A newcomer has arrived in the array of food truck options near the J. Willard Marriott Library: Sergio’s Pizza. Walking past the long, red-and-white vehicle, the familiar, tantalizing smell of melty cheese and sizzling pepperoni infects the senses. Even the busiest students can be pulled away from their schedule to follow the pizza craving created by Sergio’s.
East Coast Origins
The truck is an extension of Sergio’s Pizza shop in South Jordan. That location happens to be an extension of the original Sergio’s Pizza in New York, which opened in 1975. As its tagline, “A Slice of New York,” advertises, Sergio’s prides itself on being “the most authentic New York Pizza in Utah.” While that claim may be up for debate, there’s no denying that the aesthetic of the store and truck exudes that of a classic Brooklyn pizza joint.
The food truck arrived on campus just over a month ago. The University of Utah was chosen as its location due to the owner having two children who attend the school. When the truck first parked its wheels in front of the J. Willard Marriott Library, it was met with adversary.
“It’s funny, when we first got here, we parked in front of the library and one of the other food trucks kicked us out,” said Izabella Muñoz, an employee at the food truck. “They didn’t like us.”
Since then, Sergio’s has relocated to a spot off to the side of the library plaza. Despite being away from the often-crowded library plaza, the food truck has seen an influx of customers nearly every day. According to Muñoz, Fridays are the rare slow days, with the campus being a “ghost town” at the end of the week. Otherwise, it’s an odd sight to see Sergio’s without a line of students standing outside it.
“Around 12:30, 1 is when we get the lunch rush but we have customers throughout the day,” said Muñoz.
Good Food, Good Deals
The truck offers a variety of deals, pairing slices of pizza with a drink. Compared to many of the other food options on campus, Sergio’s is one of the most affordable places to eat. It’s unsurprising that the truck sees
as many diners as it does, as nowadays, it’s not common to find tasty food with good portions without having to empty your wallet.
As for the pizza itself, the slices are wide and thin, which is to be expected from a New York slice. The crust is crispy but not so tough that it’s difficult to bite through. The pizza is layered with just the right amount of cheese and tomato sauce, allowing the flavors to meld together in a perfect balance. On the pepperoni pizza, the toppings are liberally placed, ensuring each bite includes at least some pepperoni. It is a fairly greasy slice of pizza but not to the point where it’s pooling on the cheese or soaking through the plate. Rather, it’s as greasy as a good slice of pizza should be.
In the U’s collection of food trucks, students have the chance to travel from Argentina to Japan to Vietnam with the cuisine available. With the addition of Sergio’s Pizza, students can now visit home with a warm, nostalgic slice of cheesy goodness. Despite its New York roots, anyone can feel a familiar sense of comfort from Sergio’s pizza and escape the stressful hustle and bustle of college. So the next time you pass by the food truck and consider getting a slice, do it. You won’t regret it.
