"Every summer, I find myself craving something different for dinner on Thursday nights. After a long work week, the 2 to 2.5-hour drive upstate is something I eagerly anticipate as I seek to satisfy my hunger. In years past, I have enjoyed La Chocolat and later indulged in Jr. Combo from Dougies. This year, my craving is for pizza!
Now, some people argue that good pizza is subjective. I wholeheartedly disagree! While it's true that personal preference can lead you to favor one pizza over another, the quality of pizza itself is an objective matter. Personally, I believe Bravo Pizza serves the best overall pizza in the world, focusing purely on flavor (the crust, sauce, cheese, etc.). Since I don't often visit the city, Pizza Time in Flatbush takes a close second for me. With my recent move to Cedarhurst, I am thrilled that Benny's Pizza tastes exactly like Pizza Time.
However, let's return to the main topic. I had always thought pizza upstate was quite poor, almost comparable to pizza in Israel. Initially, I intended to criticize a particular pizza place upstate, but I've decided to keep a positive outlook. So, instead of pointing out a bad establishment, I'll highlight a good one!
This summer, my pizza cravings have been satisfied by a nice little place near my bungalow colony: Swan Lake Pizza. It's less than 10 minutes away and, since it's not located in the middle of Monticello or any other busy area, there's never a long wait. Last Thursday, I arrived at 7 PM and, before I even stepped inside, the staff greeted me with a big smile. I ordered a pie to go, and by the time I reached the counter to pay, my pizza was ready. I was in and out in under a minute!
Now, as for the taste—while it may not match Bravo, Pizza Time, or Benny's, it's still good pizza, and it's undoubtedly the best pizza upstate. However, tonight I ran behind schedule, and sadly, they were about to close by the time I got there. Still craving pizza, I decided to try another popular spot that many rave about. I ordered a pie, but from the moment I tasted the first slice, I regretted my decision. It was absolutely terrible. I can't understand how anyone could eat that and call it good pizza. It truly confounds me how some people can't tell the difference between good and bad pizza.
I challenge anyone to show me a slice of pizza that isn’t from Bravo, Pizza Time, Benny’s, or Swan Lake that can be considered really good. If you can, I'll be grateful for the expanded pizza options. But honestly, I doubt you'll find any. You’d only embarrass yourself by recommending subpar pizza, showcasing a serious lack of taste. There’s nothing like truly good pizza, and nothing worse than the bad."
