SBarro's BBQ Chicken Pizza - A Review

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SBarro is a by-the-slice chain of pizza eateries, which are typically found in food courts.  The branch closest to me has resided in Washington Square Mall for quite a few years.  It's a place I stop at for a quick bite while shopping, but it's not a place I think about.  It's simply there.  Thus, I was surprised when PR Manager Adrienne Sender asked me to review their, limited time only, BBQ Chicken Pizza.

Subject: SBarro's BBQ Chicken Pizza | Date: 08/09/15 |
Photographers: James Kiester & Bonnie Kiester | This picture was taken by the author of this blog. |

SBarro's BBQ Chicken Pizza features BBQ sauce, chunks of grilled chicken, sliced red onions, kernels of fire-roasted corn, mozzarella & cheddar cheeses, and an herb & spice rubbed crust.

The first flavor I tasted was the sweetness of the sauce, followed by a mild spiciness.  Upon chewing, the tastes of the tender chicken, onion, and cheeses worked together to deliver a pleasant bite.

As the meal progressed, the spice level, from the sauce, built into a tongue tingling heat.  Meanwhile, it became necessary to fold the slice, New York style, in order to keep the tangy sauce and gooey cheese from dripping on my shirt.  The rubbed crust was chewy with a peppery bite to it.

My only puzzlement was about the inclusion of the corn.  I could see several fire-roasted kernels on my slice.  They looked pretty, but against the strong flavors of the other ingredients, the corn didn't add, or subtract, anything to the taste of the pizza.  I'm not sure why it was there.

My lunch, a slice of pizza and a medium Pepsi, was about $8.00, which isn't bad for a fast food mall lunch.  I'd give this tasty slice of pizza 8 out of 10 stars.
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Arby's Loaded Italian Sub - A Review

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Arby's has released their Loaded Italian Sub consisting of ham, salami, pepperoni, melted Swiss cheese, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and red wine vinaigrette, all topped with garlic aioli, on a toasted Italian roll.

Subject: Arby's Loaded Italian Sub | Date: 07/29/15 |
Photographers: James Kiester & Dani Cogswell | 
This picture was taken by the author of this blog. |

I was initially impressed when I got to my table and opened the sandwich box.  The sandwich looked like the picture on the poster.  How often does that happen?

The bread looked like a hard crusty roll.  When I bit into it though, I found the roll was actually pretty soft.  Another pleasant surprise.

As I ate, I could taste the sweet & salty ham and the lettuce, but that was it.  The salami, pepperoni, melted Swiss cheese, banana peppers, tomato, and red onion added nothing in the flavor department.  It reminded me of the Star Trek episode "Squire of Gothos," in which the alien made pretty replicas of Earth's food, but forgot to include properties of taste.

As for the sauces, near the center of the sandwich I could taste the tangy vinaigrette in a few bites.  The "garlic aioli," on the other hand, may as well have been Best Foods Mayonnaise, given that it delivered little to no garlic flavor.

Arby's Loaded Italian Sub is essentially a ham sandwich.  It's a pretty ham sandwich, not a bad ham sandwich, but it's a ham sandwich.  I give Arby's Loaded Italian Sub 6 out of 10 stars, it's passable, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
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