When Papa Johns confirmed up fashionably late to the stuffed crust pizza social gathering in December of 2020, it might not have been well timed, however it definitely arrived with a splash. The considerably silly-titled “Epic Stuffed Crust” was no totally different than what Pizza Hut innovated in 1995, and but, in my humble however skilled opinion, the Papa beat the Hut at its personal sport.
As a baby of the 90s, the stuffed crust is an ever-shining beacon of culinary genius and one that may preserve Pizza Hut in my coronary heart eternally. However its high quality has gone so downhill lately that I by no means go there except it’s to attempt a brand new distinctive merchandise, in contrast to Papa Johns, which I carry on pace dial. For its third iteration of the Epic Stuffed Crust, Papa makes the pizza much more Papa-ified by incorporating the signature garlic sauce that makes it stand out amongst the opposite chains. It’s an Epic Stuffed Crust Pizza with a garlic parmesan seasoned and drizzled crust, authentic pizza sauce, melty cheese, and your selection of 1 topping, which comes customary as pepperoni.
This evaluate is fairly simple – for those who like Papa John’s Stuffed Crust and its Particular Garlic Dipping Sauce, you’ll like this pie. Actually, I solely have two gripes with this pizza.
- I simply moved to a denser and crazier a part of town the place, for some motive, the one topping promotion is $20.99 as a substitute of $13.99, so it value greater than I anticipated.
- I want there was extra garlic.
It is a tacky, indulgent, downright scrumptious, and addictive pizza that very properly could be my favourite iteration of Papa John’s best-in-class stuffed crust, however it isn’t all that garlicky. The seasoning on the crust is superb and does very properly to raise the epic-ness of getting tons of completely ooey gooey cheese within the crust, however it leans rather more into the parmesan than the garlic for a pleasant crunchy umami chunk that’s great, however not garlicky.
The toppings at Papa Johns have at all times appeared just like the freshest and most ample of all of the mainstream chains, which is why it has been my favourite for over a decade. The sauce is nice but strong, the cheese has a pleasant dense taste, and the pepperoni brings a pleasant crispiness and a touch of spice. Talking of which, any time you’re ordering a pizza from a series like this, make sure that to get it properly accomplished. You’re very not often, if ever, going to get a burnt pie, however these locations crank out so many pizzas at such a quick fee they might pull it when it’s a contact underdone, and requesting properly accomplished, like I did, will make sure you get a correctly cooked and scrumptious pizza.
Whereas this might use some precise diced garlic such as you’d discover on garlic knots to actually carry the idea house, it’s nonetheless a completely scrumptious pie that’s, unquestionably, my favourite new quick meals merchandise this yr. Plus, for those who’re getting this for $14 as a substitute of $21 like my unlucky metropolitan-dwelling self, it’s a helluva deal, and I’d seize it whilst you can.
Bought Worth: $20.99 (however ought to be $13.99 in your space)
Measurement: Giant 1 Topping
Score: 9 out of 10
Diet Information: (1 slice) 420 energy, 16 grams of fats, 8 grams of saturated fats, 35 milligrams of ldl cholesterol, 990 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, lower than 1 gram of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 16 grams of protein.
