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[ Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006 ]

Local Slices for a dolla' dolla' bill ya'll

Collegian Staff Writer

The Greek gods had ambrosia. J.C. had his bread and wine. Penn State students have... pizza, which any lactose tolerant college student would agree rivals -- nay, surpasses -- the choices of those ancient culinary aficionados.

Getting pizza on a Friday or Saturday night is like scoring with Scarlett Johansson. Everybody wants it, you'll probably have to wait in line for hours to get it and if you finally do, it's like heaven is a place on earth.

PHOTO: Jeff Bast/Collegian
PHOTO: Jeff Bast/Collegian


But it seems some Penn Staters are standing in line for the wrong Scarlett Johansson, an impostor Scarlett Johansson. That is why it is so very necessary to take a step back and look at what you're actually eating. There are plenty of places to get a $1 slice of heaven, but it seems some are lost in the chaos of Beaver Canyon on the weekends. Here's a breakdown of what you might be missing:

Canyon Pizza

OK, you're probably not missing this one. This is the heavy hitter, the undisputed champion of the Penn State pizza world. But have you actually tasted the pizza? Its crust is consistently burnt to a crisp and there is very little cheese or sauce to speak of on top. That's not to mention the fact that the line is a mob scene. Sure, it's in a great location, but College Pizza and Bell's Greek Pizza are less than five minutes away.

Bell's Greek Pizza

This hidden gem at 214 E. Calder Way rarely has long lines. On top of that, if you like toppings on your pizza, they've got pepperoni slices for a dollar as well. The crust is crisp, the cheese is ample and the sauce is solid. The only complaint one might have is that the pizza comes with a nice heaping serving of grease. Grab some extra napkins.

The Goppers

Speaking of good ingredients, the only place that rivals Bell's is The Goppers. The sauce is probably the best in town. On the other hand, the slices are susceptible to that pizza phenomenon where an entire layer of cheese comes off in one bite. The location isn't great, but it's definitely the best place east of Canyon. And if you don't feel like making the walk, they do offer great delivery service at ridiculously cheap prices.

College Pizza

The cheese is good and the crust is crisp, but there's little sauce to be spoken for. Also, due to its proximity with Canyon, there's a lot of traffic going into College. Another drawback is the steep downward incline of the steps. I'd rather not risk my life while waiting in line for pizza.

Gumby's Pizza

For a place to have "Pizza" in its title, you'd think its signature dish would be pizza. Seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it? Gumby's Pizza is no pizza place, however. Gumby's Pizza is a Pokey Stix place. Though they're not available by the slice, Pokey Stix are quite possibly the best dish served by a pizza place in State College. With a little ranch or marinara dipping sauce, they are perfect for a late-night meal.

State College is in the fortunate situation of having many late-night eating options. To limit oneself to only one option on a regular basis would be a waste of some great opportunities. So remember, when you see a three-mile line outside Canyon Pizza, you don't have to jump at the end of it. There are plenty of better options just minutes away.


 



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