Little Star - Grand Opening in Albany

today was the opening of little star pizza in albany. having seen it on the 7x7 list, i knew i HAD to go there and i brought along michelle and sarah. i expected it to be packed and bustling but it wasn't quite so.
since the only other deep dish pizza place in the bay area that i've had is zachary's that is what i'll compare the restaurant and the pizza to.
first, the ambiance- urban/ modern- salvaged wood paneling in dark bluish hues, modernish art, orange and white lights above the bar. michelle called the atmosphere "cold" as the weather was a tad chilly, and the door was wide open, bringing in a breeze, but the colors and lack of people and lack of the loud bustling noise that i was used to at zachary's, i sort of understood. yet i was intrigued and liked the feel and colors. one art work was fun, looked liked a bunch of swiggles but they were some faces within.
the service was fine. we had an amiable server. only downer was that their credit card machine was broken and so he told us when the check came out that it was cash only.... bad on their part.
now finally the pizza. we got the little star: spinach blended with feta and ricotta, mushrooms, onions and garlic, akin to zachary's spinach and mushroom. less tomato sauce than zachary's so less tart, less filling than zachary's, nice garlic topping i wasn't used to from zachary's, and a cornmeal crust that's very different than zachary's. i couldn't make up my mind about the cornmeal crust. it was savory and very tasty, just had a grainy feel to it, which wasn't a bad thing, just new and interesting. also i couldn't taste the feta, neither could sarah who does NOT like feta. all in all. i really enjoyed the pizza and i can't say that it is better than zachary's- they are different and i like the differences. the leftovers were put into foil swans which i found odd, first, pizza, really, and second, it fold the pizza a bit. cute though, i guess :)