While some may not think that three restaurants qualify as an in-depth review of pizza delivery for my so-called Delivery Pizza Week, I challenge anyone to eat five pizzas over a six day time period and not get tired of cheese and sauce. I’m sure there are some people here in Seattle who could easily eat pizza every day of the week but dear reader; I’m not one of them. So I decided upon one more restaurant that was within my zone of delivery, Pudge Bros. Pizza. For an overall ranking of all three pizza places; scroll down the page.

I called in for the New York, New York ($10.99/Small [10″], $13.99/Medium [12″], $17.99/Large [14″], $21.99/Xtra-Large [18″]) to keep this tasting simple. With a short list of just four toppings I was reminded of a sausage grinder when I placed my order. In fact, when the pizza arrived, the sausage consisted of sliced link Italian sausage. Mild in pork flavor but juicy and bursting with fennel and spices the meat could easily have stood on its own. The vegetables were julienne thin, retained their crunch and were amply provided. An extra cheesy pie, the thick layer of creamy, mild mozzarella tended to not want to separate from other slices, pulling cheese and toppings away from its neighbors. Sauced liberally, the tomato base tasted of canned tomato paste. Though zesty and slightly spicy it was overly thick and a little off-putting. As for the crust, it suffered from Jekyll & Hyde syndrome. Near the center it was soggy and doughy while out closer to the edge it was lightly crispy with a slightly chewy, pillow-like interior - close to perfect for me. It was just a shame the whole crust couldn’t have had that texture.

So what have I learned during Delivery Pizza Week (Our “Delivery Pizza Week and a Half” if you will)? Here is my breakdown of the three local pizza deliveries I sampled, in recommended order:

1) Pudge Bros. Pizza, Pagliacci Pizza (Tie)
This was a tough one as both places had positives and negatives. Pudge brothers had soggy crust closer to the center of the pie while the “butt-end” had what I consider to be very good crust - crunchy exterior, pillow-y interior and a slight chew to it without my feeling as though I’m chewy bubble gum. The toppings were plentiful and fresh while the sauce tasted canned. The cheese was creamy and slightly sweet as what I’d expect mozzarella to be though it was a tad stringy. Pagliacci’s cheese on the other hand, to me, was a negative. With a splotchy texture and overly nutty flavor it just wasn’t what I think of when I imagine pizza cheese. But on the plus side, the crust was pretty good and I think it could easily stand up against shops like Via Tribunali and Tutta Bella. Likewise the sauce was fresh, a little sweet, a little tart, like I’d expect from restaurant pizza. Between these two I think an individual can find something that they’d enjoy in the way of delivery pizza. In the end, I felt they both came in neck-and-neck.

2) Zeeks Pizza
The pizza from Zeeks has been re-classified in my book as a good stand-by. From pale, meek dough to ho-hum toppings and an expensive price tag, this is a spot that I would call if the delivery times are long for one of the above two.

There are a lot of options when it comes to pizza delivery in Seattle. From national and local chains to mom and pops, everyone has their favorites that they are loyal to. Hopefully this past week has been helpful in making a decision on where to turn for a pizza, delivered to one’s home, which straddles the line between artisan-style pizzeria and fast food chain. The truest answer to what to order, pizza-wise, is to ask yourself what you are looking for. Is it great, crisp crust, complex sauce or mild, fresh mozzarella? If the answer is that all three need to be perfect, you may need to go to a sit-down restaurant. But if you’ve open to two out of three, and you want the convenience of eating your pie in track pants and a ratty t-shirt, then there are delivery options awaiting you.