Riverside's Slice Scene: Six Spots for Pizza on the Go

California's slice culture may not match New York's walking neighborhoods. By-the-slice pizza consumption is generally relegated to shopping malls and boardwalks. We tend to eat our pizza at home or in high-decibel backless bench pizza joints, but Riverside has carved out its own pizza-by-the-slice identity across strip malls and shopping centers. Here are six local spots where the mobility of a single slice meets quality and value:

SF Hole in the Wall

1725 Spruce St., Suite 101 • Phone: (951) 605-5187
New to the area with a classic slice experience. Cooked pies on racks ready for quick heating. Dining room available, used to stay open later. Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday until 10 p.m., Sunday until 9 p.m.

Dave's NYC

1490 University Ave., Suite 102 • Phone: (951) 787-9900
Triangular pizza never part of a bigger whole. Unwieldy and difficult to manage on the go, but solid pizza. University Village location with a good size-for-money combination makes it popular with students. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily (call to verify current operations)

Antonious (Main Street Mall) 

3737 Main St., Suite 105 • Phone: (951) 899-1063
Not big New York style slices, but the two-slice and soda combo has settled violent "where to eat downtown" arguments. Good pizza, great location if already downtown. Run by an awesome local family. Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday until 10 p.m., Sunday 12:30-9 p.m.

Slice and Sub

10330 Hole Ave., Suite 3 • Phone: (951) 299-8352
Tucked away in a hidden corner strip mall at Hole and Tyler. Truly affordable cheese slice option with pepperoni available. Parking is not great, but hard to beat quality for the price if you're in the area looking for something quick. Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 3-10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (closed Mondays)

New York Pizza Company

3570 Van Buren Blvd. • Phone: (951) 688-4000
Been swapping locations around Van Buren and the 91 for decades. Serves up true-to-form giant New York style pizza slices. Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday until 11 p.m., Sunday until 10 p.m.

Capone's Pizza

7201 Arlington Ave., Suite F • Phone: (951) 689-3520
One of the last long bench, claw machine, jukebox, pitcher of domestic type places. XL slices available with Monday slice special. Family-owned since 1988 with old-school pizza parlor atmosphere. Monday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., closed Tuesday, Wednesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Tony Gemignani Slice House

5225 Canyon Crest Dr. • Phone: (951) 742-5225
This is a rapidly expanding national franchise. Normally I would leave them off these local lists, but their cool location in the breezeway at Canyon Crest Town Center earns them a spot. Their variety of ready slices is incredible: deep dish, Sicilian, grandmother pies, and thin and thick crust traditional pies. Variety is large, quality is high. Daily 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

These by-the-slice institutions may never make a real dent in the convenience food crown worn by Mexican food in California. It is nice to have a grab-and-go alternative around town for an occasional change of flavors.