Benchmark Pizzeria

Tasty new pasta! Roasted butternut squash and roasted garlic, fried sage and burrata.

Tagliatelle with purple artichokes from #starroutefarms, mint, garlic, and grana. On the menu tonight!

On Sunday, we will open up indoors but in *very* limited capacity, below the 25 percent allowed. As you may know, we have two dining rooms, and we will seat one party in each at a time. Max 6 people in back, max 4 in front. We are grateful our staff is vaccinated, but want to move forward cautiously for public good. Under this plan, there is more than enough space and air for people to dine safely. Of course we always have ample room outside in our parklet as well!

May we suggest a delicious Monday night meal? Gnocchi with Manila clams followed by asparagus & arugula with burrata. Filling & nutritious!

We were featured briefly in this news feature by NBC's Today Show on the future of restaurants. Such a nice group - the reporter Jake Ward, producer Chiara Sottile, and the camera crew - all friendly & fun professionals. We had a longer interview that didn't make it in, but still wanted to share our 10 seconds of fame :) https://www.today.com//what-will-going-out-to-theaters-res

New today: Linguine with asparagus & broccolini. There’s some cream and lemon and nasturtium flowers too- so tasty! Also: The quarantine quencher! A delicious non alcoholic hibiscus tonic boosted with lemon and spearmint. Serve it over the rocks with lemon or pair it with your favorite spirit.

New to our online offerings: Italian vermouths & apertivi, as well as some sherry. Limited quantities, available until supplies last. We are clearing out the inventory from our Oakland location, and prices are just above wholesale. Good opportunity to add to your home bar or give a gift.

New: Buy an individual portion of our housemade pasta. 4.5 ounces of either strozzapreti, spaghetti, or fusilli. $7/each. Also isn’t it the perfect day for sparkling rosé? But a bottle tonight for $18, maybe to pair with our lovely potato-turnip appetizer. The green garlic aioli and cilantro blossoms really make this dish!

New tonight: Winter Vegetable Soup for two. This hearty mix of shelling beans, beets, cauliflower, and leeks is so delicious and comforting. $12 for 2-12ounce portions. Also all wine $18 tonight! Toggle to drinks on our online menu to order, see photo.

Our friends at Dirty Girl Produce, a small organic farm in Santa Cruz, have put together some amazing produce boxes for sale, and Benchmark is its latest hub! Thursday pick up between 5-7pm - maybe grab one of our $18 Thirsty Thursday wines and a pizza too. There's a perishable and non-perishable box. Check it out! Begins next week, 3/26. https://www.toasttab.com/benchmark-pizzeria-kensington/v3

Come and try this delicious Sicilian cauliflower fusilli at our window bar! This vegan pasta has sultana raisins, saffron, parsley, evoo, and breadcrumbs. So tasty! #inspiredbysicily #pasta #windowbar

A lovely bowl of beets, blood oranges, escarole, and parsley. Thanks #starroutefarm for the always beautiful greens!

Have you tried this yet? It’s short ribs, braised in quince and cippoline, too see over our toothy rigatoni and topped with burrata cheese. Pretty fantastic! #pasta #burrata #shortribs

Crazy sourdough bubbles in the wood oven.

Try our new cava cocktail! Sparkling water, loganberry liqueur, lemon! Perfect for this hot night.

Join us in Oakland on September 26th for an author dinner with Homeroom's founder and former owner Allison Arevalo!

Shameless promotion for our longtime friends and loyal Benchmark customers, who just opened @phasefit.gym in Albany. Check out Albany’s newest and best gym, just minutes from the restaurant! This place has excellent and supportive trainers and the experience to help you reach your goals. @jencord1 @saraphasefit