Cheeseboard Collective
Categories: Cheese Shops, Pizza [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley1512 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94701 (510) 549-3055
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu 4:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 4:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
42 reviews
Neighborhood: South Berkeley
"Ok so it's Friday @ 12:30p & I call to confirm that they'll deliver to Emeryville, they do, PERFECT!! So I order the food & the guy says…" read more »
755 Reviews for Cheeseboard Collective
A MUST if you are in Berkeley. In the last two years they've expanded so the long line that wraps outside goes much quicker than when I was in college. They do one vegetarian gourmet thin pizza a day using inventive ingredients such as sun dried tomatoes, summer corn, lemon zest and porcini mushrooms. It's only $2.50 a slice or you can get half to whole pizzas. They also have roasted cloves of garlic for $1.50.
OMG, definitely one of the top 5 pizzas I've had in my life! The one with heirloom tomatos is ridiculously good! I'm drooling as I type.
Only tried the pizza. Cheap ($2.50 for a slice). Not too oily, light, and crispy... basically the opposite of Fat Slice or Blondies. Good enough that I loved it in spite of the fact there was no meat on it (quite a feat). Shame it's not closer to campus, but worth the occasional walk out.
I came here for the first time the other day with a friend. Pretty frickin' good pizza. I like the fact you can just chill on the grass and eat pizza. When the sun is out, make for a nice lunch with someone. Even though the line is long, but worth the wait.
Remember, it is first a cheese store before it is a pizza place. So if you've never been there, do not expect a restaurant! Nonetheless the quality of the pizza is worth driving across the bridge (and paying $4, fee may subject to change).
Thin crust, but chewy and holds its texture even after a few hours. Only has one topping each day, and it is always vegetarian. So I say you'll get your daily intake of veggies. ;) When we went, they were serving mushrooms, goat cheese, and parsley. There must be other things on there too, but I can't remember. All very good though.
They only have a few seats, so plan for take-out or an impromptu picnic in the median of the street. (Strange, never seen that before, but I suppose it *is* Berkeley). The line is usually very long, but since they only have one kind of pizza each day, ordering is very simple. Just tell them how many you want and any salad or other addition you might want, then finito. By the way, they also always give an extra slice or two, regardless of how much you order. Which makes me wonder the reason behind it...
Street parking is fairly easy, and even if you park a bit farther, the area is nice to walk around in. But going back to it being a cheese store first, pizza place second, plan accordingly.
Bottom line: need I say more? Worth driving across the bridge!
Of course you can't deny there is good stuff here. I have a problem with the holier than thou attitude. I happen to like red sauce, sue me! I am also allergic to onions and if onions are on the pizza that night well then screw me. Naaaaa.
What else is there to say that hasn't been said yet? Well, just that I, too, think this is the best pizza EVER! The ideas of tastes are unbelievable and creative. The most unexpected pizza: Mission Figs and Cheese! And the prices are certainly, even after the recent raise, still very reasonable. A creative business idea, also, just to make one pizza, it allows them to serve hundreds of pizzas very quickly. Lip-Smacking!
I'm going to get so much shit for this, BUT.. the pizza is just mediocre. Yes, I've said it, it's mediocre.
The pizza is way too oily for being vegetarian, and if you want a better taste and deal, go to Arinell on Shattuck or Pie in the Sky on Center. Arinell has the best tasting new york style thin crust in Berkeley, and Pie in the Sky offers a better vegetarian thin crust.
I understand that Cheeseboard is a Berkeley monument, but the pizza is just alright.
Ok, now it's time to go into hiding.
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Fantastic - Get the Zapanos - they are these roles with cornmeal bottoms with crushed red pepper and parmesan on top.
If I had written this review the first time I went there (about 2 years ago) I probably would've given the place 3 stars. To me, it was just average. Well, it just seems to get better and better.
They've either gotten rid of the rude Berkeley-typical service that was there a few years ago...or the live music just makes everyone happy. They're VERY vegetarian friendly and I love that I can just walk in and ask for a piece of pizza.
