Going off to college usually means spending your days in the dining hall figuring out what you can eat without resulting in an upset stomach or hunger strike! Fortunately, collegiettes at William Paterson University aren’t doomed to these outcomes because we’ve got Campus Eats! And lucky enough, our campus is surrounded by a collection of delicious eateries in the Wayne area.
In the spirit of going off to college (or returning, as the case may be) I decided to pick a classic food that everyone loves: pizza! I’ve learned over the years that pizza can go horribly wrong, but we knew of a place that did not have slices that are slimy and are overwhelmed with grease. And that place is none other than Anthony Francos Pizza.
It is a small chain in the northern NJ region, known for their specialty slices such as Chicken Parm or Chicken Francese, as well as the classics like pepperoni and extra cheese. One thing I have learned over the years of coming here: you cannot go wrong hitting up this joint. A fellow senior classmate, Kevin, and I ran over there during a break in our classes and brought pizza back for another friend of ours; we did not have a ton of time,though, since our next class was in 45 minutes.
I knew what I wanted — Chicken Francese Pizza, and because of time constraints, we took our food to-go. Since it was our first time at this location we were excited to see if this AF would live up to the reputation of the others AFs we had been to. And it did! It was delicious!
What makes good pizza? First component is crust — it must be crunchy not slimy. No one likes it when the sauce to pizza ratio is not right. It destroys the crust and turns into a jaw workout because it’s too chewy! Second component is sauce — no one wants sweet tomato sauce (that’s what dessert is for); it just does not flow with the pizza-mojo. Lastly is the holy grail of foods, cheese. I love pizza of all kinds but nothing makes a pie better than a ton of cheese. The rule I set for cheese is: as long as it does not absorb all the sauce and the cheese to bread ratio does not turn the pizza into cheesy bread, I am all for more cheese!
Anthony Francos’ accomplished these standards. The only advice I’d give is to get it delivered or eat it there, traffic made my slice a little colder than I would have liked it to be. Otherwise it was very good. This is a great place for students to grab a quick slice or order in with friends at the dorms. (Yes, they deliver on campus!) Franco’s is the spot to go to without having to break the bank for something delicious, filling, and everyone will enjoy! The price is on the steeper side, but overall a water and two specialty slices cost us under $10.
This isn’t a five star restaurant so don’t expect five star treatment but the staff was friendly and prompt with orders. Its address is 1176 Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne. It’s about a 15 minute drive from the main campus and about 7 minutes from Valley Road. And if you’re in a rush, they take online orders!
Overall, Anthony Francos’ a great spot for pizza on-the-go or a sit down dinner with friends, not only is pizza served but they have all the Italian classics including salads, pastas, sandwiches and more. Franco’s is a hidden gem. Be sure to check them out; Anthony Franco’s in Wayne is definitely Her Campus Approved!
SCORE
Service: 9
Price: 8
Food: 8.5
Location: 8.5
Appearance: 9.5
Portion: 10
Convenience for Students: 8
OVERALL: 8.7
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HCXO, Campus Eats
Photo sources:Photo 1