Golden Boy Pizza

The line at the window on 542 Green Street often comes down to one question: clam and garlic, pesto veggie, pepperoni or a combination? Golden Boy opened in North Beach in 1978 and turned its square pizza, baked on thick focaccia-like dough, into a neighbourhood fixture. You can buy it by the slice or by the tray; the takeaway counter suits a walk along Columbus Avenue or a pause in Washington Square better than a long restaurant dinner.

Among the diner reviews collected by Restaurant Guru, the fluffy dough with its browned base and the clam-and-garlic topping recur as reasons to return. Some customers also report queueing or waiting longer when the window is busy, so avoid arriving just before a show or reservation if you are short on time. Taken together, the comments describe a quick, informal pizzeria with filling slices and a focused menu.

The original branch is at 542 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; phone (415) 982-9738. According to its official page, it opens from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The business describes the location as takeaway, with phone orders and delivery also available. To keep spending in check, one slice may make a simple meal; groups can compare the cost of a full tray with several individual slices before ordering. This is not thin-crust Neapolitan pizza: its appeal lies in the thick dough and unfussy service.