I also LOVE the roasted garlic you can buy. I bought one on a Friday and served it with a Sunday lunch (complete with cheeseboard bread and brie) and people were still impressed by it.
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I LOVE this place..its almost the only reason why I hang out in Berkeley. Live music and fresh pizza daily. I wish they were open all day! I love that they have different pizza's every day and I'm not too much into Veggies like I should, but this place helped me grow a liking each time I vist..which is often. Trust me, you won't be disappointed when you visit this place. It's worth waiting in line for.
The pizza is always delicious. True that there's only one type per day, but it's quality. Also, with the amount of volume they get, the line moves pretty darn fast, so don't be intimidated if the line is out the door and down the street. I love that they get you a free mini slice whether you order a slice or a whole pie. The jazz music makes for great ambiance, even for people like me who never get a table but instead make do by sitting on the median.
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Fresh Bread, Olive Oil, Sweet Cream Butter, & Cheese
What lover wouldn't appreciate fresh bread in the morning, or anytime, really? Add olive oil (for sale on the shelf to the side of the registers) or sweet cream butter and you've got a tempting combination.
The cheeses are out of this world. Even the pre-wrapped cheeses like jack and mozzarella are tasty at the Cheeseboard. The spelt and the marble rye bread are superb.
Recently, I was on a flight to go to the Smithsonian Latino Museum Studies fellowship in Washington, D.C. You're not gonna believe this, but I packed the Cheeseboard's sweet cream butter and some bread, knowing it would be a while until I'd find the equivalent products in D.C. Our plane was delayed, so I shared bread and butter with the group, and they loved me all the more for my culinary contribution.
Delicious Snacks & Breakfast Bites
Try the cheese rolls. The blueberry and millet muffin is perfect for breakfast. Finish it off with a cafe au lait- the milk is steamed just right. Unfortunately, they only use skim milk, like most cafes. I long for real, whole milk in coffee, because cream is just a bit too heavy for me. You can sit side-by-side with your honey on the benches, or pick up some stuff and head off to Tilden or Codornices park.
The Pizza
The pizza (next door to the Cheeseboard mini-market) is the best I've had in the Bay Area. Creative, well-balanced toppings. If you're a light eater a slice is a bargain at $2.50. They're generous, and usually add a quarter of a slice to your plate. No tip jar. Enjoy with a fresh salad, and live jazz.
Am I an evil person for imagining a car jumping the median and pancaking all the idiots that eat in the middle of the freaking street? So the SF homeless can't panhandle on the median, but people who can afford expensive ass pizza can? Life is truly unfair. I know sometimes it's nice out and there is grass on the median, but go to a freaking park. One day there is going to be a real accident there... (especially knowing Berkeley drivers)
The pizza is awesome, but kinda expensive. Did they raise the price? Went there last on Bastille Day and the line is daunting, but since there's only one kind of pizza it moves quick like the school lunch line... but more delish.
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Anyone who knows me who has never had Cheeseboard is shocked when I tell them that I eat this stuff. Let me explain, my whole life, I have ordered my bean and cheese burritos with no sauce, my hamburgers with just ketchup, and have removed onions, mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes from anything I order. That is until I visited Berkeley 2 years ago and a friend forced me to try what he called something of the likes of "the dankest pizza in all the world."
When I sat down and saw this flat pizza with no tomato sauce and full of corn, onions, lime, and potato, I looked at him like he was no less than effing nuts to think i could eat that. Of course, I had to try it, since he paid for it, and proceeded to finish half the pizza. It goes well with a tall glass of cold beer (but what pizza doesn't?) I went home and told everyone I knew of this little Collective I experienced in Berkeley.
A year later, once accepted to UC Berkeley, I was able to go to Cheeseboard as much as I wanted. Needless to say, life for my taste buds has been better ever since my move to Berkeley.
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Oh Yelp, how do I love thee? Without the merits of your site I would have never found Cheeseboard Collective pizza. On a recent trip to Berkeley to see Robert Plant and Allison Krauss at the Greek Theater, I decided to throw caution to the wind and let Yelp make the dinner selection.
