Pizza in the mornin' pizza in the evenin'

This weekend was our local art Open Studios, meaning local businesses and homes displayed local artists' works from 12pm-4pm for viewing and purchasing. Most locations that I've lived in have done this and I try to catch it every year. In the past, I've bought postcard-sized prints of artwork because it's cheapest that way and still pretty to frame. 

Recently my husband suggested doing a "pizza tour" of our town meaning try every pizza shop in a 5 mile radius that we would ever potentially order pizza from in order to have some data to back up our decision. We tend to order from one place because it's definitely good, but there are plenty of places equally as close by that we've either written off as sketchy or probably bad. It was time to test our hypotheses.

In order to make our day more well rounded, we opted to combine feeding our bodies with feeding our souls with art. And by that I mean alternated art exhibits with pizza exhbits. The following are the highlights of our pizza walk. Note: I have absolutely no photo documentation of the art we saw, nor will I comment any further on that part of our day. Meaning, our pizza walk was way better than the art I saw this year.

On the itinerary:
Oversized Pizza
George's Pizza
Natick Pizza
Pizza Plus
Pizza Peddler
Theo's Pizza
Natalie's Pizza Kitchen

Adam and I both brought notebooks. We ordered one slice at each place and split the slice. You will notice that as the reviews proceed that we begin to comment on different variables based on the experiences of previous slices. In sum, various factors that came to be important emerged from the data as it was gathered rather than us having entered the process with a preconceived, rigid theory.

While I opted to include a quantitative measure of the pizza along three dimensions on a scale of 1-5 (Crust, Cheese, and Sauce), we both were sure to include qualitative commentary and ratings of intangibles.

In addition, we brought along two items in order to provide some scale: Gilligian of Gilligan's Island. And for inter-rater reliability, Boba Fett of Star Wars

Oversized Pizza
 

 

Cost: $2/slice

Jessie:

Crust: 4

Thin, crip outside, ideal doughy inside, could be a little thicker

Cheese: 4

Good amount, "over cooked"--in a good way, burned taste, I like it

Sauce: 1

very little, not even judgeable

Size of slice was not mind blowing despite their ad, "Biggest slice for $2." It's only like 2 Gilligans.

Adam:

• Slices are not oversized
• Smaller crust
• good consistency though
• doughy
• Could have a little more sauce
• Somewhat on the thinner side
• Generally unimpressive due to hefty claims of grandeur
• Flies and uninviting interior of restaurant

George's Pizza

 

Cost: $1.25/slice

 

Jessie:

Very small, not hot

Crust: 3 

Bland, standard thickness which is not my ideal, no doughyness

Cheese: 3

Bland, nothing notable, though ideal amount

Sauce: 1

Very ltitle, not judgeable

Faster service, which is appreciated after Oversized Pizza

Adam:

• Good thickness
• Good ratio of cheese: bread: sauce
• Could have slightly more sauce
• Crust thick, but could be a little less crunchy
• Slice very small, but cheap
• Could be a little more flavorful (sauce)
• Didn't offer to warm up
• Good interior, inviting, CASH ONLY

 As you can see, Adam and I have totally opposite opinions on this one. George's was one of my least favorites because it was boring and I prefer thinner crust than he does whereas he liked this ratio. In contrast, he did not like Oversized Pizza at all because of the thin crust and because of "the bubbled, uneven crust and cheese"--which I deemed charming and a sign of homemade-ness.

Pizza Plus

 Cost: $2

Jessie:

Perfect size, flavorful--would surprisingly eat again

Greasy, floppy, cold but for some reason I don't mind this time, Crisp end of crust, thin

Crust: 2

For floppiness

Cheese: 2

For greassiness

Sauce:1 

For lack of

Because I think I enjoyed this pizza more than the total score reflects I am adding 1.5 bonus points. The poor scores may reflect a deep seated bias that originated when we first moved in 2 years ago and our landlord said, "Never go to pizza plus", despite it being the nearest to us.

Adam:

• Size normal
• Very thin
• Tasty spices/good flavor 
• Not warmed up
• Crust-small but pretty solid
• A little greasy-took away from flavor 

Natick Pizza Palace

Does not sell by the slice
Adam and Jessie: FAIL

Pizza Peddler

 

Cost: $2.13

Jessie:

Squat, but ideal size

Physically attractive, perfect temperature

Cheese: 5

Ideal consistency and amount

Crust: 4 

good thickness, crispy; but lack of doughyness plus 1-2 burn splotches 

Sauce: 3

good amount, but lack of flavor (spice)

   

Adam:

• Good thickness
• Served warm
• Tasted a bit reheated-->I bet would be more natural if a whole pie were purchased
• Good amount of sauce
• Could be a bit spicier
• Similar to Lando's
• Crunchy crust-some burn
• Very nice and welcoming interior
• On the expensive side
• Attractive presentation

Theo's Pizza

 

Cost: $2.14

Jessie:

Nice interior, great music (Katy Perry)

Good scent, good flavor

Smallish

Precut!

Crust: 3

Thick, yet soggy?? Good crisp end

Cheese: 3

Too much

Sauce: 4

good amount and flavor

Adam:

• Pre-cut for sharing--nice touch
• Thicker
• Lots of sauce
• Bottom very soft-Greasy all the way through?
• Similar in taste and appeal to Acton HOP
• Crust OK
• Interior very appealing->Not what I expected based on outside 

Nathalie's Pizza Kitchen

Cost: $1.87

Jessie:
...Getting full
Excited to see my old friend, Nathalie's Pizza
Can't beat price : size ratio
Consistency and text of cheese and crust ideal
Crust: 5
The flavor! Usually not something I've noticed. Texture!
Cheese: 4
Sauce: 3
Less flavor than I had expected

Adam:

• Good presentation
• Served warm
• Good ratios
• Not the thickest slice, but holds up very well-> Not floppy
• Quality crunch, but not a crunchy slice
• Subtle flavor
• Good doughy crust--could be a little bigger

WHAT A DAY! So, ultimately, Nathalie's won and this is the place we go to anyway so if you want a be a jerk you could say that our day really accomplished nothing.
However, I sure did learn a lot about my pizza preferences and this makes me a more cultured person.

Adam and my hierarchy of pizza did not agree except the top two, which is all that really matters:
1) Nathalie's
2) Pizza Peddler, with the qualification that we order a whole pie because apparently the slice tasted "reheated" (I have no idea what he's talking about.)