Highlights
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oChef » Gioia – San Francisco
Gioia - San Francisco
Photo from Gioia
Gioia at a glance
San Francisco Hayes Valley
- 🍕 Pizzeria
€€
Price per Person 11 – 20 €
mentioned by 75 of the guests
#1494 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#56 Pizzeria out of 115 in San Francisco
Good
7.2 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
390
Reviews
69.2%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious pizza
- Friendly service
Frequently criticized
- Limited seating
- High prices
The restaurant Gioia is a popular pizzeria located in the vibrant Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. If you’re looking for a casual spot to enjoy delicious food and catch a game, this is your place.
You’ll find a welcoming atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal. With its focus on sports, it’s an ideal destination to gather with friends and soak in the lively energy of the city.
Overview: Introducting Gioia
Gioia offers a compelling pizza experience, with many patrons highlighting the quality of the crust and the fresh ingredients that make their pies stand out. It’s a place where the core product truly shines, drawing positive remarks for its distinct flavors and careful preparation.
However, the overall experience can be a mixed bag. While the food is a clear strength, some visitors have noted inconsistencies with service interactions and the practicalities of the dining space, particularly the seating arrangements, which can be quite limited.
Good
7.2
out of 10
390
Reviews
69.2%
Satisfaction
96
negative
24
neutral
270
positive
Gioia earns a respectable overall Restaurant Score of 7.2, indicating a good performance, though customer satisfaction sits at a more mixed 69.2%. This assessment is drawn from 390 customer observations, with 270 positive remarks outweighing 96 negative ones, suggesting a generally favorable but not universally acclaimed experience.
Delving into the specifics, Food leads the way with a strong (7.9), frequently praised for its quality. Ambience (6.5) and Service (6) hover in the average range, suggesting room for improvement in these areas.
Value (5.5) is perceived as the weakest link, indicating that while the food is good, some find the pricing a bit steep for the overall offering.
What people like
- Delicious pizza
- Fresh ingredients
- Friendly staff
What people don't like
- Limited seating
- Inconsistent service
- High prices
If you’re primarily seeking well-crafted pizza, Gioia is certainly worth considering. Its strong Recommendation Score of 7.9 reflects a solid culinary foundation, making it a good choice for those prioritizing taste and quality in their pizza.
However, be prepared for a more casual, potentially quick-service experience, especially if dining in. It might be best suited for a takeout order or a quick slice, given the feedback on seating and value, ensuring your focus remains on their standout food.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Gioia
Food (7.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 97% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot generally earns high marks, with a solid score of 7.9 (good) and a strong customer satisfaction of 79.7% (good). Based on 246 total opinions, a significant 196 positive remarks highlight the delicious pizza, praising the quality ingredients, fantastic crust, and unique flavors. Many found the variety of slices and whole pies to be truly exceptional.
However, its not entirely without its hiccups, as 36 negative comments point to some areas for improvement. Concerns included issues with food temperature upon delivery, occasional burnt crust or slices, and some feeling the slice size was a bit small for the price. These aspects suggest theres still a little room to perfect the experience.
Food
246
Reviews
79%
Satisfaction
36
negative
14
neutral
196
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious pizza
- Quality ingredients
- Crispy crust
What people don't like
- Cold food
- Small slices
- Burnt items
Often praised
- pizzaThis place is rated way too low. I found it to be much better than any other pizza in the Hayes area. I recommend skipping the larger establishments and coming here to grab a slice or two.
- foodfood, service, and atmosphere all received a perfect 5/5 rating
- crustMy experience at this restaurant was largely positive, especially concerning the Margherita pizza. The pizza had a nice cheese pull, a soft and chewy crust, and the flavour was on point. However, I found it to be a bit expensive.
- ingredientsthe ingredients taste fresh and of high quality
- FoodFood:5
- pizza slicesI tried & liked the funghi and Margherita pizza slices
- JulianTheir flavors (especially the Julian) are really tasty
- doughI ordered a Pepperoni pizza and a Broccoli with Lemon, Ricotta & Garlic pizza. Both were nicely cooked with a perfectly crunchy yet soft crust and firm dough. The toppings were thoughtful and fresh.
- pizza by the slicePretty good place for a walk-by pizza by the slice
- pizzasThe Formaggio Pie, with Mozzarella, Grana Padano, and tomato sauce, highlighted simple ingredients done right. Overall, the pizzas were delicious, warm on arrival, and delivered with care. Gioia Pizzeria earns four stars for their flavorful creations that cater to a variety of tastes.
