I've spent the better part of the last two decades searching BC for a pizza experience which is on par with the pizza I grew up eating (and making) during my youth in southern Ontario. In fact, I've made a habit of trying different style pizzas while traveling the world. There are infinite pizza styles with origins going back further than the human written record, I have tried many. My friends and family would describe me as a 'picky pizza eater', as I don't typically want to order pizza when they ordered from a pizza chain or the various BC pizza establishments I've already tried. They've learned better than to ask me 'What is wrong with X pizza?' or 'What kind of pizza do you like?'. Don't get me wrong, I will eat it, and mostly enjoy it but it just isn't close to what I crave.
I only write this long introduction as a qualifier, for my next statement: Top Dog Pizza & Donair is the BEST balance of pizza I've had in years. The fine people that made this pizza take great care in making a pizza which is delicious in every way.
The crust is the perfect amount of crispy, chewy, and doughy, without being greasy or tasting like chard flour. It's not thin and floppy nor is it a loaf of bread with cheese on top. You will want to eat every bite of the crust and will make you feel sorry for the gluten intolerant.
The quality topping are generous without overloading the pizza and making it impossible to cook. I especially like the wide selection including two options for bacon.
Everyone will have a sauce preference, mine changes depending on the toppings. Top Dog has you covered, with the classics and some I've never tried before.
The cheese is where it should be, on-top the sauce, under the toppings. This way the toppings are cooked and their flavors are combined instead of eating a topping cheese casserole. As a bonus, the really picky can pick off what they don't want. I'd like to know where they get their mozzarella from, it's stringy and has a creaminess to it. The next day when the pizza is cold, it's not a hard mass, it's a perfect breakfast you don't have to spend any time making.
To think, I almost missed the opportunity to eat the pizza here.
My wife had just given birth to our daughter at VGH and wanted something other than hospital food. Top Dog was really the only option that late, and I had dismissed any chance of a good pizza at that hour, so we ordered Donairs. Well the Donairs were so good (and huge, it took 2 days to eat them) I thought we should give the pizza a go.
Almost forgot, when the bill had been totaled for our two large pizzas and drinks, I thought there had been a mistake or I had been magically transported back to the 1990s. Where else can you get any 2 pizza and drinks for two green ones and change?
I hope I can convince them they should be opening an additional location in the town I live, Qualicum Beach.