516 Pizza Pub in Northwest Ohio

Basic Information:

Pizza: 516 Pizza Pub
Number of Locations: 2, both in northwest Ohio
Location Reviewed: 27072 Carronade Drive in Perrysburg, OH (near Kroger at I-75 exit 193)
Website: https://www.pizzapub516.com/
Date of Review Visit: October 2024
What I Ordered: large (16") pizza with pepperoni and sausage
Price: $25.50 (pizza only; includes tax)
Photos:

Summary Review:  4 stars (out of 5)

 

Detailed Review:

Crust: The crust at 516 Pizza Pub is not a pan crust, but it is a thick crispy crust.  My pizza seemed slightly overbaked, and therefore the crust seemed slightly burnt.  This crust is not bad, but I've had better.  Score: 7/10

Sauce: This pizza has lots of sauce.  The sauce has a rich tomatoey taste, but it is also slightly overspiced.  Score: 8/10

Cheese: This pizza features a thick layer of yummy cheese.  The cheese does produce a decent amount of grease, so a mandatory deduction applies.  Score: 9/10

Toppings: The toppings get lost in the cheese and sauce, but this pizza still has plenty of toppings.  The pepperoni comes several slices thick and has great flavor with just a bit of spiciness.  The sausage comes in nice large chunks with not as much flavor.  Score: 10/10

Overall Taste: except for the slightly burnt taste, everything comes together well.  The overall taste prioritizes quantity over quality, and this pizza is for hearty pizza eaters only.  Score: 8.5/10

Pizza Appearance: This pizza has a burnt appearance due to the overbaking.  Otherwise, it looks like the thick robust pizza it is.

Dining Atmosphere: I ordered to-go, but 516 Pizza Pub has a casual dining room with a full service bar in the center, a pool table near the front, and lots of TV's.  The overall atmosphere is an odd mix of bar and pizza restaurant.

Customer Service: They took my order at the bar.  The service was quick and friendly.

Monetary Value: This pizza is very expensive, even for a 16" pizza.  Therefore, the value is not the best.

The Final Judgment:

As I carried this pizza up to my hotel room, I kept thinking that this may be the heaviest pizza I have ever carried.  516 Pizza Pub is not for people who want flavorful delicacies, but it is for people who want hearty, robust, filling pizza.  Score: 80/100

Gelsosomo's Pizzeria near Chicago, IL

Basic Information:

Pizza: Gelsosomo's Pizzeria

Number of Locations: 10, mostly near Chicago, IL
Location Reviewed: 5184 S. Franklin Street in Michigan City, IN (in front of Meijer on US 421 just north of I-94 exit 34B)
Website: https://gelpizza.com/
Date of Review Visit: September 2024
What I Ordered: small (10") deep dish pizza with pepperoni and sausage; Dr. Pepper to drink
Price: $24.88 (includes drink and tax but not tip)
Photo:

Summary Review:  4.5 stars (out of 5)

 

Detailed Review:

Crust: Gelsosomo's offers a true Chicago style thick crust that is at least 2 inches thick.  The crust has the crispy texture you would expect, and the sauce and cheese blend well with the crust.  Score: 10/10

Sauce: This pizza has lots of sauce.  The sauce had a nice tomatoey taste at first, but a bitter flavor grew on my taste palette the more I ate.  I would like this sauce more without the bitter end.  Score: 8/10

Cheese: This pizza has a thick layer of cheese baked right on the crust, which is where it should be for a deep dish pizza.  I like it.  Score: 10/10

Toppings: The sausage comes in nice big chunks and has a mildly spiced pork flavor.  The pepperoni is unremarkable.  Both toppings appear in abundant quantity.  Score: 9/10

Overall Taste: The big gobs of sauce dominate the taste, and therefore this pizza has more of a bitter taste than I prefer.  Score: 7.5/10

Pizza Appearance: This pizza looks like the robust deep dish pizza it is.

Dining Atmosphere: Gelsosomo's has a nice casual dining atmosphere with nice booths and a few TVs for entertainment.  I enjoyed the dining experience here.

Customer Service: The table service was quick and attentive on my visit.

Monetary Value: While the price is expensive, it is not the most expensive pizza of this type I have ever had.  Thus, the value is about average.

The Final Judgment:

I enjoyed the food and service at Gelsosomo's.  Only a fresher, more tomato-tasting sauce like the sauce at Lou Malnati's or Uno's keeps this pizza from being elite.  Score: 86/100