Pizza Extravaganza Wrap-Up

Well, it's that time of year pizza heads! As we reach the end of the semester, with only two weeks left, I've decided to do an end - of - semester review. For this wrap up I will focus on the four aspects I've analyzed during my pizza-eating blogger extravaganza: Crust, Sauce, Toppings, and Price. After reading this blog, you'll be able to choose your pizza wisely based on these four crucial elements.

Crust - It was a tough decision, because let's be honest who really "likes" the crust. However, I would argue if you have a tasty crust, you have yourself a tasty pizza! Bias aside, the best crust would be a tie between Chow Pizza or Mellow Mushroom. The reason being you can't go wrong with either a crust covered in cheese OR a crust basted with garlic butter. Chow's toasty, savory, roasted garlic flavored crust made it the most unique compared to all the pizzeria's I have visited in the past. It was the first thing I noticed as I began to gobble it down. It had a golden, cripsy outter layer, basted with a garlic butter oil which is what made it's taste so original. On the inside, it was warm and soft, still maintaining the strong potent garlic flavoring that cooks down while it's in the oven. Crust is an important part of pizza, especially because a lot of people want to enjoy their crust. At Chow, you're not only enjoying it but experianing a mouthful of flavor.

Sauce - Mellow Mushroom, hands down! I said it once and I'll say it again, I could drink that stuff like it was soup! It's smooth, zesty, but has a texture thick enough to satisfy you marinara sauce lovers. It has the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, mixing just the right amount of herbs and spices to create a legendary flavor. Not only do you want it underneath a plethora of delcious toppings and cheeses, but you'll want to have it on the side just for dipping.



Toppings - The pizzeria with the best toppings would have to be Lilly's pizza. It's hard for any other pizza restaurant to compete with Lilly's fresh, local-grown, all organic vegetables, meats, and cheeses. My experience at Lilly's, tasting their fresh vegetables and cheeses, is the real reason Lilly's came out on top for "Best Pizza Toppings". The green peppers and onions were crispy and juicy, like they had just been picked from the garden. The meat [pepperoni] was spicey and chewy, just how my Italian ancestors would have made it. The mozzarella and parmesean cheeses melted perfectly amongst the toppings. Lilly's toppings are what make their pizza so original and delicious. You can't beat the freshness!

Price - Deciding which Slice of the Triangle pizza place had the most reasonable prices was not difficult. The answer is obvious! Schiano's Pizza had the best deals, with a 24 inch slice ( bigger than the size of your head) for only three dollars. Not only was it cheap, but it's quantity and quality are what make the deal even better. Their true Italian style pizza with such a reasonable price has attracted the masses around Raleigh, even a few of my fellow classmates and my professor. Needless to say, Schiano's is the winner when it comes to prices.

Now that I've discussed and evaluated the pizza essentials, it's time for you to take your own adventure and discover which pizzeria is for you. Bottom line, you can't go wrong any of these four Block-Buster pizzeria's.

It's Not How It Appears at Mr. Pizza and Salad

Mr. Pizza and Salad, located off Peace Street in downtown Raleigh, proved it's not all about appearances on Monday night when I entered through their doors. The restaurant, which looks shabby from the outside, was surprisingly engaging. Looking past it's skeptical exterior, the staff, atmosphere, and food was enjoyable. The menu was full of choices and reasonably priced combos. In addition, the cashier who took my order was very friendly and polite. At Mr. Pizza and Salad, you can place your order at the register and walk over to begin creating your salad while you wait for your pizza.

The interior of the restaurant was well decorated, with paintings and big screen tv's. The salad bar, which was fresh and well stocked with various goodies was a perfect accompaniment with my slice of pizza. With topping options like carrots, red onions, cheese, croutons, broccoli, and more, the salad bar was delightful. Made for a healthy side item along with pizza. The combo of a salad, a slice of pizza, and a drink came to $6.49. An extremely reasonable price given all that was included.

The pizza itself was delicious! It wasn't anything to write home about, but you can never go wrong with New York style pizza. I ordered a slice topped with cheese, green peppers, red peppers, onions, and tomatoes. The toppings were crisp and juicy, while the sauce and cheese were warm and gooey. The base sauce was light but tasty, not too much but just enough flavor to take your taste buds to a happy place.

