Pizzafest is here? We tried Wawa pizza, here’s what we think
New Jersey loves pizza, and New Jersey loves Wawa, so according to some mathematical property, New Jersey should love Wawa pizza. (That’s how it goes, right?)
The convenience store chain began testing pizzas last year in three dozen stores, including some in New Jersey, and 14- and 16-inch pies are now available in about half of all Wawas. There are 1,000 stores in the Garden State, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Florida, and all should be making pizza by the end of July, according to spokeswoman Lori Bruce.
I was thrilled to see signs advertising the pizza at my local Wawa; the stores I frequent were not included in the testing phase, and I was beyond curious. Pizza is available beginning at 4 p.m. daily, and the ordering process is via touch screen, with a disclaimer that your pizza will be made fresh and may take 20 minutes.
Topping choices include pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, veggie (red onions, mushrooms and green peppers) and supreme (pepperoni, sausage, red onion, mushrooms and green peppers).
I ordered a 16-inch half-pepperoni pizza and waited only 10 minutes, then hopped in the car and snuck a peek. The pizza was cheesy, with plenty of pepperoni and a thin crust.
Things were off to a good start. My pizza-loving family was happy to share their thoughts, starting with the pie’s aroma.
“So good” and “10 out of 10,” they said. As for the taste, we were happily surprised. The first slices were best: As with most pizza, the dough got a little chewy as it sat. The sauce was a little sweet, and the pepperoni was crisp and a tad spicy.
Overall, the pie was on par with our favorite frozen pizza. We all agreed we would eat it again, although not in place of pizza from our favorite pizzeria.
The only con is the cost, which ranges from $12.99 for a 14-inch plain pizza to $18 for a 16-inch with sausage and pepperoni. Our pizza cost $15.99; on average, a large plain pizza in my area costs about $15.
But Wawa pizza has one thing going for it that your local pizzeria does not: It is available until 3 a.m.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com.