Frequently criticized
- pizzaThe pizza is normal, not as good as other places
- bug in saladbug (earwig) in our arugula salad
- slicesIf they could heat up the slices a little more it would be perfect.
- add mushroomsI like this place, but it's bewildering that I can't order a mushroom+pepperoni pizza. I can order a pepperoni pizza, but you can't add mushrooms. I can order a mushroom pizza, but you can't add pepperoni.
- add pepperoniI can order a pepperoni pizza, but you can't add mushrooms. I can order a mushroom pizza, but you can't add pepperoni. I tried calling, but nope, they won't allow it lol.
- bad pizzaThe vegetarian slices were burnt, and the cheese slice was also burnt. It was a very bad pizza, and I felt like I wasted money.
- burnt slice of pizzagive me the most burnt slice of pizza
- cheese slicecheese slice was also burnt
- contamination in saladMy experience with this restaurant involved a Doordash order where I discovered a bug (earwig) in my arugula salad. Although I received a refund through Doordash, I contacted the restaurant directly to inform them about the contamination in their salad, hoping they would prevent further issues. Unfortunately, the response was very disheartening; the person on the phone simply said "ok" and then hung up.
- crusthow some of the crust was blackened on certain pieces
If you're craving delicious pizza made with quality ingredients and great flavors, this place is definitely worth a visit. Just keep in mind that occasional issues with food temperature or slice size have been noted, especially for takeout.
Service (6 out of 10)
mentioned by 58% of the guests
When it comes to service, many folks rave about the friendly staff and quick service, with terms like kindness and efficient and fast popping up often. Out of 73 customer comments, a solid 38 were positive, highlighting experiences where the team went above and beyond and service was top-notch. However, its not always smooth sailing.
With 32 negative comments, some customers faced waiting time issues, felt ignored, or encountered rude employees and slow service. The overall score for service is an average 6, and customer satisfaction sits at a mixed 52.1%, suggesting theres definitely room for improvement in consistency.
Service
73
Reviews
52%
Satisfaction
32
negative
3
neutral
38
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, kind staff
- Quick, efficient service
- Top-notch customer care
What people don't like
- Long waiting times
- Rude employees
- Slow service
Often praised
- serviceMy experience at this restaurant was SO GOOD! The prices were fair, the service was quick, and the ingredients were high quality. I especially loved the funghi, margherita, and salsiccia slices – the salsiccia is spicy!
- ServiceService is always friendly and helpful
- stafffriendly staffed little pizza joint
- Folks workingFolks working were super nice also
- JulianTheir Julian made my girlfriend go from "I hate pizza"
- Quick serviceQuick service!
- beauty and graceserved with beauty and grace
- customer careLifetime customer care
- customer servicegreat customer service
- deliveryThe Formaggio Pie, with Mozzarella, Grana Padano, and tomato sauce, highlighted simple ingredients done right. Overall, the pizzas were delicious, warm on arrival, and delivered with care. Gioia Pizzeria earns four stars for their flavorful creations that cater to a variety of tastes.
Frequently criticized
- serviceThe service is not very friendly though
- Asian womanespecially the Asian woman working at the pizzeria.
- ServiceService can be a bit slow
- Uber EatsUber eats is garbage and delivered my order stone cold
- attitudeHer attitude was so bad
- callingtried calling but nope, they won't allow it
- customer servicethe customer service really varies. Some employees here can be so rude.
- customersunwelcoming. If you're unable to be friendly and approachable while dealing with customers
- deliver ordersMy experience at this hotel's restaurant was not good. The people working there are not good and don't deliver orders on time. This led to a frustrating experience.
- delivery serviceI tried the margherita, cheese, and spinach pies, and all were excellent. My only piece of feedback is that I wish they had their own delivery service. Uber Eats is garbage and delivered my order stone cold; I can only imagine how much better it would taste if it was warm.
If you're looking for a quick bite and hoping for a friendly face, you might just get it. But be prepared for the possibility of longer waits or less-than-stellar interactions, as service can be a bit of a gamble here.
Ambience (6.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 43% of the guests
Many guests appreciate the vibe here, with 25 positive remarks highlighting its SF feel and describing it as a nice little place with a perfect atmosphere. Reviewers often note its laid-back and cleanliness, making it quiet and easy to talk for a night out or with the whole family. The overall ambience scores an average 6.5, suggesting a generally pleasant experience.
However, the experience is a bit of a mixed bag, with customer satisfaction at 55.6%. Many of the 16 negative comments point to significant issues with the limited seating and tiny space, often describing it as crowded and busy with no place to sit. Some also found parking difficult, making dining in a challenge.