Normally when I am in Berkeley I prefer to go out to ethnic food because there is so much of it, but I promised my BF that whatever was the highest rated restaurant in Berkeley was going to be our evening meal.
Cheeseboard was #1, so we went and I won't bore you with details of the pizza because about 517 people already have, but all I can say is it was good and cheap! I will definitely be back!
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This is my favorite place to eat in Berkeley. Live music and fresh pizza daily with a smile. They have only one pizza per day, so you'll have to go several times during the week to try their array of pizzas which I highly suggest. Your taste buds won't be disappointed. It's hard for me to suggest a pizza because they are all consistently awesome!
Mmm fresh veggies n cheese on a crisp thin crust while chillin outside on a warm early Thursday (or was it Friday?) evening with the BF....perfect.
What can I say that the nearly 600 reviewers haven't already said? This pizza is good and changes everyday, and buying a $20 pie for two ppl is kind of a lot. I ono what's with ppl and cold pizza, but reheating pizza is the way to go for me. Pop a couple of these slices in a toaster oven for a few minutes and Christine is a happy camper once again...even minus the chilling outside on a warm early Thursday (or was it Friday?) evening with the BF. The fresh veggies n cheese on a crisp thin crust is enough to keep me happy. At least for now. Don't tell the BF that.
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How could I not like the pizza here? We snuck some into a movie theater and it was even awesome COLD...a true test of quality!
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Last meal on earth would have to be these pizzas... they could put shoe leather on a pizza and it would taste good! Very inventive, tasty, different and fresh combinations of flavors. After you have Cheeseboard, another pizza is never as good... and cool live music to listen to as well...
YUM.
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On my recent visit to Berkeley I stopped by with my family based on the reviews here and couldn't be happier. This is a really special place and I'm jealous of you locals who can eat here anytime you want!
We ordered a half pizza and small salad to feed me, my husband, three year old and one year old. It was just the right amount of food. A very generous amount of food, in fact. Since they only make one kind of pizza a day there is no waiting for your food after you order, which is always a plus when dining with kids. We managed to snag a table right next to the live band. It was a nice summer evening with the windows open and people everywhere and the place had such a positive atmosphere that I was relaxed and happy, which is no small feat considering I had a baby and a toddler with me.
I think the food, along with 2 sodas ran us around $20 or so. Such a bargain. Also, a small miracle happened while we were there: my normally green-food-phobic son went nuts for the arugula, leek, and lemon oil pizza. I've rarely seen him eat so much.
We will absolutely go again next time we are in town!
Why write a review for place with 550+ already?
To round out my "best pizza ever" list.
Basically, this place summarizes the stereotypical Berkeley experience. We showed up early, got in a line, were offered a single menu option, and were given our pizza in exchange for an rounded total. Pizza in hand, we walked across the first two lanes of traffic to eat on the grassish median with the other customers under the clearly visible "stay off the grass" sign.
"Sorry about the car fumes."
"What fumes? They're all Prii (plural of Prius)."
Then the jazz band started to play.
I'm willing to take off points for being over the top, but the pizza itself was unbelievable. We had nectarines, peaches, vinaigrette and some sort of green. It wasn't super cheap ($10 for half a pizza), but was delicious, and I suppose that's also pretty Berkelian.
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This place doesn't really need another 5 star rating on yelp in order to convince you it's good. Just walk down Shattuck and the huge ass line should tell you all you need to know.
Specialty joints are my favorite. They make ONE pizza a day and it's always vegetarian. For $2.50 you can get a pretty decent sized slice (and a half) too. Crispy, flavorful, aromatic, and freshly baked... mmm. There's a specialty shop next door that carries cheeses and baked goods. I haven't been, but judging by the reviews and also long lines, I'm sure it's just as amazing.
If you want to feel like a true Berkeleyian, I suggest going to Cheeseboard and then sitting on the grassy median amongst the other hippies to enjoy your pizza. Other tips: Cheeseboard is cash only. Lines are super long, but they move quickly. A line of 20 + people got served within 5-10 min.
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This place is awesome ... from their variety of cheeses to their bakery items. Their baked goods are the perfect breakfast treat and the coffee is pretty darned good too! I hear their pizza place a couple of doors down is great too. Can't wait to try it!
