Lunch Break: Won over by Woodfired
Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County
There seems to be a million different ways to make pizza. Chicago style, New York, thin crust, thick. The list goes on. That being said, the style I can usually always count on disliking is Wood Fired pizza. I even used to say I “wood fire whoever came up with the concept.” However, my mind changed when I tried the new Troy location of Old Scratch Pizza.
Old Scratch Pizza is a local establishment, with Troy’s location being the newest one out of their three. The adorable exterior of the pizza place has warm fairy lights surrounding a patio, offering a summary vibe for warmer days. But, now that the days have gotten colder, I chose to eat inside, where the interior is just as welcoming. You order at the counter from a menu with various types of woodfired pizza. After taking a number and finding a seat, you can recognize the restaurant's chic layout. There are pizza-themed light fixtures and open viewing of the wood-firing magic. There’s also a bar seating option where you can order craft beers and drinks on tap.
Before I took my seat, I had to make the difficult decision of what to order. Many suggestions were given, including a list of fan favorites. I chose to stick to what I usually like, margherita pizza. As I said before, I was a little skeptical because woodfired pizza has always been my least favorite version of a pie. So, needless to say, I didn’t have high hopes for this pizza in particular. So, going big or going home, I also ordered an appetizer of garlic bread and marinara sauce. To my surprise, the dry, burnt, and overly crunchy crust that I had expected from a woodfired pizza place was nowhere to be seen. The cheesy bread was tasty, and the crust was perfectly crunchy in light with tasty bubbles of seasoned dough topped with Parmesan cheese crumbles. The strips tasted amazing, dipped in the warm marinara sauce, and left me excited for my actual pizza to arrive. Once it did, it was clear from the first bite of the margarita that I had been sorely mistaken about wood-fired pizza. The chewy mozzarella on top of a savory tomato sauce with fresh basil almost fooled me into thinking I was actually eating something healthy. I did watch a few salad orders walk by, and I was tempted to order one for myself if I hadn’t already eaten my weight in cheesy, carb-loaded deliciousness.
After eating at some local places in the past, I had written off wood-fired pizza as a trend gone bad. But after dinner with a friend at Old Scratch, wood-fired pizza might be my new favorite. I’ll definitely be returning to try all of their other famous menu items, not to mention to finish another night off with their complimentary vanilla ice cream!
If you’re like me and you've written off oven-fired pizza, give it another try. Try Old Scratch. I’m certain you’ll have a change of heart. Old Scratch Pizza & Beer is located at 19 E. Race St, Troy.