Ambience
45
Reviews
55%
Satisfaction
16
negative
4
neutral
25
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Perfect atmosphere
- Clean atmosphere
- Quiet, easy talk
What people don't like
- Limited seating
- Tiny space
- Difficult parking
Often praised
- atmosphereatmosphere all received a perfect 5/5 rating
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- SF feelHas a little sf feel to it
- cleanlinessclean, & friendly staffed
- laid-backGioia is a laid-back
- modern artisanal pizzeriaThe ingredients were solid and fresh, and everything was very flavorful. Gioia is a laid-back, modern artisanal pizzeria with no pretentiousness. The people working here are very nice, too.
- nice little placeNice little place
- night outa night out with friends
- noise levelQuiet, easy to talk
- park nearbyI’ve ordered from Gioia Pizzeria for delivery before, but this was my first time dining in. While the indoor seating is quite limited, there’s a lovely park nearby where you can enjoy your pizza. Overall, a great spot for tasty pizza, whether you choose to dine in or take out.
Frequently criticized
- seatingYou can't really sit anywhere unless you get lucky.
- placeThe place itself is a little cramped
- place to sitUnfortunately, there were no vegan options available. The service can be a bit slow, and there’s really no place to sit and enjoy a slice. It’s best to take your pizza home, particularly if this is your last stop in the neighborhood.
- spaceThe salads looked good, but in my opinion, were too pricey for what they contained, with not many toppings and no protein. Be prepared to stand outside and eat your slices or find somewhere else to sit down because this tiny space only had one indoor table with 2 chairs.
- crowded and busyIt can also get very crowded and busy on the weekends
- indoor seatingI’ve ordered from Gioia Pizzeria for delivery before, but this was my first time dining in. While the indoor seating is quite limited, there’s a lovely park nearby where you can enjoy your pizza. Overall, a great spot for tasty pizza, whether you choose to dine in or take out.
- limited seatingthere is very very limited seating. That is a huge drawback
- parkingSomewhat difficult to find parking
- seating selectionterrible seating selection
- sitting roomWish there was more sitting room
If youre looking for a chill, clean spot with a good vibe and dont mind potentially taking your food to a nearby park, this place could be a gem. However, if ample seating and easy parking are crucial for your dining experience, you might find it a bit frustrating.
Value (5.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 21% of the guests
When it comes to value, it seems like this spot offers a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5.5, placing it squarely in the average range. Many customers appreciate finding a great price or a fair price for their slices, with some even calling it a cheap slice spot or noting the reasonable price of a whole pie. Out of 26 customer remarks, 11 leaned positive, highlighting that for some, the flavors and quality made the price well worth it.
However, the customer satisfaction sits at a rather mixed 42.3%, indicating that not everyone feels theyre getting their moneys worth. A significant 12 remarks expressed concerns, with some feeling they wasted money due to burnt food or finding items like salads expensive or pricey. Others were frustrated by random fees, a pickup fee, or a high tip default when ordering, making the overall cost feel less appealing.
Value
26
Reviews
42%
Satisfaction
12
negative
3
neutral
11
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great slice price
- Reasonable pie cost
What people don't like
- Unexpected fees
- Overpriced salads
- High tip default
Often praised
- priceConsidering quality and price, my experience was hands down the best pizza by the slice in the city that I've found. The food was rated a perfect 5, and the service and atmosphere also received top marks of 5.
- sliceFor $4.50 a slice I'm definitely coming back here
- cheap slice spotclosest to a cheap slice spot you’re gonna get
- decent pricesdecent prices
- fair pricefor a fair price
- flavorsThe flavors, especially the Julian, were really tasty, and the crust was perfectly crispy. While it is a bit on the pricier side for a slice of pizza, the flavors make it well worth it.
- great priceIt is a great price
- reasonable pricereasonable price of the pie
Frequently criticized
- pricespend $15 for three slices which is a very high price
- expensivebut a bit expensive
- ordering online siteyou get a 1.00 ordering online site
- pickup feeif you pickup, there is a pickup fee
- pricesthe prices are relatively expensive.
- priceybut pricey
- random feesthey charge random fees that don’t make any sense
- saladsBesides that, the pizza was good and I’d go back. The salads looked good, but in my opinion, were too pricey for what they contained, with not many toppings and no protein. Be prepared to stand outside and eat your slices or find somewhere else to sit down because this tiny space only had one indoor table with 2 chairs.
- tip defaulttheir tip default is 20% for pickup too
- wasted moneyThe vegetarian slices were burnt, and the cheese slice was also burnt. It was a very bad pizza, and I felt like I wasted money.
