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Foodie Finds: Blaze Pizza

Blaze logo
Fast Fire’d Blaze Pizza has now opened two locations in Ann Arbor- 3500 Washtenaw Ave Ann Arbor in the newly renovated Washtenaw Commons shopping center and 980 W Eisenhower Pkwy in Cranbrook Village. The California-based chain is part of the fast-casual wave of pizzarias on the rise, and by the looks of things during my visit, it’s receiving a warm Ann Arbor welcome.
Upon entering the Washtenaw Commons store, the entry to the ordering line was clearly marked. I recommend grabbing one of the paper menus as you make your way to the ordering counter—ordering is easy, but it’s smoother if you know what you’re doing. The friendly person behind the counter asked me my name and then welcomed me to Blaze. He was extremely helpful in pointing out the many ingredients and as I made my way down the assembly line of pizza toppings, I was greeted by name by other pizza creators.
blaze-pizza-interior
There are two ways in which to order your pie—either one of their 9 signature pizzas or the DIY option. Either way, your name is put on a slip of paper which follows you through the assembly line of goodness. I chose from the Artisan menu and ordered the Green Stripe – pesto drizzle over grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, chopped garlic, mozzarella and arugula. My daughter was a bit less adventurous and chose to completely customize hers from the sauce to the toppings. She selected a traditional red sauce and loaded it up with veggies.
blaze-fast-fired-pizza
Once paid, we grabbed a few drinks and stood and watched our pizzas being quick-fired to perfection in their massive 500 degree ovens. Quick-fired means exactly that—our wait was no more than 3-5 minutes. Despite the rush, the space is large, so there were plenty of seating to choose from.
Pizza image
Not wasting any time, I rushed into the first bite, excited about the carb-fest I’d been dreaming of all day, and that first bite did not disappoint. Neither did the second, or third, or fourth. The thin crust was perfectly cooked and had just enough crunch to keep me wanting more, and though I initially thought the quantity of toppings appeared skimpy, I was wrong. There was exactly the right amount to compliment the crust.
I looked over at my daughter and she, too was thoroughly enjoying her masterpiece. Her pizza was delicately layered with spinach, red pepper, mushrooms and two kinds of cheese. She is a bit picky when it comes to pizza but the lack of conversation proved that we were both enthralled with the delicious pies set before us.
Though the acoustics created a rather loud dining experience that had me wanting to scoot out quickly, I’d say everything else made up for that. The employees were incredibly friendly, and the pizza was exceptional – particularly considering the $8 price tag, quick firing, and the fact that I could have easily split my pizza with my daughter. Blaze is what it is – and it’s that good!

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