Naked Pizza is the newest takeout-only pizza joint on Nassau Street. I was surprised, however, to find that it’s not the world’s only Naked Pizza — the international chain has locations as close by as Ewing and as far away as Dubai. Its creed is “No freaky chemicals or dine-in,” which, despite appearing to equate dine-in with strange chemicals, is meant to promote a healthier, more natural kind of pizza without any of the grease or processed ingredients we’ve come to expect.
The atmosphere is deliberately minimalist yet cheery. The small order and pickup area is painted white with hints of green — it’s all very clean and fresh. It provided a comfortable space to wait while our pizzas were in the oven. Service time was pretty average: The two pizzas were ready about 25 minutes after we ordered. The two staff members we dealt with were refreshingly pleasant, helpful and even a little sassy — in a good way.
The food is definitely solid. Their signature “Superbiotic” pizza, which includes artichoke, spinach, bell pepper, mushroom, garlic, red onion and cilantro on their “skinny” crust, is a fresh blend of vegetables and subtle spices. I was not as much a fan of the crust, which seemed cardboard-like.
We also tried a slightly riskier pizza: the “Pima,” consisting of cheddar cheese, black beans and jalapenos (you can also get it with chicken). Our risk paid off, as this pizza turned out to be even better than the “Superbiotic.” The “original” crust is denser and richer, and the salty cheddar cheese perfectly complements the spicy jalapenos and the black beans. We were impressed by the originality and intensity of the flavor.
The one thing that did throw us off was presence of self-consciously peppy messages on the pizza box, in the store and in Naked’s advertising, calling us “Friendo” and cajoling us to “Get Naked.” It’s cheesy — no pun intended — on the best of days and annoying on the worst. Most of all, it’s a gimmick that Naked Pizza doesn’t need, considering their original bent and feel-good vibe. So if you’re sick of the pizza from Frist or Wucox, check this place out. If anyone can begin to convince you that pizza can actually be healthy, it’s Naked Pizza.
Naked Pizza
180 Nassau St.
3.5 out of 5 paws
Pros: Healthy and innovative food.
Cons: Uneven quality; cheesy advertising.
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