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Pizza Score System

CRUST
Undercarriage is browned, crisp and chewy, but not hard or burned
Cornicione or edge, texture (crumb structure) and flavour is pleasant
Thickness appropriate to style and fully baked with no holes, tears, or gumline present
SAUCE
Sauce has a pleasant balanced tomato flavour: neither overly sweet nor acidic
Sauce is moist and velvety, neither overly dry not wet
The amount of sauce is appropriate to the style
CHEESE
Fully melted with some browning, but not overcooked or broken
The cheese blend has a pleasant, salty, buttery, distinguishable flavour
The amount of cheese is appropriate to the style
ET. AL.
Everything comes together nicely, including any garnish - herbs, salt, olive oil, etc.
Setting, service, value, digestability, and misc. impact on experience

A score of 80 or above is what I'd consider a good slice and worth a stop if you are looking for a nearby slice. A score of 90 or above really hit the mark in every way and is worth a trip out of the way to visit.

Currently working on how to score pizzas that are not a NY-Style. For example, Lilly's had a good slice but by NY Pizzeria criteria it scored very low. And I don't even know how to score a Detroit slice on NY Rules.

The Pizza Times – 210 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
10/10 - Zero flop, good deep brown into slight char colour, nice and crispy on each bite, cornmeal on the bottom nice. Really good dough flavour here.
09/10 - Thin and excellent cornicione, crunchy on the outside but super soft and light on the inside. Good taste, great crust. Decent char brings a robustness to the dough.
09/10 - On the thicker side for NY style with lots of little bubbles in the undercrust but not gummy at all, super good taste and slightly chewy.
SAUCE
10/10 - Sauce flavour really shines, brighter and slightly sweet on the front end with good acidity to kick. More robust flavours showing up but still likely not a precooked sauce.
09/10 - You get a good amount of sauce in every bite but it's not overy wet nor dripping off of your slice into your lap. Moist but not wet.
08/10 - Even application but wishing they pushed it a little closer to the edge so I could have more. Not soupy at all in the center.
CHEESE
10/10 - Perfect cook, solid melt with craters like the moon. Not broken at all but really good colour, this is a great balance and there's no greasy feel. They won the game of chicken between dough and cheese.
09/10 - Good solid cheesy taste, good balance of sharpness and mellowness. Wait a moment for the slice to cool to really let the profile of this cheese hit its peak - if it's too hot, you'll miss it.
09/10 - Good, even cheese application ensures you're never without it in a bite.
ET. AL.
09/10 - Good all around slice, great texture, fantastic crust cook and taste. Stronger cheese and sauce flavours brought this place into the '90s where it belongs
+4 - Nice spot, big windows, kind people who remember you after just 3 visits, take-out only. No frills and the slice is an even $3 after tax.

96/100 - If I'm on Wilmington this is where you'll find me – I'll always make a stop.
Previously scored 87/100 - 2022.09.30 and 92/100 - 2022.10.25
Oakwood Pizza Box – 610 N Person St, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
10/10 - ZERO FLOP with an almost crackery bottom
10/10 - Crisp, airy, and excellent. Dough flavour is fantastic
09/10 - Bubbly and airy undercarriage with good colour. Not conventional but very good
SAUCE
09/10 - A little acidic but still bright, great taste
10/10 - Perfect sauce texture, neither dripping nor dry
09/10 - Could have used a smidge more sauce
CHEESE
08/10 - Cooked just a hair before breaking, allowing saltiness but not greasiness
08/10 - Needed a little more cheesiness in the flavour profile but otherwise good
09/10 - Near perfect level of cheese
ET. AL.
08/10 - Basil on top adds brightness, but the slice was missing a little something I couldn't put my finger on
+4 - Nice interior, excellent open window bar seating to outside

