Sara Escobar

Evening Star

Off the bustling highway that is Central Texas Expressway, more than a dozen restaurants line each side of the road, beckoning to passerby. While each one of these eateries offer something unique to the consumer, there’s a new restaurant that promises a dine-in experience that’s fast, casual and inexpensive.

Located at 3007 E Central Texas Expressway, MOD Pizza opened in February of 2017. This pizza joint offers artisan-style cuisine that’s generously portioned, made on demand, and ready within minutes. With over 30 toppings that allow you to personalize your dish, MOD Pizza promises the price will stay the same, no matter how many toppings you choose. Originally founded in Seattle, MOD Pizza was established in 2008 by husband and wife, Scott and Ally Svenson. The Svenson’s were on a mission to find a restaurant that was quick, affordable and wholesome for their growing family. With 200 MOD Pizza locations throughout the U.K. and the United States, it would appear their mission has been accomplished.

According to MOD Pizza’s official website, food authenticity is one of their biggest priorities—from where it comes from, how it’s prepared, and how it tastes. They offer hand-pressed teas and lemonades, roast their own vegetables and press their dough daily. There’s more than just pizza, too—with salads and sides that are also customizable.

“It’s always exciting when we get something new here in town,” said Michael Aparicio after dining there for the grand opening. “We got a couple free pizza coupons for being some of the first people in line, so with an incentive like that, it’s hard to pass up,” Aparicio went on to talk about the excellent service and quality of the food. “From the moment we walked in we felt welcome. The employees were friendly and engaging, the atmosphere was modern and classic, and the food was delicious and surprisingly inexpensive. I’d recommend this place to anyone.”

“I thought it was amazing that 100% of their sales on the grand opening went to Families in Crisis,” said Anna Kefauver, who dined with Aparicio. “It has the same vibe that a restaurant in Austin would have, and now we don’t have to drive there to experience it. The pizza was made quick and you can get as many toppings as you want for less than $10—it’s almost like the pizza version of Chipotle!” said Kefauver.

For more information on MOD Pizza, call 254 680 5305 or visit their website at www.modpizza.com.