Zachary’s and Little Star and Domino’s…Oh my! With the addition of the new Little Star Pizzeria, Solano Avenue is officially packed with an abundance of easy and accessible meal options. So the question now is: What is the typical Albany High student to do during lunch?
The traditional “go-to” food has become a complicated decision regarding taste, price, convenience, or various combinations of the three. So lets take a moment to consider all the factors that contribute to picking the perfect pizza.
Part of choosing the perfect pizza is the atmosphere. When eating a pizza, all our senses are involved: taste, touch, smell, sight and sound. While taste and smell are at the top of the list, sight cannot be easily forgotten. One may be eating the most divine, mouthwatering pizza in the world, but in a dark, desolated, dumpy alley, the experience is completely ruined. Eat that same pizza in a charming, cheerful setting and the experience will take a turn for the better.
Zachary's for taste
With this in mind, walk two steps into Zachary’s and one enters mini Chicago. The rustic brick walls, customer-made artwork, and lively environment all add to the authenticity of this “Chicago pizza” parlor. The never-ending ring of their phone and rush of the waiters only adds to the bustling, Chicago-like feel.
Little Star for class
Now travel a bit down Solano and into a little corner hot-spot, commonly known as Little Star Pizza. Even from the outside, one is hit with the modern, shore-side feel emitting from the multi-shaded wood details of the building. With a palette of sea-toned walls, warm lighting, and original artwork, the interior space has a quiet, calming effect on the customer. This decor, combined with the typical Albany fog leads the customer to believe they are taking refuge in an up-to-date pizza shack only feet from the surf.
Domino's for price
Compared with these two spacious pizzerias, Domino’s is miniature. With room enough for a maximum of 10 students to squeeze into, it’s a common sight to see a line of backpack-laden teens protruding out the door. Lacking in original artistic furnishing, the walls instead bear large advertisements for their “Free Lava Choco Cake” and other such campaigns.
For most students, the most important element to consider when selecting the ideal pizza joint is the price. Nobody — particularly a high school student — wants to empty out their wallets to pay for lunch.
So, inevitably, they tend to choose the cheapest eatery they can find. This is probably why Domino’s is so popular. It’s possibly the least appealing to the eyes, yet students don’t seem to be discouraged by the cramped space and simple walls. Domino’s lures hungry students not only with its low prices, but with its level of convenience as well. Of the students interviewed, most believed Domino’s the closest to Albany High School and the easiest to grab a quick slice. Even when informed that both Domino’s and Little Star Pizza are approximately the same distance from Albany High, students still asserted that Domino’s was closer.
Considering some of us can drive, or have friends from whom we can mooch rides, the “getting there” wouldn’t seem to be a problem. However, when surveying students at Albany High School, most are in agreement that they prefer heading towards Domino’s during lunch since it’s “closer” and “easier” to get to.
Last but not least, taste must be considered — the most universal tool of decision. Without good taste, what would a pizza parlor be?
If based solely on taste, Zachary’s is supreme according to our interviews. But when considering the average Albany High student with their meager budgets, taste comes as more of a luxury. When questioned about the quality of Domino’s pizza, senior Brittney Curry replied, “It’s horrible… It’s like low class.”
The majority of students chose Zachary’s as the most delectable eatery, and Deanna Calhoun remarked that Zachary’s is “a little pricey, [but has] more quality, and is authentic.”
However, the up-and-coming Little Star came in a close second. Tenzin Daden noted, “I like it. It’s better than the other pizza places on Solano.”
Accordingly, we found most students would prefer to take their dates to Little Star over Zachary’s. We were able to find one lone person who would rather go to Domino’s for a romantic night out. With its rising popularity and rave reviews who’s to say the new Little Star Pizza won’t supersede the other two for the alpha spot in the pizza parlor hierarchy.
