I am on the hunt for the best mozzarella cheese sticks in the WSSD community.

I rated the mozzarella sticks based on several key factors: size, cheese pull, breading, and crunch quality. I will also review the sauce because mozzarella sticks aren’t complete without marinara sauce.

Chili’s – 5/10

Starting with my least favorite, Chili’s mozzarella sticks did not stand out. While they are large, the cheese literally melts out of its breading. I like an excellent cheese pull, but this one was excessive. Because of how these were prepared, grease and oils from the cheese made the breading really soggy, leading to an unsatisfactory, non-existent crunch. I hoped the sauce would save this mess, but it didn’t taste like anything special.

Applebee’s – 6/10

Applebee’s offers a smaller stick that keeps its form during the decent cheese pull. The breading did not taste remarkably fresh but did offer a nice crunch to complement the cheese. The sauce was basic, but nothing outstanding or remarkable. This would be it if there’s a minimum standard for mozzarella sticks.

Swarthmore Pizza – 6.5/10

I didn’t find many disparities between these mozzarella sticks and Applebee’s offerings, as they have a similar size, cheese pull, slightly better breading, and a decent crunch. However, I did feel that the marinara sauce offering was better as it had a fresher and more vibrant taste.

Abruzzi Pizza – 8/10

These were the smallest sticks, but they did pack a little punch. The cheese pull was average, and the breading was relatively tasty. The sticks didn’t stand out to me, but they did have a nice crunch. What makes these sticks unique is the sauce that came with the package. