The Naked Truth About Naked Pizza...

By Lee Klein Thu., Aug. 26 2010 at 2:45 PM

Categories: First Bites

Lee Klein

Rotating video display on Naked's walls.

...is that it's not so hot. Since starting up in New Orleans five years ago, the pizza chain has grown bigger; 96 Naked Pizzas are now in development, the number expected to rise to a thousand over the next five years. The latest one recently opened at 1260 Washington Ave. in South Beach.

Naked's big selling point is that the "ancestral blend" crust "contains up to 10 grains, prebiotic fiber and probiotics for maximum nutrients and taste." The crust is, in fact, very tasty and crisp, although I prefer a more puffed dough around the crown. The "real mozzarella cheese" is fine -- though I'm not convinced many pizza parlors use fake cheese. "All natural tomato sauce" is where the pie slips. It may be with "no added sugar or freaky chemicals", but the taste is almost like that of straight tomato paste. Natural is nice, but none of the ingredients are organic (according to the store workers), and the meats not free-range. Kudos for making each pie fresh to order, but still -- this ain't health food.

Lee Klein

10-inch pie with basil: $6.50

Want some garlic on top to perk things up? That'll be $1.49 extra. A few basil leaves too, you say? Another $1.49. All 23 optional toppings go for $1.49. This makes no sense -- how can you charge the same for cilantro as for sausage, ground beef, or feta cheese? Luckily the pies start out reasonably priced: A 10-inch is $4.99; 12-inch is $5.99; 14-inch is $6.99.

Perhaps the solution is to get one of Naked's fully dressed pizzas -- same aforementioned sizes range from $12.99 to $16.99, and feature preselected garnishes such as chicken and onion with hickory-smoked BBQ sauce. If you're allergic to gluten, you can order a gluten-free rice flour crust (medium size only; $9.99 sans toppings). Only other items are spinach salad and mozzarella/cheddar breadsticks -- the prebiotic/probiotic kind.

It should probably be mentioned that this is a take-out place -- no seats or stools or counters to eat at. You can order online or by calling 305-809-8595.