94/100 - Fantastic dough on this one, definitely worth repeat visits (but why do they only do slices on weekends)
The Exchange Pizza Depot Matthews – 213 N Trade St. Suite B, Matthews, NC
Neopolitan Style Pies
CRUST
09/10 - No flop but an ultra thin crust with excellent browning and some black spotting. Undercarriage really does well with a good layered flavour profile to support the rest of the pie.
09/10 - Beautifully bubbly and airy crust with a good moist fill in the outer ring. Not doughy, but an excellent fresh bready taste with notes of char on the bottom, wow.
09/10 - Super even, super thin. If this is hand-tossed it is super impressive. Cooked on a grate.
SAUCE
09/10 - Sauce is good and acidic with a natural sweetness found in fresh tomatoes which leads me to think they don't used canned product.
09/10 - Sauce is wet and typical for the style, but not soupy. A good balance was found here and it rocks.
09/10 - Sauce has a good, even dispersion for the style, a nice blanket of tomato that still doesn't way down an uber thin crust.
CHEESE
09/10 - Unbroken cheese, nice and fresh that isn't solid too quickly when you're trying to eat it.
09/10 - Fresh mozz is light and gooey off the bat, almost sloughing off but okay for the style. Fresh milky taste with each bite.
09/10 - Typical dispersion for the style, nice globs here and there to let the sauce peek through.
ET. AL.
09/10 - A very very good slice that was nice and steamy as it hit the outdoor table on the coldest day of the year.
+3 - A cute counter joint with lots of outdoor seating right in the center of Matthews.

93/100 - Very solid slice from a place I noticed by chance, and I'm glad we stopped to visit.
Brooklyn Pizza Parlor – 6400 Weddington Rd, Wesley Chapel, NC
My Old Haunt - A likely biased review
New York Style
CRUST
10/10 - Zero flop, alligator skin bottom with good deep brown colour. Crackery but not the thinnest, nice and chewy.
09/10 - Great taste, chewy, crispy, pillowy soft inside, relatively thin.
08/10 - A little thick for a New York Style but incredibly even. No gum and no ramp.
SAUCE
09/10 - On the acidic side and bringing a nice fresh tomato taste to the pie. Very tasty and really shining on the slice.
09/10 - A good soft velvety soft. Just a hair more loose and it would verge on wet but this really walks the fine line of sauce texture.
09/10 - Nice even application of sauce here, not too much nor too little and it really plays well with other components.
CHEESE
08/10 - Cooked a bit past broken a good bit of grease on top of the slice but not yet becoming an absolute grease fest. Consider a napkin.
09/10 - Great cheesy flavour, nice and fatty (but not all from grease) with a little bit of tang present. Definitely a solid cheese blend used.
09/10 - Good level of cheese, good stretch, nice even layer but nothing undercooked or patchy about it. Really suits the style.
ET. AL.
09/10 - A great slice overall, great composition that always hits the spot and I miss it pretty frequently.
+4 - Good eating spot, big dining room, full open view of the ovens and huge ceiling to floor windows, with patio seating available. Biased but the people are great there too.

93/100 - Best NY Pizza in the small neighbourhood that is Weddington, and what I personally set as my bar for home pizzamaking.
Previously scored 92/100 - 2022.10.06
Poole'side Pies – 428 S McDowell St, Raleigh, NC
Margerita Style
CRUST
09/10 - Nice leoparding, nice and chewy with a slight initial crisp. Some flop as expected
10/10 - Some bubbles on the cornicione, slightly shallow but nice and pillowy, good char
08/10 - Very slight gumline in areas, some ramp, but otherwise nice and very thin
SAUCE
09/10 - Ultra fresh taste, nice and bright with a strong acidity, really shines
08/10 - Good and saucy but not soupy in your pie, it's a great balance
09/10 - Good level of sauce with great taste
CHEESE
09/10 - Melty, gooey, some spotted areas going on, unbroken
08/10 - Tastes great, nice fresh mozz, not greasy at all
10/10 - Good level of cheese, good coverage while windows of sauce peek through as desired for this style
ET. AL.
10/10 - Great composition overall, fresh basil adds some zing to the cheese, dough tastes fantastic, sauce is a winner
+3 - Clean and styled almost like a gentrified '50s diner but it really works for this place

