Pine Street Pizza

Too bad this place closed. Decent pizza and hoagies. Just needed a renovation as interior was circa 1975 (literally).

I was in this place with my work crew yesterday, March 27, 2014, this place had no drinks or chips. We left as we where leaving the old lady (that looks miserable) said «you are leaving because we don’t have any drinks» yes and you don’t have any chips. We found a new place to eat and lunch everyday at Jimmy John’s a much better place.

I used to live close by Pine Pizza and was in there probably too often, but with there expansive menu is was an easy choice. Their pizza is different with a crisp buttery crust so it’s not going to be like that floppy New York style some places try to pull off unsuccessfully. Whenever I’m in town I try to stop by and fill that craving. Open your mind and give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

I’m glad I found this place on my way back to Maryland aka the place where pizza goes to die. This is a solid pizza joint with huge slices and decent flavor! I’ll be back next time I head to Philly!

Neighborhood pizza place — they are polite, fast, and the food is OK. Sandwiches are better than the pizza. Stick with cheesesteaks, strombolis, and wraps.

If I could give zero stars, I would. The food is freezer burnt and bland. I can deal with premade, i get it, it easier. But their pizza tastes like it sat in the walk in unwrapped for a month. The staff are ok, except for drivers:
Not only do they have incredibly loud annoying cars, but they continuously park in the bike lane, IN FRONT OF A HYDRANT! How do they not get towed?! That alone would make me hate this place, if he food weren’t already awful.

The pizza is nothing special, and the cheesesteaks are not good. Also, their two delivery guys park blocking the bike lane on Pine or on 12 in front of the fire hydrant. Not cool.

I ordered a cheese pizza while in store to take home. While waiting, I noticed that all of their dough was pre-​made and in stacks behind the counter. I like all pizza because even when it’s bad, it’s still good. Well, that is not the case for this pizza. I was particularly turned off by the huge mold growths on the bottom. Flip your pizza over before you eat it and check for yourself. Disgusting.

I stopped in on a whim… no expectations. I ordered a white pizza with broccoli. I also ordered a side of breaded mushrooms. I am from north Jersey and had grown up on the best pizza this side of… well anywhere. Oddly enough you’ll find the best in New Haven, CT. But Pine Street Pizza sucks royal balls. Enough said. Pizza is like Ellio’s gone horribly wrong. Don’t do it!

I’ve always liked this spot — I like their pizzas okay (I don’t do pizza a lot), and REALLY like their white pizza. .. which is loaded with great garlic!
Yes, it’s dingy. It’s a pizza place. It’s in Center City. It’s not upscale. It’s a pizza place.
The sandwiches are so-​so. .. the burger is nothing to write home about. .. the fries are run of the mill frozen. .. the cheesesteak is as good as any from a pizza place.
The service can be a bit off-​putting, not much energy behind the counter — but they’re efficient and get it done.
So, it is better than most, could be better. When put against the other area choices, it’ll probably still be my go-​to place.

A good slice of pizza can really hit the spot every now and again, but the Pine Street Pizza won’t do it for you.
I’m still looking for that Slice in Philly. Any recommendations?

Pizza tastes like something from a cheap bowling alley… which is fine if you’re at a cheap bowling alley, but totally not fine if you’re at a place that supposedly specializes in pizza.
Oh, and if you walk right past this place because you mistook it for an abandoned antique shop, just know you won’t be the first.
+1 star for accepting LevelUp. The $ 2 credit here made my $ 3(!) bowling alley pepperoni slice only cost me a buck. I still think I overpaid.

The dude I’m dating has this place on speed dial because he lives close by and his Saturday post-​basketball ritual is to order a stromboli from this place, eat it quickly and then pass out. What a hottie.
So being his dutiful girlfriend I joined in and tried to girl-​it-​up by also ordering their salads. That was stupid. Stick with just the stromboli. Even it’s pizza ain’t all that. Not sure why. But their sauce is sweet and the stromboli comes with peppers (which I pick out because I’m purist when it comes to strombolis but he likes them).
Here’s something that I don’t know how to factor in the rating: Sometimes I see a white cat in the window on the times it’s closed. Cute right? And then I’m thinking, hmm maybe they have mice? But it’s city… etc so yeah I bet a lot of old buildings have mice. So it’s nice that this cat solves that problem. … And then I make myself stop thinking. Just like when I ONE TIME pissed off this waiter and I had to tell myself that he probably didn’t spit in my gazpacho etc. Ok. That’s all.

Sigh — I should have listened to Unilocal.
Having just purchased a home less than two blocks away, I felt compelled to give the most local pizza shop a try during a day of pre-​moving maintenance/​cleaning projects. I phoned in an order for a large plain pizza that was ready when I arrived to collect it ~15 minutes later. The shop atmosphere was dingy and odd, but I don’t really care about that for take-​out. The pizza was small, had a dry bread-​y crust, and an overabundance of quickly congealing cheap cheese. Fortunately, the thing was cheap, and not inedible.
Maybe their non-​pizza items are better, but I am in no hurry to try them out.

