Food Critic - Two Jack's Pizza

from My Community Spanish Fork Magazine - April 2022

Parks: Adventure Heights Park

Two Jack's Pizza

30 N Main St.

Every old culture in the world has some sort of flatbread— the tortilla, naan, roti, paratha, and pita—but if I could only pick one, it would absolutely be pizza. One flatbread to rule them all, am I right? Pizza has been around for at least 1000 years and baked flatbreads with savory toppings were around for at least a millennium and a half before that. It’s a little crazy to think that the pizza we hastily and hungrily wolf down has been evolving for more than 2500 years, improved and added upon by a hundred generations of bakers and artisans. Very few foods can claim such a rich and diverse history. It’s no wonder, then, that pizza is considered by so many to be the ultimate food. So when you find a place that does it right, it is genuinely something special.

My recent visit to Two Jack’s Pizza was an absolute blast! The food was great, and the prices were even better, which is always appreciated, but especially important now, given the current economic situation. Switching gears for a second, I also want to give a big thumbs up to their employees for their exceptional cleanliness. I watched them thoroughly sanitize every booth and table within a minute or two after a customer left, including the walls, bench, and seatback. I haven’t seen that kind of attention to cleanliness anywhere else, so big props for that. That said, we’re here to talk about food, not housekeeping, so off we go.

Pizzas – There are a few commonalities I want to call out before I proceed with the individual reviews. First, the crust is covered with fine blisters and has crispy edges and a chewy interior. That tells me it is properly fermented, which I confirmed with the manager. Second, the sauce tastes like it’s been cooked for a long time, which is generally better on pasta than pizza. If I were to make one change, I would cook the sauce hot and fast, and add just a touch of roast garlic and oregano, maybe some anchovy, but that’s it. Third, most of the pizzas could use a sprinkle of parmesan or pecorino, just to finish them off with a little extra flavor. That little bit of salt and “funk” makes such a huge difference.

Jack's Combo – The peppers and onions leak a lot of juice, which can make the top feel a bit soggy. Overall, it was cheesy, tasty and served piping hot. 3.5 stars

Cheese – I ordered a thin crust, just to try it out, and it seems like it’s just the regular crust rolled out thinner. I’d like to see a real thin crust recipe, California-style. A little parmesan and a sprinkle of Italian herbs would be great as well. 3 stars

Hawaiian – Lots of pineapple going on here! I know pineapple on pizza is a divisive issue, but I love it and I won’t apologize. This is easily the most pineapple I’ve ever seen on a pizza. The ham also got just a bit of char in the oven, which I love. 4 stars

Meat – The Italian sausage has great flavor, and the pepperoni is just a bit crispy, but not burnt. Perfectly cooked and super cheesy. 4 stars

Cheese Sticks – Very cheesy, but needs a bit of salt, maybe some parmesan or pecorino. I loved how the cheese was cooked perfectly, with the right amount of browning. Good thickness on the sticks, and a rich, thick ranch dressing. Some herbs over the top would be great too. 3.5 stars

Bread Sticks - Awesome flavor! Lots of toasty parmesan on top. 4 stars

BBQ Chicken Cheese Sticks – Everything great about the regular cheese sticks, but with sweet, saucy, smoky chicken on top. Add some veggies and it would be a complete meal. Actually, skip the veggies, it’s perfect the way it is. 4 stars

Jack's Combo Pizza Hawaiian Pizza

BBQ Chicken Cheese Sticks

Cheese Sticks

Cinn Sticks - So much butter! Combined with the cinnamon sugar, that makes for an awesome dessert. Some cream cheese icing or spiced apples would take this to the next level. For now, 3.5 stars

Cheese Bread – Excellent bread—light, crisp, chewy, and perfectly toasted with LOTS of butter and cheese. A touch of salt or parmesan, and some Italian herbs wouldn’t hurt. That splash of vinegar I mentioned before would help cut the richness of ALL THAT BUTTER! 4 stars

Garlic Bread – A bit more garlic wouldn’t hurt, but otherwise, same as the cheese bread. I love all the butter! 4 stars

Pizza Snack – Great taste and a great price. If I lived near Two Jack’s, I would probably get one of these every day. If I have one critique, since it’s made on a slice of bread, maybe put the cheese down first to keep the sauce from making it soggy. Loved it! 4 stars

Lasagna Dinner - Really saucy and hearty. I’d like to see more cheese filling and a touch more salt. Also, while the slow-cooked sauce works here, a proper Bolognese sauce would really take it up a notch. The pasta is cooked perfectly but tastes like the cooking water wasn’t salted enough. 3 stars

Wings – The wings were very small, but extremely tender with bite-through skin. I’ve only ever seen texture like that from a steam oven. I don’t think they have a steam oven at Two Jack’s, so I’m not sure how they’re getting that texture, but it’s excellent. They also pick up a nice char

flavor from the oven. If the wings were bigger, they’d be five stars all the way. For now, 3.5 stars

Dinner Salad – Lots of cheese! The veggies are fresher than at most salad bars. And you can’t go wrong with the dressing options. I don’t even like blue cheese, but somehow I liked their blue cheese dressing. Ranch and Creamy Italian were great too. Great way to start your meal, and your mom will be proud that you ate your vegetables. No rating on this one, just a smile.

Bread Sticks Cinn Sticks