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| - I'm not entirely sure who's solely responsible for this whole fast casual/build your own pizza obsession. MOD has been around since 2008, but I didn't really start to see duplicate concepts popping up in every strip mall until the last two or three years. Quite frankly, I'm a little freaked out by it.
They're crowded, they're frantic, and I've always compared them to eating inside a cafeteria. Why people are so obsessed with this approach has always kind of baffled me. And while I can't credit Fired Pie as being the first fast casual pizza concept, I do see it as the first that actually seemed to create a buzz here in Phoenix.
Like most fast casual pizza joints, the style of pizza is geared more towards the "Amercanized" pizza styles. So yes, Dad can get his BBQ pizza and the kids can still order their traditional pepperoni and cheese. But hey, at least Fired Pie isn't trying to claim that they're serving "authentic" Neapolitan pizza - which has become sort of diluted and generic buzzword recently. It's custom-made pizza. You make it the way that you like it. Nothing more and nothing less. And guess what? There's a flat fee, which is perfect for people who like over-piling their pies with as much crap as possible.
I used to say their pizza was average, but after a few repeated visits, I can't find myself giving it anything beyond two stars. I'd compare it to eating a premium-grade frozen pizza, which they might find somewhat insulting. It's not god-awful, but it's that kind of pie where you feel totally bloated upon finishing. No, it's not comparable to any of the acclaimed pizzerias in the city - nor is it really trying to be.
For dessert, we've tried the fired pookie (because pizookie is presumably copyrighted). Mine tasted fine while my girlfriend's had a weird aftertaste. Keep in mind, they're individually-sized ones, so you probably want to order your own rather than splitting it with someone else. I see it as the poor man's pizookie (a la BJ's Brewery).
While I feel that nothing tops the experience of a nice, sit-down wood-fired pizzeria, I can understand why this place has become so successful. It's cheap, it's convenient, and it's customization with total control given to the customer. But it's still fast food - even though I've had to wait an absurd 40 minutes to actually get my pizza during my most recent (and final) visit.
Personally, I'd rather pay a few extra bucks for something superior from nearby Bottega or Fabio on Fire - but that's just me.
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