Food Review: Pompeii Pizza on the Bangor Waterfront

This Friday was one of those days. Luck finally turned around thanks to a stop by the Bangor Waterfront and some slices of a cheese pizza from Pompeii Pizza food truck. The food truck opened in April 2013 and since then has been at the Bangor Waterfront next to Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion. Dawn Carey, one of the owners of Pompeii Pizza, said at first Bangor was not completely sure about food trucks, but the city is now thrilled. “People have been so gracious it’s amazing. We never knew we’d get the response we have, even from the city,” Dawn Carey said. Travis Carey, the son of owners Dawn and Stephen Carey, said one of his favorite parts of working at his parent’s joint is meeting people from all over. He also enjoys listening to the concerts next door. “It’s a big pro working here ‘cause [sic] we don’t have to pay to hear the concerts, but you still hear it,” Travis Carey said. The concerts have given Pompeii’s business a boost. The food truck has been getting involved with the local community. In mid-August Pompeii Pizza worked at the EMMC Champion for the Cure event. Last weekend they participated in Holden’s Fall Frolic. At the end of October, they will be back in Holden for a town Halloween party. Upon first bite of their cheese pizza, there was a burst of flavor from their red sauce. It was not an overwhelming amount that made the rest the dough or cheese soggy. The sauce was balanced and just the right amount to bind the other ingredients together. A pizza is nothing without a solid base of crust. Pompeii’s pizza met this challenge with ease. The dough was thin with an artistic amount of char to give it crunch and flavor without burning it too much. There was substance to the dough that made it strong enough to compete with the cheese, spices and sauce. This wasn’t just a Ragu sauce or Kraft cheese. The fresh ingredients made me smile. The spices on top gave the pizza the perfect finishing touch, unifying all the ingredients. A slice of pepperoni pizza received equal praise. The pepperoni gave the pizza an extra “wow” factor with added crunch and spice.   If pepperoni and cheese pizza are too boring for your taste, Pompeii Pizza always has weekly specials like Buffalo chicken pizza and burger bacon pizza. Travis Carey said his favorite pizza is the Pompeii pizza with chicken. This pizza has a white sauce with olive oil and sea salt, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, caramelized onions, arugula, asiago cheese and a balsamic glaze. Pompeii Pizza is planning to stay open until the middle to end of October at the latest, Travis Carey said. The food truck is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Their truck is easy to miss, with its black background and unassuming location. Students should not miss an opportunity to try their flavors. This local spot is worth a double take with its reasonable prices, fresh ingredients and staff willing to help with whatever pizza you desire.