Visiting the recently opened Ben's Pizza at The Gardens Mall, my colleague Diana Biederman and I decided to just dive in and try the pizza.
Yes, the restaurant has a few sandwiches and desserts but come on... the name is Ben's PIZZA. The pies are on display right in front of you. They are big, beautiful, maybe slightly oblong, and just waiting to be eaten.
This pizza-by-the-slice outpost that opened on Sept. 15 is located on the edge of the mall's food court and offers a pretty sweet deal: two slices and a drink for $14.99.
Now before you cry something like "only two pieces of pizza," understand that these are a little bigger than your average slice. Are they Momo's "Slices as big as your head" sized? (if you went to Florida State University or lived
in Tallahassee you know) No, but they're close.
We made the most of our combined four slices, got maximum menu coverage and went with cheese, pepperoni, meat lovers and their hot Stracciatella. Our server Rodney, who was so cool and explained everything to us, also topped all four slices with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Carefully maneuvering those four behemoth slices to a nearby table we dug in.
The crust is excellent! It's thin enough to fold with fantastic chew and just a hint of crispiness. It is the perfect vehicle for those toppings and flavors that literally start the party in your mouth. There's a simple beauty to Ben's pizzas with those curled pepperoni cups, that slight glisten on top and those perfectly charred little peaks.
Bite after bite, it was one of those experiences where I felt I couldn't eat fast enough it was so good.
Yes, it's by the slice and, yes, it's technically reheated in their massive oven, but it tastes so fresh it's ridiculous.
The classic cheese is excellent, the pepperoni is more classic goodness and the meat lovers is jam-packed with Italian sausage, charred pepperoni cups, bacon bits and ham and is definitely the heavyweight of the foursome.
In terms of all-out flavor explosion, however, and a wonderful surprise, it was the hot Stracciatella that took first place.
Each dollop of that creamy Stracciatella cheese is crowned with basil and then hit with the perfect drizzle of hot honey to create some serious sweet heat heaven!
It's so good that it straddles the line between entrée and dessert.
Touting the "Freshest dough on the Block," Ben's Pizza was founded by the father and son duo of Eduardo and Erick Passo in 2022. The Gardens Mall is their fourth location and the first outside of Miami-Dade County.
Ben's stated mission is to give their customers a taste of what real pizza should be and a taste of the unique cultures that have made the dish popular; "New York Style with an Italian twist."
Ben's Pizza, Palm Beach Gardens
Where: The Gardens Mall, second level, 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Information: benspizza.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Is new pizza-by-the-slice joint at The Gardens Mall worth the trip?
