The University City pizza places: Powelton Pizza, Allegro Pizza and College Pizza, have kept this girl afloat through many late-night study sessions and lazy Sundays in the dorm -- and for this I owe them. However, having grown up in New York City, I set the bar for good pizza pretty high, and while I wasn't knocked off my feet by what any of my faithful old friends had to offer, it's hard not to be fond of all the homey -- and awkward --memories formed at U. City's pizza dives.
Powelton Pizza 2 Stars Buried in the depths of Drexel, Powelton Pizza is a refreshing stroll from Penn's campus. Although the pizzeria is not the most prepossessing, the pizza itself is decent. My main grievance: the slice has no original flair, and the sauce seems manufactured. The dough, however, is perfectly cooked, and the crispy crust is delightful. Considering the relatively inconvenient location of Powelton, opt for delivery. Legend has it: Powelton delivers most hastily -- and with a smile! Look out for Powelton's great specials on large pies (17" pie for $6.50 after 9 p.m.).
College Pizza 4 Stars At College Pizza, I ordered a slice and a diet coke for $2.75. The crust was medium to thin and crispy, the cheese perfectly cooked and the sauce very flavorful. College Pizza is consistent and undoubtedly the best pizza around Penn. The pizzeria itself hosts plenty of room for dining in, but I'm not sure that the atmosphere is most inviting. The lure of College Pizza is definitely not its ambiance, but rather its pizza and the convenience of its location. Shoutout to College Pizza for fast delivery and long hours. Staying open until 4:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and 2:30 a.m. during the week is a blessing.
Allegro Pizza 3 Stars I ordered my slice and diet coke, which together cost a negligible $2.65. Fresh out of the oven, the slice was disappointing -- the cheese seemed barely cooked and was sliding off onto the paper plate before it even made it over the counter into my hands. Messy, sure. But the steaming slice still satisfied my appetite. Though Allegro's may not be very consistent, its long hours and big slices make it a staple in many Penn students' dietary repertoires. What's more, Allegro's wins best dining area out of the three pizzerias I visited -- with seating both inside and out.
Powelton Pizza's dull storefront rightfully might not draw you that far off campus; College Pizza's dining ambiance probably won't float you away to Italy; and perhaps you'll agree with me that Allegro's best attribute is its selection of 40's. However, college students are generally tasteless and non-discriminatory, so choose your poison -- Diet Coke or an Olde E -- and rock on.
