Whenever I’m feeling for a healthier type of pizza, I would generally think of Pi Co.
It’s not super healthy in absolute terms but it’s considered a healthier alternative when you compare it to other places like Pizza Hut, Domino’s, or Blondies.
I must say that I really like Pi Co not only because it is the lesser evil relative to some of the best pizza places in Toronto, but their pizza also tastes amazing!
For those of you who want to make it the habit to eat cleaner, this pizza chain is definitely a great choice if you’re looking for something that isn’t heavily fried, salty, or super greasy.
FAQs about Pi Co Pizza
Before we get into our Pi Co. review, here are some commonly asked questions about Pi Co’s Pizza.
How big is a Pi Co. pizza?
According to Pi Co’s website, they offer quality, made-to-order, Neapolitan-style, 11” pizzas in a unique quick-serve experience.
How many slices are in a Pi Co. pizza?
It’s usually 4 slices when you cut it into quarters.
Does Pi Co. have vegan options?
Yes, Pico offers vegan options. It depends on what you order.
If you go with their “Craft Yours” pizza, you can customize it however you like — tomato or pesto sauce, vegan cheese (though I have no idea what is really in them), a wide selection of veggies, mushrooms, etc.
Does Pi Co. offer $10 pizza specials?
Yes, from time to time, you’ll need to check out Pi Co.’s Instagram account to see if they’re advertising for the $10 “Craft Yours” special.
You can also check out Red Flag Deals to see if anyone is having a discussion about it.
Pi Co Review
Rui and I usually stop by Pi Co whenever we realized it’s the last minute and there’s no time to cook.
We always end up ordering the “Craft Yours” pizza (it’s customizable) only because we think it’s the better value. For a bit more, you get to choose your dough, sauce, cheese, and unlimited toppings!
The “Margherita Pi” on the other hand, is quite limited in toppings. It contains their San Marzano Tomato Sauce, a few basil leaves, fior di latte, parmesan, along with olive oil.
But since you can load it up with as many toppings as you want when you opt for the “Craft Yours”, Rui and I love ordering it!
I have to admit it is quite a pricey pizza for a personalized size (11″), and when you compare it to fast pizza joints, you won’t be getting quantity. But I’d much prefer quality over quantity especially when Pi Co.’s ingredients seem to be fresher IMO. Not to mention, Pi Co tastes much cleaner too.
Here’s what we ordered today.
Pi Co. Craft Yours Pizza #1:
Even though tomato sauce is generally healthier for you, I asked for the pesto-based sauce because it is a nice change from classic tomato.
I also can’t deny that pesto sauce tastes so much better! Lol.
The toppings I usually ask for are the following:
- fior di latte cheese
- parmesan cheese
- mushrooms
- spinach
- basil leaves
- bell peppers
- eggplants
- olives
- cherry tomatoes
- broccoli
- diced turkey breast
- topped with loads of raw arugula after it’s baked
I usually always have to ask them to really load it up with arugula because they never seem to give you enough. They think a handful is enough, which is insane. Most of the time, the person serving me thinks I’m nuts because he or she thinks it’s an overkill of veggies, which really isn’t.
Aside from the fact that I think they don’t give enough arugula, I would still say that this is a pretty good pizza.
Every time I come here, they make it very fresh (out of the oven). Every topping, dough, and sauce pairs nicely with the melted cheese!
Other than the lack of arugula, my other complaint is the pesto sauce tends to be on the oilier side. To avoid this, you have to let them know to go easier on the sauce. I have done that several of times and it turns out to be much better.
One thing I really appreciate is the fact that their pizza contains a thinner crust, so it doesn’t feel like I’m eating too much dough. Even though you’re consuming the entire 11″ pizza, the amount of white dough is still considered quite excessive. So, I can’t imagine the original white crust from other pizza joints!
It’s also unfortunate that they do not offer 100% whole grain, but they do have a gluten-free option. I am very hesitant to try their gluten-free dough because I think like most restaurants, they are loosely misusing that term as a marketing ploy. They are not actually genuine about the health benefits.
Pi Co. Craft Yours Pizza 2:
Rui asked for the tomato sauce because he’s never tried pesto at Pi Co and he doesn’t know how it tastes. So he thought it was better to be safe with the tomato sauce.
UPDATE: After having a slice of my pesto sauce, Rui has never looked back. He likes it a lot and now orders the pesto whenever he wants to change things up.
He topped his pizza with extra mozzarella cheese and some other types of cheese. Yep, this guy loves his cheese!
Pi Co offers 10 different types of cheese including blue cheese and a vegan version. I personally would not go for the vegan cheese only because I have no idea what they use to make it!
Aside from the cheese, he asked for mushrooms, ham, and pineapple. As you can see, he was trying to build a Hawaiian-style pizza.
This was another delicious pizza too! Rui would definitely order the same thing again, but he thinks he should have asked for more toppings since he ordered the “Craft Yours” pizza.
Food: 4/5
For a chain, this is honestly one of the best pizzas I’ve had.
I know it sounds silly, but I would like to put it on my list of the best pizza places in Toronto. I can’t do that because I don’t think the average consensus would agree with this due to it lacking the traditional American style that’s loaded with unhealthy toppings, sodium, and grease.
I can say it’s one of the best healthier pizzas around in the GTA that I’ve had so far.
Overall, I’m pretty confident that most people will agree that Pi Co. offers really good pizza that is a healthier version.
Again, it’s not 100% healthy in absolute terms due to the white dough, cheese, olive oil that isn’t extra virgin olive oil, and non-organic toppings (at least not considered healthy to the true health-conscious people who eat super clean), but I’m sure that over 90% of the population in Toronto will agree this is healthy. Lol.
Service: 4/5
I really like the service at the North York location where Shop at Don Mills is.
The servers there seem pretty polite, nice, and friendly.
Whenever you ask them for a little bit of extra topping, whether it be cheese, veggies, or meat, they will do that for you without giving you any trouble.
Ambiance: 4/5
Pi Co. is a nice and clean area to eat in. I have no complaints about this pizza joint. No matter which location you to go, you won’t be disappointed.
Price: $$
It’s pricier compared to traditional takeout pizzas like Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza Pizza, etc.
However, the ingredients and quality of their pizza are so much better.
I would actually say their price is comparable to a joint like Blondies Pizza, which many people consider one of the best pizza joints in Toronto.
Although Blondies’ pizzas taste good in general, I still prefer Pi Co. I’m just not a huge fan of heavy grease, cheese, or buckets of oil inside Blondies’ pepperoni cups — we have a review on Blondies hot girl pizza here.
Whenever Pi Co. offers their $10 “Craft Yours” pizza deal, I do think it’s a steal, so you may want to check it out from time to time. You’ll need to order through the app and they limit it to one order per person based on your mobile number.
Overall Rating of Pi Co. Pizza: 4/5
I’d like to give them 4 out of 5 based on all the points I made in this review.
Rui said he would rate them the same because it is pretty good for a pizza chain!
I’ve yet to come across a healthier pizza in Toronto that’s easily accessible. Until I find one, Pi Co. remains one of my personal favourites for now.
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