Last issue, I wrote about dessert pie, so now, pizza pie! College without pizza is like life without oxygen (if you're not a plant). That analogy may go too far, but not by much. Pizza can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a midnight snack; it's pretty cheap, especially when shared; you can get between three and five food groups at once (six, if you're creative); and, as programs on both Food Network and the History Channel will tell you, it's one of the most-if not the most-popular foods in the United States.

According to Google Maps, Waltham is home to 28 restaurants that either serve or specialize in pizza. Because reviewing all of them would take too long-and be too scrumptious, if there is such a thing-I instead chose from a random selection of four. And because I'm not from New York, I'd like to think that I can be objective.

I ordered a small or medium cheese pie from each and all prices include tax and delivery, unless otherwise noted. Tip, of course, is optional, but recommended-no need to be a meanie.



Domino's ($8.74)

The problem with fast food pizzas is that they're the same everywhere, but that also means they're cheaper, especially with all the deals and coupons. Nonetheless, it's hard to be bad and be a highly successful international chain. I always think they use too much sauce, however. Still, the crust under the sauce and cheese was nice and doughy, and around the edges was somewhere between soft and crunchy. And the cheese was hot, but not gooey. All in all, Domino's is standard-not bad, not amazing, but good.



Prospect Caf ($7.34-no delivery)

If my nose could cheer, it would have when I opened the box. The crust was lined with corn meal; the box was slightly stained by cheese grease (a sure sign of quality); there were few areas of uncovered sauce. The cheese on this pizza wasn't stringy, but I'm ambivalent about that: It makes for less fun, but at the same time, the top of my throat doesn't get burned. The sauce was relatively plain. It's the crust, though, that's Prospect's strong suit. The middle is thin, but not crispy, and that means that the edges are bulbous, chewy and delicious.



Anna's ($7.60)

This pizza was relatively plain: no special-tasting sauce, no unique cheese blend, basic crust. The cheese on this pizza was stringy, stretchy and gooey, and I could make out little pools of grease dotting the pie. It wasn't overly saucy; there was actually a fantastic balance between cheese and sauce. The crust was on the thinner side-not crispy, but there wasn't as much as on the previously reviewed pies.



Cappy's ($10.40 for a large-the restaurant won't deliver for the price of a small)

If I had to describe this pizza in one word, it would be "greasy." But once I patted it down with a napkin-well, napkins-it was as if the grease hadn't been there at all. The cheese was a little stringy, and even though it looked very melted, it kept together quite nicely. There was nothing stand-out about the sauce. The crust along the circumference was thinner and crispier, much like the pizza at Anna's, but harder. Although I disagree, I can see why some call the place "Crappy's."



These are only one-seventh of the pizza places in town, but they are probably the most-frequented among Brandeis students. Of these four, Prospect has the best cheese pizza (I can't speak for any toppings these restaurants have to offer.) As a side note, their fro-yo is heavenly-all the more reason to eat there.