A small, unassuming building by the train tracks, Village Bakery takes the crown for having the best pizza in Davis.
“We use simple, but quality, ingredients for our product. All the extra-virgin olive oil, vegetables and stuff that makes pizza good is organic,” said manager Raul Cruz. “We use a brick oven, one of the best ovens in town, and it really makes the pizza crusts better than other ovens.”
Justin Woodjack, a fourth-year Ph.D. student and frequent Village Bakery customer, loves their cheese, delicious crusts and excellent combination of ingredients.
“Their veggie pizza is my favorite. The feta cheese really adds that special kick you didn’t know you needed until you had it,” Woodjack said. “A huge component of what makes pizza good is just tasty cheese, and they got it right.”
Pizza sold by the slice, with veggie, pepperoni and cheese being the usual offerings, provides instant gratification for walk-ins. Customers can also choose from the 13 flavors of 16-inch whole pizzas for pickup or delivery.
“Our brick oven bakes pizzas in just five minutes, so customers are usually surprised by how little they need to wait before picking up their orders,” Cruz said.
Woodjack also praised some other popular flavors: Spinach and Margherita. The Spinach is made with white garlic/pesto sauce, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and goat cheese, while the Margherita comes with fresh mozzarella, basil, garlic and fresh tomatoes.
Lunchtime tends to be busy because of their $5.50 lunch deal, which includes a slice of pizza, drink and salad.
They also make artisan bread, pastries and desserts. Pastries are sold for $1 after 5 p.m., and they donate some of their bread to the homeless.
“I love the character at Village Bakery,” Woodjack said. “It’s really casual. You just walk in, grab a slice and sit on the patio or go about your business. It’s really great for train-farers since it’s right by the Amtrak station.”
Village Bakery opened the restaurant Village Pizza and Grill on G Street, which Cruz assured serves the same pizza, but uses a different kind of oven. Cruz recommends going there if you want beer with your meal.
Pizza lovers can also get their fix at Woodstock’s at 219 G St. in downtown (second-place winner), or grab a slice between classes at the ASUCD Coffee House (third-place winner).
— Cristina Fries