93/100 - If you want a Margherita/Neapolitan style, this is the place to try
Benny Capitales – 121 Fayetteville St Suite 110, Raleigh, NC
The Virginia Slice
CRUST
10/10 - Zero flop, deep gold, crispy yet somehow slightly layered like a biscuit or baklava. A totally different experience from any other pie I've had.
08/10 - Shallow but pillowy, great taste in the crust. Verges on doughy when very thick
08/10 - Super thin, no gum at all, pretty noticable ramp so the end of this big slice definitely leans towards bready.
SAUCE
09/10 - On the acidic side but with a nice robust profile, great sauce
08/10 - A little on the wet side but not at all a bad texture
09/10 - A good amount of sauce, nice even spread throughout
CHEESE
09/10 - Grease is just starting to show through, decent browning in some spots, not overly greasy
09/10 - Good cheesy taste, nice tang but not overpowering at all, works well in tandem with other components
09/10 - Good level of cheese, neither too much nor too little
ET. AL.
09/10 - Overall good slice, keeps it simple yet throws a twist at you with the undercarriage style
+4 - You can eat in a cozy joint inside and people watch or sit outside and see the state capitol a block away, nice central spot.

92/100 - Open late, HUGE slices, I've had multiple late night slices here and they always hit the spot
Previously scored 84/100 - 2022.09.30
Brooklyn Pizza Parlor – 6400 Weddington Rd, Wesley Chapel, NC
Sicilian Style
CRUST
10/10 - Nice and springy, pillowy crust with good chew. Excellent crispiness on the bottom bake without being too greasy or feeling fried.
09/10 - Good taste, night and light with bready but not doughy taste. This slice has a lot of bread but doesn't feel heavy.
09/10 - Consistent and even, good dough work means this slice isn't too tall or too short anywhere.
SAUCE
09/10 - Nice and bright, taste jumps out on every bite to really bring a light-tasting slice.
08/10 - Sauce is a little wet but it's not a soup, good texture and pleasant in the bite.
09/10 - Good and even application, you're not really left missing any.
CHEESE
07/10 - Cooked a bit pale, you can see some definition in the shreds still. Not broken or greasy but I wish it could get some brown colour even if it means a little breakage.
08/10 - Pretty good cheese taste, leans more towards the fresher side due to the slightly underdone bake on it.
09/10 - I personally don't mind the full coverage of cheese or the fact that it's over the sauce. It's an even application and it doesn't glob up in your mouth.
ET. AL.
09/10 - An excellent slice and a good break from the NY style if you're wanting something different while you're here.
+4 - Good eating spot, big dining room, full open view of the ovens and huge ceiling to floor windows, with patio seating available. Biased but the people are great there too.

91/100 - Aside from some lackings in the cheese this is a very good Sicilian slice and the crust is a total winner. Ask for it well-done to remedy this, and maybe a cup of marinara to dip.
Trophy Brewing and Pizza – 827 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC
Detroit Style
CRUST
09/10 - Golden bottom, nice and CRISP but not too greasy from frying
09/10 - Black bar present around the edge, nice and fried cheese crisp
09/10 - Nice and pillowy crust, super light, good thickness
SAUCE
09/10 - Great balance in the sauce, robust yet bright at once
08/10 - Nice and saucy, and yet I want more sauce
08/10 - Could use a touch more sauce to make this a banger, more even coverage
CHEESE
09/10 - Really good streatch on the cheese here, some TMNT stuff going on
09/10 - Uber cheesy with parm topping makes for a great taste
08/10 - Cheese under the sauce is nice, good parm on top. Stretchy without clogging up your mouth
ET. AL.
09/10 - Great composition overall
+3 - Lovely outdoor seating, friendly staff

