Attempt #67 - The Wedge (Riverside Drive, Iowa City)

Menu

The Venue

517 Riverside Drive

Iowa City, IA 52246

(319) 337-6677

This restaurant is located stone is in the historic college town of Iowa City, Iowa. This serves as a important dining establishment for the Iowa City locals-either you are a Mesa Pizza fan or a Wedge Pizza fan. They offer carry out or delivery options, as their 'pizza by the slice' slogan implies its more of a grab-and-go kind of place. The Nutcracker is their signature pizza according to many locals.

The Pizza

X-Large 16 Inch, The Nutcracker, $21.49

Chicago Style: No

Crust Thickness: Thin-Average

Menu: http://www.thewedgepizza.com/menu2015-april.pdf

Participants: 14

Pizza Ordered: 8

Sizes Offered/Ordered: Medium (12”), Large (14”), X-Large (16”)/2 Medium and 6 X-Large

Crusts Offered/Ordered: Regular only

Pieces Cut: Triangular-Shaped

Pepperoni - Regular Crust, $13.75.

Cheese – Medium 12”, Regular Crust, $12.00.
Love Supreme - Sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, red onions and green peppers, laid down under a bed of white cheddar and mozzarella with tomato sauce. Truly a love supreme, X-Large 16”, Regular Crust, $21.49.

The Meatball Parmesan - Our homemade meatballs, red onions, tomato slices, and fresh garlic, covered in mozzarella, white cheddar, and Parmesan cheese, all on a tomato sauce base, X-Large 16”, Regular Crust, $21.49.

X-Large 16 Inch, Oliver Twist, $21.49

The Red Baron - Tomato sauce, sausage, pepperoni, bacon, tomato slices, feta and mozzarella, X-Large 16”, Regular Crust, $21.49.

Riverside Pesto - A fountain of fresh garlic, sun dried tomatoes, fontina cheese & freshly grated Parmesan on our house basil pesto sauce, overflowing with mozzarella, X-Large 16”, Regular Crust, $21.49.

The Oliver Twist - Black olives, green olives, Kalamata olives, spinach, red onion, mozzarella and Parmesan on tomato sauce, X-Large 16”, Regular Crust, $21.49.

The Nutcracker - An enchanting creation of mozzarella, Parmesan, gorgonzola, and

fontina cheeses, sprinkled with pistachios and roasted peppers, all topping our house basil pesto, X-Large 16”, Regular Crust, $21.49.

The Verdict,

After cooking, the pizzas cut into triangular shaped wedges.

X-Large 16 Inch, Riverside Pesto, $21.49

Sauce: Traditional sauce, a little on the lighter side
Cheese: A little on the light side, just about right for my likings

Crust: Lacking heartiness, it seemed a little like cardboard

Toppings: Average spread, just about right.

Participant Favorite: Tie between Oliver Twist (Olive Pizza) and Riverside Pesto!

Final Comments/Considerations: I would seriously consider giving them a shot when you don't have to drive an hour after picking up the pizzas. It would be good to try them side by side with Mesa and see an outcome. Although I preferred The Wedge, many in my participant pool favored Mesa after this attempt.

Here are our ratings, where 1 = worst and 10 = best.
Overall 7.29

Cheese 7.07

Sauce 6.50

Topping 8.00

Crust 6.79

Venue 0.00

Favorite: Oliver Twist / Riverside Pesto

Medium 12 Inch, Cheese, $12.00

Medium 12 Inch, Pepperoni, $13.75

X-Large 16 Inch, Love Supreme, $21.49

X-Large 16 Inch, Meatball Parmesan, $21.49

X-Large 16 Inch, The Red Baron, $21.49