‘Pizza,’ ‘Gourmet’ together at last

Pizza Sola 412-681-7652 114 Atwood St., Oakland Mon. – Wed., 11:30 a.m. – midnight, Thur. -… Pizza Sola 412-681-7652 114 Atwood St., Oakland Mon. – Wed., 11:30 a.m. – midnight, Thur. – Sat. 11:30 a.m – 3:00 a.m. Sun. 12:30 p.m. -midnight Class is eating away into my eating time. There is not enough time to prepare and savor a home-cooked meal. Gone are the mid-semester wasabi-encrusted tuna steaks; in comes the pizza.’ Oakland is home to more than its fair share of pizza joints, but Pizza Sola stands above the rest. Closeted between Forbes and Fifth avenues on Atwood Street, it is a pizza paradise. Descend the stairs into Pizza Sola’s dining area, and prepare to be stunned. Crowded mahogany tables boast places for gloves, hats and jackets. Ron Burgundy would be proud.’ As my two friends and I waited in line, our eyes feasted on the various selections of pizza. Pies as big as Michael Phelps’ wingspan decorated the countertop. The glass was the only thing keeping us from reaching out and grabbing a slice. This was not pizza in the traditional college sense. This was pizza with gourmet toppings ‘mdash; there were intriguing combinations, including fried eggplant or Kalamata olives. Prices were something that might raise new and troubling questions, but the slices are large. Fresh mozzarella and ricotta doesn’t normally come cheap, but at Pizza Sola, two slices will get you ready to go back and hit the books, all for roughly $7. The man behind the counter took our order. We took a slice of the primavera, a heaping pie served New York-style with romano and mozzarella cheeses, fried eggplant, roasted red peppers, mushrooms and onions (slice $4, small $13 and large $17). We also grabbed a slice of the vesuvia, which is more of a pizza bianca lavished with fresh garlic and olive oil, mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken, onions and tomatoes (slice $3.50, small $12 and large $16).’ For good measure, we ordered a whole pie of the greco, another white pizza, served with healthy spinach, fresh tomatoes and a blend of feta and mozzarella cheeses (slice $3.50, small $12 and large $16). Our slices were in the oven the moment we ordered them. By the time we had ordered drinks and paid, they were hot and sitting on our table. I bit into the primavera first. My greedy lips were greeted by a delicious sauce that did not overpower the cheese or vegetables. My friend, who is a self-described ‘vanilla eater,’ enjoyed the fusion of pizza and eggplant so much that he refused to honor his commitment to give me his slice after ‘just a taste.” The vesuvia was definitely delicious, but not on the same plane as the primavera. The bianca balanced garlic, chicken and tomato nicely, but it didn’t have the same punch as the marinara sauce. That’s what really made the primavera ‘mdash; the perfect blend of oregano and basil in the sauce. It wasn’t too sugary like Papa John’s, but it had an element of sweetness, enhanced by roasted red peppers.’ We finished these two slices as a kind of appetizer, and we were already full. Yet an entire pie was on the way. That’s the beauty of Pizza Sola. The prices seem high, but you only need one or two slices for a full meal. The greco was brought out to us, although it was clearly our responsibility to pick it up. It was a nice touch in an industry usually devoid of customer service. It was steaming when we opened the box, and even though I wasn’t hungry, I took a bite. Feta blended with mozzarella in a cheese marriage made in dairy heaven. The crust, hot and crispy, was by far the best in Oakland. It wasn’t dense, but rather light and buttery. It was the kind of crust that you hope is left over by some strange friend who refuses to eat it.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pizza Sola is a great new place for students. It’s open late for those cramming sessions that you’re about to embark on, and the pizza is delicious and unique. Pizza Sola is a place to sit down and enjoy your pizza. You don’t have to pick up the pie sitting on the oven, made half an hour ago. On your next night out, try Pizza Sola.