Highlights
- Great beer selection
oChef » Pie Punks – San Francisco
Pie Punks - San Francisco
Photo from Pie Punks
Pie Punks at a glance
San Francisco Transbay
- 🍕 Pizzeria
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 104 of the guests
#246 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#5 Pizzeria out of 115 in San Francisco
Excellent
8.5 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
549
Reviews
88.3%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Pizza variety
- Great vibe
- Good service
Frequently criticized
- Slice inconsistency
- Slow service
- Noise/Parking
The restaurant Pie Punks is a vibrant pizzeria located in the heart of San Francisco’s Transbay neighborhood. When you step inside, you’ll find a casual, cozy, and trendy atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed dinner.
You can enjoy a fantastic selection of beers, making it a great spot to unwind after a long day. Whether you’re looking for late-night food or happy hour drinks, this spot has you covered.
Overview: Introducting Pie Punks
Pie Punks offers a vibrant spot where the pizza truly shines, boasting diverse crust options that impress. It’s a lively destination with a great vibe and creative drinks, making it a popular choice for many seeking an energetic dining experience.
However, some experiences suggest occasional inconsistencies in service and certain food items. The lively music can also be quite loud for some, which might impact the overall comfort for those preferring a quieter setting.
Excellent
8.5
out of 10
549
Reviews
88.3%
Satisfaction
39
negative
25
neutral
485
positive
Pie Punks generally performs well, earning a solid restaurant score of 8.5 and a strong customer satisfaction rate of 88.3% . This positive reception is built on a substantial base of 549 customer observations, with 485 positive remarks outweighing 39 negative ones, indicating a largely favorable experience.
Delving deeper, Food leads with an impressive (8.6), closely followed by Ambience (8.5) and Service (8.4), all rated as good. Value (7.4) also holds its own, suggesting that patrons generally feel the offerings are reasonably priced, despite a few comments about specific items being expensive.
What people like
- Diverse pizza options
- Lively, engaging atmosphere
- Skilled, friendly service
What people don't like
- Inconsistent slice quality
- Occasional slow service
- Loud environment, parking
Pie Punks is a compelling choice for those seeking a dynamic atmosphere paired with inventive pizza and cocktails. It’s a place that delivers on its promise of a fun, flavorful outing, particularly if you appreciate a bustling environment.
With a strong recommendation score of 8.8 , it’s certainly worth considering. Just be prepared for a lively setting and perhaps some minor inconsistencies in service or specific food items, but overall, it’s a solid option for a casual meal.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Pie Punks
Food (8.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 97% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot truly shines! With an excellent score of 8.6 and an impressive customer satisfaction of 90.5%, guests consistently rave about the delicious pizza, quality cocktails, and crispy broccolini. Out of 305 comments, a whopping 276 praise the amazing flavors and perfect crusts.
However, a few of the 14 negative remarks mention some areas for improvement. Some found certain dishes to be bland or have a reheated taste, with specific concerns about soggy crusts or overly salty pizza. While these are minor points, they're worth noting.
Food
305
Reviews
90%
Satisfaction
14
negative
15
neutral
276
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Excellent pizza
- Great cocktails
- Crispy broccolini
What people don't like
- Bland taste
- Soggy crust
- Salty pizza
Often praised
- pizzaMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I absolutely loved the 3 choices of crust, which made for a great pizza. I sat at the bar and was impressed by the great bartenders and enjoyed a fantastic Negroni.
- foodAs someone originally from Detroit, I can confidently say this pizza is arguable BETTER. Every bite was just like a dream for me. My daughter absolutely loved the New York style pizza, declaring it one of her favorite pizza places ever.
- crustHands down, this is the best pizza joint in the Bay Area. The ‘Meat and Greens’ pizza is to die for - a perfect combination of sweet and savory, and I personally love it on a thicker crust. The beauty of this spot is you can choose your pizza and then pick the crust you want.
- Detroit pizzaMy experience at this restaurant was wonderful. I enjoyed the great vibe and the excellent thick Detroit pizza. They also have a full bar.
- cheese curdsTo start, we ordered some cheese curds, and then shared two different slices of pizza to try a bit of everything. The cheese curds were amazing—honestly, they were my favorite part of the meal. The pizza was okay—not bad, but nothing too special.