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They claim right on their box (that I'm looking at right now) that their meats are hormone and antibiotic free. I like a good, greasy pizza once it a while, it's true, but Naked Pizza tastes good and is better for you, so what is everybody's problem. Organic would be nice, but as long as they're not claiming it's organic, then it's not really a problem that it's not. I personally eat organic when possible but truthfully can't always afford it. Figure out how to make organic affordable before you preach your judgemental dogma.
Anonymous - I didn't miss that point - I stated it - it tastes great :-) but lots of pizza tastes great - tasting great is easy - taste great without a lot of guilt...that's a real treat :-)
You are missing the point! First,it taste awesome - not loaded with a bunch of salt and other "ingredients". Second,it is not organic - they do not claim to be "orgainic anything." Third,did I say this before - it taste awesome!!!
anonymous - nope, not afraid of butter - love it. love cheese too. but pizza doesn't NEED lots of extra butter in the crust to taste great - it does NEED cheese. Nutrition facts are posted online. aware of the fat content of a slice. and very satisfied with it. and nope, no affiliation with the company - just saw it advertised and loved the concept...tried it - I think it tastes great and having no guilt and being able to account for what I just ate is fantastic. I'll be going back. and yes, it is an obvious point that cooking in is a way to control was goes into your food - as I noted - but even great cooks like to eat out from time to time.
I don't know, if you're so scared of butter, then how on earth do you feel about the cheese on top? Plus, yes, if you want to take control of your health or the preparation of your food, you have to prepare it yourself most of the time. More people should try that. This sounds like another Naked Pizza flak or family member.
I'm more interested in the low cal aspects of their "health food" than the organic bits... I think its AWESOME that you can get a plain pizza for so cheap, and toppings are expensive, but that's surely where they make a lot of their profit. As someone who likes plain pizza, I'm thankful that I can get it so cheap if all I was is a cheese pizza. I cannot wait to try it - its all about the low cal nutrition facts that draws me in - I could careless about the organic gimick. Having a crust without added butter and a sauce without added sugar is fantastic. I get sick and tired of eating out resulting in an constant battle of extra calories and having to cook for myself all the time if I actually want to - for example - eat a pizza with a crust without added butter.
Someone told me to look here and wow this is getting heated! Well, I'm a local and know 2 of the posters (highly certain). Fact: Willie poster does not work for Pizza Fusion. For more than a year now he has posted about how much he likes their Gorgonzola pizza (or something like that). Long before the other place even thought about coming here. At least Pizza Fusion Dude is honest and says who he is. It is one of two dudes, but I'm not sure which. I'm not sure about the identity of the naked sense poster.
Well said Pizza Fusion dude. (honestly I thought I was starting to hear the music from Deliverance in the background for awhile there) Perhaps Bo said it best: "Who cares? If it's good go there, if it's not then don"t. " Words to live by. (except where would that leave the opinions of critics? Ay, there's the rub.)
Actually, I DO work for Pizza Fusion and can assure you that none of the above posts are from our camp. We're happy to see Naked Pizza expanding and welcome them to South Florida. Our community is filled with intelligent and passionate folks and we appreciate the support, the criticism and everything else that goes with being a business owner. The modern consumer can see through marketing hype and if we all relied on that, we'd all be out of business. How many nightlcubs have opened to crowds only to be empty weeks later. The chips ALWAYS fall exactly where they are supposed to. I have a STRONG opinion on my view of pure foods and it can easily be figured out from the DNA that Pizza Fusion was built from. I definitely don't want to use this as a platform for debate. We are proud to be part of the S. Florida community... born and bred here. We are also very excited to be opening a new store on 5th and Alton. We'll see everyone soon!
Just ate there on the opening night. I was so excited by the way it looked and the concept....but the pizza SUUUUUCKED It was worse than the pizza at ChuckECheese. Not worth the wait, price, hype etc. The crust was like glue, the sauce was like ketchup, the cheese was not cooked enough, the chicken on top was on like the chicken served at subway. Yucky!
lol you both lose (how much was that bet for again?). The only irksome aspect of my comment is that it is all true... Can't help but notice your comment is again avoiding substance. :) hmmmm maybe I should call up Naked Pizza. Reviewing the reviews is fun - there could be money in this. PS hey, do you think that "Naked Sense" and "Willie" work for Pizza Fusion? I'm betting whatever I just won from you! (actually maybe not, I don't think Pizza Fusion would want to really be used as per above; maybe I should contact Pizza Fusion as well -- it looks like they could use my help :) Anonymous SoBe is great - knocked down two rival pizza chains in one short comment -- that was probably worth some decent cash...
I put it at 99% -- which makes their comments "most irksome".
There is a 96% chance "Anonymous" actually works for Naked Pizza
Hi Lee, Your review seems to lack... substance? You like the crust, you like the cheese, you like that it is prepared fresh, the base price of the pies are reasonable, the fully-dressed pizzas sound good for a good price, they have a gluten-free crust option (all of this sounds rather good doesn't it?). How come you don't specify which pizza you tried? You don't like the sauce (although it clearly did not taste bad), you don't like the pricing of the add-ons, you question its health value. The equal price of the add-ons is probably a matter of practicality. Would you really prefer having different prices for every possible add-on? Or is it possible that it all averages out when you build your pizza starting from the low base price? Your questioning of the health value is the most irksome, primarily as you have not justified this statement beyond stating that the food source is not organic and the meats aren't free-range. You seem to be a bit confused - you can eat very unhealthy organic/free-range food. To understand what Naked Pizza means by healthy you should visit the nutrition portion of their website: http://www.nakedpizza.biz/nutritional-info I think their interpretation of healthy is more in sych with what most people consider to be the definition of healthy...
