Mike C.
Yelp
Going to school here in the late '70's and early '80's, I was one of many starving students who sought post-library study sessions who sought something to fill my empty stomach before calling it a night. The options were Top Dog, Carolina's Pizza, or Giant Burger for take and go options. For those wanting to sit down and get a beer and pizza upstairs or a fresh grilled burger downstairs, Kip's was the place.
Sometime in or around 1980, a new kid on the block opened on Telegraph Avenue and students migrated to Blondie's Pizza. Open late? Check. Big thick slice? Check. Wallet friendly? Triple check.
In recent years after leaving, I noticed how Telegraph Ave has evolved. For a while, I'd heard that a competitor (Fat Slice - closed 2019, just before the world chamged) was the place until one year they both were gone.
I'd been in the area for concerts over the past few years and often lamented about those old time places. I was shocked when I saw the entrance (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=LLSPI5rU-6E5t3ehDZ6Fzg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) and asked my concert companion whether this was okay for a pre-performance meal. The layout is substantially different and the dining area is about the same size given the addition of the beverage refrigerator and the order stations; in other words, it's still small. After a quick study of the menu, we both ordered the pepperoni slices (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ENbmX9hR5u-57P2GxglQyQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) at one of the order stations. I thought it would be a quick turn around, seeing the prepped pies displayed on the counter (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=4hgNHoT3DPMY1s8QJmCl2g&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). It was about an eight-minute wait as I watched the kitchen put our slices in the oven before boxing them as requested. The seating area was full of high school students as we waited but cleared by the time we started to eat. There were condiments at the cashier window but the parmesan cheese shaker was pretty much empty. When I took that first bite, it was okay but definitely didn't bring back those memories from thirty plus years ago. The crust was thick and one note for me and the toppings were just okay as it's hard to impress with tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni slices. Bottom line, it filled out tummies before our trek up the hill to Greek Theater.
The visit brought back some memories but, knowing the history, it just didn't wow me. I like their typical Berkeley policy of returning the empty box (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=r34zeVQwROgFWGA0CmMwnQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) to the cashier so that it can be used again. It's still Berkeley, just not the Berkeley where I used to live and study.