90/100 - From what I've tried so far, THIS is the pie to get when you come here. Worth the fact that it's only available on Mondays and Tuesdays.
DeMos Pizzeria – 222 Glenwood Ave #121, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
08/10 - A tiny bit of flop on the hold but great colour, good deep brown in a number of areas with a nice gold brown all over.
08/10 - Thin edge so it leans towards a crispy bite but still pillowy, good golden colour. Taste is bready but not overly so, could be a smidge stronger.
10/10 - ULTRA thin and very uniform, truly impressive. No gum at all despite the thinness.
SAUCE
08/10 - Decent brightness and sweetness, not too acidic. Just wish the taste was stronger or a liiitle more sauce was applied to make up because it tastes good.
08/10 - Great texture and cooked well, no complaints here.
07/10 - Just a little too little, could have used a bit more. Sauce isn't always noticed in every bite due to slight masking by the cheese.
CHEESE
09/10 - A tiny bit broken but not greasy at all, perfect done-ness so you're not swimming in grease.
09/10 - Nice and great cheese taste that really shines, it balances fattiness with saltiness to really deliver a great cheese top to you.
10/10 - Absolutely perfect cover, they must have measured the cheese with a ruler to ensure evenness, and it still gives a good stretch on the bite..
ET. AL.
08/10 - Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
+4 - Nice spot, kind people, I love it every time I walk in. You can see they all enjoy working there and it shows in the pie.

89/100 - A strong slice. If it were in my neighbourhood it'd be my go-to

Slice of NY Pizza – 2316 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC

CRUST
09/10 - Zero flop on the slice, good dark spotting with a rich brown undercarriage
08/10 - A little dense but nice and chewy - not crunchy the whole way through
08/10 - A little thick on the backend (noticeable ramp) but overall good thinness
SAUCE
10/10 - Sauce is a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. Not too augmented with herbs so the tomato shines through
07/10 - A little saucy but still good due to great flavour
08/10 - As said above, just a little saucy but not a bad thing
CHEESE
08/10 - Could have used a little more time, cheese was a little pale
10/10 - Excellent taste on the cheese, they have a good blend
09/10 - Good cheese level all around
ET. AL.
09/10 - Good composition overall, the sauce and cheese work together very well
+3 - Good interior, lots of TVs but nice view of the kitchen

89/100 - An Excellent Slice and well worth a stop
Primo Pizza – 682 Cary Towne Blvd #4220, Cary, NC
CRUST
09/10 - No flop, nice crispy bite each time with a little chew. Beautiful brown and some char on the bottom giving great taste. Alligator skin bottom with lots of nice little bubbles.
08/10 - Thin and crispy, nice crunch with a little chew. Very good golden to deep brown color. Good taste with slight char, up to snuff for sure.
09/10 - Ultra thin, nice. Sliiightest ramp with no gumline, expertly tossed.
SAUCE
09/10 - A little acidic on the sauce but it works well for the slice, gives a good overall sharpness.
08/10 - A little on the wet side but not overly so, nice counter to the crust.
08/10 - Could have used a little more sauce where the ramp forms but otherwise a good amount.
CHEESE
08/10 - Cooked just past broken, slightly greasier than some other slices but not dripping down your arm so not a big deal.
08/10 - Cheese taste was solid, slightly cheesy but not tangy. Definitely a healthy amount of parmesan in the mix
09/10 - Good amount of cheese on the slice, perfect even coverage.
ET. AL.
09/10 - Great composition overall, classic style and really delivers.
+3 - Nice interior, wood floors and cozy feeling, nice and homey on the corner.

88/100 - Keeping it simple but really bringing a good slice. If you're nearby, make a stop. If you live nearby, make this your regular joint.
Previously scored 81/100 - 2022.09.24
Oak City Pizza – 2906 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
09/10 - Beautiful leoparding beneath, some flop, but perfectly crisp and excellent char flavour, verging on New Haven style
08/10 - Blistery crust, deep brown and shallow, nice crisp cornicione. The char on the bottom gives it a nice grounding and robustness
10/10 - Thinnest slice I've seen so far in Raleigh, very uniform, no holes, expertly tossed
SAUCE
08/10 - Sauce is good and bright, alternating between acidic and sweet between each bite in a strange dance, but I like it.
08/10 - Nice and moist, not soupy or runny, good texture. You don't miss any sauce on this slice
08/10 - Good even spread and a solid amount of sauce really makes this a good slice to chow down on
CHEESE
09/10 - Blasted yet just barely broken, a marvel for how hot that oven must be to get this colour on the crust, good melt, nice job
08/10 - Robust but yet not overly cheesy and without a strong flavour, it could use some acidity or some saltiness but otherwise good.
09/10 - Good level of cheese, very even spread and no complaints from me.
ET. AL.
9/10 - Better composition this time around, much better overall especially in areas where I thought flavour was lacking.
+2 - Nice view of the wood fired oven, and I'm a sucker for big interior windows with outward-facing bar seating