I happened to pass by the store tonight. The pizza was no better than pizza hut- a little on the cardboard side. Plus they have no place to eat it. It is take out only. I bet by the time it would get go my house it will taste liek a u-haul box.
Since when do you need to be organic to be good? Since the inception of this humanity! Genetically altered, pesticides grown veggies and antibiotics injected meats are not norm! And if they are because of corporate greed, it is that simple. Half of the calories? Says who! These unmonitored and un policed statement are found all over the place. If you go to nakedpizza site and look at the nutritional facts [I took an image of it] you will find that the total is miscalculated. Which tells me that some novice person did it not a professional company with accreditation that can be posted for validation. That said, anyone can make up their own BS and posted to get more business. No fillers, chemicals,etc? That's another line of BS. I have been around food and restaurant nutrition for a long time.. EVERY THING COMES IN A BOX IS ALTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL FORM BY ADDING, CONVERTING, DELETING OR SOMETHING DONE TO IT IN ORDER TO PRESERVE ITS SHELF-LIFE. So don' tell me nothing is added. Unless you cook fresh from the garden and the slaughter house to the kitchen YOUR CLAIMS ARE FILLED WITH LIES... Want us to eat better? Then cook better with organic ingredients, not a pizza cooked with unverified claims.
Since when do you need to be organic to be good. Naked Pizza is fantastic. the pizza has half the calories of dominoes and at least ten times the taste. all the topings are delicious and contrary to what the posts are saying don't have fillers, chemicals, etc. It is better than the hype. Try the thin crust, for less calories and just as much flavor. Stop being petty jealous people and eat a better pizza.
Who cares? If it's good go there, if it's not then don"t.
If I want organic or all natural pizza - I'd prefer to stick with a chain that was started locally - Pizza Fusion. They are organic and I've seen them at a few charity events I've been at. They are the real deal, it seems like Naked Pizza is a corporate knockoff of them.
This company is all about brand hype [first class]... I have been watching this company for a while for a case study to find that there is only false sense of integrity all around it. My case study went from a case of brand building to a case of hype building. And there were successful in accomplishing just that... Hype can easily give you an opportunity on short term basis, but at one point of time that brand has to deliver because people, over time, will become more oriented and get to know more info about that brand. In this case, there will be a lot of disappointments. Sadly, in messaging and naming they got the right ingredients yet in fail miserably when it comes to delivery.. They have the name [Naked Pizza], they have the right message for the world but they failed to deliver a REAL naked product- ORGANIC! Ironically, they claimed on their website that ones should pair themselves with the form of the origin! What's that? Organic or bunch of meats filled with antibiotics and veggies smothered with pesticides. What's naked about antibiotics and pesticides. Naked= basic/clean/fresh/stripped not dipped.... Not having organic is the sure fire evidence that this brand is hype and not a good source of solution. In branding, authenticity is a key for success! The naked crew need to wake up and be true to the message and don't fall for short term success of selling franchises all over the place! Good example of Authenticity is Pizza Fusion! A good company with authentic message lived through true organic and delightful franchise build outs... Managed growth and managed emotions. No hype only truth. Consumers studies have shown that more spending on organic product despite the economic downturn and pizza fusion showed higher sales the past years as well regardless of their higher than normal prices! So the strategy of taking the low roads on price just to create awareness is a major [mislead] because people will buy the box only to find out it is empty and it has false promises. While taking the lower roads for not being and becoming authentic is a major integrity call! Greed, as always, sweeping America again! Sorry Agave! There were many misleading statements made by those guys, perhaps awaiting smart and motivated lawyers to call them to the carpet! The World Healthiest Pizza! I am surprised corporate dominos/papa/pizza hut didn't make the call yet.... Not that those guys are any better...! Maybe that is another thing they should clean up... The claims... It will be nice to see this model of pizza company to embrace organic and be truly naked like they claim. And truly be a solution provider rather than Trojan Horse with pizzas filled with pesticides and antibiotics. My few naked cents worth common sense that is less common these days....
awesome review lee. so tired of hearing about how great naked pizza is. so great they managed to open one lonely tiny location in la after katrina. only thing they have going for them is the social marketing. naked they are not indeed no organic?? not so naked. can't be organic anything for $6 a pie. i'm sure though that the sheep will follow as always. must be nice to have the deep pockets of mark cuban and the kraft group you could convince someone you had the cure for cancer with that type of cash behind you.
Hey Anonymous, Stop worrying about Lee and concentrate on making yourself a better person. We are all human, we all make mistakes, we learn from them and move on. Stop throwing arrows.
HaHa I think it is pretty funny that he didn't check his facts and just assumed. Especially since he has been pointing a lot of fingers lately on other posts.
Thank you, anonymous. Fixed.
Kraft Group is Bob Kraft's company. He is the owner of the Patriots and made his money in paper. He has no involvement in the food conglomerate. Sorry to be a know it all, but its important to not spread misinformation.