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You might do it alone or with a friend or even your spouse. You might feel guilty if it’s a late-night temptation that you just can’t beat. But you’re not the only one. Almost everyone does it at least once a week. Ordering pizza is just a way of life for us West Chesterians. And with more than 15 pizzerias in the borough alone, how can you not have pizza on the brain? I mean, let’s face it, it’s not easy creating culinary masterpieces 7 days a week, especially if you’re catering to adorable yet highly critical epicureans (AKA your children).
The answer to at least one stress-free evening is to pick up the phone and order a meal that requires virtually no preparation, clean-up, plates or even silverware. In most cases it just shows up on your doorstep in approximately 40 minutes.
Okay, now let me ask where you your order pizza. Is it the place closest to your house? Or that place someone told you had good pizza? If you’re like me, it’s the place that has the cheapest pizza.
Sometimes you get stuck ordering from the same place for years and you never really know what other slices are out there. To cut through all the cheese, we at WC Dish wrangled up 10 families to put their taste buds to the test to see which pie had the “right stuff.”
Contenders (all non-chain pizzerias in the borough made the cut):
Chris’s Pizza, Saucey, Las Vegas Pizza, New Haven Style Pizza, Amore, Benny’s, The Bistro, Riggtown Oven and Culinary Deliveries
Scrumptious Crusts: Who’s got the best?
New Haven Style Pizza, 18 South Church St.
What we liked:
The only Greek-style pizza in the WC (FYI, Greek-style pizza is a pan-baked pie.)
Nice, thick, crispy, greasy crust – and I mean greasy in a good way.
The cheese is stretched across the top of the pie and gives the illusion of an infinity crust, which also enhances its flavor
Culinary Deliveries, 348 West Gay St.
What we liked:
Soft and chewy crust – floppilicious!
The crust is neither too thick nor too thin – just right!
Las Vegas Pizza, 515 East Gay St. (Gay Street Plaza)
What we liked:
Super-thin NY-style pizza – the only one in town
Savoriest Sauce: Who’s got the best?
Saucey, 12 East Market St.
What we liked:
The sauce is actually spiraled on top of the cheese–yes on top of the cheese.
Only pizza place in town to offer this style pie
Garlicky delicious!
The name – so cute!
Half price PIZZA from 4 to 6 p.m.!
Benny’s, 114 North Church St.
What we liked:
The sauce is actually a little on the sweet side, sandwiched between the cheese and crust, and delivers a great flavor.
Many of the younger taste buds went for this pie.
Culinary Deliveries, 348 West Gay St.
What we liked:
Spicy! This sauce has a unique taste to it and a more sophisticated flavor with a light, fiery zest.
It may be too spicy for younger children.
Luscious Cheese: Who’s got the best?
New Haven Style Pizza, 18 South Church St.
What we liked:
Cheese glorious cheese! Lots and lots of cheese!
The cheese is so thick that it actually has its own entity on top of the pizza.
*What you should know:
All of this cheese comes at a very oily price, so have some paper towels ready to sop up the excess grease.
Culinary Deliveries, 348 West Gay St.
What we liked:
They top their pies with mucho cheese, more than most other pizzerias in town.
Kid’s Pick: Who’s is the best?
Riggtown Oven, 551 South Matlack St.
What we liked:
Riggtown makes a great all-around pizza. Its flavor stands out a little, but not too much, which is why all of the younger pizza connoisseurs were drawn to it. Not too much cheese, sauce or crust – simply good.
The Yummiest: Who is the best?
The competition was stiff, but the overall winner had to be Culinary Deliveries. Those pie-tossers really know their pizzometry. The ratio between the cheese, sauce and crust is in perfect proportion of delectable gooeyness.
Culinary Deliveries, 348 West Gay St., 610-696-4102, www.culinarydeliveries.com
Coupons are right on the box, so you are set for your next order.
They deliver and accept credit cards.
They have a Web site.
Great gourmet pizza
Food for Thought
Like so many things in life, pizza is a meal that is meant to be shared with friends and loved ones. It’s a food that shouldn’t be eaten alone – unless it sat out all night and you’re eating it for breakfast.
