Tuesday, August 23, 2016

MOD Is What You Make It

This past weekend, Ed and I discovered MOD Pizza, a new restaurant in Oro Valley, AZ.  We watched it being built, anticipating its arrival after seeing the "Coming Soon" signs in the window. Turns out, it's a pretty good pizza.  Not your typical New York style - no one in this town has been able to figure out how to make a pie that really compares to those of New York - but individual, wood-fired discs of deliciousness.

Their concept is build-your-own.  Like Chipotle or Subway, you watch the staff put fresh ingredients of your choice, on your pizza.  Three minutes after it hits the oven, it's yours to enjoy.
Since we hadn't had breakfast on this particular day, we ordered the MOD size (they also have a mini and mega) with a salad.  We each had a Caesar salad with Gorgonzola crumbles.  In this photo you'll see our order being worked on.  They had a great selection of toppings, including some I didn't expect - roasted garlic cloves, sun-dried tomatoes, and brussels sprouts.
The menu board offers classic combinations, giving people ideas of what they can expect on each named pie.  You can add or subtract any ingredients you'd like - no extra charge for toppings - or create your own.

I had the Seasonal MOD, the "Sienna".  They start with a garlic rub on the crust (no sauce), then add rosemary, mozzarella, roasted brussels sprouts, red onions, mushrooms, and parmesan cheese.  In addition, I asked for a sprinkling of feta and a few sun-dried tomatoes.  Paired with my salad and icy Diet Coke, and I had a fantastic, filling lunch.

Ed decided to make his own.  He started with a red sauce, added pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, black olives, mushrooms, red onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and jalapeños. He downed his pizza and greens with a Dragoon IPA, which is locally brewed.
The atmosphere was industrial, with open ceilings, concrete floors, and wood and metal used in the furniture, accessories, and decor accents.  It wasn't busy at the time we went and the staff was super-friendly and efficient.

We were also engaged by an extremely personable, energetic employee who appeared to be off the clock, and who not only suggested his favorite combo - The "Caspian" with bacon - while we were in line ordering (he must have overheard us saying it was our first time and asking how the ordering process worked), but who also came over to our table to ask how everything was and if we were enjoying our meal.  As a veteran of the restaurant business, that made a 
very good impression.
This place is five minutes from our house and it's definitely a place I'll go back to.  Mama's has always been our go-to pizza place - it's the closest to NY style as we can get in our neighborhood - but MOD offers something different that's very appealing and pretty damn delicious.

One can never have enough pizza.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2015: There's A Reason They Call Them Massholes
2014: Delicious Assembly Line
2013: The Greatest Invention Of Human Kind
2012: I Can Haul Yer Explosives And Stuff
2011: That Bitch Irene Is Trying To Ruin My Vacation
2010: Licking Our Chops
2009: I’ll Start Working On That Sarcasm Font Right Away
2008: False Security
2007: Protecting The Posies
2006: Asking Too Much
2005: Slotsa Money

3 comments:

Mick said...

That sounds really yummy. I wonder if they are thinking of opening one in the UK. They may have to tweak the name of it though. MOD over here means Ministry of Defence, which used to be the War Department.

Mick and Ali

The Daily Rant said...

Mick & Ali: They are in the UK! I thought I remembered seeing a UK account on social media so I looked into it:

https://modpizza.com/press/mod-pizza-announces-second-uk-site/

They are in Leeds and Brighton. Leeds is closer to you, if you consider 2+ hours close, but it may be a nice day trip! 😊

Let me know if you go!

dlg said...

Sounds and looks deliciously yummy!
I am glad there's not one that close to me!
But we should try MOD next time we visit.