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By Olbunmi Laditan
PIZZA
By Olbunmi Laditan
Few foods have earned their way into the hearts and consequently stomachs of college students like pizza has.
After proving itself a dependable and affordable culinary solution for years, the Italian import has saved many the student from being sentenced to yet another night of ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly.
Marcello’s Pizza has earned itself a reputation for being one of the tastiest and most economical options for a pizza pie in all of Riverside. Students from the University of California Riverside, California Baptist University and our own Riverside Community College all treat the small takeout restaurant as a proverbial second kitchen.
After 15 years of spinning dough, Marcello’s shows no signs of slowing down.
I entered Marcello’s on a Sunday evening. The daunting week that lay ahead of me made cooking dinner an impossible task. It was evident at first glance that business was anything but slow. Standing at the counter, I quickly skimmed over the many options.
Plain pepperoni pizza?
That is just the beginning at Marcello’s. Its menu consists of adventurous combinations such as their Chicken Alfredo Pizza; made with white sauce, chicken breast, garlic and red onions.
The Home Style BBQ Chicken Pizza has mozzarella, cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses and is generously topped with onions, garlic, bacon and chicken all smothered with smoked BBQ sauce.
Being a minimalist, I opted for a medium cheese pizza with ground beef on half of it.
Other topping options include cashews, anchovies, pineapple, Italian sausage, mushrooms and more. With their carry out special, the total came to $6.85 after tax. After 15 minutes, my order was ready.The pizza came hot, not common as many pizzerias have begun serving up only warm varieties. Plenty of melted real mozzarella cheese sat atop a fresh, slightly tangy tomato sauce.
It is hard to find a good crust these days, but Marcello’s has perfected the art. Not at all bready or soggy, it is light, soft in the center and crisp on the outside. What I didn’t eat, I gave to my study mates for which I received much gratitude.
For those who don’t enjoy pizza, Marcello’s offers many varieties of pasta, salads, sandwiches and desserts. There are five locations in Riverside, most of which deliver.
The next time you find yourself hungry, give up and give in. Treat yourself – and your friends – to a pizza that you won’t soon forget and definitely won’t regret.