Slow Rise Slice House Pizza in Waco, TX

Basic Information:

Pizza: Slow Rise Slice House

Number of Locations: 2, both near Waco, TX
Location Reviewed: 1620 North M.L.K. Jr. Blvd.
Website: https://www.slowrisewaco.com/
Date of Review Visit: February 2025
What I Ordered: 2 slices of The Butcher (5 meats pizza); fountain drink
Price: $12.92 (includes drink and tax)
Photo:

Summary Review: 4 stars (out of 5)

 

Detailed Review:

Crust: Slow Rise Slice House sells whole New York style pizzas and pizza by the slice.  Having nowhere to store leftovers, I ordered pizza by the slice.  The crust has the usual hard, over-crispy texture of reheated pizza, but I've had worse crusts in that regard.  At least the crust is strong enough to hold all of the toppings.  Score: 6/10

Sauce: This pizza does not have much sauce, but what sauce it does have has a fresh tomatoey taste.  Score: 7/10

Cheese: This pizza has a decent amount of cheese.  The cheese doesn't have much flavor, but it also does not produce much grease.  Score: 9/10

Toppings: The sausage appears in small wads and has a nice fresh taste.  The bacon has a pleasant pork flavor without being too salty.  The ham, pepperoni, and hamburger don't add much flavor.  The toppings appear in adequate quantity.  Score: 8/10

Overall Taste: There isn't a lot of sausage or bacon, so the overall taste is a little on the bland side, plus the crust is too hard.  Score: 7.5/10

Pizza Appearance: As usual for an all-meats pizza, the toppings dominate the appearance.  The pizza comes in nice large slices that fill the tray.

Dining Atmosphere: Here's where Slow Rise shines: they have a great, large outdoor patio overlooking the Brazos River.  I have reviewed over 180 pizza places, and this may be the most scenic place I have ever eaten pizza.

Customer Service: The service was quick and attentive.

Monetary Value: Slow Rise offers solid pizza at a reasonable price, and the counter service saves on the tip.

The Final Judgment:

Slow Rise is a popular dining spot, and for good reason.  If you order carry out, you will miss what makes this place special.  I really enjoyed dining here even though the pizza is slightly above-average at best.  Score: 83/100