Cowabunga Dudes!
Drop by Alpha Delt to watch the live action movies (1 and 2) with us and grab some pizza or snacks. Vegetarian options will be available.
When: This Sunday, January 27, 2008
Where: Alpha Delt Greene Room
What Time:2:00pm - 5:00pm
And In case you needed more to convince you besides free Pizza, here's Vanilla Ice:
Mark Kelley '08 wrote a very useful review of three Middletown Pizza delivery places in today's Argus:
Empire Pizza
This is the only pizza I had not tried when I ordered, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not only quickly delivered, but quite good. The crust is solid, less floppy than many with a good crunch, but has a starchy taste and is not worth eating past the cheese and sauce. The cheese itself is good, a bit sweet and still very smooth, but the sauce overpowers it a bit with a strong taste of oregano. My overall impression is that this pizza is vastly superior to Domino's and other chains, but doesn't stack up to some of the real heavy hitters.
Empire – (860) 854-6444 $9.45 for a 16" – Three Stars
Gianni's Pizza
I first suspected this ramshackle pizza hut to be a mob front, soon remembering that the Italians make some damn good pie. First, the crust: from the perfectly puffed golden edges to the still-crispy center, the Gianni's crust is really superb – no easy task, and unmatched in Middletown. The sauce is also quite good. Having passed up the temptation to sweeten their sauce, Gianni's opted for a gentler, smokier taste that's easier on the palette, allowing the cheese (and any other toppings) to take center stage. The cheese was great, a little flat – but the crust, oh the crust!
Another item to check out on the menu is the garlic bread with cheese. At less than four dollars for ten pieces, it's an affordable addition to an already inexpensive meal. The two people I've seen working in the restaurant are quite nice – I suggest stopping by sometime and saying hi. The price of this pizza is also a serious advantage, making it by far the best value in town.
Gianni's – (860) 347-2000 $8.95 for a 16" – Four and a Half Stars
Jerry's Pizza
This is the pizza that everyone seems to rave about on campus. And they do so with good reason – this pizza is ridiculous, although the delivery time can be long. But trust me: it's worth it. First, I must admit that I miss the Gianni's crust every time I eat Jerry's, as it becomes difficult to handle toward the middle. With that off my chest, allow me to turn to pride and joy of the Jerry's pizza, that is, the cheese. Jerry's cheese is one of a kind. It is surprisingly complex, a smooth and perfect complement to the sweet but not sugary sauce, which provides the perfect platform for that addictive dairy product.
I don't use the word addictive lightly here. I've eaten this stuff way past the level of enjoyment, well into the creepy realm of the glazed look on one's face, hope no one sees you grab another piece, no room for another beer land. And it is only with a profound and ultimately confusing regret that I pass up beer for pizza. Well done, Jerry's. Well done.
Jerry's – (860) 346-5335 $12.50 for a 16" – Five Stars
Always remember those who serve – tip generously.
Oh, yes, related to foods and eatings of foods, there is a site that became available at Wesleyan called Campusfood.com .
You can order food online and they'll bring it to your dorm. It's really great on Sunday nights because Mocon is terrible on Sundays and nothing else is available. Just, please, do this as a favor for me, PLEASE TIP YOUR DRIVER. They are nice people. Don't be a fucking asshole.
By the way, my two picks are Fortune Garden for Chinese and Domino's for Pizza (of the only four available options).
My favorite place for pizza in Middletown, though, is Illiano's. They make this buffalo chicken pizza there that is just amazing. Seriously. And they're also super nice people.
More restaurant reviews and such are coming! Stay tuned!
(For more, check out Rachel Berger '06's archived argus reviews of local restaurants. She agrees, as does most everyone, that you should get the buffalo chicken pizza at Illiano's.)
Nat Webb '06.5 adds: The best chinese place is actually the appropriately-named China King, located next door to Puerto Vallarta (the best Mexican place), below Praline's Ice Cream and near Destinta. China King has the best fried dumplings I've ever had, and when I told one of the many hilariously-weird-but-friendly guys who work there, he said that they had been written up in three newspapers regarding the quality of their dumplings. You might also get some life advice from the kitchen staff.
