A Bay Area pizzeria that the New York Times recently named one of the best in the country is expanding its footprint.

Rose Pizzeria, at 1960 University Ave. in downtown Berkeley, has served up stellar thin-crust pies out of a tiny blue storefront since 2021. Despite the size, it hasn't taken long for folks to find the pizza spot. Just three years after Rose Pizzeria opened to gushing local reviews, Brian Gallagher of the NYT wrote: "In a place where you can't swing a pie without hitting a fermentation-happy sourdough pizza joint, Rose stands apart."

Now, owners Gerad Gobel and Alexis Rorabaugh are ready to stand apart too, branching off from their pizza hit to open Cafe Brusco in January 2025.

The new all-day cafe from the team will live just down the street from Rose, at 2000 University Ave., and feature coffee, sandwiches and pastries, with wine and snacks in the evening, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)

The menu, which won't include pizza, will feature savory panini, such as roasted sweet potato with feta cheese and a Calabrian chili aioli, as well as a mortadella breakfast sandwich. Pastries will be supplied by Oakland's Good Luck Bakery, complemented by coffee from Counter Culture Coffee. When the wines come out at night (for around $10 per glass), patrons can expect Lambruscos, natural wines from local producers, and a variety of Italian and other European offerings.

Upon walking in, patrons will find a "cozy" space with black-and-white checkered floors, blue walls and pendant lights hanging from the ceiling. The cafe seats around 20 people, and when the weather is warm enough, the large, sliding windows in the front will connect the people inside and outside.

Cafe Brusco's 2025 opening may not be the only step that Gobel and Rorabaugh take in the new year. The duo hopes to expand Rose Pizzeria into San Francisco eventually -- potentially in North Beach, where they can do slices and delivery.