In Oakland’s competitive Temescal District, a small pizzeria run by Afghan immigrant brothers is gaining recognition for its exceptional New York-style slices, despite operating from a space with just five stools and a “shoebox-sized kitchen.”
Unlikely Success Story emerges from humble beginnings. Brothers Sayed Seyar, 25, and Sayed Spehar, 23, opened Pizza Ponte at 4919 Telegraph Avenue in early 2022 with no formal culinary training. After initial struggles, they completely reimagined their approach.
“We are not from that world, so that sort of opens the door for us to do anything,” Seyar told SFGate. “If you’re a trade chef, you might have to do things a certain way, but we see a different perspective.”
Culinary Transformation came through methodical research:
- Purchasing pies from every admired local pizzeria
- Upgrading to industry-standard Grande Mozzarella
- Sourcing premium Stanislaus tomatoes
- Developing a 48-hour fermentation process
Afghan Influence subtly shapes their signature dough. While the brothers keep their exact recipe confidential, they acknowledge drawing inspiration from Afghan naan, creating a crust that’s “slightly chewy on the outside and fluffy and airy on the inside.”
Business Growth validates their approach. Sales have tripled since opening, with customers traveling from as far as San Jose and Santa Cruz. The pizzeria recently secured a Williams-Sonoma catering contract for 90 pizzas and has attracted attention from PMQ Pizza, the industry’s trade publication.
Despite investment and franchising offers, the brothers remain focused on gradual improvement. “Our parents immigrated and kind of left everything so we could have a brighter future,” Seyar explained. “Just to stop here and be comfortable is not what we are about.”
