'Pizzeria da Laura' serves signature pies by award-winning pizza maker, Laura Meyer

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Award-winning pizza maker Laura Meyer is striking out on her own with her first pizza restaurant. Located in the heart of Downtown Berkeley, 'Pizzeria da Laura' is a love letter to the pizza community of the Bay Area.

"During Covid, I started a pop up, it was a focaccia pop up in San Francisco," said Meyer. "Coming out of that pop up it confirmed that opening my own restaurant was what I wanted to do."

At Pizzeria da Laura, styles and traditional methods mix for recipes that keep guests coming back for more. On the menu, find mouthwatering, signature pies.

"We offer four styles of pizza, Sicilian, Detroit, Grandma...and New York," described Meyer. "I wanted my pizzeria to be something where anyone can find something, whether someone wanted thin and crispy or someone wanted large and pillow-y."

She added, "At the same time, I wanted my pizzeria to be very cozy. I wanted it to be open and bright and feel very warm."

In addition to the welcoming hospitality, Meyer brings award-winning expertise to her pie making. She has worked in the pizza industry for two decades under the mentorship of San Francisco pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani.

"I started competing, I started participating in all of his events and working with him and learning all the different styles," recalled Meyer. "Every chance I had thrown my way, I said yes."

In 2013, Laura won first prize for pan pizza at the Pizza World Championship in Parma, Italy.

"The pizza competition world is a fierce one," said Meyer. "I was the first female, and the first American to win that category."

She added, "It definitely elevates you as a pizza maker and when you go home, your pizzeria can't help but grow from it."

For more information, visit here and follow @pizzeriadalaura on Instagram.