Polock’s Pizza in Nescopeck is a legendary spot that people have been telling me to try for years. It’s a tiny little place that operates generally during the winter months a few days a week. In the summer and fall, Polock’s morphs into Denny and Pearl’s and makes their famous pizza on the fair and festival circuit around the area. Locals swear by this place and are known to call their orders in hours in advance to get in line for a taste of this unique pizza!
Polock’s Pizza is generally open 3 days a week while in season Friday through Sunday. Phone lines are known to be ringing off the hook before the place even opens! I’ve heard many stories of people calling 20-50 times before getting through! This only added to the mystique and anticipation of trying the pizza. I called in my order a few minutes after noon and placed it for around 3:00 pm. By the time I got there at 3:00, I learned that orders were already taken through 7 pm! So it wasn’t even dinner time and orders were booked up into the evening!
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Reviewing Two Polock’s Pizzas
I heard all about Polock’s round pizza and how unique it was. However, just before I called, an experienced local Polock’s aficionado recommended I also order a half sheet of pizza. Considering how long it took me to reach this moment, I wasn’t going to miss out on ordering both styles of pizza! When I think of a half sheet, I think of Philly tomato pie, bakery style pizza, or Binghamton sheet pizza. This pizza was nothing like that! It was more like The Fort Cafe’s suitcase pizza – a round pizza stretched into a rectangular shape that fits into a box made for Old Forge-sized pizzas.
The sheet pizza featured a crust that was a bit thicker than your traditional New York style pizza, and the dough was slightly more dense. It was crispy around the edges, deeply browned on the bottom, and ever so slightly doughy, but fully cooked in the middle. It had a nice chew and light crisp. The sauce was undoubtedly the star of the show as it was smooth and sweet and had a wonderful depth of flavor and some savory notes. The cheese seemed to have either two different types on it, or was added at different times during the baking process. I thought it was similar to a cheddar, but I certainly can’t be sure!
The round pizza was pretty much made from the same ingredients, but the proportions were a little different and gave you a slightly different experience. The dough ratio was a little bit higher on the smaller round pie so the crust took on a bigger role in this pizza. It featured the same fantastic and unique sauce, and I believe the same cheese. The cheese was baked a little bit lighter on the round pie, but I liked the variation of caramelized and more lightly baked cheese. It sort of added to the unique nature of the pizza.
A Memorable Review at a Special Place
Overall, both pizzas were really delicious. The both reminded me of some of the Luzerne County pizzas like Nardozzo’s and The Dough Company except with the sauce underneath the cheese. This was really a special stop after waiting so long. The tiny little place was magical, and the people inside it were even more wonderful. When I came back to the walk-up window to introduce myself and award one of my APPROVED stickers, the lady inside was just wonderful and gracious. I can see why so many people support this family owned business and enjoy the pizza. It’s a special place.
If you can’t get to Polock’s, be sure to look for Denny and Pearl’s at a local fair or festival! Have you tried the pizza? What do you think of it? Let me know in the comments!
Rating Polock’s Pizza
- Restaurant: Polock’s Pizza
- Address: East 3rd St, Nescopeck, PA 18635
- Dine In/Take Out: Take Out
- Pizza Ordered: Large Round Pizza
- Date: March 2024
| Rating Category | Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Crust | 7.8 |
| Sauce | 8.5 |
| Cheese | 7.7 |
| Taste | 8.5 |
| Crispy/Cooked Properly | 7.3 |
| Value | 7.7 |
| Overall Rating | 7.9 |
Pizza is Similar to: Fort Cafe
- Restaurant: Polock’s Pizza
- Address: East 3rd St, Nescopeck, PA 18635
- Dine In/Take Out: Take Out
- Pizza Ordered: Large Round Pizza
- Date: March 2024
| Rating Category | Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Crust | 8.1 |
| Sauce | 8.5 |
| Cheese | 7.7 |
| Taste | 8.6 |
| Crispy/Cooked Properly | 7.5 |
| Value | 7.8 |
| Overall Rating | 8.1 |
Pizza is Similar to: Nardozzo’s, Dough Co