The Down Low on our Faves
New Haven Style Pizza, 18 South Church St., 610-436-5814
Great specials: 2 large plain pizzas for $13
They sell beer! Always good to kill 2 birds with one stone.
They accept credit cards, with a $10 minimum purchase.
They don’t deliver.
Their large pizza is only 14 inches.
Las Vegas Pizza, 515 East Gay St. (Gay Street Plaza), 610-692-4785
Great combo specials are available, so make sure you ask about them.
They accept credit cards.
They don’t deliver.
The décor hasn’t been updated since 1975 – literally, not even missing and broken linoleum floor tiles – semi disturbing.
Saucey, 12 East Market St., 610-696-9770, www.getsauceddubc.com
They deliver and accept credit cards.
They have a Web site.
Benny’s, 114 North Church St., 610-696-0754
They accept credit cards.
They do not deliver
Riggtown Oven, 551 South Matlack St., 610-431-3900, www.riggtownoven.com
They make breakfast pizzas.
They offer the largest variety of toppings.
They deliver and accept credit cards.
They have a Web site.
They offer weekly specials.
There is a $1 delivery charge per order and a $7 minimum purchase.
15 Comments So Far
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it’s a shame nobody picked The Bistro. Their pizza is fantastic!
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I agree, the Bistro’s pizza can be good. However, I find that it is not consistent. Sometimes it is great and sometimes it is so-so.
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Brother’s is a little further away but hands down the best!
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The best pizza a few miles out of West Chester are Jack’s Pizza in West Whiteland Shopping Center and Rocco’s on Route 100 near the Marchwood Shopping Center.
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It all about The Chicken BBQ pizza from Benny’s. They’re Stuffed Chicken Cheesesteak pizza is awesome too!
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I agree Mattifer. Brother’s is amazing. Where’s the love?
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I can’t believe Brothers didn’t make the cut, by far the best pizza in the state of PA!
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Benny’s has a great Bacon Ranch pizza that no one else has. Ranch dressing, cheese and bacon bits on top –
YUMMMMMMMMMMM. And Sal and Joe are very friendly. My only complaint is they aren’t open Sunday. I’ve found New Haven to be very unfriendly. God forbit you ask for a glass of water. They’ll give you a tiny plastic cup of very nasty water without ice, of course. Also, they don’t sell pizza by the slice. What’s up with that?!?!?!Our latest favorite is Saucy, but again they aren’t open on Sundays. Also, it’s very hard to find parking in front to pick up your pizza.
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Oops, I meant to write Saucey, not Saucy. The name is great, esp since the sauce is what makes their pizza so awesome. It’s very garlicky!!!
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As a refugee from New York, Brooklyn to be specific, in 1974, finding Las Vegas Pizza was a godsend. The only pizza place within 35 miles that comes close to NY pizza (which, of course, is the best). And 34 years later, it is still the same and the best. Same family behind the counter too. The Sicilian is the best, and maybe another category.
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Brothers is not technically in the Borough and was omitted on that criteria alone. I agree wholeheartedly that they are the best–and Culinary is clearly not. Bland, cheap, college kid filler pizza after senses dulled by drinking.
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Montesini’s at the Exton Mall, best thin crust and the white tomato pizza with garlic and italian seasonings is hmmm hmmm the best!!!!
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Thank you for finally giving Las Vegas pizza the good reviews it deserves. While Saucey runs a recent close second in our book, Las Vegas hands down has had the best tasting pizza with the most consistency over the years. And people, people…pay attention, this was a conest WITHIN the borough.
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Las Vegas Pizza’s decor is part of the charm, stained glass lamps are still there I think. It looks like a real pizza by the slice joint should. A full pie from Las Vegas is hands down the best, most authentic pie in WC.
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Call me a snob, but I question the pizza taste of anyone who raves about a “bacon-ranch” pizza.
Link Love
- West Chester Growers Market
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- Tikaro.com: John Young’s Blog
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- Unbreaded – All Sandwiches, All the Time
- Green Philly Blog