Zeeks in Belltown and Greenlake

I'd like to start off with the Belltown Zeeks, leaving the best for last. As I walked through the door, I saw the decor of a depressed teenager's room in a bad movie from the 90's. All black walls with nothing that popped. The staff was obviously affected by this, as they seemed like they were half asleep, half zombie. As I ordered my slice of cheese I noticed a rather terrifying sight: a clunky grey warming oven that seemed like it should be at a baseball field. I ordered, was greeted by a woman who seemed she didn't want to be there, and took a seat in a black booth. The plate was unoriginal, in fact, I'm almost sure I saw the same plates at Ikea a few years back. I looked down and saw a sad piece of pizza covered in oregano. The cheese looked watery, and the crust was uneven. The sauce, something I take very seriously while eating pizza, was hardly there at all.

As I expected, the very first thing I tasted was oregano. I don't know if you have ever experienced a mouth full of dried oregano on mediocre pizza, but it was not pleasing to any of the senses. The cheese had almost unmistakably been frozen, the crust was chewy and not at all flavorful, and the sauce was hidden. I looked over to see if any of my comrades were having a better time, and I saw that our slices were terribly uneven. Another point docked off Zeeks. I did, however, like the crust on the bottom. It supported the pizza well and had a nice crunch to it.

One thing I look for in life, not just pizza, is being satisfied after I've finished. This was very much not the case at Zeeks. The pizza was heavy in my stomach, but I still wasn't full. I wanted another slice to give the kind people at Zeeks another try, but the slices wouldnt allow that. I was too full for another, and not full enough from just one. Maybe there is a reason other places cut their pizza in to eight slices, not six.

The prices at Zeeks are not desirable.

$2.95 for cheese

3.65 for pepperoni

3.95 for specialties

This experience was worth 2 1/2 stars.

The Greenlake Zeeks was much, much better. They're decor is lighter, with pictures and posters on the wall of upcoming shows in the Seattle area. They're pizza is made much more frequently, resulting in better tasting pizza without the unsightly warming oven. The crust is still chewy and dry, but the cheese and sauce have come to a nice balance, creating a harmony of flavor. The Greenlake Zeeks has a friendly staff and make pizza before your eyes, creating a sense of community. The oregano, thank God, is less of a problem here.

The Zeeks on Greenlake earns 3 1/2 stars for its freshness, staff, and sense of community. The other one and a half stars are docked due to the size of slice, crust, and heaviness.

I would highly recommend ordering a whole pizza. For those on the go, order whatever is fresh. It really does make a difference.