- cocktailscocktails are straight out of a tiki fever dream: boozy, vibrant, and powerful
- crispy crustcrispy crust that just make it so tasty
- FoodFood:5
- appetizersThe beauty of this spot is you can choose your pizza and then pick the crust you want. The appetizers are exceptional; I never thought I could get my kids to eat broccolini, arancini, or risotto balls, but after getting them to try, they couldn’t get enough! The owners are incredibly chill, friendly, and welcoming.
- broccoliniThe beauty of this spot is you can choose your pizza and then pick the crust you want. The appetizers are exceptional; I never thought I could get my kids to eat broccolini, arancini, or risotto balls, but after getting them to try, they couldn’t get enough! The owners are incredibly chill, friendly, and welcoming.
Frequently criticized
- cheeseI wish they’d put more cheese on it
- cheese grandma slicecheese grandma slice tasted like cardboard
- combinationsThe combinations just aren't quite there for me
- crustthe crust wasn’t great
- dessert optionsdisappointed that there were no dessert options
- grandma slicesDon’t get the grandma slices at night. They were so tough & slightly burnt.
- other slicesweren’t crisp and were on the soggy side.
- pizzaOn the bland side
- reheated tastedid have the reheated taste to it
- slice optionsThe rest of the slice options not so much.
If youre looking for fantastic pizza, creative cocktails, and delicious appetizers like broccolini, this place is definitely worth a visit. While a few minor critiques exist, the overwhelming positive feedback suggests youre in for a treat.
Service (8.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 60% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot really shines! With a fantastic score of 8.4 and a customer satisfaction rate of 82.5%, it's clear guests are generally thrilled. Out of 97 comments, a whopping 80 praise the friendly staff, quick service, and attentive bartenders, often highlighting the helpful owners and team who go the extra mile.
However, not every experience is perfect. A smaller number of 13 comments mention occasional hiccups like slow service, a rude bartender, or orders being ignored. There were also a few instances where phone calls for pick-up went unanswered, suggesting some room for improvement in communication.
Service
97
Reviews
82%
Satisfaction
13
negative
4
neutral
80
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, attentive staff
- Quick service
- Knowledgeable bartenders
What people don't like
- Slow service
- Rude staff
- Order issues
Often praised
- serviceI've enjoyed the best 2 slices of pizza in my almost 54 years of life here. The atmosphere, bar, service, music, and staff were all top-notch. I can't wait to go back for more.
- staffI've enjoyed the best 2 slices of pizza in my almost 54 years of life here. The atmosphere, bar, service, music, and staff were all top-notch. I can't wait to go back for more.
- ServiceService:5
- bartendersI absolutely loved the 3 choices of crust, which made for a great pizza. I sat at the bar and was impressed by the great bartenders and enjoyed a fantastic Negroni. The cheese curds appetizer were amazing.
- great serviceIt was totally worth it and at a good price. The staff were friendly and the service was great; we got our slices quickly. The crust was so good, and they offered both vegetarian and meat topping options for slices.
- Service was quickWe ordered a Detroit pizza and salad to share, both of which were delicious, fresh and presented well. Service was also very quick. I cannot recommend this restaurant more to someone who wants fast service and tasty food.
- amazing peoplethis place have amazing people that care about service
- bartenderBest bartender in the area for sure
- bartendingexceptionally skilled bartending by the staff
- experienceprovide an awesome experience
Frequently criticized
- serviceOn a positive note, the cinnabons were really good. However, for sitting at the bar with two people working, the service was a bit slow.
- orderTook me a while to order
- staffMy experience at the restaurant involved enjoying a Detroit pepperoni pizza, which was quite good. However, the service was notably slow, and the staff seemed a bit rude upon our arrival, initially ignoring us. We also weren't provided with any updates while waiting for our order.
- bartenderThe bartender incredibly rude
- delivery driverdelivery driver always blocks the bike lane
- phoneI tried to call a few times on a Saturday night to place a pick-up order, but no one picked up the phone. I ended up walking a few blocks over to Pie Punks from my hotel and placing an order in person to-go.
- pick-up orderI tried to call a few times on a Saturday night to place a pick-up order, but no one picked up the phone. I ended up walking a few blocks over to Pie Punks from my hotel and placing an order in person to-go.
- waitingupdates whilst we waited
- watersthough they never refilled our waters.
