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Admittedly, when I first heard about Quarter Sheets during the pandemic, it didn’t fall on my radar. Contrary to what many people have been saying for years, LA is one of the best pizza cities in the US, so a pizza pop-up joint was nothing revolutionary.
In March 2024, while I was driving down Sunset Blvd. I noticed a line of people that went around the block. I pulled over. What is it? I thought. I entered the address on Google Maps and found that it was Quarter Sheets.
Seeing all these people in line made me want to try it and see what the hype was about, so when I got home, I did some research. The story of how the owners started selling pizza out of their Glendale home during the pandemic, and the impact they’ve made in the LA pizza scene in such a short amount of time is impressive. If this isn’t enough, Quarter Sheets was also featured in the Michelin Guide and the New York Times’s 2023 list of the 50 best restaurants in the United States.
Photo by Brian van der Brug
From being lauded in LA’s most prestigious food magazines to attracting Angelenos willing to wait almost two hours in line, it’s clear that Quarter Sheets has cemented their status as pizza royalty in LA.
But, how did this all happen? If you’re familiar with my blog, you know I love a good backstory!
Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin met in 2010 in San Francisco while working at Cotogna, an upscale Italian restaurant. In 2019, when they moved to Los Angeles, Aaron went on to work as a private chef and Hannah as a pastry chef.
When the pandemic hit, Aaron would deliver his handmade bread and Hannah used her pastry expertise to sell cakes under the name House of Gluten on Instagram. As Aaron began to perfect his bread recipe for his pizzas, Quarter Sheets was born. Originally, the business was called Quarter Sheets X House of Gluten.
Photo by @quartersheets (left) and @pinkusaru (right)
Pizza and cake! 🍕🍰 Aaron and Hannah said that they loved this combination because it was very reminiscent of a kid’s birthday party — it was fun and festive.
During the pandemic, people flocked to their charming bungalow house in Glendale to get their hands on Hannah’s prized desserts and Aaron’s creative pan-style pizzas. Like most pop-up businesses at that time, it was pre-order only through Instagram. By the fall of 2020, Quarter Sheets had already amassed a cult following in LA, becoming one of the most successful pop-ups that year. The pandemic was a time that heightened the sense of loneliness, but pop-up businesses provided comfort and human interaction.
Hannah and Aaron shared on Eater.com: “Hospitality is a source of human connection. When we started doing this out of our house, no one had any human connection. There’s been so much access to us, and we’ve been very open the entire time.”
The ever-present parrot is an homage to their mascot named Roni. In the brick-and-mortar, Hannah and Aaron also made sure to reference their beloved Glendale. 🦜🍍
In October 2021, Hannah and Aaron secured their current space in Echo Park on a residential street off Sunset Blvd. In January 2022, when Quarter Sheets officially opened, the wait times could be up to two hours. Depending on how busy it is, sometimes the line goes around the block, like that Saturday night while I was driving on Sunset Blvd. It’s first come, first served.
Anyone would call Quarter Sheet’s pizzas Detroit-style. However, Aaron doesn’t want to label them 100% Detroit-style, but rather “Detroit-ish” pan-style pizzas.
For those who don’t know, Detroit-style pizza has a bubbly and airy focaccia bread crust. It’s topped with Wisconsin brick cheese, which is laid all over the pan and makes for crispy burnt cheese edges. I’ve had Chicago-style pizza before, but not Detroit-style.
I went there on a Friday afternoon before their opening time, which is 5pm Wednesday to Saturday. After a brief downpour, I waited in my car until 4:40. When I approached the door, six people were already waiting in line! Others have reported that sometimes there are about between 25 and 50 people. Wow! I was very surprised by the unassuming exterior, but then I was pleasantly surprised by the small and cozy space inside.
After I checked in with the host, I requested to be seated at the bar.
There were framed pictures on the wall and other knickknacks that resembled someone’s dining room more than restaurant. It had a 90s/early 00’s funky feel to it. Aaron and Hannah mentioned that the pictures and knickknacks in the space were found on Etsy and flea markets. I love the disco ball in the entrance, which was something that Hannah and Aaron also had on their front porch.
The other half of the space, with brick walls, upholstered stools and pendant lights, resembled a small pub.
I didn’t look up the menu before I went, but I knew that I wanted three slices. However, the waiter highly suggested getting two because they were very thick and filling. After a quick glance at the menu, I chose the Vodka Pesto and the Pepperoni slice. I asked for his recommendations, and he said that those were good choices. Before jumping straight to the pizza, most people seemed to order the Gem & Chicory salad. About ten minutes later, plates of crisp and luscious lettuce were being lined up on the serving window. Some of their menu items are permanent, but they usually rotate their pan-style pizzas and cakes.
While I was waiting, I Googled Quarter Sheets on my phone and the picture I kept coming across the most was the Tomato slice with ricotta cheese on top. I didn’t know when I was going to go back, so I ordered it as well.
The Pepperoni and the Vodka Pesto slices came first. My waiter was right, they were thick! I wasn’t able to eat all of it, so I took plenty of leftovers home.
The bubbly focaccia bread tasted like sourdough and had a pillowy soft texture. It felt like I was biting into a cloud! The bright flavorful tomato sauce was another standout. There was nothing special about the pepperonis. It was all about the bread, the sauce, and the burnt crispy cheese edges.
The rich vodka sauce with the fluffy bread made every bite so delicious. There was also pistachio pesto and bits of juicy sausage, but the vodka sauce stole the show.
If there’s one main takeaway from eating at Quarter Sheets is that their sauces are another level! Aaron really mastered the art of making perfect bread with heavenly housemade sauces. This perfect combination is what sets them apart from other pizza places in LA.
