlled chaos" to "stuff their mouths with amazing stuffed" sensations; "no need to brave the crowds" though--just "speed redial your" order and get a fully or partially baked "favorite" to go.
— ZAGAT SURVEY 2007 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants

Zagat Survey 2006 San Francisco Restaurants Guide names Zachary's as Best Pizza and ranks Zachary's 15th for ALL San Francisco Bay Area restaurants.

"These people have deep-dish down" declare devotees of the "primal-pleasure" "pizza without peer" at these "casual" Berkeley and Oakland siblings, "homes away from home for Chicagoans"; energetic and friendly servers proffer pies as quickly as they can, but can't prevent waits that are "notoriously long" in the "campy, crowded and cacophonic" rooms; "call ahead for takeout" "unless you have the patience of Job."
— ZAGAT SURVEY 2006 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants

Zagat Survey is the world's leading provider of consumer survey-based leisure content. The Twentieth Anniversary edition contains ratings and reviews for 943 area restaurants throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including Wine Country, Silicon Valley, and the Monterey Peninsula.

Some surprises for Bay Area in the 2005 Zagat guide
- GraceAnn Walden - San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Uber -restaurant guide publishers Nina and Tim Zagat flew into San Francisco Monday to unveil the 2005 edition of their San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants book. We wanted to talk about the new edition and, of course, find out where they were going to dine on their two-day trip to the Bay Area.

We got an advance copy of the 2005 guide -- just one of 70 Zagat surveys of U.S. cities -- and discovered that Gary Danko restaurant once more tops the heap. In the past five years, Danko and the French Laundry have consistently vied for top toque.

Many of the restaurants that score highest for food also are in the most popular category. In this edition, Danko beat out Boulevard, which held the top spot last year.

One surprise is Zachary's Chicago Pizza in the East Bay, which was No. 20 on the popularity list last year and is No. 10 this year. It appears to have bumped Farallon, which fell to No. 11. Zachary's is in the rarefied company of places like Danko, French Laundry and Chez Panisse.

The good news for the industry is that people in the Bay Area are dining out more and spending more, according to the Zagat Survey. Italian food is still our favorite cuisine and we're definitely drinking more wine by the glass -- a whopping 40 percent of wine drinkers versus 44 percent who order by the bottle. This could be attributed to the boom in wine-by-the-glass programs or the ever-present fear of a DUI.

The results for San Francisco are derived from a survey of 6,357 avid diners, with males and people in their 30s dominating. One good feature of the new edition is that it groups restaurants into areas east, west, south and north of San Francisco , as opposed to last year when Zagat just alphabetized everything in one big list.

And where will the Zagats dine on this quick promotional trip? They were headed to Michael Mina restaurant in the St. Francis Hotel.

Entire article at sfgate.com
(opens in a new browser)

Zachary's Pizza winner ZAGAT SURVEY San Francisco Bay Area Best Pizza 2004.

"Why bother going to Chicago" when these "heavyweight champions of all pizzerias" are "dishing up that deep-dish goodness"....
— ZAGAT SURVEY 2004 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants

Zachary's Pizza additional recent ZAGAT awards:

Best Pizza ZAGAT SURVEY San Francisco Bay Area Edition 2003.

Best Pizza ZAGAT SURVEY San Francisco Bay Area Edition 2002.
"No other could top..."

Best Pizza ZAGAT SURVEY San Francisco Bay Area Edition 2001.
"Wildly popular"

Best Pizza ZAGAT SURVEY San Francisco Bay Area Edition 2000.
"Still the best..."

Best Pizza ZAGAT SURVEY San Francisco Bay Area Edition 1999.
"Best Pizza this side of Chicago..."

Best Pizza ZAGAT SURVEY San Francisco Bay Area Edition 1998.
"Pizza Heaven...I'd drive 10 miles...just did!"

Best Pizza ZAGAT SURVEY San Francisco Bay Area Edition 1995.
"No need to fly to Chicago"

ZAGAT GUIDE San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants covers over 1,000 restaurants throughout San Francisco, including Wine Country, Silicon Valley, and the Monterey Peninsula, plus expanded neighborhood guides! This handy guide contains Zagat Survey's trusted ratings and reviews for San Francisco Bay Area restaurants based on the opinions of diners like you. The trademark reviews and corresponding ratings for Food, Décor, Service and Cost are organized alphabetically in a user-friendly format. Use the indexes arranged by cuisine, neighborhood and special features like 'In' Places, Winning Wine Lists, or Romantic Places to find the perfect restaurant for any occasion."

To go directly to the Zagat website click Zagat Survey (opens in a new browser)