www.crushpizza.com
Pizza Style: Neapolitan
Venue Style: Take Out
Food Orders: 1 Margherita
Lg Cheese Pizza: (~11”) $7.95
Beverage Orders: None

The most frequent question I get from my co-workers is, “Where can we get a decent slice around here?”  That question is actually more difficult than one would think. Most places offering up pie in the financial district come from your typical lunch spot. Open for breakfast and lunch, pumping out mediocre food to feed the masses.

In an attempt to answer that question, a co-worker of mine “The Bird” suggested we check out the newly opened Crush Pizza. Crush Pizza took over the old Upper Crust location on State Street. Upon arrival we were met with a long lunch line and a conspicuously absent pizza aroma. The set up is like a pizza assembly line. At the front you order a specialty pie or create your own. From there you can choose how your pie is dressed. At the end of the line are two domed wood fire ovens. They need to pump some of the aroma coming off of the ovens back into the place.  I went with the Margherita with The Bird, went with the same however, adding extra cheese.

Crush Pizza specializes in traditional Neapolitan (pizza napoletana) style pie, hand tossed, fresh ingredients, which is cooked at a very high heat in a wood burning oven. Crush’s tag line is 90 at 900 (or is it 900 for 90) Regardless, they cook their pie for 90 seconds at 900 degrees.

My pizza had a few outside negatives forces going against it before I even took a bite. The pizza sat in its box for over 5 minutes as we made our way back to the office in mid 30 degree weather. During that time, the pizza was losing its fresh out of the oven quality while steaming in the enclosed space. Not Crush’s fault. The pizza looked the part upon opening the box. OK melt with quite a char on the crust. The ingredients seem to be of good quality but the pie was a little bland in flavor and the crust was too doughy.  It might have benefited from a bit longer in the oven at a slightly lower temp.

That being said, Crush offers a decent alternative to the 2 slices and a can of Coke joint.

Boboli’s Rating: 4 Slices

Tagged: Financial District, Neapolitan