Islington Pizza and Sub Shop

How have I not reviewed Islington Pizza!
Islington Pizza is a great spot, locally in Islington Center on Route 1A in Westwood, for burgers, pizza, subs, onion rings, kids meals, and SO much more. They aren’t too expensive, they deliver or are pickup and the staff are normally very friendly and will have everything you ordered on time, and made correctly (which is a problem at some other places).
Always a great experience in store (for pickup), or delivery. Highly suggested (and even though Westwood Pizza is closer to me and is good, this is just somewhat better!)

I was shocked that a pizza/​sub place would close on at 8 pm on a weeknight; I’m used to them closing at 10 pm or later. I guess it’s the Westwood community that rolls up the carpet so early. Ordered a large pizza. It didn’t seem as large as larges I’ve had at other pizza places. It was certainly tasty enough.
The store was closing up, but the eating area was very clean, and looked as though a lot of attention was on making it stay that way. Everyone behind the counter seemed happy to be there. Happy people make better food, in my experience.
I’ll certainly be back to try more things later.

Islington is one of my favorite local spots in Westwood and the surrounding areas. The staff are friendly and recognize regulars, the food is good, and there is a good selection on the menu — considering its «Islington Pizza and Subs», that’s what they’re known for (and both are good), but their burgers, steak tips, and buffalo tenders are all also very good. The only negative is that it is a rather small location, so when it gets busy the lines get long and the restaurant itself can get very loud (amplified in the small space). The fact that they offer takeout is a helpful way to avoid this!
Overall, I would highly recommend Islington due to its good food, solid selection, and friendly staff. Just plan ahead so you don’t get stuck there when it’s really busy!

Our favorite pizza in Westwood. Greek style, fresh, nice crust. The mixed greens salad with Gorgonzola cheese and pecans is well above par for a pizza shop. Try it out if you are in the area.

With the family living in Islington we were delighted to have delivery as an option on a cold night. Tried having a white pizza with garlic and am now a fan and will do it again. The standard pizza’s ordered were also good with nice fresh ingredients that weren’t overcooked on top– mushrooms that you could tell were still nice fresh mushrooms.

I had small issue while visiting islington for the first time but was very impressed by the immediate response I received from the owner, Maria. She truly cares about her business and puts the customer first, even when they write annoying reviews. I recommend any business that is managed with such care.

Great pizza, love the crust and sauce! I will defiantly be back soon. I have had subs here before and they were great too. Clean and friendly service.

Terrible customer service! I’ve had subs here once or twice — they’re unfriendly bordering on rude at the counter. Tonight, I ordered a pizza for pick-​up. I called ~7:45 and they told me 10min. I got there at 8:03, the doors were locked and they wouldn’t let me in! The woman by the counter just looked at me, raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes. I called and they wouldn’t answer — they let the machine pick up. They should’ve told me when I placed the order that they were closing so soon. There are plenty of other local joints with better pizza and nicer staff — we won’t be coming back here!

Best fries in town. But everything else is hit or miss. Subs, wraps, and salads are great. But I’m not a fan of their pizza or calzones. Very friendly staff. Great place for take out or eating in, but they do close pretty early. My favorites are their cheeseburger sub, chicken cutlet sub, and American sub.

I have lived in the area for 20 years and frequent Islington Pizza often. After 20 years they still make the best steak and cheese sub I have ever had. I have had it many, many times and it is consistently good. They have a steak and cheese roll up as well which is also good, done Greek style but I get American cheese instead of Feta. The Chicken Parm is good also. Recently I switched to their pizza to try something new and was pleasantly surprised. The only down side I would say is that they really mark up the price of the soda so that when you get a sub and a soda you get whacked. So I never get a soda there. They do have a wide variety of packaged snacks, such as chips, brownies and so on as well as their prepared food. I would always recommend this place, the food is good.