87/100 - I don't come here enough but it has been good after my first try.
Previously scored 83/100 - 2022.09.30
Italian Pizzeria III - IP3 – 508 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC
CRUST
08/10 - A little flop present, some deep brown to black on the bottom but largely deeply golden. Not much chew at all but pleasantly crispy.
07/10 - Pale brown to gold, crispy with fluffy pockets here and there. Needs some stronger flavour to make it sing but texture is all there.
08/10 - A little thick, slight gumline but crust isn't gummy in your mouth. Each bite is distinctly crispy. Slight ramp.
SAUCE
09/10 - Pretty strong and with a nice acidity. Really jumps out and carries a beautiful bright flavour to the slice.
09/10 - A little wet but with the thicker crust it balances out really nicely and works beautifully. A risky choice but it pays off.
09/10 - Even sauce application, not left wanting more but also not feeling like you're eating soup.
CHEESE
08/10 - Slightly underdone overall and a little pale on the ramp, but unbroken so not greasy. It works
10/10 - Great taste and really compliments the sauce. Good fattiness not brought on by the grease. Excellent Ninja Turtle stretch on some bites.
08/10 - A little inconsistent between the center and the ramp, had it melted more it would have been a better balance
ET. AL.
08/10 - Good composition, a stronger crust flavour would bring this right into the 90s. If I lived in Chapel Hill I'd be here two times a week at least.
+3 - The pinnacle of busy college town pizza places. I can definitely see this place packed on weekends or after games.

87/100 - Worth a stop, so far the best pizza on Franklin Street.
Di Fara's Pizza Tavern – 111 E Chatham St, Cary, NC
CRUST
09/10 - Nice crisp bite, zero flop, good char on the bottom to give a good bready flavour but some spots are almost burned. Good chew on the slice
08/10 - Good evenness, a little thicker undercarriage but no ramp to find, no gumline, pretty good texture across the slice.
09/10 - Slightly pillow rim but nice and crispy on the outside so a good contrast for the crust, good flavour too.
SAUCE
09/10 - Acidic with a good brightness that isn't quite sweet so it works well in conjunction with everything else.
08/10 - A bit wet, sauce is probably made from fresh tomatoes which is great. The blend is a little uneven so some big chunks get through which can give an inconsisnent bite.
08/10 - Decent spread but with a chunkier sauce like this it can be hard to get it even but it's almost to be expected.
CHEESE
08/10 - Good buttery flavour in the cheese but it's not over broken so not terribly greasy. Bring a napkin just in case.
09/10 - As stated good base flavour but it could have been a little punchier overall. When you get that tang every so often it really kicks well.
08/10 - A little bit of a patchy cheese application but it seems intentional so it gets a pass, probably to work with the texture of the sauce.
ET. AL.
08/10 - Good composition but not worth $4 a slice
+3 - Great spot right in downtown Cary right near the train station but very, very busy.

