Restaurant Reivew
900 Degrees Woodfired Pizza
900 Degrees Woodfired Pizza is located inside the fantastic Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. This authentic pizza place prides itself on using an Italian wood burning oven, which creates the perfect Neapolitan style pizza. The perfect pizza creation is said to be due to the oven's ability to maintain a consistent 900+ degree temperature, hence the catchy name of the restaurant.
Although Woodfired offers a great menu, complete with several gluten-free options, there are some areas that need improvement including service (unprofessional and not familiar with allergens), the pricing point of gluten-free options (pricing for toppings are outrageous), and management (failure to respond to an email).
Food
Woodfired uses caputo flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and a wood burning oven to create Neapolitan pizza. The menu consists of a handful of specialty pizza options, a create your own pizza option, several pasta selections, calzones, salads, and a few appetizers (fries, cheesesticks, fried ravioli, and wings to name a few).
The highlight here is the ability to order a gluten-free pizza or pasta dish. The downside is that the gluten-free pizza starts at $10 without any toppings (keep in mind that gluten-free crust is much thinner than traditional). Add in a whopping $2.49 per topping and you could be paying more for your toppings than the pizza itself! Update: As of 2023, GF pizza starts at $12.
To top it off the toppings were very sparsely applied. Although we omitted the cheese, we were only given a very miniscule portion of the toppings we ordered (about 8 olives and a few tiny slices of onions).
To pay upwards of $30 for 2 tiny gluten-free pizzas is bordering on ridiculous. Unfortunately, management never responded with any feedback after we offered suggestions.
The pizza itself was good. The sauce had a unique, slightly garlicky taste, however, I expect pizza to consist of more than a thin layer of crust, a little sauce, and a handful of toppings.
The price of our gluten-free pizza was not justified in the slightest. I would never recommend this restaurant to gluten-free individuals due to the enormous price tag.
Save your money and pick up 2 gluten free crusts at Whole Foods or any other healthy grocery chain. And add as many toppings as you want. Treat yourself to the same quality pizza without the hefty price tag.
On the other hand, the regular crust pizza did look delicious. As we browsed around the other tables, we were quite disappointed in how large the traditional pizza was compared to the gluten-free.
It's one thing to offer gluten-free options so individuals with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance can enjoy eating out with their family and friends. It's another story to take advantage of these individuals by charging absurd prices.
On a positive note, the gluten-free pasta with marinara sauce was great, and more appropriately priced at a mere $8. However, the side of bread (not gluten-free) should have been replaced with a substitute, as opposed to charging the customer for the whole plate.
Update: As of 2023, most pasta entrees range in price from $13-14. Options include Lasagna, Baked Ziti, and Chicken Parmesan.
Service
Service was mediocre at best. Our waiter was just too inexperienced and awkward. He did not seem to know anything about pizza ingredients and allergens (restaurants which offer gluten-free options should have staff well acquainted with the diet).
Atmosphere
Woodfired offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor seating is a bit cramped and lacks in the style department. Sitting on the outdoor covered patio, on the other hand, is a great, relaxing way to spend a Friday night. When there is a cool breeze, it's just perfect. The checkered Italian tablecloths and festive lights add a bit of a romantic touch.
Final Remarks
The pizza at Woodfired is decent, although the service leaves much to be desired. Be prepared to pay a major upcharge for any gluten-free friendly menu items.
