During quarantine we tried making our own pizza and while kneading dough was therapeutic, we were relieved when we learned that restaurants could receive diners again, still deliver and offer car pickups. Naturally, our first option for pizza night is Blaze Pizza, and we were counting down the days until we are reunited with our favorite pizza once again.

You can rest assured that we were standing at the door of Blaze Pizza on Tuesday the 18th of August for a breakfast pizza to celebrate the restaurant’s reopening and one more step towards a return to pre-COVID-19 normalcy. But prior to the opening, we loved taking advantage of Blaze Pizza’s car service.

Heading out to Blaze Pizza is like a mini road trip vacation. We cranked up the AC and the music on our way to get our Blaze Pizza fix. The Blaze team made the experience easy, safe and convenient. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a huge sign with a QR code that can be scanned from any phone. The link then takes you to a digital menu so you can make your order and pay. The entire process is contactless, high tech and ends in delicious pizza satisfaction, what more could anyone ask for?

Well, we still really missed dining in the restaurants because while we loved the novelty of eating our pizza in the car while it was still too hot to handle, we loved walking down the aisle, choosing our toppings and watching our delicious pizza creation enter the fast-fired oven.

When we walked through the doors, we noticed how there were reminders everywhere that things have changed and we appreciated all the precautions that made us feel safe. From the posters reminding us to keep our distance, to the empty tables and booths to make sure that patrons could dine safely without being too close to other diners.

We also visited Blaze Pizza to try out the new cauliflower crust pizza. It is a low carb, Gluten free base option that is perfect for anyone who is counting their carbs or has a gluten intolerance. The dough lovers among us were skeptical of the vegetable- based alternative, but became converts after trying it. It is chewy, crispy and light, which balances perfectly with any signature pizza or toppings of your choice.

We ordered a Hot Link with extra Halloumi cheese, which is another recent addition to Blaze’s plentiful options of things to add to your pizza. But since we weren’t really trying to avoid carbs we ordered a side of potato wedges to balance things out. The order came with a dipping sauce that was so creamy and spicy.

Pizzas at Blaze have always been 11 inches in diameter, but with the introduction of delivery and pick ups the brand has added a larger sized pie to their Delivery menu. The Large is 14 inches and while you might assume that 3 extra inches don’t amount to much, they really do especially when you factor in that it is a slightly thicker crust. It hits you in all the right spots, perfect for sharing with hungry family members or enjoying solo at home.

Our adventure into the land of vegetable-based crust empowered us into the land of vegan Chorizo made with soy protein. The spicy meat substitute packs a strong punch of flavor that we were not expecting but instantly fell in love with.

Instead of using their usual serving ware, everything was packed in their instantly recognizable recycled biodegradable boxes to avoid any contamination and to make sure that everything is safe and hygienic. The staff were wearing their masks and gloves at all times. Guests are also asked to wear their masks until they are seated at the table, and may unmask while they enjoy their delicious meal.

We had no idea how much we missed Blaze Pizza because while ordering in was a good substitute, it turns out we just love the experience of visiting the restaurants, and we’re never taking that for granted again.

Blaze Pizza is available for dine-in and takeaway at Grand Plaza, The Avenues, Murouj, Ahmadi Park – KOC Club, Arabian Gulf Street – Bneid Al Gar and Jabriya. Car service is available at Arabian Gulf Street, Ahmadi Park and Jabriya. Follow Blaze Pizza on Facebook @BlazePizzaMiddleEast and Instagram @Blazepizzame.