I’ve passed this place several times on my way to south street, so finally decided to check it out.
AWFUL decision. The place just has an awkward feel right from the moment you walk in. They don’t have a display of different pizzas or anything, just a ridiculously huge counter and some ovens.
A woman, who seemed like she didn’t want me there, asked if she could help me. I then asked if they do slices, to which she replied only plain or pepperoni. When I asked how much, she said 2.45 for plain and 2.85 for pepperoni…2.85 for one slice of pepperoni?! At first I thought forget it, but they had a decent amount of customers (probably all just regulars that come in all the time) so I figured I’d try a pepperoni slice.
Huge downfall of having no display: can’t see what the pizza looks like! Upon getting my slice, I instantly thought «what brand of frozen pizza is this?» Thick Greek style slices my @$$! This slice was awful! Instead of being thin but long, the slice was thick and short (insert inappropriate joke here, it is the gayberhood after all).
Worse, it seemed like all they did was throw some uncooked pepperoni onto a plain slice, and didn’t even bother to heat it up! The sauce tasted like some tomato paste, and there wasn’t even enough of it. In no way possible was this slice worth $ 1.00, much less $ 2.85…I’ve visited a few pizzerias during my time here in center city, and this is by far the worst one I’ve been to!

Nothing fancy about the restaurant itself, but I really love their pizza and the way it’s done. The crust/​bread is a little bit thicker than your average pizza. So far, I’ve had their veggie, pepperoni, plain, and white cheese pizzas and I love them all.
Some reviewers complained about the ambiance. I do agree that it is a little dingy and can use some upgrading, but when I go to a pizza shop, I’m not expecting a romantic environment. I want pizza that tastes good. Plus, most of the time I take my pizza to go since I work about two blocks away.

The menu is expansive with sandwiches, pizza, Stromboli, gyros, etc. I ordered a chicken cheesesteak and my friend ordered the pepperoni pizza steak. Side of fries and cole slaw.
The portions were huge, with both sandwiches at 12″ each and PACKED with meat. Yum.
The french fries were hot and tasty — but a little soggy.
The cole slaw was very greeek (sour) and came in a 12 oz cup for $ 1.25.
The food was good, nothing phenomenal. Given the size of portions, the value for the money was pretty good as we ate it again the next day. AND they deliver! I’ll be back.
Keeping it from 5 stars is:
Soggy fries
Extra greasiness
The cole slaw came from a bucket… maybe it was freshly made before being placed in that bucket, I don’t know.
Ambiance is very cafeteria… someone else commented romantic — I disagree.

Let me tell you about a story of a girl from L.A. who was wandering the streets of Center City looking for a good slice of pizza 4 years ago. After venturing on so many places recommended by good-​intentioned but ill-​educated peeps, she went to Pine Street with a friend on a regular weekday afternoon,
THEN HER LIFE IN PHILLY WAS CHANGED FOREVER.
Look, I’m not a pizza snob — Chicago, NYC, whatever — they’ll all do for me, but now I know what it feels like to have a pizza place you favor over all others, and a pizza you love over any other.
Thanks Pine Street for being my neighborhood love.
The pizza here is so good. The crust is the #1 reason why I think the pizza is better than most. It’s soft and thick, and the crust is slightly but not overly chewy (and a bit toasty and buttery), just like this girl savors. The toppings are the #2 reason this place is a hit. Pepperoni, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, onions, and garlic — hell yeah! My little, itty bitty grip is that the cheese is so gooey and tasty when you eat the pizza at the restaurant, but if you get it delivered it turns slightly rubbery, which I dislike of course, so eat at the place if you’re near.
I seriously would come in and order a small pizza just for myself — it’s that delicious. I already miss those days… I would do ANYTHING for some Pine Street and I just had it last week. :}

I LOVE THIS PLACE.
This was our «go to» place for both delivery and «eat in» for so many years in the 90’s when we lived in Philadelphia.
I had a chance to rekindle that love this weekend. :)
I can only really elaborate on 2 items. Cheese steaks (that’s my wife’s thing) and the Sausage Pizza. (that’s MY thing!)
The cheese steaks are awesome. You’ll have to take my word for it on her recommendation.
Now on to the Pizza…
I read a couple the other reviews, and I agree, the crust is almost PERFECT, with it’s buttery taste, with just that slight hint of sweetness.
The Pizza shell itself, is slightly thicker, (almost like a Boboli, but not «doughy»)
Forget about eating it with a fork. just treat it delicately when you start, and let it cool, just a bit.
At other Pizza places, I’ve had every type of «sausage» known to man.
From stuff that looks and tastes like pencil shavings, to giant sliced Vienna sausage circles. (Yuck and double Yuck)
The stuff at Pine Street Pizza is the BEST!
Nice small round, pea-​sized sausage balls, that are so flavorful, with just a hint of spice. (not hot) (almost like a very faint cinnamon, but not quite)
(see my photos)
Some things just grow on you from repeated use, but there is true quality, craftsmanship and consistency in their Pizza here!
I was saddened to hear that the owner, who was so familiar to me, passed away last year, but his daughter and the remainder of the staff (including their fast delivery) have kept the IDENTICAL taste and quality to what were our signature dishes.
It’s so nice when some things stay the same!

Thick, buttery crust
Brown bag into wax paper
Unbeatable price
In Philly, forget Lorenzo’s, my last pizza dollar would be dropped at Pine St. The crust is thick and buttery, best eaten with a knife and fork. The cheese isn’t piled an inch thick, but toppings are. It’s best eaten right out of the oven with a birch beer.
The rest of the menu is an education in grease. I’m sure they serve salad, but I’ll be damned if I know what they taste like. Anything off the grill is great, especially the cheeseburger. It comes with fries in a greasy sack, wrapped in paper that is almost clear by the time you get it home.
There are always tables available to eat-​in, just stick to the front area. The back section is filled with empty boxes prepped and ready for delivery and, occasionally, a table of locals who seem to judge you if you go looking for the bathroom. Kids wander in as well and hang out next to the stand up arcade cames and tiny television, which is always showing whatever Philly sports team is playing at the moment.