You can generally expect a really positive service experience here, with friendly and efficient staff being the norm. While there are a few isolated reports of slow or less-than-stellar interactions, the overwhelming feedback suggests it's definitely worth a visit for their great hospitality.
Ambience (8.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 68% of the guests
Lets dive into the vibe! This spot scores a solid 8.5 for ambience, with a fantastic 89.7% customer satisfaction. Many rave about the atmosphere, music, and vibe, noting the decor and old school feel that creates a lively and inviting space.
Based on 113 positive comments out of 126 total, it sounds like a real winner for a fun hang out. However, a few of the 10 negative comments mention the music being too loud and the lighting being very dim. Some also found parking to be a bit of a challenge, which could impact the overall experience if youre driving or sensitive to noise levels.
Ambience
126
Reviews
89%
Satisfaction
10
negative
3
neutral
113
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great music and vibe
- Fun, retro decor
- Lively atmosphere
What people don't like
- Loud music
- Dim lighting
- Parking can be tough
Often praised
- atmosphereThe drinks menu was equally impressive, with a wide variety of creative and fun beverages. The vibe at Pie Punks was absolutely fantastic, with decor, music, and energy creating a lively and inviting atmosphere, making it a great place to hang out. My main disappointment was the lack of dessert options; adding some sweet treats would complete the dining experience.
- musicWe were in town visiting for the weekend and were so glad we decided to check out this place, which was conveniently located down the street from our hotel. The service was great, the music was top-notch (90s Hip-Hop), and the pizza & cocktails were delicious. The pizzas we ordered were the Waikiki Sneaky and Meat & Greens.
- vibeThe drinks menu was equally impressive, with a wide variety of creative and fun beverages. The vibe at Pie Punks was absolutely fantastic, with decor, music, and energy creating a lively and inviting atmosphere, making it a great place to hang out. My main disappointment was the lack of dessert options; adding some sweet treats would complete the dining experience.
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- barMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's a fun place with well-made pizza, good music, and good drinks, making it the perfect bar in my view. I particularly enjoyed the Detroit style pizza.
- great vibeit’s got a great vibe as soon as you walk in
- moviesThe salt and pepper chicken was solid, and the drinks were also excellent. The atmosphere was great, with loud 80s and 90s music, movies on CRTs and a projector. The staff were helpful and cool, contributing to a great overall experience.
- placeWonderful place to hang and have some
- 70-80s tunesblasts 70-80s tunes
- 80s theme settingGreat music and an 80s theme setting.
Frequently criticized
- musicthe music was too loud
- bike laneMy experience was concerning due to the delivery driver's actions. The delivery driver consistently blocks the bike lane. I cannot in good conscience shop somewhere that puts me in danger.
- lightingvery dark lighting inside
- loudthey are a little bit loud
- noise leveleveryone was yelling, it was hard to hear
- parkingDifficult to find parking
- parking spaceParking space:Difficult to find parking
- street parkingStreet parking situation as far as I can tell
If you're looking for a lively spot with great tunes and a cool retro feel, this place is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for potentially loud music and consider public transport or ride-sharing to avoid parking woes.
Value (7.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 16% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot generally hits the mark! With a good score of 7.4 and customer satisfaction at a good 76.2%, its clear many find the pricing quite appealing. Guests frequently praise the reasonable prices, happy hour deals, and overall good price that makes it totally worth it, as seen in 16 positive remarks.
However, not everyone is completely thrilled. A couple of comments point to concerns about the price of certain items, specifically mentioning an overpriced beer selection. While these are fewer in number (2 negative remarks), they suggest that some specific offerings might not always align with everyones idea of a good deal.
Value
21
Reviews
76%
Satisfaction
2
negative
3
neutral
16
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Reasonable prices
- Great happy hour
- Totally worth it
What people don't like
- Overpriced beer
- High pie cost
Often praised
- priceThis place is one of my favorites in the city. The drink selection is great and reasonably priced. It has a fun vibe, making it a destination pizza joint.
- happy hourThey have happy hour around 4 pm which is great
- pricesThe prices were fair for the area.
- $1 discountit's $1 less for the slice.
