I had never squeezed a lemon over my pizza before. Now I do it every time. That one small squeeze over a white pie changes the whole thing — and I learned that trick sitting in a green booth at Bodega Slice Shop right here on Main Street.
As a local, I've eaten a lot of pizza in this town. Bodega is different. It's the kind of New York-style slice that holds up to anything you'd get in an actual New York pizza shop. Once you try it, your pizza bar moves up a notch.
Walk in and you'll see a long counter full of big, beautiful whole pies. There's a Classic Pepperoni with perfectly curled pieces on top, a Vegetable Combo loaded with artichokes, olives, roasted tomatoes, and red onion, and a Chicken Bacon Ranch that you will think about for days. The cheese is bubbly, the toppings are generous, and the crust is the best part. It has great chew, a little char, and real structure. Everything is just as good as it looks.
You can get a whole pie, but the smart move is a slice. Walk up to the counter, grab a paper plate, and find a booth. That's the whole experience.
The menu is on a big chalkboard above the booths. It's easy to read and not too long — pizza, salads, and a few extras. A short menu like that means the kitchen knows what it's doing and isn't trying to do too much at once.
Open seven days a week at 148 Main Street. Walk in or call ahead at (530) 592-3434. More at bodegasliceshop.square.site.
If you're already spending time downtown — maybe you've been losing an hour at the bookstore or working through your inbox at one of the neighborhood spots that double as an office — Bodega is the lunch that makes the whole afternoon better.
Trust me on this one. Get downtown, grab a slice, and ask them for a lemon. Your pizza standards will never be the same.