Cavoni's Pizza and Grinders in Battle Creek, MI

The Facts:

Pizza: Cavoni's Pizza and Grinders
Business Category: single store
Website: https://www.cavonispizzagrinders.com/
Location: 5424 Beckley Road Suite D (in Minges Creek Plaza near Big Lots)
Date of Review Visit: October 2023
What I Ordered: small (8") pizza with sausage and pepperoni; fountain drink
Price: $12.92 (includes drink and tax)

 

The Micro:

Crust: Cavoni's Pizza has a fairly thick crust that looks hand-made.  It has a nice crispy texture, and it does a good job of supporting the rest of the pizza.  I like this crust.  Score: 10/10.

Sauce: The sauce is way too spicy; I tasted more spices than tomatoes.  It appears in average quantity.  Score: 5/10.

Cheese: This pizza comes with a nice thick layer of cheese.  The cheese does not produce much grease.  It also does not have much flavor until you sprinkle on some parmesan.  Score: 9/10.

Toppings: The pepperoni is unremarkable.  The sausage has a little spice but not much other flavor.  For veteran pizza eaters, I will remark that this sausage tastes like Domino's sausage from 25 years ago, which I liked more than the sausage Domino's uses today.  That's not exactly a high endorsement, but it's something.  Both toppings appear in sufficient quantity.  Score: 6/10.

 

The Macro:

Appearance/Atmosphere/Service: The thick crust dominates the appearance, and it looks kind of odd sitting on a contoured plate.  Cavoni's has a small casual dining room with no TVs or anything else for entertainment.  The service is counter service, and it was quick and friendly on my visit.  Score: 7/10.

Value: The price is low for decent quality pizza, and hence the value is quite high.  Score: 10/10.

Taste: The spiciness of the tomato sauce and sausage dominate the tongue, so the overall taste is unimpressive in spite of this pizza's other positive qualities.  Score: 13/20.

 

The Final Judgment:

I like Cavoni's, but they need to upgrade their sauce and toppings to become elite.  Score: 60/80.