- good pricea good price
- lunchmanger un midi pour pas trop cher
- not expensiveNot expensive
- reasonable pricesvery reasonable price with their food options
- totally worth itTotally worth it
Frequently criticized
- beer selectionoverpriced beer selection $10 draft ipa's
- priceisn't worth 70 usd for two pies
If youre looking for a place that generally offers good bang for your buck, especially during happy hour or for lunch, this spot is a solid choice. Just be mindful of the beer selection, as some find it a bit steep. Overall, youll likely find the value quite satisfying.
How are the prices at Pie Punks?
You’re looking at roughly 26 per person – reported by 104 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Pizzeria, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Most guests cluster around this average, with a good portion also choosing slightly more budget-friendly options.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 104 reviews.
Comparing value for money against similar restaurants in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Pizzeria in San Francisco. It hits a sweet spot for quality without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Pie Punks
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
6
Great Atmosphere, Cardboard Pizza
My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. The atmosphere was great, receiving a perfect 5/5 rating. However, the food was a significant letdown.
The cheese grandma slice tasted like cardboard, completely lacking any flavor from the tomato sauce or cheese. While the crust and structure of the pizza were decent, the overall taste was disappointing. The food received a 3/5 rating, reflecting this imbalance.
- atmosphere10
- crust7
- structure7
- cheese grandma slice2
- tomato sauce1
- cheese1
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Delicious Pizza and Great Vibe!
My experience at the restaurant was fantastic! I loved all the styles of pizza. The fried broccoli and the dipping sauces were so good!
The atmosphere is a vibe! 🙌
- styles of pizza9
- fried broccoli9
- dipping sauces9
Visit Type
- Delivery
Service Type
- Delivery
2
Delivery driver safety concern
My experience was concerning due to the delivery driver's actions. The delivery driver consistently blocks the bike lane. I cannot in good conscience shop somewhere that puts me in danger.
- delivery driver1
- bike lane1
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Moderate (16–30 min.)
7
Solid Pizza with Room for Improvement
My experience at this restaurant involved trying their pizza, which I'd rate a 7. 1 out of 10. While it's a solid offering, personal preference plays a role, especially when comparing it to pizzas from cities like Detroit, New York, and New Jersey, which have a strong reputation.
I personally wished they would have added more cheese. However, the quality of the sauce and dough really compensated for where it felt lacking. The service was rated a 4, and the atmosphere a 5, with the food receiving a 4.
The meal was for lunch, and the wait time was between 10-30 minutes.
- pizza7
- sauce8
- dough8
- cheese3
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
9
Chill 80s Vibe with Good Pizza
My experience at the restaurant was very chill, thanks to the great music and 80s theme setting. The Detroit pizza was pretty good; it was a lighter deep dish and a smaller portion than some larger pies, but still enough for two. It had good flavor with the spicy sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.
The prices were fair for the area. The servers were attentive and the food came out quickly and hot. They also have a good selection of beer and hard drinks, and the ghost town beer was pretty good.
- music9
- 80s theme setting9
- Detroit pizza8
What Pie Punks offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Tourists
- Groups
- College students
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
- Bar onsite
Offerings
- Late-night food
- Hard liquor
- Vegan options
- Happy hour drinks
- Quick bite
- Wine
- Beer
- Small plates
- Happy hour food
- Cocktails
- Vegetarian options
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Usually difficult to find a space
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
- Trendy
FAQs
Is Pie Punks accessible for all guests?
Yes, Pie Punks is committed to accessibility. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, and restrooms, ensuring a comfortable experience for everyone. The restaurant provides a welcoming environment for all patrons in the Transbay neighborhood.
What kind of dining experience and food options can you expect at Pie Punks?
At Pie Punks, you’ll find a casual, cozy, and trendy pizzeria atmosphere. They offer diverse food options, including late-night bites, vegan and vegetarian dishes, and small plates. You can also enjoy a great selection of beer, wine, and cocktails, perfect for happy hour or a full dinner experience.
How does Pie Punks rate overall?
Pie Punks scores 8.5 overall, with Food (8.6), Ambience (8.5), and Service (8.4) being its strongest aspects, and Value (7.4) also performing well.
What are the food highlights at Pie Punks?
Customers frequently praise the diverse pizza options, especially the crust choices and Detroit style, along with exceptional appetizers and creative cocktails .
Are there any common issues at Pie Punks?
Some patrons have noted occasional service delays, inconsistencies with certain slice options , and a potentially loud atmosphere with difficult parking .