There are few arguments more American than a debate over the best regional pizza style. Like a thick, doughy block with caramelized cheese on the sides and sauce on top? Sink your teeth into a slice of Detroit-style pizza. If a deep-dish pie with heaps of toppings swimming in a pool of sauce and cheese is more your speed, then you’re looking for Chicago-style. And if you’re too busy to even sit down and enjoy your meal, a crispy, flat-crusted New York-style slice is exactly what you need. Of course, unless you live in one of those locales, finding the perfect pizza to suit your preference isn’t always easy, but one Brooklyn-based pizzeria just made it a whole lot easier to get your hands on its famous pies.
Di Fara Pizza has been serving up slices since 1965, and starting March 1, you can snag four of its most popular flavors in the freezer section at Target stores nationwide. Available in Classic, Vodka Sauce, Pepperoni, and Three Meat, these 12-inch frozen pizzas promise to transport your taste buds to Brooklyn. Di Fara Pizza sent me three of the flavors — the Three Meat is unfortunately not yet available in my area — to test. Read on to find out if Di Fara’s is worthy of a spot in your cart, or if they’re just another in a long line of frozen pizza options.
Methodology
Di Fara reached out to me and offered to send samples of the pizzas before they hit Target shelves. The three flavors available locally — Classic, Vodka Sauce, and Pepperoni — were sent to me via Instacart. I cooked all three pizzas at the same time, according to the packaging instructions. After removing them from the oven, I snapped a few photos of each and dug in. My evaluation was based on taste, texture, aroma, value, and overall quality. Some recommendations are based on first-hand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer/distributor/etc.
Pricing, availability, and nutritional information
While a nationwide release is set for March 1, Di Fara launched in 1,100 Target stores at the beginning of February. All four pizzas will be priced at $9.99 and come in a single, standard 12-inch size.
The Vodka Sauce pizza contains 280 calories per serving, which is defined as one-quarter of a pizza. You’ll also find 9 grams of fat, 12 grams of protein, and 650 milligrams of sodium per serving. The Classic pizza is a little higher across the board, sitting at 300 calories, 14 grams of fat, 13 grams of protein, and 920 milligrams of sodium. Finally, there’s the Pepperoni pie, which has a different serving size: one-third of a pizza, up slightly from one-quarter. A serving contains 370 calories, 12 grams of fat, 17 grams of protein, and 900 milligrams of sodium.
What does Di Fara’s Classic cheese pizza taste like?
The intersection of perception and reality is especially important in the world of frozen pizzas. Even the lowest-rated options promise plenty of flavor, while other, more highly-regarded brands claim you’ll confuse their product for delivery. In truth, most pizza-loving people know a frozen pizza when they taste it, regardless of the style…