The Daily Campus

Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Erik Kong Randy's Wooster Street Pizza boasts an impressive array of 'Specialty Pies' including creative names such as the Barbie's-Que Pizza, as well as a Bring Your Own Beer policy, providing stainless ice baskets at the end of each booth.

Last week, a welcome addition was made to the sometimes dull and frequently predictable (although generally tasty) line-up of local Storrs restaurants. A few weeks ago the community welcomed Randy's Wooster Street Pizza to the location previously held by the Husky Bean Café on Route 195. Despite being another pizzeria, Randy's manages to distinguish itself in many ways. Claiming to have a connection with the state's infamous Pepe's Pizza chain, Randy's serves traditional New Haven-style pizza chain, with a thin and crispy crust that's baked to perfection.

The pizza itself is special, but it is the selection of unique combinations and toppings that really makes Randy's shine. At least half of the restaurant's menu is dedicated to "Specialty Pies," a section that lists some of Randy's best pizzas. The combinations are sometimes outlandish, but always worth a try. The Barbie's-Que Pizza, which is a white pizza topped with barbeque chicken, carmelized onions, tomatoes and jack cheeses, was absolutely delicious. The sweetness of the chicken mixed perfectly with the sharp cheeses. There was enough sauce to coat the onions and the chicken, without making the crust feel soggy. Indeed, the crust, which was crispy, without tasting dry, was the perfect texture: thick enough to handle the many toppings, while thin enough not to overpower them.

Another fantastic choice was the This Spud's For You, which featured mashed potatoes, ham, garlic and cheddar cheese on a white pizza. This pizza felt significantly heavier than the previous one and was piled high with potatoes. In terms of taste, the pizza was a magical medley of carbohydrate goodness. The loaded mashed potatoes were perfectly seasoned with garlic and melted cheese throughout each bite. The mixture was spread so evenly over the pie that it seemed only natural to eat mashed potatoes this way, as though a spoon was a fairly ridiculous idea.

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