What Is New York Style Pizza Dominos?

In the heart of Michigan’s lower “thumb” area, a unique pizza landscape unfolds. This region, home to Domino’s, Little Caesars, and other pizza giants, recently became the testing ground for a new contender: Domino’s New York Style Pizza. As a resident of this pizza microcosm, I felt compelled to dive into this new offering and answer the burning question: What is New York Style Pizza Dominos, and how does it stack up?

The Pizza Playground of Michigan

Before we sink our teeth into Domino’s latest creation, let’s set the scene. Within a 30-mile radius in Michigan, you can find the birthplaces of some of America’s most iconic pizza chains. This area is not just a pizza lover’s paradise; it’s a living museum of pizza evolution. From Domino’s hometown roots to the first non-NYC location of Joe’s Pizza, this region breathes pizza history.

It’s in this context that Domino’s introduced its New York Style Pizza, adding a new chapter to the area’s rich pizza narrative. But what exactly is New York Style Pizza Dominos trying to achieve? Let’s break it down.

Where Does New York Style Fit?

Domino’s offers five types of pizza crusts, each catering to different tastes and preferences:

1. Pan
2. Hand tossed
3. Crunchy thin
4. Gluten free
5. New York Style (the latest addition)

The introduction of the New York Style crust is Domino’s attempt to capture the essence of the iconic NYC slice. But how does it differ from their other offerings, particularly the popular hand tossed crust?

New York Style Pizza Dominos

When you order a New York Style Pizza from Dominos, here’s what you can expect:

• Size: An extra-large 16″ pizza
• Sauce: The standard “Robust Inspired Tomato Sauce”
• Cheese: A blend of cheddar, mozzarella, and provolone
• Slicing: Cut into six slices instead of the usual eight

The six-slice cut is a nod to the traditional New York style, designed to make each slice easier to fold – a hallmark of authentic NYC pizza.

Comparing Domino’s New York Style to Hand Tossed

To truly understand what New York Style Pizza Dominos is, we need to compare it to their standard hand tossed crust. Here’s how they stack up:

Visual Differences

The New York Style crust is noticeably flatter than its hand tossed counterpart. It also has a less seasoned appearance, lacking the garlic-oil seasoning blend that gives the hand tossed crust its distinctive look.

Flavor Profile

Unfortunately, the visual differences translate to the taste. The New York Style crust comes across as rather bland, with a cardboard-like texture that might disappoint pizza enthusiasts. Despite using the “Robust Inspired Tomato Sauce,” the pizza lacks the flavor punch you might expect from a New York-style slice.

Texture and Structure

When it comes to New York Style Pizza, Dominos gets some things right:

• Good foldability: The crust folds nicely, mimicking the iconic New York slice fold.
• Firm structure: It holds up well, maintaining its shape when picked up.
• Not overly greasy: Unlike some New York-style pizzas, it doesn’t leave your hands feeling oily.

However, it’s worth noting that this test was conducted with only cheese topping. The foldability might be challenged with the addition of heavier toppings, which is a common feature of many New York-style pizzas.

How Close is it to Real NYC Pizza?

While Domino’s New York Style Pizza achieves the foldable texture, it falls short in other areas that define an authentic NYC slice:

• Lacks chewiness: The slight chewiness characteristic of a classic NYC crust is missing.
• Missing springiness: The crust doesn’t have the springy texture that pizza aficionados expect from a New York-style slice.

These subtle differences might not be noticeable to everyone, but for those familiar with authentic New York pizza, they could be deal-breakers.

Is Domino’s New York Style Pizza Worth It?

After thorough testing, here’s the bottom line on what New York Style Pizza Dominos offers:

• It’s an acceptable option if you’re looking to switch up your usual Domino’s order.
• The texture and foldability are commendable attempts at mimicking New York-style pizza.
• However, it lacks the flavor depth and authentic crust characteristics of true NYC pizza.
• At $13.99 for an XL (16″) pizza, it’s reasonably priced for its size.

While it’s an interesting addition to Domino’s menu, it may not be compelling enough to replace your go-to order, especially if you’re a fan of more robustly flavored crusts.