My Tomato slice arrived with a perfect mound of ricotta cheese on top. This was a Sicilian-style slice.
I’m so happy I ordered it because it ended up being my favorite out of the three. What won me over was the simplicity of the ingredients. I loved how the deeply rich tomato sauce and the smooth texture of the ricotta cheese melded with the fluffy, spongy bread. Had I known how good it was, I’d probably have ordered two in the first place. Unlike the other “Detroit-ish” slices, the dough wasn’t too thick.
You can’t go to Quarter Sheets and not order dessert! After all, the desserts are a big part of what made Quarter Sheets what is today. I ordered the princess cake, which was the dessert I’d come across the most and they also happened to have it! The waiter made his way to the fridge and got a small box. Then, he proceeded to put the slice on the plate.
The princess cake is a very popular Swedish dessert. With layers of spongy cake, raspberry jam and whipped cream, it’s topped with a dome of pistachio green marzipan and powdered sugar. As I was eating the princess cake, with the airy and spongy layers, I felt like I was transported to a kid’s birthday party. The tartness of the raspberry jam with the spongy cake was a delightful combination.
Here’s a picture of the princess cake
Hannah’s princess cake comes in many colors! This is the version she serves at Quarter Sheets, which is easier to cut.
If you order the whole cake, you will get it with the dome-shaped marzipan.
In an interview with Taste.com, Hannah, who grew up in LA, said:
“I grew up eating princess cake every year for my birthday—that is the cake I selected as a child. There’s a Hungarian bakery in LA inside of Gelson’s called Viktor Benes, that’s where we got them from. Even into adulthood, Aaron gets me princess cake every year for my birthday. I take great joy in introducing people to that cake year after year. Not a lot of people have heard of it.”
Conclusions
So… Is Quarter Sheets the best pizza in LA?
As a first-timer eating this type of pizza, it felt like I was eating sourdough bread with toppings. After this experience, I’m partial to Neapolitan pizza. I prefer a thinner crust where I can appreciate the toppings without the heaviness of a 1.5” crust. I was in a food coma when I left Quarter Sheets. The combination of the thick focaccia bread, the layers of cheese and the toppings felt heavy on my stomach. Except for the Sicilian slice, the other slices were all about the bread and the rich sauces. In an interview, Hannah and Aaron said that Quarter Sheets was a bakery that happened to make great pizzas. This proves my point that at Quarter Sheets, the bread comes first and foremost.
As I was eating the slices, I wasn’t thinking about driving 30 minutes and waiting in line to relive this experience. There are many other places I can think of when the pizza cravings kick in. I enjoyed Quarter Sheets, but it wasn’t life-changing, nor did it make me want to join the “pizza club”, as they refer to their community of loyal devotees. If I have family visiting and I want to impress them by taking them to the “best” pizza place in LA, Quarter Sheets wouldn’t be my first option.
The pizza slices are fairly priced, but the whole pies are about $35. It’s a splurge pizza meant to be shared. My total was $36, which isn’t too bad considering how much I ate. I definitely got my money’s worth! If I ever go back, I’d order a light appetizer, a pizza slice, and of course, one slice of cake!
Hannah’s princess cake was excellent, but it wasn’t something I’d never tried before. There are a few places in LA that also sell princess cake, like Copenhagen Pastry in Culver City, where you can get a slice for $6. This is why, I’m very interested in trying her other desserts, which look absolutely stunning. If Hannah ever decides to open her own bakery, I’d be there in a heartbeat!
A few reviews mention how overpriced the desserts are, but in LA, paying between $10-$20 for dessert is the standard at any restaurant. The slice of the princess cake was very generous and could have been split between two people.
In 2023, Hannah was awarded the title of Best New Chef by the prestigious Food & Wine magazine. So, if the dessert prices seem steep, remember that you’re also paying for the name behind it.
Photos by Eva Kolenko
Although pizza and takeout go hand in hand, I wouldn’t order takeout from Quarter Sheets. The crazy fees are the biggest deterrent.
A customer who ordered takeout uploaded this picture of her bill. I’m all about paying more for quality, but $100 for two pizzas and a slice of cake is excessive, especially for takeout. 🙁 The best way to avoid the fees and experience the full menu is by dining in.
Here’s another one
Another important thing! If you’re going with someone, I’d highly suggest going together. Parking is a nightmare in this area and they won’t sit you unless your party is with you, so plan accordingly.
I’ve come across a few reviews that mention how informative and interactive the servers are. Unfortunately, my interaction with my waiter was very minimal. In many places, when you tell them that it’s your first time, they give you a full breakdown of the menu, as well as their recommendations. This didn’t happen. When I asked for the check, he gave me the card reader with the due amount and didn’t pick it up after I paid. I stayed a little longer drinking water and taking in the atmosphere, but the card reader was still with me. When I turned around, I was surprised because there wasn’t a line of people waiting. My waiter occasionally made eye contact with me, but when I left, he didn’t acknowledge me whatsoever. As far as customer service is concerned, my experience was very lackluster.
Quarter Sheets’ social media presence and warm interactions with their customers in 2020 have played a big role in their success. On their Instagram posts from 2020, they referred to their customers as club members, which solidifies a sense of belonging and inclusion.
This brings me to my next question. If the pandemic never happened, do you think their brick-and-mortar would have had the same level of success?
I hope this was an informative post! If you’re a pizza purist and you don’t care for other pizza styles, this place may not make the cut. Otherwise, it’s definitely worth the try!
Quarter Sheets: website and Instagram
Address: 1305 Portia St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 5pm – 9 pm
Sunday 12:00-2:30pm – 3:30pm-6pm