    

Overall, I really enjoyed Mr. Pizza and Salad. It's reasonable prices, fresh salad bar, and tasty pizza slices had me sold. "I love Mr. Pizza and Salad, it's so cheap yet so good! Perfect for lunch or a late night snack," said Jacey Quarles, William Peace University junior. Mr. Pizza and Salad is not just for the college students who roam close by, but caters to families with children or big parties who would like to enjoy their outdoor seating. It's worth the adventure!

Drinks and Deals at Ruckus Pizza

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It was an eventful Tuesday night at Ruckus Pizza and Bar. Ruckus, located off Avent Ferry Road was tucked away in the plaza across from N.C. State University. Upon entering the restaurant I was immediately impressed by the edgy atmosphere. It definitely has a bar feel with the dim lighting and laid-back staff, which really struck me as unique.





The bar at Ruckus, which takes up almost the entire back wall of the restaurant was note-worthy, as well as the deals they promoted. On Tuesday's, Ruckus offers a 1-topping, 18 inch pizza for $10, as well as drink specials. Unfortunately, I passed on the 18 inch pizza deal and chose another bargain for two slices of pizza and a drink for around 8 dollars. I also enjoyed a few delicious, staff-recommended, garlic knots before my pizza was ready. "The garlic knots are our most popular appetizer, and you wont find better deals on drinks and pizza than you will at Ruckus," said Ruckus cashier, Brian Johns. The garlic knots were warm and crispy, with the perfect zest of garlic, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and parsley flakes.

The pizza itself was to DIE for! Personally, I am a huge fan of New York Style pizza. It was cheesy and heated to just the right temperature. The warm, thin crust, was not too crispy or flimsy, but folded perfectly. The cheese was fresh and gooey, dispersed evenly amongst the pepperoni that accompanied it. The pepperoni was my chopping of choice, because honestly you can't ever go wrong with pepperoni. The meat was not overwhelming greasy and had just the right kind of spice. I enjoyed every bite.

The sauce that was underneath the stringy, mozzarella cheese, was light and zesty. With all the right elements of fresh tomato, garlic, herbs, and spices. It was not too heavy but just thick enough to melt perfectly under the cheese and fresh pepperoni.





Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Ruckus. The pizza was great, the staff and atmosphere couldn't have been better, and the fact that they offered Cheerwine to drink sealed the deal. Another great pizza spot to try in Raleigh, and another thumbs up from Slice of the Triangle. Probably not a place to take the kids, but a great place for a night out to enjoy pizza and awesome deals on drinks.

Moonlight Pizza

Moonlight Pizza certainly proved itself Tuesday night when I ventured there for my weekly pizza fix. Located off West Morgan Street (615 W. Morgan Street, Raleigh, 27603) in downtown Raleigh, Moonlight gathers a various crowd. From college kids, to older folks, to families, everyone was enjoying some pizza at Moonlight that night.

The atmosphere at Moonlight was great. It was unique with a black painted ceiling, romantic bulbed lighting, and star cut-outs that give the impression of a starry night sky. There is a plethora of booths and intimate tables that can seat both large groups or quaint couples. The whole restaurant is decorated with artwork. The parts I loved the most were the lighting and the ceiling, which really partnered well with the overall theme.


The pizza itself was amazing, I was actually shocked by how much I enjoyed it just because I didn't know what to expect after looking at the menu. The menu was overwhelming, with 10 specialty pizzas, over 40 toppings, pasta's, calzones, and salads. I looked over the specialty pizzas carefully, trying to find something that really popped out to me. I asked our waitress, who preferred to remain anonymous, what her favorite pizza was. "I love the Blue Moon Specialty pizza, because it's different but delicious! No one would ever think pine nuts would be great on a pizza," she said. The most interesting thing I observed about the menu were in fact the toppings, which were very original. From roasted corn to pistachios, the toppings were vast and so different from any other pizza place I've been too. I decided to be boring, at least in comparison to the menu, and order the Otto's Five Phase Specialty pizza; a pizza that included five regular toppings of your choice. It looked mouthwatering as the waitress placed it in front of me. I was almost drooling as I tried to take a picture of it.