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Dear Cheeseboard,
Thanks so much for treating me so well upon my first-ever visit to your delectable smorgasboard of cheese! John was extremely kind even before he discovered my secret alter-ego as cheese lady at Farmstead on the little island of Alameda. He tasted me on Tomme Crayeuse (very fresh and well cared-for), and some Ossau, a sheep's milk from the Pyrenees (similar to Abbaye Bellocq). When I asked for something interesting, odd, and curious, he gave me a taste of Roves des Garrigues, a little ball of semi-soft paste from a particular goat (the Rove) in Provence. This goat eats nothing but herbs and delicious wildflowers, and the taste is full of lavender, thyme, nettles, and citronella. Fabulous!!!!!!!!!
After I disclosed my employer, he tasted me on loads of other scrumptious cheeses, such as Sarta, a semi-firm sheep's milk from Sardegna, and Besace du Berger, a little goat teardrop covered in ash. I ate half of the Sarta on my way home with a little chunk of freshly-baked seeded sourdough.
The Cheeseboard folks know their way around cheese, and like John said, "You could taste cheese all day long." Believe me, I know-- I do it at Farmstead! I have seen collective decision-making go in so many directions, generally either towards success or towards failure. The sense of ownership that everyone has here really shines through, and it is quite something to see everyone so deeply invested in their livelihood. I applaud you all for your hard work, and can't wait to "secret shop" again sometime soon.
xo,
Molly
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Astounding selection of cheeses, great service, good recommendations, loved the drunken goat, aged manchego, and camembert. Seems like this place sets the bar for fromage in Berkeley.
After years of walking by but never stopping, I finally did last Saturday. Their pizza of the day was peach, arugula and goat cheese. After finishing my slice (with a sliver of another) I was feeling inspired, which is the way food is supposed to be. This is my new favorite way to start the weekend.
One of the most unique pizza places you will ever try. Its basically gourmet without the fuss of the fancy other stuff.
Great live jazz, wonderful location for people watching.
On a nice day you can sit on the median, although it says you arent supposed to.
Allan M., you have got to be kidding me about "okay cheese selection" right? Mario Batali goes to the Cheese Board when he's in town for Christ's sake, which speaks legions for what it offers. Not like there isn't a fine equivalent in the Boroughs, but the Cheese Board has an undeniably fine selection, so I don't know where you are coming from on that.
But I agree about the pizza. It's not really pizza, and they should really be calling it Bezerkely Pizza, because it has very little resemblance to what I consider a pizza, and I have in fact spent some fair amount of time in New York, Boston's Little Italy, and San Francisco's North Beach, where there is, in fact, real pizza.
However, the kind of pizza they offer is quite delicious. Usually. But aside from some of the weird toppings (corn, for instance), I just don't like how incredibly oily they are. It's okay to add some olive oil, but they seem to over do it to the extreme. That's just me; they still have a hard share on the local pizza market, but I'd rather a slice of Arinell's for authentic pizza.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/28/2006
As a lifelong resident of this fair city, I gotta say that sometimes people just get a little too… Read more »
This is the pizza standard in a city where there's more places for pizza than there are Starbucks. And it's a damn high standard, as well. Had a nice four cheese and onion pizza that was packed with cheesy flavor and breath-tainting goodness. The lines were long and there were tons of people. People eat in the middle of the street on the little island strip on Shattuck. I thought that was funny. Too bad the loud girls were ugly. Sorry Berkeley, brains or looks, choose one. j/k
EL
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BOMBS.
beer+slice of cheeseboard make my life.
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This pizza is so good you drool just thinking about it. They have amazingly imaginative pizzas that change daily and with the seasons, but every single one i have had (and its been a lot) has been dream-worthy.
Teeny-tiny complaint, the crust is a little chewy, and wouldn't be a problem but I have jaw issues. Still, I will eat this pizza over any other for the rest of my life.
