Escape from NY Pizza

Update Review, January 2025 Visit

So, I don't care for Escape from New York crust.  Nor their red sauce.  Nor their standard cheese.  You know, all the basics that go in to pizza. You've read all about this in my earlier reviews (below).  

But my office has a party with stacks and stacks of Escape from New York pizza every month, and I still have the memory of way back when I tried the "Cheesy Garlic Shrooms" specialty pizza and really did like the olive oil garlic base (no red sauce), the mix of cheeses (parm, motz, feta), and mushrooms, so whenever I see a speciality non-red sauce pizza in the lineup, I give them another shot. 

You Say Potato.

"Sliced and roasted potatoes & roasted garlic cloves over pesto sauce."

The You Say Potato was certainly a looker.  Loaded up with toppings - although not evenly distributed on top as there were some slices with 3 garlic cloves, others with literally 10.  Some slices entirely covered in slices of potato, others with only a single slice.  Etc.  I wouldn't say that putting care into the construction of the pizza is a strong point of Escape from NY, but at least it gave some variety for folks who had preferences.

Anyway, this pizza had some strong points.  The pesto was quite flavorful and good.  The garlic cloves were nicely roasted, mellow sweet and, well, garlicky flavor.  SO much garlic, if you got a piece loaded up. The potato slices were something a bit different, nice for some crunch.

But ... I still really disliked the chewy flavorless crust and the cheese that just doesn't melt well or get a nice cheese pull.

I mostly plucked off the toppings, but this has promise if you don't mind their crust and cheese.  **.

Original Review, November 2024

I have a strange relationship with pizza.  I grew up eating it regularly - one night a week when my mom worked nights, my father made it for us (using packaged crust mix, jarred sauce, and basic cheese/ toppings, but it was relatively homemade).  All through ski season I enjoyed the Ellio's pizza at the snack bar at my local ski area.  My family went to Papa Gino's a fair amount when it existed in town, followed by a Little Ceasar's phase after that.  Every birthday party had pizza from somewhere local.  In college, there was one place that delivered, and that was monster slices.  In grad school, I often made bagel or english muffin pizzas for myself.  Etc.

When I moved to SF, I got exposed to deep dish (and was in love with Little Star) and fancier California thin crust (Delfina!). 

And then I basically stopped eating pizza.  For years.  Like, 15 years probably.  Whenever I visited my family, they still did weekly pizza night.  I never joined in.  And then covid happened, and I guess my eating habits did again too.  I now do actually eat pizza, at least once a month.

All the Pizza.

In the spirit of trying all the pizza these days, I finally tried pizza from Escape From NY Pizza, a small chain in San Francisco.  Their pizza has never looked particularly good to me, but its relatively cheap, has delivery, and is frequently ordered at events.

I've tried their pizza a few times.  Generally, it is as blah as it looks, although others seem to enjoy it.  In all my trials, I found only one variety that I ever liked.

Gluten-Free.

This is a gluten-free pie, with a thinner crust than the regular, that is even worse.  It reminds me of everything you'd imagine about bad gluten-free items, basically, way too crispy, and tastes as bland as can be.  Like eating cardboard.

Cheesy Garlic Shrooms.

"Olive Oil Garlic Base, Shredded Parmesan Cheese, Mushrooms, Mozzarella and Feta."

I really liked some aspects of this pizza.  It surprised me.

What I didn't care for was the crust, just a boring chewy style.  Meh.

But I really liked the toppings - great garlic flavor, and the cheese mix was really flavorful and had an amazing cheese pull.  I really, really liked the toppings, I just wanted the served on something other than that bo-ring crust.

****+ toppings even, but *+ crust, ***+ overall.  I'd gladly have those toppings again.

Great Escape.

"Red Sauce, Mozzarella, Pepperoni, Mushrooms and Onions."

Another event with Escape from NY Pizza, so I tried it again, a classic style this time.

Meh.  Crust was boring chewy/soft style.  Red sauce was kinda too sweet, and there was lots of it. Generic mozzarella, and lots of it.  Generic pepperoni.  Mediocre mushrooms.  I did like the slightly sweet red onions.  

Just not my kind of pizza.  I think my parents would like this style, and many others enjoyed it, it just isn't for me.  *.