If you're looking for a decent slice at a fair price, you might find some good value here. However, be mindful of potential extra fees and consider if the overall experience justifies the cost, especially for items beyond a basic slice.
How are the prices at Gioia?
On average, you’ll spend around 18 per person – from 75 guests. That puts the restaurant in the 11 – 20 € category. For a Pizzeria, that’s mid-range, maybe slightly above.
Interestingly, while the average is 18, a good number of guests actually spend less, with many prices clustering in the 1-10€ range, suggesting a mix of budget-friendly and slightly more premium options.
This chart shows what people usually spend per person, using the 75 most recent reviews.
Heres how this Pizzerias value for money stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Considering its a Pizzeria in San Francisco, we think the pricing feels quite fair. Its not the cheapest slice in town, but it offers a good balance for a mid-range experience.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Gioia
Price per Person
- 31 - 40 €
Service Intent
- Delivery
Visit Type
- Delivery
1
Bug in salad, poor restaurant response
My experience with this restaurant involved a Doordash order where I discovered a bug (earwig) in my arugula salad. Although I received a refund through Doordash, I contacted the restaurant directly to inform them about the contamination in their salad, hoping they would prevent further issues. Unfortunately, the response was very disheartening; the person on the phone simply said "ok" and then hung up.
- bug in salad1
- restaurant response1
- contamination in salad1
Price per Person
- 31 - 40 €
Visit Type
- Delivery
1
Bug in salad, poor service response
My experience at this restaurant was quite negative. I found a bug in our salad, which is a serious issue concerning food quality. When we contacted the restaurant about this problem, they did not seem to care at all, indicating a significant lapse in their customer service.
- bug in salad1
- did not seem to care1
Price per Person
- 11 - 20 €
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
Visit Type
- Takeout
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
8
Next Level Slices, Perfect for Takeout
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic, especially considering the limited number of quality slice shops in San Francisco. The quality of the pizza here is truly next level. The space is very small, and since you can't drink beer on-site, it's definitely more of a to-go situation.
I actually wished there was a non-food bar next door where I could have enjoyed a pie, but I didn't see one.
- quality10
- to go situation6
- space4
- drink beer on-site3
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
Visit Type
- Dine-in
8
Excellent Margherita, Slightly Pricey
My experience at this restaurant was largely positive, especially concerning the Margherita pizza. The pizza had a nice cheese pull, a soft and chewy crust, and the flavour was on point. However, I found it to be a bit expensive.
The atmosphere was great, rated 5/5, and the service also received a perfect score of 5/5.
- Margherita pizza9
- cheese pull9
- crust9
- expensive4
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
9
Slice is the Way to Go!
My experience at Gioia Pizza was fantastic, but with a specific recommendation: get it by the slice. When ordered by the slice, they heat it up for you, resulting in a perfectly crunchy crust, which is what makes it so good. I tried ordering a whole pizza once, and it just didn't have that same crunch, so I wouldn't recommend that option.
However, by the slice, it's easily my favorite pizza in the city.
- pizza by the slice10
- favorite pizza10
- whole pizza4
What Gioia offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Wi-Fi
- Free Wi-Fi
- Restroom
Offerings
- Quick bite
- Wine
- Beer
- Small plates
- Cocktails
- Organic dishes
- Vegetarian options
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Catering
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Takeout
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Parking
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
Is Gioia Pizzeria in San Francisco accessible for everyone?
Yes, Gioia ensures a comfortable experience for all guests. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, and restrooms, making it easy for everyone to enjoy their visit in Hayes Valley.
What kind of food and drink options can you expect at Gioia Pizzeria?
At Gioia, you can indulge in quick bites, small plates, organic dishes, and vegetarian options. To complement your meal, you’ll find a selection of wine, beer, and cocktails, all available from their onsite bar.
How does Gioia perform overall?
Gioia achieves a good overall **Restaurant Score** of **7.2**. Its **Food** is highly rated at (7.9), while **Ambience** scores (6.5), **Service** (6), and **Value** (5.5) are perceived as average.
What makes Gioia's pizza a highlight?
Customers frequently praise Gioia’s pizza for its perfectly cooked **crust**, fresh **ingredients**, and flavorful toppings. Many find the pizza to be of high quality and very tasty.
What should I know about the dining experience at Gioia?
Gioia offers a laid-back atmosphere with generally friendly staff, but be aware that **seating** is quite limited, making it often better suited for a quick visit or takeout. Some customers have also noted occasional inconsistencies in service.