The toppings were fresh and vibrent. The purple onions had a perfect crunch and sweetness, and the roasted garlic gave an amazing secondary flavor to the rest of the pizza. The spinach was perfectly dispersed and melted in well with the thick, stringy, mozzarella cheese. The sauce was also delightful, not too overwhelming in quantity and just the right combination of sweet and tangy.

The pizza totaled to $23.40, and we couldn't even finish it all. It was a large, specialty pizza, so really the price wasn't too bad considering. I would definitely recommend Moonlight Pizza to any pizza head whose down to try something different!

Rudino's, Be There or Be Square!

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Rudino's Pizza and Grinders has been one of my favorite pizza joints to go to in the Raleigh area for years! I decided to make it an addition to my blog because it's definitely a top competitor for the best pizza in the Triangle. Although Rudino's has many convenient locations, I decided to go to the one located off Duraleigh and Edwards Mill (3101 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh NC).









I've been going to Rudino's since I've lived in North Carolina, because it's one my Dad's favorite places and now it's one of mine! This time I asked my dad to join me and he agreed immediately. We were seated upon walking in, even though it was a little crowded due to "March Madness". Rudino's beer and big screen TV's always attract big crowds on game days. Part of what makes this restaurants atmosphere so engaging is it's bar, offering customers popular and local brew to enjoy with their pizza. Nothing beats sitting at the bar watching your home team play, drinking a beer, and having a slice of tasty, made from scratch, pizza.

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Rudino's was actually created by local North Carolinians, and first opened in Cary, NC. Their dough is homemade everyday and their toppings are fresh and flavorsome. There's really nothing bad that I can say about Rudinos. My dad and I always enjoy the service, the atmosphere, and most importantly the pizza. I find Rudino's to be unique for a few specific reasons, one being how they make their pizza. Every time I go I order a pepperoni pizza, and usually go half and half with whoever is joining me. I stuck with my gut, and ordered my usual half of pepperoni. This is one reason I say this is unique, because Rudino's is one of the only pizza places I know that places the pepperoni under the cheese.


Their crust, which is made on site daily, is thin but has just the right amount of flimsy-ness to it. Also, instead of being cut into slices, Rudino's cuts their pies into squares. Another original aspect Rudino's has to offer. The cheese is always warm, thick, and stringy as it pulls away from your mouth after a big bite. The toppings are always extremely fresh, from vegetables to meats. Not many pizza places can top my love for some Rudino's pepperoni pizza.

Overall, it was another great trip to Rudino's. Our total for a large 16 inch pizza, with a charge of $1.50 for additional toppings, was $17.56. A pretty reasonable price considering the caliber of the pizza. I left feeling full and satisfied. Before leaving the restaurant my dad and I talked to our waitress Kelly about the restaurant. "We always have great business here and everyone has a good time," said Kelly, 22. "The pizza speaks for itself," she said. Kelly and I obviously share similar opinions because I believe Rudino's pizza really does speak for itself. Another A++ from Slice of the Triangle! 

The Larger the Slice, the Lower the Price

Credit to www.schianospizza.com

A friend of mine recommended that I go to a local pizza place he knew of that sold 24 inch slices, so obviously I had to give it a shot. The restaurant was called Schianos. It was a cozy, little Italian-run restaurant that not only served pizza, but pasta and Stromboli as well. It was dead, but for a Monday I night that was to be expected.

The restaurant was nothing out of the ordinary, a few big screen TV's, catchy background music, and several generic paintings encompassed Schianos atmosphere. Schianos is located off 13220-164 Strickland Road, Raleigh, next to the Harris Teeter. It's tucked away in a corner so it's not something you would necessarily notice at first glance.


The first thing I asked the waitress, who also happened to be the hostess who sat us, was do you guys really serve 24 inch slices of pizza? She gave me a puzzled look, and responded by saying, "You mean our large slice?". It was humorous to me that at Schianos a 24 inch slice of pizza was simply just the a large slice of pizza, nothing unique. But a 24 inch slice of pizza in my eyes is definitely something out of the ordinary, I had never seem or consumed a slice of pizza that big!

