T&A tries Sbarro, Cleckheaton – UK’s first pizza drive-thru

Sbarro, a franchise that was born in the USA, launched a drive-thru service at Cleckheaton Services, in Centurion Way on June 27.

The business has more than 630 locations across 28 countries, including 15 others in the UK, but this is its first drive-thru in the country and Sbarro claims the first full stop on these shores.

Sbarro, at Cleckheaton Services, in Centurion Way (Image: Other)

To celebrate its launch the Cleckheaton store sold its New York-style XL pizza slices for 15p – normally going for between £3 and £3.50 – on July 6, as a homage to the company’s roots.

Sbarro was famous for its 15-cent pizza slices when it first opened across the pond in 1956 as an Italian salumeria - a cured meat shop or Italian deli.

The T&A decided to visit this unique eatery a few weeks later, to see what it was all about.

Rolling up to the services and heading to the left side of the building, it was certainly a strange prospect having to scan a menu board quickly and then relay what you wanted – this pizza lover usually tos and fros between the options and toppings before finally making the decision at least 15 minutes later.

There was just one BBQ base option – I know, it’s not for everyone – but that is somewhat understandable given this is more about speed and ease, rather than tailoring the pizza to each customer.

I instead opted for the classics, as well as a few outside shouts to get a flavour of the variety Sbarro has to offer.

The order from Sbarro, in Cleckheaton (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

A pepperoni slice and regular drink - I went for Pepsi Max – came to £5, a 19p saving as part of the franchise's meal deal.

I then wanted to try a slice of Sbarro’s stuffed pizza – made with two layers of dough, sandwiching cheese, pepperoni, spicy beef sausage, and seasonings – but alas, I was told there were none left and it would take 45 minutes; defeating the whole point of this visit.

I went for a meat feast slice to placate my sorrows, as well as portion of Hot ‘n’ Spicy wings, and the ham and cheese Stromboli – little did I know, this would be the flavour sensation firework amid a fairly standard meal.

The wait time from ordering to picking up the food was roughly three minutes – so mission accomplished on that front.

It felt wrong to take it all home to eat, given the context of the establishment, so I parked up at the services – essentially a petrol station – and began to tuck in.

My eyes lit up when I saw the size of the meat feast pizza, which I sampled first of all.

But the size of the pepperoni slice left a little to be desired, not even filling the pizza slice-shaped box it came in.

The meat feast and pepperoni slices - notice the size discrepancy (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Both pizzas tasted good, fresh, and came with plenty of toppings, but I’d say they weren’t anything extraordinary, and as someone who prioritises sauce over cheese on my pies – that’s what they call it in America right? – I was somewhat disappointed that the balance was in favour of the latter – but that’s down to personal preference.

The wings were okay, not something I’d get again.

The Hot 'n' Spicy wings from Sbarro (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Then Sbarro really came into its own with the ham and cheese Stromboli, something I’d never tried before.

Think a pizza but rolled up into a thick wrap – not a calzone, more like a pizza burrito.

The ham and cheese Stromboli was a out of this world (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

My first thought as I bit into this volcanic concoction was, “that’s where it’s at” – and it certainly was, with the perfect blend of cheese and ham exploding in your mouth and hitting every taste bud due to the concentrated nature of the product.

Sbarro was overall a fun experience, with decent, fresh, hot pizza – believe me, some places don’t get that right – and a variety of choice, with some unique extras, and if I was passing I’d pop in again.

But it is perhaps novelty over “blow-you-away” quality.