87/100 - A pretty tasty slice for if you're downtown in Cary and want something hot.
V Pizza – 1389 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC
Margherita Style
CRUST
09/10 - A little flop on the hold and fold. Undercarriage with dark spots and barely golden spots - cooked fast.
09/10 - Cornicione present and airy but not huge and puffy. Tastes good and bready with a little char to get you there nice.
09/10 - Nice thin pull and only the slightest of ramps, no gum.
SAUCE
08/10 - Sauce is on the acidic side but it's really good to balance out the fattiness of the cheese. Works for the pie.
09/10 - Sauce is wet due to dollop application, no fault there as it's meant to be this way
08/10 - Sauce is applied on top of the cheese in patches consistent with this style of pie.
CHEESE
07/10 - Cheese is definitely broken in the center so some flop and greese, good brown spots present with paler areas from the fresh mozz.
08/10 - Nice fatty flavour on this slice, offset by the inclusion of fresh mozz on the pie, grease from the drier mozz gives some saltiness and tang.
09/10 - Base layer of lower moisture mozz with dabs of fresh mozz. Bold combination and it works, even application
ET. AL.
08/10 - When you get everything in a bite it's a solid 9, but the low moisture mozz can overwhelm so I'll settle on an 8 here. The fresh basil kicks ass.
+1 - A nice joint in Cary, a modern style inside. Nothing wrong with it but the place itself feels out of the way.

85/100 - This seems to be a hybrid due to their use of lower moisture mozz as a 'base coverage' for the pie. I'll have to come back and get their traditional style.
Ruckus' Pizza – 2233 Avent Ferry Rd, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
09/10 - Zero flop, deep brown bottom that brings a nice bread taste to the slice
08/10 - Pale, yet crisp, pillowy and becoming chewy
07/10 - Super thin in the center but a pretty sizable ramp as you reach the outside
SAUCE
09/10 - Tastes great, leaning on the acidic side but it really works for this slice
09/10 - Nice and smooth, not at all runny nor dry
08/10 - A bit uneven, could have used a little more to get an even spread
CHEESE
09/10 - Slighty pale but with just a little grease broken out, some pale brown spots, great cook
07/10 - Decent taste but understated, needs something else to add some sharpness to round out the profile
08/10 - Good level of cheese, not sloughing off nor choking you as you eat
ET. AL.
08/10 - Decent slice, great for when you see it and want a slice
+2 - Classic bar with big entryway windows and lots of outdoor seating for a sunset dining experience

84/100 - Not a spot to miss, get a slice and a brew
Benchwarmer's Bagels – 500 E Davie St STE 107, Raleigh, NC
Detroit Style - Need to come up with a separate scale and revisit
CRUST
08/10 - Fried bottom with nice crispiness, just a tad too much grease pooled
08/10 - Excellent charring on the outer edges, perfect for Detroit style
07/10 - A little shallow for Detroit style but good overall
SAUCE
09/10 - Great, rich sauce with a strong profile
09/10 - Nice and saucy, perfect for this style
08/10 - Good coverage, honestly wanted more
CHEESE
06/10 - Brown and oozing, but definitely just a little too greasy (even for Detroit style)
07/10 - Good cheesiness but it needed a little more sharpness with how cooked it was
10/10 - Nice thick layer of cheese, excellent sheets of it that didn't slough off
ET. AL.
09/10 - Good composition, rich and robust flavours, excellent pepperoni cups nice
+3 - Nice little corner of the food hall in which it rests, cozy and chic

84/100 - Bring napkins and plan your evening around a slice or two of this pie
Original NY Pizza – 6458 Tryon Rd, Cary, NC
CRUST
07/10 - A little pale on the bottom but still with a crispiness as you bite into it
06/10 - Pale edge but pillowy, nice
09/10 -
SAUCE
08/10 - Nice and bright with a little bit of acidity to balance, great sauce
07/10 - Tiny bit dry, just needed a little more
08/10 - Could use a bit more sauce on the slice
CHEESE
09/10 - Good melt, unbroken but a little greasy
09/10 - Nice cheesiness and good taste
10/10 - PERFECT level of cheese, enough to let the sauce peek through in some spots
ET. AL.
08/10 - Great composition, just needs a little work on the dough
+2 - Checker floors and New York memorabilia, nice

