Pleasanton Pizzeria Named Yelp Top 100 Restaurants 2nd Year In A Row

PLEASANTON, CA — Ever since former teachers Kira and Mark Zabrowski opened up their Shakespeare-themed pizzeria in Pleasanton, there’s been “Much Ado About Pizza” in the form of several prestigious rankings and awards.

The pizzeria has garnered several impressive distinctions, including:

Named one of Yelp’s 2025 Top 100 Restaurants for the second year in a row

For the second year in a row, Much Ado received some of the best user reviews and ratings on Yelp in the country. It was named #40 in 2025, up from #54 in 2024.

People’s Choice at Livermore Valley Wine & Pizza Festival

Much Ado earned the People’s Choice for Best White Wine & Pizza Pairing. Guests sampled pairings of Wood Family Vineyard Wine and pizza, and loved the pairing of sourdough pizza with chicken sausage, apple, and Gouda. The distinction was written up in Food & Wine and PMQ.

Finalists for the Tri-Valley Non-Profit Alliance’s Impact Maker Awards

Much Ado has raised funds and donated meals to local organizations like Open Heart Kitchen, Goodness Village, CityServe of the Tri-Valley, and schools. They have taken part in “Pizza Ambushes” where they deliver free pizzas to students, youth programs, and small businesses. They also partner with Slice Out Hunger, a national nonprofit connecting pizzerias with hunger relief programs across the country. Winners of the award will be announced Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Power of Giving: A Night of Inspiration at the Bankhead Theater.

3rd Place in the 3 Cheese Challenge at the California Pizza Challenge

Mark Zabrowski prepared the restaurant’s Fowl-Staff Pizza (chicken, white garlic sauce, and a mix of cheeses) at the California Pizza Challenge in August at the California Restaurant Show / Pizza Tomorrow Summit in Anaheim.

Finalist in the Big Cheese Category of the 2025 Real California Pizza Challenge

In June, Kira Zabrowski was selected as a finalist in the 2025 Real California Pizza Challenge from the California Milk Advisory Board. She was invited to compete in the “Big Cheese” category celebrating pizzas that use Real California Cheese, which is made in California using milk milk from California dairy farms, and certified by CMAB.

“We started as a passion project during the pandemic, and to see how far we’ve come is incredible,” said Kira Zabrowski in a statement about the Yelp award. “This recognition isn’t just about us—it’s about our amazing customers, the hardworking team behind the scenes, and the power of a great slice of pizza to bring people together.”

To learn more about Much Ado About Pizza and their many other awards, see here or visit muchadoaboutpizzaca.com.