Nutritional Breakdown

For those watching their intake, here’s the nutritional information for a 199g serving of Domino’s New York Style Pizza:

• Calories: 510
• Fat: 24g (13g saturated, 0.5g trans)
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sodium: 1050mg
• Carbohydrates: 48g (2g fiber, 5g sugar)
• Protein: 23g

The Bigger Picture: Domino’s Foray into Regional Styles

Domino’s introduction of New York Style Pizza is part of a larger trend in the pizza industry. Major chains are increasingly trying to capture the essence of regional pizza styles to appeal to a broader audience and compete with local pizzerias.

This move by Domino’s shows their recognition of the popularity and cultural significance of New York-style pizza. However, the challenge lies in mass-producing a pizza style that’s traditionally crafted in small, often family-owned pizzerias with decades of experience and specialized equipment.

What Makes an Authentic New York-Style Pizza?

To truly understand what New York Style Pizza Dominos is attempting to replicate, let’s look at the characteristics of an authentic New York-style pizza:

1. Thin, crispy crust: The base should be thin and crispy, with a slightly chewy texture.
2. Large, wide slices: Typically cut into 8 large slices from an 18-inch pie.
3. Simple toppings: Often just tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, with maybe one or two additional toppings.
4. Foldability: The slice should be able to be folded in half lengthwise without breaking.
5. Slight greasiness: A little oil on top is expected and even appreciated.
6. Crisp bottom: The underside should have a slight char from the hot oven floor.

Domino’s version manages to capture some of these elements, particularly the foldability and large slice size. However, it falls short in replicating the distinctive flavor and texture that make New York pizza famous.

The Challenge of Chain Pizza vs. Local Pizzerias

One of the biggest hurdles for chains like Domino’s in creating authentic regional styles is the standardization required for mass production. Local pizzerias often have advantages that are hard to replicate on a large scale:

• Specialized ovens: Many NYC pizzerias use coal-fired or extremely hot deck ovens.
• Local water: The mineral content of New York City water is often credited for the unique taste of their pizza dough.
• Hand-tossing techniques: Skilled pizzaiolos stretch the dough by hand, creating a unique texture.
• Fresh, local ingredients: Smaller operations can often source fresher, more local ingredients.

While Domino’s New York Style Pizza makes a valiant effort, these factors make it challenging to truly replicate the NYC pizza experience in a chain setting.

Is Domino’s New York Style Pizza Right for You?

After exploring what New York Style Pizza Dominos is all about, you might be wondering if it’s worth trying. Here are some scenarios where it might be a good choice:

• You’re curious about New York-style pizza but don’t have access to authentic options.
• You’re a Domino’s regular looking to switch up your usual order.
• You prefer a thinner, less seasoned crust compared to Domino’s hand tossed option.

However, if you’re a New York pizza purist or have easy access to authentic New York-style pizzerias, you might find Domino’s version lacking.

The Future of Chain Pizza Innovation

Domino’s venture into New York-style pizza raises interesting questions about the future of chain pizza. As consumers become more knowledgeable about regional pizza styles, will we see more attempts to replicate these authentic flavors on a mass scale?

This trend could lead to several outcomes:

1. Increased variety in chain pizza menus, offering more regional styles.
2. Improvements in mass production techniques to better mimic artisanal methods.
3. Collaborations between chains and renowned local pizzerias to create more authentic offerings.
4. A renewed interest in local, independent pizzerias as consumers seek out “the real thing.”

Conclusion

So, what is New York Style Pizza Dominos? It’s an admirable attempt to bring a slice of New York to pizza lovers across the country. While it may not fully capture the magic of an authentic New York slice, it represents an interesting evolution in chain pizza offerings.

Domino’s New York Style Pizza showcases the ongoing adaptation of major pizza chains to changing consumer tastes and preferences. It’s a pizza that tries to bridge the gap between mass-produced convenience and regional authenticity.

For pizza enthusiasts, it’s an interesting option to try, even if it might not become your new favorite. And for Domino’s, it’s a step towards diversifying their menu and appealing to a broader range of pizza lovers.

As the pizza landscape continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: whether it’s from a major chain or a local pizzeria, the quest for the perfect slice is an ongoing journey. And that journey, with all its cheesy, saucy, crusty variations, is what makes pizza such a beloved food across America and beyond.