83/100 - Pretty good slice, worth a stop
Trophy Brewing and Pizza – 827 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC
Margherita Style
CRUST
07/10 - Crisp, but slightly doughy and chewy. Paler than one would expect for Margherita pizza
08/10 - Cornicione is thin and crispy, not many bubbles
06/10 - Gumline is present, inner crust is definitely too thick for a Margherita pie
SAUCE
08/10 - On the bright side with an acidic tang that makes for a tasty sauce
09/10 - Great texture, no complaints, the sauce definitely shines on this pie
08/10 - Could use a touch more sauce to make this a banger
CHEESE
09/10 - Perfect and gooey fresh mozz
08/10 - Nice and fresh taste, not overly cheesy but with a distinct flavour
08/10 - Good amount, could have let the sauce show a little more
ET. AL.
09/10 - Basil and tomato slices on top make for a very fresh pie
+3 - Lovely outdoor seating, friendly staff

83/100 - Don't make this a priority at this place, go for the Detroit style instead.
Mellow Mushroom – 601 W Peace St, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
08/10 - Almost-good-chew crust with good browning and a golden colour. Corn meal dusting on the bottom. Not much crispiness in the bite, no flop, good and thin in the center with huge air bubbles on the crust.
07/10 - Very pillowy ridge dusted with parmesan, slightly doughy but good bread, you can taste the molasses they use in the dough and it is an interesting thing here.
08/10 - Even and thin, slight ramp on the doughier slices. I think they have to fight every bit of air that wants to form a bubble from making this a pillow, I respect it.
SAUCE
09/10 - Sauce is on the sweeter side and pretty bright, it's a quality tomato flavour that stands out.
08/10 - Wet but good, slightly saucy and drippy if you're not careful.
08/10 - Good amount but wet, it is slightly starting to pool up in the center of the pie but that's hard to fight especially with such an active dough.
CHEESE
08/10 - Slightly broken but not too greasy, good browning in some spots and slightly pale in others.
08/10 - Slightly understated cheese taste, not punchy but with a good fattiness to it. Could use a saltier side, and they try to mitigate with the extra parm on the rim but it needs more.
08/10 - Cheese soups up towards the center but it's not too greasy or wet yet, just not edge to edge everywhere on the pie. Okay coverage but it's not too bad.
ET. AL.
08/10 - A decent slice with a different taste, not everything needs to be perfect NY or American style, you come to Mellow Mushroom because you want Mellow Mushroom.
+3 - Good location on Glenwood/Peace Street. Lots to do and the restaurant itself feels lively, cool, and cozy.

83/100 - Reminds me of when my cousins would visit from Canada and we'd go to the Mellow Mushroom in Charlotte, always a good time.
The Pizza Peel – 110 Matthews Station St. #1A, Matthews, NC
Closer to American Style.
CRUST
07/10 - Lotta flop, decent deep brown, some char on the bottom. Decent chew and some pull, not crispy on the bite.
08/10 - Decent cornicione and a good flavour. It tastes like molasses is present in the dough, or some whole wheat. Kind of pillowy and I like it.
07/10 - Decent thickness but a notable ramp. Very little gum but not too big of a deal.
SAUCE
08/10 - On the sweeter side with an acidic note, doesn't shine through as much as one would like as the cheese is the star of the show.
07/10 - On the wetter side but somehow not really noticeable in every bite, it could use more sauce on the pie.
07/10 - Feels thin towards the center, not a suuuper even spread of sauce.
CHEESE
08/10 - Greasy boy, pooling on the top and some barely gold or brown areas.
08/10 - Cheesy and fatty, definitely more buttery than tangy and it could do with that sharpness.
07/10 - Okay coverage but it slides to the center, a product of the ramp.
ET. AL.
08/10 - Prety neat and interesting flavour profile with the crust. Not my first choice but it's here and it's pizza.
+2 - Pretty cool spot right in downtown Matthews with huge windows and lots of outdoor seating.

