A highly acclaimed Roman-style pizzeria in Berkeley’s upscale Fourth Street district is closing up shop. The owners of Pollara Pizzeria, which first opened in 2019, shared the news on Instagram that the restaurant’s last day will be June 25.
“After 23 years of making the Bay Area our home, opening 3 business, raising 2 kids, and forming countless beautiful relationships — we have decided to take a big leap and move back to New Jersey,” read the Instagram post. “… While we’re excited to be closer to family and start this next chapter of our lives, it’s an emotional moment.”
Owners Jon and Kayta Smulewitz also formerly ran two Oakland businesses: Sicilian restaurant Dopo, which closed in 2020 after nearly two decades, and Adesso, an Italian wine bar and salumi spot that closed in 2017.
The couple was inspired to open Pollara Pizzeria after eating at a pizza al taglio restaurant in Rome, where rectangular pizzas are ordered by weight and cut with scissors, reported the San Francisco Chronicle at the time (the Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms). Former Chronicle food critic Soleil Ho raved over their pizzas in 2021, calling them “airy” and “like a fancy toast in disguise.”
“We are humbled by all of you who’ve supported, loved, and broken bread with us over the years,” continued the Instagram post. “… We’ve had the honor of attending weddings for couples who met at our restaurants and now have their own families. We’ve enjoyed watching all of the great cooks, servers, and staff who’ve come through our doors branch out on their own unique paths.”
The Smulewitzes also shared in the Instagram post that while they aren’t yet sure what their next venture will be once they move to New Jersey, they “have some ideas in the works.” SFGATE could not reach Pollara Pizzeria for comment in time for publication.
Pollara Pizzeria, 1788 Fourth St., Berkeley. Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through June 25.