Sunday, January 19, 2014

Vegan Tampa: Pizza Fusion

 Although we actually don't eat out THAT often (maybe once week but not every week), it is nice to have places I like in Tampa. In Little Rock, we had a few go-to's. Tampa is no New York City. But I do look forward to eating out now, which is a new addition to our lives.
 

 One of my favorite places in this area is Pizza Fusion. There are two that we frequent, one downtown (where I love going) and one in the Westchase area of Tampa (which is one place we like to stop for take-out after a day at the beach). There are several other locations in Florida, as well as spots in North Carolina, Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey...and apparently, I just realized, many Pizza Fusion restaurants in Saudi Arabia.

 One reason we like Pizza Fusion: vegan breadsticks with Daiya at the location downtown. We tried ordering at the other location, but the waitress looked at me like I was crazy so not sure what's up with that.
 
 I don't know if we have ever gotten to order appetizers at a pizza place before, so it's fun (even if an order only gives us all about one small breadstick each). We also like the choice of all-natural, organic drinks (like Honest Tea, Honest Kids' juice pouches - and they even have organic beer, etc. if that's your thing).
 
 Another reason we like Pizza Fusion: organic tomato sauce and veggies. (We also like the size and shape of the pizzas.) I don't really want to talk about the non-vegan pizza toppings, but let's just say there are words and phrases like "free-range," "hormone & preservative-free," and "organic" associated with them.

 Other ways the company is committed to making conscious choices for the Earth: delivering food in hybrid cars, recycling, and using recycled/Earth-friendly products and cleaners,

 They offer Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet and Daiya for cheese. Half of our family members prefer Daiya, and half prefer Follow Your Heart.
 
 In an effort to eliminate soy protein isolate from my life, I had mostly stopped buying Vegan Gourmet. But I DO prefer it on the pizza here. Ryan likes Daiya better, though. They will do half and half for us.

My oldest son's pizza of choice:
cheese, pineapple, and black olives.
 
 You can choose from
original and multi-grain crust.

 They also offer gluten-free crust, which I'm told by both locations is vegan (despite two different recipe lists on the website, one which is vegan, one is not). I've never tried the gluten-free crust. But what we HAVE tried are the vegan, gluten-free brownies.

 
 They are not the best brownies we've ever had, but they are good, with the toppings adding a nice touch. And the kids love being able to order dessert at a restaurant.
 
 Another reason I love this place: Once I called in an order downtown, but my toddler was asleep in his carseat. I would have had to wake him up and pay $5 for parking. I called the restaurant, and they let me park in a very temporary spot and brought my order out to me, took my credit card in, and brought it back out. And the girl smiled the whole time she was doing it. I majorly appreciate things like this.
 
 
Pizza Fusion
 
 

17 comments:

  1. Just when I'd assumed you had given up posting forever....

    Pizza and Beer after a day at the beach sounds very nice.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't think I'll ever give up posting forever. I would miss you too much.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yay!! I was so happy to see you pop up into my blog roll! This place sounds really great, I love that they are so conscious and vegan friendly. The pizzas all look great.. I think I'd be a daiya girl ;) The gf brownies look delicious too and I love that they were so accommodating when your son was asleep in the car. That's the sign of really great service! Seriously above and beyond :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, thanks for saying that! I was happy to see you pop up in my comments! PF really is a great place all around. (If only they'd get rid of that darn meat and dairy, ha!)

      Delete
  4. Sounds like they know how to run a business. I like when vegan-friendly places are extra environmentally friendly like with compostable implements or recycling etc.
    The breadsticks look great. And the brownies don't look half bad either.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good customer service cannot be overstated. Sounds like a fantastic pizza place. I wonder if they're individually owned and that would explain the cheese differences at the locations. My kids love ordering desserts at restaurants, too - the little things can make so happy and let us feel "normal."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, in our last town we could eat vegan pizza, but we had to BRING the cheese in with us. They have Daiya and vegan gourmet at both locations - not sure if they are individually owned.

      Delete
  6. I've been to Pizza Fusion once! It was decent enough, I definitely appreciated the vegan options. However, with my burning desire to make my own, and another all-vegan pizzeria in town - I haven't returned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, if ONLY we had an all vegan pizzeria!!! That would be awesome.

      Delete
  7. Dear friends, Brahmakumaris are vegetarian... and emphasize the importance of keeping thoughts pure... when preparing food... they either enhance or

    decrease the vibes of what we eat...thus affecting our health... vegetarian lifestyle is also more conducive to achieving total peace of mind.
    There is Brahmakumaris meditation...that relaxes the mind...nurtures a healthy balance between inner and outer worlds...recharge... rejuvenate the inner-self... From Gita

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great review, Jenny. I know I've been to a Pizza Fusion — somewhere — and liked it. I like all the ways they try to be environmentally responsible, but my favorite part of your review was the car-door service. That was really smart of you to request it. Did the server come on skates? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No skates! :) The only thing it was missing! :) And I think it was her idea to bring it out. Thanks!

      Delete
  9. When we are home, we don’t eat out all the time probably once a month or every other month. The breadsticks look pretty good & it’s nice to know that there are vegan pizzas in Tampa, but I prefer pizzerias making their own cheese sauce…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooo, cheese sauce, that would be good and probably a lot healthier! Eating out pizza is our special occasional treat so I'm also glad they exist here!

      Delete
  10. wow, how amazing to have a place that offers TWO kinds of vegan cheese!! And appetizers and dessert... it's a full dining out experience. Also, it looks super yum!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I guess that's true - we are normal all around here!

      Delete