77/100 - It's an okay slice, breaking it down I'd call it an 8/10. Go across the street instead to The Exchange Pizza Depot
Lilly's Pizza – 1813 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
07/10 - No spotting, but zero flop and a crispiness to the bottom
08/10 - Nice texture, pillowy and soft
07/10 - Pretty thick on the backend, crust is overall pillowy and bready
SAUCE
08/10 - Good flavour in the sauce but it doesn't always come through
06/10 - A little on the dry side
06/10 - Could have used more sauce given the amount of cheese on the slice
CHEESE
07/10 - Just melted, pale. Could have used a few more minutes with heat
09/10 - Good cheesy tasty that persisted
07/10 - Lots of cheese on the slice
ET. AL.
08/10 - Pleasant slice but not a banger
+2 - Cozy but verging into kitschy. Patio is a great space

74/100 - A tasty slice but not NY Style (Needs another ranking system for fair scoring - will revisit)
Frank's Pizza – 2030 New Bern Ave, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
06/10 - Golden brown, no spotting. Lots of flop on the hold
08/10 - Shallow cornicione, crispy all the way through but still good
08/10 - Very thin crust, very uniform
SAUCE
07/10 - Taste was good but is largely overshadowed by the cheese
09/10 - Velvety and with a great texture
08/10 - Good, even coverage
CHEESE
05/10 - Cooked too long and well past broken: a very greasy slice
05/10 - Cheesy flavour is good but it comes from the grease, not the cheese
07/10 - Good cheese cover, pretty uniform
ET. AL.
06/10 - Too greasy, without a doubt
+1 - Cozy feel inside but too dark, wish the blinds had been opened

70/100 - Would have been good had it been less of a grease-fest
I ❤️ NY Pizza – 106 W Franklin St #2516, Chapel Hill, NC
CRUST
08/10 - Zero flop, slight crispiness but rather soft when you start to chew, needs some better taste. Golden brown with flecks of deep brown
06/10 - Pale and pillowy, slightly doughy taste. Way underdone compared to the rest of the pizza
07/10 - Consistent with very little ramp to it but considerable gum despite the thinness of the slice
SAUCE
08/10 - Not a strong flavour, and actually kind of underwhelming and understated overall. When it does come through it's actually a nice robust taste
06/10 - Dry in the mouth, likely overcooked in the oven due to too little sauce
05/10 - Too little sauce overall on the slice leading to aforementioned issues. Evenly spread but this needs more on it to really work
CHEESE
07/10 - Slightly underdone, no breaking at all but really pretty pale in a lot of places and no stretch
05/10 - No real flavour at all coming from the cheese, not sure what happened as it may have been entirely overshadowed by the pepperoni
06/10 - Cheese is pretty inconsistent on the slice leading to patchiness
ET. AL.
06/10 - Unfortunately a pretty weak slice
+3 - It really feels like you step back into 1980s New York when you're in here, pretty cool and a nice interior

66/100 - Not sure what happened here
Fountain Dining Hall – 2520 Sullivan Dr, Raleigh, NC
CRUST
05/10 - A solid flop on the hold despite a thick crust. A little bit of chew. Pretty pale on the bottom.
04/10 - Not much colour at all on the ring, very very pillowy when you bite into it and not the most flavour. Not doughy but a slightly doughy taste.
04/10 - Very pillowy, maybe half an inch of undercarriage or more, with a noticeable bit of gum.
SAUCE
06/10 - Pretty sweet tasting sauce when you can taste it, I'm not sure what their blend is but I don't think it's precooked sauce which is a plus.
04/10 - You get a lot of your sauce towards the center but as you reach the outer crust it becomes a mere film beneath the cheese.
04/10 - Not much sauce leaves this slice feeling more like a cheesy bread to me.
CHEESE
08/10 - Brown but not broken, not greasy at all which is a nice surprise.
07/10 - Really fatty cheesy taste, but pretty good all things considered. I don't hate it.
06/10 - The cheese is pretty evenly applied but there is so much of it on the slice, it almost gives a Ninja Turtles stretch.
ET. AL.
07/10 - If I'm in Fountain I'll get a slice just because it's reminiscent of pizza. I don't hate it but I wouldn't come here solely for it, and if it was from a real restaurant I'd cry.
+2 - Fountain is a nice dining hall and it is good to go with friends to sit, chat, and eat.

57/100 - To come here for the pizza alone would be questionable behaviour.

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