Hesher's Pizza & Taproom — Restaurant in Oakland

I can't remember the last time--if ever--that my meal was so bad it left me angry. That happened today. I've had another pizza from them that was good, but tried the Confusing Luau today and it was inedible. I enjoy spicy food and was prepared for the BBQ (fake) chicken to have a kick. The cerrano plus jalapeno peppers in this pizza numbed my tongue and made it taste absolutely awful. Again, I like spicy food. This wasn't a "heat" problem. My tongue was numb. I also don't understand only offering Impossible Chicken (mushy bread consistency) instead of real chicken considering there's real bacon on it. But this wasn't the underlying problem. I'm lactose intolerant and appreciate the vegan cheese option. The staff was all very nice and helpful, and the drink selection is good, but that pizza completely spoiled my mood. I miss pizza since I can't have cheese, and was excited to get it, only to have the worst pizza I've ever had ($28).

UPDATE: from the owner's reply, they indicate they knowingly put mouth numbing Szechuan peppercorns on the pizza too. The problem is, there no mention of these or their effect...

We went and checked out this spot after seeing it recently pop up. Hesher’s is basically a corner-in-wall at The Lodge. We didn’t know what to expect however, after giving the interestingly-designed menu a deep dive, I went to the slot-in-the-wall to order.

Met with Zack (sp?) who took my order for a Maquahutil. And we talked about his vision for the za. His pov was that it’s a mix of mid-western and east coast styles. And that the pizzas are the size of his menu (rectangular). Definitely not to be confused with Detroit style pizza.

We got our pie about 20 minutes later. Upon first bite, we noted that the crust was...interesting. Different in that it was probably a cornmeal crust. After dousing the pizza with juice from the supplied lime slices, we dug in.

After our initial bites, the pizza’s complex flavor profile really began to burst in the mouth. The flavors really jived well and we realized that this is a gem of a pizza parlor.

We will most definitely be going back. Pretty amazing za, and different from anything else in Oakland. That’s...

We had such a great experience at Hesher’s Pizza & Taproom! While waiting on our to-go order of the Cheese Master regular pizza, we played a round of Uno from their giant game closet—literally a chest with drawers full of all kinds of games. We even finished our game right as the pizza was brought out to our table!

The atmosphere is awesome—inviting, laid-back, and fun. Between the pool table, pinball machines, and all the board games, there’s something for everyone to enjoy while hanging out.

As for the pizza? Absolutely delicious. The Cheese Master hit the spot, and I loved that they included small sealed packets of red pepper flakes, cheese, and more on the side. Fresh, flavorful, and perfectly made.

The staff was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better.

Overall, 5 stars across the board. Great food, great atmosphere, and great people. Highly recommend Hesher’s if you’re looking for a fun spot to relax and enjoy...