Only wish they weren't closed Sundays and Mondays
I must say, I am quite fond of this place. I always walk there from Downtown Berkeley and on my way there, I always get my Venti upside down caramel macchiato to prepare for the long line. Actually, the wait is decent. It's finding a place to sit that becomes an issue. They have a live band sometime so thats really nice.
The pizza is always amazing. But I feel that at times, they OD on the EVOO. I guess it's not a big deal, but I prefer to eat less greasy things. But this isn't a problem as a napkin will do the job and get rid of the excess grease for me.
The staff there are really nice so that's a plus for me.
This place is truly amazing and everyone ought to try it for at least one time.
Yet again, I embarrassed myself.
There is NO meat at the Cheesboard pizza place (er collective, whatever.)
I did not know this!
Look at the chalkboard to your right when you walk in. Order what you see at the top. Or get a salad with dressing that looks like Pepto.
If there is no seating around, walk up Vine St. (uphill), make a right on Oxford, and there is bench seating.
And oh....punch your friend in the arm for not telling you it's vegetarian.
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When I used to live in North Berkeley, I would walk by Cheeseboard on my way to the Berkeley BART Station and the smell of their cheese pastries would make my mouth water! Their pizzas are worth the wait especially if you share with some friends and eat it on the little island in the middle of Shattuck Ave. Next to the cheese breads, the Wolverines are a knockout. I will be taking my partner and my sister from Tennessee when we all come up from LA this month.
Cheeseboard pizza is the best pizza I have tasted; no doubt about it.
When I first heard of Cheeseboard, I was hesitant about this pizza place that only offers one type of vegetarian pizza a day. My initial thought was: wouldn't that taste pretty blend and boring? With much persuasion from my friend, I decided to give it a shot. And of course, I was utterly blown away.
Cheeseboard's pizza is literally a bomb packed with flavors, waiting for you to bite into it and trigger the explosion of flavors. Their pizza packs a full-punch of complex flavors. It doesn't matter what toppings they have in the pizza, the flavors will always blend in perfectly and give you an intense food orgasm.
The store itself provides the visual compliment to the pizza. It is pretty small with minimal seating, and accommodate at most 20 people. But its atmosphere is rather cozy and comfortable. Another plus is the band that plays in the store. Whenever I go, there is usually a band playing jazz, which adds another layer of coolness and uniqueness to its atmosphere.
Staff at Cheeseboard are very friendly. Their service is usually very efficient, except when the demand was high, then you would probably have to wait a few minutes (I have never waited more than 15 minutes).
The last bonus is that when you order more than one slice of pizza, you will always get an extra slice or two. I usually order a half pizza to go, and I always get two extra (thin) slices. The only time I ordered a whole pizza, I got four extra (thin) slices, which is almost a quarter of the pizza!
Cheeseboard is no doubt an excellent pizza place. I can confidently say that it is the best I've tasted!
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Still one of the world's classic pizzas--the best "California style" pizza I've ever had, easily. Lunch here or at the Chez Panisse cafe, price is no object? Hmmm..... Cheeseboard it is!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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03/27/2006
I live in Cambridge, MA now, and I only review places elsewhere when they are the subject of… Read more »
OMG, this place is orgasmic. I have had one "okay" experience, and that was when they had pistachio nuts on a pizza, which wasn't floating my boat. Otherwise, this place has been amazing. Also, all items are vegetarian, which is uber awesome because I never have to think of having something to order, or ordering something different from the group!
YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!!! =)
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Love their pizza-they have unique combinations and they have lots of flavor! The staff is always friendly. Prices are about average. The sell pizza by the slice, half pie or whole pie. It's cheaper if you buy a half-baked one and bake it at home. They have one different pizza every day - not so great with my kids who are picky eaters. For this reason, I gave them 4 stars.
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hellllls yeahh. This place rocks. You are guarantee fresh ingredients every time. It is also a good place to sit and enjoy a nice day. The street divider is my favorite place to sit, people watch and watch life go by.
BEWARE: this is not a place for carnivores. Nor are you offered a choice (very "communist" my carnivore friend said. I told him he does not have to eat here, that will be his choice.)
If there is a line out the door every time I come to this place for one item, then that item must be done right.
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