Schlotzsky’s Pepperoni & Cheese Pizza
Good cheesy bread — Not so good pizza.
I don’t know what else to say. It’s not a Pizza. The similar item from Subway is not a pizza either, in my opinion, but let’s move forward. The Schlotzsky’s pie is 8 inches in size, the same as Subway’s personal pizza. It actually looks quite attractive. There’s lots of cheese. It’s cooked properly. It’s made from decent ingredients. But it’s still not a real pizza. It looks like one — but it doesn’t taste like one, and it doesn’t feel like one.
I’m using the Subway personal pizza as a reference, because the two products are direct competitors, similar in content and price, and I’ve had them both recently.
The crust on the Schlotzsky’s pies tastes better then Subway. First off, it’s sourdough. Some may find that unusual for pizza crust, but it’s quite good. When cooked properly (which this was) there’s a nice combination of chewiness with a bit of crispy snap. Secondly, it’s baked fresh in the store along with the company’s other buns and baked goods each day, as opposed to the frozen pre-made crusts which Subway uses.
The cheese tastes better than Subway’s version, but there’s more of it, so I cannot accurately distinguish whether this is the result of a Quality or Quantity issue. I suspect it may be both. Either way, the mixture of Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses is very tasty, and it’s piled on thick. Along with the crust, it serves as highlights of this pie.
The pepperoni is on par with Subway’s and here lies part of the problem. When I order a pepperoni pizza, I expect that one of the main flavors will be — Pepperoni. Not here. What are these sandwich shops doing? Why is their pepperoni so bland? Maybe since they are not a “Real” pizza place, we are not supposed to notice, or care about it. Perhaps they figure enough cheese on top will distract us. Sorry, I noticed and I care.
The sauce is another big issue, with both Subway and Schlotzsky’s pies. I would do a direct comparison between the two, but the Schlotzsky’s pizzas have so little sauce, it’s not even possible for me to get a good sample. You will see in the photo, the cheese is good and thick, but peel back that layer of dairy, and you’ve got yourself a nearly naked crust staring back. Dry (except grease) and bitter, that crust is ANGRY.
It’s so disappointing, at least to me, that after my 3rd pie with the same results, I called one of the stores my order(s) came from, and asked them about the sauce, and the amount used. They described the sauce as being “very rich” and the proportion they use as being “kinda small” so it doesn’t “overpower the pizza”. OK fine, thanks.
At this point in the review, I’d like to take a 5 minute break to pound my face against the keyboard repeatedly. Was it my dumb question? Or their unsatisfying response?
Schlotzsky’s Pepperoni and Double Cheese Pizza is a confusing item. Great bread and good cheese. Bland pepperoni and almost non-existent sauce. What’s the deal? If somebody were to serve this to me blindfolded, telling me it was “cheesy-bread” or “cheese-sticks”, I would probably be happy and satisfied. But it’s not a very good pizza. That said, it earns a higher score than Subway for superior crust and cheese.
Price: $5.40 / Website: Schlotzskys.com
Fast Food Critic Score: C
Click here for rating system details.
Nutrition Facts - Schlotzsky’s, Pepperoni and Double Cheese Pizza.
Calories - 685
Calories from Fat - 267
Total Fat - 30 grams
Carbs - 74 grams
Saturated Fat - 13 grams
Trans Fat - 1.0 grams
Cholesterol - 71 milligrams
Sodium - 1740 milligrams
I’m confused. The crust is baked in the store along with their bread? Then what? It sits around waiting for someone to order a “pizza?” Do they pre-prep the pizzas and then broil them, or hand assemble them on crusts that have been sitting around all day? Either way, I’ll go there for a sandwich and to a pizza place for a pizza!
Hey O.G. — Always keeping me on my toes.
I should have gone into more depth on this. My apologies sir. I called them just to make sure my answer was accurate and detailed.
- The pizza crusts (along with sandwich buns, etc.) are baked fresh in the morning, and as need dictates, again in the afternoon.
- They do sit around, not normally for long, but sometimes up to a few hours.
- When you order a pizza, they add the toppings and “toast” the entire thing.
- They will not use crusts that are more than a few hours old. They throw away (or otherwise dispose of) any leftovers at the end of the day.
- Their crusts (and other breads and baked goods) are never frozen, or preserved in any way.
Possibly your best review to date. I don’t even have a Schlotzsky’s nearby but enjoyed reading about it anyway. ;]
Seems like potential for a decent pizza if you were to order it with extra sauce.