I ended up ordering a large slice of cheese pizza, because I didn't really know what to expect. In all of 15 minutes, our waitress was carrying over what looked like two medium sized pizza's. As she placed one in front of me I quickly realized something different. It was only 1 slice of pizza, with just cheese, exactly how I ordered it but it was about a foot long!

At first, the pizza was hard to eat or even pick up because it was so large. I started out eating it with a knife and fork and then eventually I was able to pick it up, fold it, and eat my pizza New York style. The crust was boring, thin and flimsy, with no unique flavor to it. It fit the pizza well, however, while the cheese and sauce balanced out the plainness of the crust. The cheese was warm, and stringy, meshing perfectly with the light chunks of tomato and oregano that consisted within the sauce. The sauce was not heavy at all, and neither was the cheese. The only thing heavy about this pizza was the size. It was a lot to eat, talk about a food baby. 

Although, the price is what really sealed the deal for me. One large slice of pizza at Schianos was $2.49, additional toppings were 99 cents but by ordering just cheese my dinner came cheap. Our tab overall came to $7.69. The best prices I've seen all semester! "We pride ourselves on making some of the largest pizza pies in the area," said Schianos waitress, Gina. If you're looking for a deal in both quantity and quality you should definitely take a trip to Schianos. 

Mellow Mushroom "The Caesar" of Pizza

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It was a late Sunday night journey to Mellow Mushroom in downtown Raleigh, that had my mouth watering this week! My Dad, my two friends, and I made dinner plans at Mellow, located off Glenwood Ave and Peace Street (601 West Peace Street, Raleigh 27605). It's always great when I get to start off the week with pizza.

The atmosphere engaged me at once. I was welcomed by giant, over-sized mushrooms, featured out on their patio and a friendly, easy-going staff. Before even entering the restaurant customers can enjoy the vibrant and groovy environment. Everything is colorful and all the artwork has a 70's, psychedelic feel to it. The lighting is dimmed to give off a relaxing, "chilled out", vibe to the customers who dine there. It's a very unique atmosphere, not one you would expect from an average pizza joint. It's a restaurant that not only welcomes the college crowd but also families and locals. Mellow proved from the moment I entered that it is far from average, because what makes it different is what makes it so charming. 

MellowMushroom.com

I was instantly bombarded with choices while looking at the menu. With 15 specialty pies, signature hoagies, and calzones, I was overwhelmed by delicious-ness. So many tasty options with very unique qualities, nothing was boring or ordinary. We started with one of Mellow's popular appetizer's, the garlic cheese bread, with a side of the restaurants signature marinara sauce. I gobbled up the appetizer, with the help of my two friends. The warm stringy cheese and subtle garlic spice made for a yummy start to my meal. The sauce was so appetizing I couldn't get enough of it, gross or not I could have drank it like soup! Their marinara sauce was off the charts in comparison to the other pizza places, it was tangy as the sweetness and spicy ingredients blended together. The sauce was unique, a slightly spicy after-taste, which resulted in the perfect blend of sweet n' spicy to make it the most delectable sauce yet. 

I decided to branch out and try something different this time. I needed something other than cheese to give this place the critique it deserved. What it came down to was the Mellow Mushrooms specialty pizza, "The Caesar". This pizza had an olive oil and garlic base, layered with mozzarella and feta cheese, pesto marinated chicken, topped with caesar salad and Roma tomatoes. The caesar dressing was flawless and added just the right amount of flavor. The refreshingly cold temperature of the salad over the warm, array of cheeses, and pesto marinated chicken was an unbeatable combination! 

The crust on all of Mellow Mushroom's pies is another part of what makes their pizza stand out. The crust is not too thin, soft, with just the right amount of chewy-ness. It melts in your mouth as the warm dough and various toppings mesh together. The crust is also lightly dusted with parmesan cheese, making it a part of the pizza you'll never want to leave out. 

The price paid for the little 10 inch personal size caesar was completely worth it, although not exactly inexpensive. The small size caesar pizza cost $10.26, not horrible but not totally cheap either. Regardless, I had a great dining experience at Mellow Mushroom as many customers do. Mellow Mushroom customer and frequenter, Deric Travers, 20 told me he loves Mellow Mushroom. "It's my favorite place to chill and eat pizza in Raleigh," he said. 

The artwork display over the kitchen.