The Virginia Informer
The Virginia Informer
Take-out review delivers the hottest pizza in town
By Laura Tornello, Copy Editor
PIN numbers. Padlock combinations. Voicemail passwords. These are all relatively unimportant. To have a fulfilling life (or at least four years in college) the only thing you really need to remember is your password on campusfood.com. “What is campusfood.com?” you may ask. Well, it’s a website that lists delivery and takeout restaurants for college campuses across the country. It’s one of the simplest websites to use, and with a few clicks you’ve opened up a world beyond Caf takeouts and Wawa. All you have to do is create an account, chose your restaurant, place your order, and relax with the knowledge that in (around) forty-five minutes food will be appearing at your dorm. What could be easier?
PIN numbers. Padlock combinations. Voicemail passwords. These are all relatively unimportant. To have a fulfilling life (or at least four years in college) the only thing you really need to remember is your password on campusfood.com. “What is campusfood.com?” you may ask. Well, it’s a website that lists delivery and takeout restaurants for college campuses across the country. It’s one of the simplest websites to use, and with a few clicks you’ve opened up a world beyond Caf takeouts and Wawa. All you have to do is create an account, chose your restaurant, place your order, and relax with the knowledge that in (around) forty-five minutes food will be appearing at your dorm. What could be easier?
Well…
To make your decision even simpler, we decided to put campusfood.com to the test. They list four distinct pizza options: Pizza Hut, Chanello’s, Sal’s, and Mama Mia’s. But which has the best specials and combos? Which tastes like cardboard? Which gives you the most for your money? Asking yourself these questions wastes valuable time when pizza is the only thing getting you through an all-nighter. Here are the answers.
Pizza Hut was our first sample. They begin delivery at 11:00 am, but stop at 11:45 pm-- somewhat problematic at 2:00 in the morning. Your order must be above $8.00, and a $1.50 delivery fee is factored in. Pizza Hut accepts cash and all major credit cards, but they do not accept WM Express, which can be a deciding factor. Their best deal is a medium specialty pizza for $9.99. In addition to pizza, they offer buffalo wings, breadsticks, and drinks. Out of a possible 5 points for taste, Pizza Hut scored an average of 3.08. Their pizza had a “very soft, fluffy crust,” but most testers agreed that it was too greasy. Some didn’t like the thickness, but instead preferred a thinner pizza.
Chanello’s accepts Express, delivers until 2:30 am, and only has a $6.00 minimum for delivery, making it perhaps the easiest choice for college students. They typically deliver quickly, and have several great deals: for instance, a sub, chips, and a can of soda for $6.99, and a 10” pizza for $5.49 (although, as many people commented, a 10” pizza is practically bite-size for most males). Chanello’s, however, doesn’t have the best reputation as far as taste. On our 5-point scale, they scored an average of 2.41. But, “Given the taste to cost ratio, even if it tastes like crap, it’s still a good deal,” one taster said. Another commented, “I’m sure it’d taste delicious at 2am with a BAC of 0.2 or higher.” On the other hand, one must factor in the free ranch dipping sauce, which makes it all worthwhile.
Sal’s was the final pizza we tasted, and most agreed that it was the best. All judges gave it a 4.5 or higher. The sauce, cheese, and crust all received high marks. Sal’s has a great deal on Wednesdays: with a $10.00 order, you can get a free cheese pizza. In addition to pizza, Sal’s offers a variety of other Italian dishes, from spaghetti to shrimp alfredo to tiramisu. They accept Express, and give you the best quality for your money, but they stop delivering at 10:30 pm.
Mama Mia’s is similar to Sal’s: it’s locally-owned, accepts Express, and delivers until 11:30 pm. They also have a wider range of food options than Pizza Hut or Chanello’s: deli sandwiches, steaks, chicken, even seafood. They only have a $6.00 minimum for delivery, which is helpful if you’re just ordering for yourself. We were unable to judge their pizza, but we’ve heard good things. About the pizza, anyway.
So next time it’s 10:30 pm, you have a ten-page American Lit paper calling out to you, and the only edible items in your dorm room are Ramen and a pack of gum, we hope this article makes your desperate search for pizza a little bit easier. Log onto campusfood.com. You might as well procrastinate on a full stomach.
Want to write about arts & entertainment for The Virginia Informer? Please e-mail vainfo@wm.edu for details!
Want to write about arts & entertainment for The Virginia Informer? Please e-mail vainfo@wm.edu for details!
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