Leaning Tower — Restaurant in Oakland

Newest review: I keep coming back because I live right around the corner and I'm glad I did. They have really figured it out. The pizza has always been good, but the policies make sense now. They also threw a community block party, which I thought was clever, but also exactly what small neighborhood places should be doing.

Adding a new review: I have lowered to one star. It's 9:30pm on a Friday and they are closed. It's like they get paid to make sure the place goes under.

Slightly older review: The new owners have ruined this place. One size pizzas, light on toppings. And today, two pizza minimum for delivery. When you get busy, don't treat your base customers like garbage. Pizza is still okay, but go elsewhere so they sell it to someone who cares. They should just move to SF where you don't need to care about the locals.

Below is my old review - this place used to be great:

The pizza is really good, great value, lots of toppings. Where they really win is in customer service. They get it right every time and their delivery guys are super friendly. I just hurt my knee and couldn't come down my stairs. No problem, they brought it up...

There's a new pizza maker in the leaning tower, and Kabamm shazammm Issac is fantasgormic! Pizza crust much thinner, pies are much more mellenium menu/ foodie cuisine andtruly amazing. They've upped the prices, family style feel is gone but the ingredients and choices kind of demand it. I would scream "gentrification" but the Sqaush salad was so good, and the delivery guy so polite that I just can't. Besides - the old guy who was here for 30 years moved in at the same age the new guy Issac is now... change is good in this case, though the menu now is strictly pizza pie and salads. He is pretty serious about his specials, do not ask him to change them (Think Arizmindi) or add different ingredients. Really - try these guys, they're good without being pretentious and devoted to making...

Well, you might have noticed some changes in the last few years... New owners making their way. And although I like to support small local businesses, I can't recommend the pizza here.

It feels like they're trying for a bit of a gourmet experience (like four or five varieties of mushrooms, or peppers, on a custom pizza, etc.), but the flavor is always off (possibly the sauce, but I couldn't narrow it down), and the pies seem oily. The large is only 16", when it used to be massive (maybe 22"?). And the crust is not crisp enough, but that's my bias - the thin-crust Chicago-style pizza has always been better than a soggy/bready NY-style. But if you grew up on either coast, you probably grew up with bad crust, so you won't notice.

If the owners read this, I really am rooting for you -...