Massachusetts: Is This Really Our Best Gas Station Food Spot?

In a recent feature by USA Today's 10BEST, numerous gas station food chains across America were highlighted for the tasty items they are cooking up. There was just one problem, the majority of these chains were based well outside of the Bay State. So, this begs the question, what gas stations have the best food in Massachusetts these days?

10BEST said, in order to qualify for their list, these places were all “serving up delicious food and snacks that make them destinations in and of themselves, from fried chicken and pizza to organic salads and veggie burritos."

Surprisingly, our local favorite chain Cumberland Farms was nowhere to be found on this list. That might be because this chain is heavily dedicated to New England. In fact, according to data analysis company Scrape Hero, states that 36% of the Cumberland Farms stores are in Massachusetts. That equates to 208 locations. Florida is the only state outside of the northeast region that has Cumberland Farms.

Last year, Mashed did a deep dive into the best gas station food in every state. Though they did include chains (for example, WaWa won in New Jersey) Cumberland Farms was bypassed here as well.

Mashed said that Slice Pizza and More in Wakefield takes the crown. "Instead of letting its pizza languish on shelves or under heat lamps, Slice, Pizza, and More! makes all of its pies fresh to order," Mashed explained about Slice. They specifically called out their sausage sandwich as an item to try.

When it comes to grabbing a "meal" at a gas station stop in Massachusetts, I admit I have not ventured too far off of a common brand name. However, there was one time en route to a call dealership where I actually did stop at this Slice Pizza and More location. It's within the Prime gas station, where I stopped to fill up.

Upon going inside to grab a water, I noticed Slice and how their pizza was coming out of a legit oven as opposed to a belt, and it looked very fresh. I asked for a slice of the pepperoni pie that had just come out of the oven and was sitting next to a baked lasagna being prepared.

My conclusion here is that I completely agree with Mashed. This was the best gas station food I had in the state. In part because it was unexpected and had the homemade feel as opposed to your more commonly found fast food item.

I'm a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it's much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio's is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It's also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg's photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it's a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio's stays open until 2 am on weekends.

At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto's can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it's cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you'd like to add to your order.

Leone's Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone's sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino's is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino's describes it as "delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan." $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino's. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio's, Pino's stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.