The late-night staple that has blessed the University of Kansas and Kansas State for so long has now made its way to Wichita State. 

After opening Feb. 2, Pizza Shuttle is the latest addition to WSU dining culture. Since 1984 the independently owned and operated restaurant has prided itself on its ability to provide “a quality meal at an affordable price and deliver it promptly.” 

In the spirit of a real investigative reporter, I decided to do some research and give myself an actual base to stand on for this review. So I went to Manhattan, Kan., on Friday the 30th, and I saw what an established Pizza Shuttle is all about.

A part of me was curious about whether a newly opened Pizza Shuttle would be any different from the tried and true Pizza Shuttle. The results from my expedition were interesting. 

I entered the Manhattan PS around roughly 10:10 p.m. and ordered a single-topping pepperoni pizza around roughly 10:15 p.m. I received my food at about 10:29 pm. I paid $7.69 including tax, thanks to a promotion that offered a one-topping 10-inch pizza and a drink for $7.00.

I had a quality meal that didn’t cost me much, and it all seemed even better knowing that it is available at late hours of the night. 

After my research, I made my way to the WSU’s Pizza Shuttle on opening day to decide if the newest location lives up to these core principles. 

Ambiance

I enjoyed the ambiance of the shuttle. The music that was played over the speakers was harmless and provided an upbeat tone for my meal. The pop radio hits created a pleasant vibe while eating.

Seating was okay. There are a decent amount of seats, but if you want to bring a group, then the options are limited. There is a table toward the back half of the restaurant which offers the most seats indoors.

In the outdoor patio section, there are more tables which overlook the Braeburn Square fountain. If you come with a group, hopefully the weather is alright, because this would be your best shot at having enough seats for everyone. 

I enjoy the open kitchen design that Pizza Shuttle has. With every pizza being made to order, a pleasant surprise was getting to see my pizza get hand tossed in front of me. 

Food

Pizza Shuttle has an expansive menu. I found it very impressive when visiting the Manhattan location. There is truly a pizza for every taste. 

Through comparing the two menus, I was able to see that every pizza on the Manhattan location menu is available on the WSU menu. 

One pizza that I noticed to be unique to the WSU menu was the “Garlic Chicken.”

For the sake of comparison I also ordered a single topping pepperoni pizza from the WSU location. I ordered at precisely 12:36 p.m., and received my food at 12:48 pm. The pizza came out piping hot and looked great.

I paid $8.79, for the pizza with no drink. I appreciated the “walk-in special” which allows you to receive a 10” single-topping pizza and a drink for $8, or a 14” single topping pizza and two drinks for $14. However, both deals are a dollar more than their counterparts in Manhattan. 

When eating the pizza, I found the tomato sauce base to be very flavorful and a highlight of the pizza as a whole. 

The other toppings also tasted fresh, which I think showed the overall pizza to be high-quality. The ingredients all shined, I did not feel like any flavors were lacking at all. 

Overall thoughts

Overall, I think for the price, the convenience, and overall quality of the food, Pizza Shuttle for me gets an 8.8 out of 10 on my grading scale. 

From the Manhattan location, the pizza reminded me of QuickTrip, a familiar taste for Wichitans. But at WSU, many elements of the pizza reminded me of Papa Johns. 

The service at the new Pizza Shuttle was appreciated. The experience was quick, but the front of house was friendly and polite. I saw the employees do their best to explain the menu to customers as well as keep the shuttle clean. 

But what makes Pizza Shuttle unique is their menu. 

I think the variety on the Pizza Shuttle menu is hard to beat. 

During my research, I had pepperoni and the wing shuttle (wing sauce base, with chicken and cheese). I also tried Trixie’s  jalapeno popper, a rather unique offering (cream cheese base, ranch dressing, cheese, jalapeno, and bacon), and Paul’s curly tail, a unique name for their version of a meat lover’s including the works of pepperoni, bacon, ham, beef and sausage. The other pizzas I had were the bacon mac-n-cheese and BBQ chicken pizzas. All of which have been incredibly appetizing, and all are something I would return to.

For Pizza Shuttle to be one of the only available restaurants that is open until midnight in the area, I think it will be a major player for many on-campus students. 

As for myself, I can already see myself sharing a laugh with friends over a Pizza Shuttle pizza.