Author: tipacandist1984

FRESHSLICE is a quick-serve “by the slice” and takeout pizza parlour that was founded in Vancouver in 1999. Personally, I find that remarkable for two reasons: 1) Despite being around for 20 years, I’d never once visited a FRESHSLICE until now; 2) I didn’t know...this was a “made in BC” restaurant chain. Wow! Thankfully my cloud of ignorance has been lifted and I’m all the better for it. Attending this unit of FRESHSLICE with M, I admit that my expectations weren’t very high. In my head, I was thinking I’d get something akin to a Mrs. Vanelli’s pizza. You know, dry, mostly flavourless pie – food court pizza, in other words. That’s how I’ve always viewed FRESHSLICE and I’m not even sure why because, as I said, I’d never even tried their offerings up until now. Maybe because I’ve usually seen them in the malls? In any event, the FRESHSLICE on Goldstream is a stand-alone restaurant. Thus you can, if you wish, dine in (as we did). Because we were in the midst of the holiday season, the windows were beautifully decorated to reflect Christmas cheer. It’s a small touch, but one I appreciated. As far as atmosphere goes, the space is fairly compact, so there isn’t a whole lot to it. Various pictures of pizza promos and deals adorn the walls; there are massive photos of fresh ingredients, highlighting the chain’s commitment to “high quality”; and there are a few small tables set about the restaurant, featuring a minimalist but clean look. Indeed, one gets the impression that this place thrives much more on take-out than dine-in. For pizza, I got a slice of Pepperoni while M got a slice of Cheese – all at an excellent price-point. And here’s where I’ll admit that all of my pre-set beliefs about FRESHSLICE went out the window. My slice of pepperoni pizza was actually really good – far better than I thought it had any right to be. The pepperoni was ample and the cheese had a most pleasing taste and texture. Importantly, the crust was firm on the outside, but soft on the inside. The multigrain dough used by FRESHSLICE is smart because it gives their pizzas a subtly different flavour from the rest AND has the added benefit of being (slightly) healthier. FOOD: 4/5 SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 5/5 RECOMMENDATION: While FRESHSLICE isn’t gourmet or high end pizza like, say, Pizzeria Prima Strada, they nevertheless fill an important niche in the Greater Victoria foodie scene. They offer cheap pizza by the slice (or a whole pie if you want), utilizing fresh ingredients, flavourful sauces and real cheese all on a multigrain dough. The end result is a nice “quick bite” at a compelling price. Indeed, if you come here with realistic expectations then you should also leave satisfied. I was pleasantly surprised and thus would be happy to come back here again. PS: If you found this review helpful in any way please consider hitting the "helpful" button!More