🔔BEST OF PHILLY ALERT🔔 Opened in 2013 in South Philly, this takeout only & cash only “jawn” has skyrocketed to the top of the Philadelphia pizza & cheesesteak lists. With so much hype surrounding this spot, it’s not uncommon to see lines out the door on a random Wednesday. And good luck trying to call in an order; I tried over a 2-hour span, the line was either busy or they just didn’t pick up. And if that ordering process isn’t enough of a hassle, they’re also closed on Monday & Tuesday & only open til 7pm the rest of the week. Aside from the mildly annoying logistics to get my hands on this pizza, they do make an aesthetically beautiful pie. Aside from the slightly off-kilter slicing, this pizza passes the eye & smell test with flying colors. As for the feel test, this thicker, fancier, Football pie is physically heavy; but the dough is actually light & airy, particularly the crust, with a wonderfully charred undercarriage, with blackened dough flavor and a crispy & crunchy texture, this passes the feel test as well. Without a doubt, the star of this pizza is the cheese. A thickish, top-quality blend of shredded mozzarella, pungently sharp with phenomenal flavor, consistency & texture, with a magnificently melty, oozy flow; the cheese undoubtedly passes the taste test. As for the sauce, the low volume is a significant problem for me; there is not nearly enough quantity for my liking. Light, not particularly sweet, an absence of tang, void of zest, the sauce is far too subdued & nondescript likely due to the little amount spread across the pie. Some fresh basil adds a smidge of flavor & a bit of class, but it doesn’t help the sauce sing. The other ingredients combined with the crisp texture are Hall of Fame worthy; but the sauce falling flat keeps this pizza out of the 9s but still in the travel-worthy category. Really good pizza overall, certainly top 5 in Philly; and if you make the journey here, their cheesesteaks are a must. Can’t go wrong with “wiz wit” or their Cooper sharp American cheese. 🧀🥩
