Delarosa, San Francisco
It’s like saving your stomach with a special elixir that makes all the starvation and gloom disappear
It is the battle of pizza here in San Francisco, and next in line for the trophy is Delarosa. Compared to Flour + Water, the pizza here is what I can only describe as crave worthy—it hits in all the right places. The dough may not have the status that Flour + Water’s does, but if I judge the pizza as a whole, the toppings are more delicious, less uptight, and not trying to be perfect—yet somehow, they are. Sweet hot honey is drizzled generously over the top, counterbalanced by the salami, with a slight heat from the chilli. Ricotta and provolone finish the balancing act, while the marinara sauce acts as the vessel carrying every ingredient. It’s also served perfectly hot, at exactly the right temperature—don’t underestimate this part.
Pizza has a time and a place, and Delarosa is the easy going one. Showing no signs of arrogance, it knows exactly who it is. It’s not in the category of “artisan pizza,” but when confronted by heavy rain outside, cold and dreariness, walking and arriving wet, uncomfortable, and downright hungry, that first bite makes everything better. It’s like saving your stomach with a special elixir that makes all the starvation and gloom disappear—in the most satisfying way. Some people mentioned the chairs with no backs; this didn’t bother me in the slightest. It suits what you’re there to do: eat pizza!
In San Francisco, it’s not difficult to find gluten free options—California naturally thinks about these things. At Delarosa, you’ll find a thin gluten free crust rather than a thick Sicilian, which is better for many reasons. The dough to topping ratio is closer to what pizza should be. It all comes down to personal preference, but I want to feel like I’m eating proper pizza alongside my gluten eating counterparts, not a thick chunk of bread where the sauce and toppings get lost. If you’re not careful, the sauce reduces too much, and everything becomes dry—such as the offering at Flour + Water. The dough there is better, but it isn’t 100 percent successful. They’d be better off putting their effort into a thin crust.
I could go on about pizza all day, but I won’t! Delarosa has several locations depending on where you are, but the one I’m talking about here is the downtown location. They have hot honey—one of my favourite flavour pairings—even though it’s not listed on the website menu. If dangerous pizza cravings strike, walk in for the cure.
La Reine Gourmande is a professionally trained chef, former dancer, and lifelong food obsessive with a deep passion for haute cuisine and global gastronomy. She has dined her way through the world’s top restaurants while honing her culinary skills at L’École Ferrandi in Paris and the Ashburton Cookery School in the UK. Blending her love for food and fashion, she offers a unique perspective on what to eat — and what to wear — on your next culinary adventure.
