This week on the podcast, we’re excited to interview Laura Meyer, three-time pizza champion and owner of Pizzeria Da Laura in Berkeley, CA. Let’s dive in!
Humble Pizza Beginnings
From a young age, Laura Meyer was surrounded by pizza. Her first job was in her hometown’s popular local pizzeria, Pyzano’s Pizza. Where she fell in love with the atmosphere, energy, and, of course, the pizza!
Working at Pyzano’s was where Laura Meyer met her pizza mentor, Tony Gemignani, whom she worked alongside for many years, perfecting her craft and realizing her passions for food, community, and hospitality.
In 2013, after years of perfecting her craft, Laura traveled to Italy and won her first-ever pizza competition in Parma. She was the first American and the first woman to ever win in the Pizza in Teglia category.
After 20 years of pizza partnership with Tony, Laura took the leap and opened Pizzeria Da Laura in Berkeley in 2023.
Becoming a Female Leader in the Berkeley Restaurant Industry
In an industry historically dominated by men, Laura Meyer provides a fresh outlook on what it is to be a leader and how she has achieved her impressive success. But it didn’t come easy.
“I’ve had to fight for things I’ve wanted to do and put myself out there a lot,” she explained. “My whole mentality has been to say yes to everything and figure it out as I go. You won’t get a lot of opportunities if you don’t jump.”
Her competitive nature has motivated Chef Laura to do a lot of things she may not have otherwise tried. “My fear does not stop me; it’s actually what pushes me to keep going and to break the barrier.”
It’s certainly working. Pizzeria Da Laura welcomes new customers every week, with locals and travelers alike stopping in for a slice of Berkeley’s best.
Where Community Meets Quality & Modern Style
After two decades in the industry, Chef Laura knew exactly what she wanted her own pizzeria to look and feel like. “I consider myself an honorary Italian, and the pizza we serve at Laura’s is true Italian-style pizza.”
At Laura’s, guests can choose from four iconic pizza styles: New York, Detroit, Sicilian, or Grandma’s style. Laura’s offers a unique ordering style by encouraging diners to choose their crust style and topping combinations, in a way that makes every pie designed to be shared with others.
Laura highly recommends the Ray J pizza. Inspired and named after her brother, the pie offers double pepperoni with burrata, fresh basil, and garlic-fermented honey.
Bringing Community Together One Slice at a Time
At Laura’s, you won’t find the classic Italian-style pizzeria, but something more modern and ambiguous. The space is community-focused, with touches of art decó and earthy tones throughout to inspire conversations around sustainability.
Above all else, Chef Laura wanted to create a space that feels warm, welcoming, and filled with good energy.
“I love to look out and see a full restaurant and see how happy everyone is. That’s all thanks to the pizza,” Laura said. “I love knowing that there are conversations happening out in the world, and people are talking about what to have for dinner. Somebody says, “Let’s go to Laura’s.”
Hats off to Chef Laura for creating delicious pizza in a community-centric, sustainable restaurant in downtown Berkeley.
Find Pizzeria Da Laura Online
To learn more about Chef Laura, visit PizzeriaDaLaura.com or visit her Instagram @PizzeriaDaLaura.
Catch the whole podcast interview at Pizza Story Podcast and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get updates whenever a new episode goes live!