Summary: You can probably find a better alternative.
I work nearby and often this place is the only option I have if I’m in a hurry. I’ve tried a solid cross-​section of their menu over the past 6 years and this place is mediocre at best.
Their pizza isn’t bad, but it’s nothing special. The cheese seeps off too much oil. The crust is bland compared to the sweet, buttery, or doughy alternatives at other places in the area. The sauce has a nice sweetness to it, but beyond that lacks any real flavor. I prefer the pizza at the First Sandwich shop over on Main street in Walpole, Jimmy’s in Walpole, or Giorgios in Norwood although I’m not familiar with a pizza place on the Dedham side of things.
Their salads are small and sparse. Given the size and quality you can get a lot more bang for your buck at the Lambert’s Market just up the street on Rte 1.
Their cold cut sandwiches are TERRIBLE! The meat itself tastes cheap and flavorless. If the bread isn’t toasted you can tell that it’s stale. The tomatoes tend to be mealy, and they don’t appear to have olive oil, only cheap Italian dressing. If you want a real sandwich you can do better at Vincenzos in Dedham Center, the Salem Food Market in Dedham center, or at Lamberts.
The wraps I’ve had from here have tended to be poorly constructed and also use a very cheap tasting salad dressing instead of an actual sauce. They have the worst Tzatziki sauce in the area, and their buffalo sauce isn’t very flavorful.
Their french fries tend to be soggy with a grainy center.
The mayonnaise they use isn’t terrible, but they seem to use way too much of it.
The steak and cheese is similar to the low grade meat they used to serve back in grade school. Once again, the stale, flavorless bread doesn’t help them here.
They do make a decent Chicken Parm Sub. The breading on the chicken combined with the sweet tomato sauce works very well for this item. The bread is slightly toasted so it has a bit more taste to it.
I’ve always found the staff to be either outright rude, ambivalent, or unprofessional. It’s just a sandwich place though, and I tend to end up there during the lunchtime rush so this is generally forgivable. If this is something you value I’ve found the folks at Vincents in Norwood Center or the folks at Salem Food Market to be very friendly and great at what they do.

Islington Pizza is the best. Hands down. No doubt in my mind. During my high school years i would eat there at least 3 times a week. You cannot get a bad thing there. along with the food, the people who work there are very friendly. Best thing on the menu– Large Bacon chicken ranch pizza (ranch on the side).

For a pizza joint this place has great steak tips, salads, subs and dinner plates. I have been here many times only because of the food. The service at times has been horrible… the last time I was there the girl at the register was too busy texting to take my order and when she finally put her phone away and I was giving my order, she got another text and asked me to wait while she texted someone back… I can’t completely knock the place because the food is very good once your order is taken!

There are certainly those who will disagree with me, both here on Unilocal and in my personal life, but I really have never been remotely impressed by Islington pizza.
After having multiple varieties of their pizza — from the basic staples to the adventurous (and in execution, failed) Thai chicken — and also patronizing the establishment for subs, Islington has yet to do anything that I’d consider great at all. The pizza is mediocre and the subs fall in line with that also — however, I’ve heard good things about the Chicken Parm, which I’ve not tried.
There are other lunch joints in the area in similar proximity to my work, and I’ll definitely go to them before I opt for Islington Pizza. Perhaps other people find something to enjoy here, good for them. But for me, It’s a been there, done that type place — and short of it being a last resort, Islington will remain just that.

Tasty pizza (including the thai chicken pizza — a fantastic special) competes with salads and philly cheese steaks behind the counter. All are good, and they offer fresh cookies to «round out» your lunch. Being next door to Coldstone Creamery makes it especially dangerous. If you’re around and don’t want to have a sandwich at Lamberts, grab some pizza here and enjoy. Prices are very reasonable, but it can get hectic behind the counter during the lunch rush, so budget some extra time during lunch hour.

Best Pizza in the area, people drive from out of the area for their food.

I work right around the corner from Islington Pizza, so I stop there pretty frequently during lunch for their mixed greens salad, which totally rocks — spring mix greens, pecans, gorgonzola, a kickass vinaigrette, and half a pita on the side (I skip the onions out of respect for my co-​workers).
Their tabouli/​hummus wrap is worthwhile too. If you don’t like iceburg lettuce, be forewarned that you should ask for it without. If work is stressing me out I’ll add a side of onion rings. :D
Oh, you wanna know about the pizza? My company springs for dinner several times a week during crunch time, and Islington is on frequent rotation. The pizza’s great, actually. I don’t think I’ve had anything there that isn’t!

I’ve eaten at this joint since my romping days in high school. Bail out during lunch for a speedy hit of their juicy steak bomb and make it back just before econ class.
Went back recently and not much has changed except the sister now owns it. Love the local mom and pop pizza joints as they know how to serve up a meal.
Not impressed with the chains of Papa Ginos and the like.

I have yet to find a steak and cheese and pepper grinder to live up to the ones Islington Pizza makes. Their pizzas are pretty good too.