After hearing about how Blaze Pizza pies are cooked in under 180 seconds, I asked myself, “what kind of sorcery is this?” Turns out that sorcery is their “blazing hot oven,” and after experiencing this speed for myself, I determined that 180 seconds was even a bit of an overstatement.
Their assembly line ordering (think Chipotle) is super efficient and fun, and you can see the care and attention that goes into crafting your very own personal pie. Not to mention, nothing in this world is more satisfying than getting EXACTLY what you want on a pizza and paying less than $10 for it.
Photo by Ruchika Agarwal
Blaze Pizza’s “build-your-own” option makes this the perfect place for even the pickiest or most complicated orderers. Some of their unique toppings include roasted garlic, applewood bacon, crumbled meatballs, grilled zucchini, sautéed onions and kalamata olives. For all the cheese lovers out there (almost every college student ever), they have a variety for you to choose from, like goat cheese, Gorgonzola, mozzarella, ovalini mozzarella, Parmesan and ricotta. Feel free to openly celebrate your inner cheese connoisseur.
Photo by Ruchika Agarwal
If you are overwhelmed by all of the toppings, there are plenty of signature pizzas to choose from, like the BBQ Chkn (grilled chicken, mozzarella, red onion, banana peppers, Gorgonzola and a bbq sauce drizzle) and the Green Stripe (pesto drizzle over grilled chicken with roasted red peppers, chopped garlic, mozzarella and arugula). The White Top is also a fan-fave, incorporating white cream sauce with mozzarella, bacon, loads of chopped garlic, oregano and arugula.
Plus, Blaze doesn’t charge much for vegan cheese (only $1 more) or the gluten free pizza crust ($2 more), making it a choice eatery for those with dietary restrictions. Vegans and lactose intolerant foodies who are tired of paying an arm and a leg for healthier options, this is your new best friend.
Photo by Ruchika Agarwal
The idea of another pizzeria in Gainesville seemed a bit crazy at first; this is basically the town that pizza built, and Satchel’s and Leonardo’s are already well-established area favorites. Having opened just weeks ago, Blaze Pizza is the new kid on the block, but it’s already proving to be a game-changer for the Gainesville pizza scene.
Address: 3617 Southwest Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608
Hours: Daily 11am-10:30pm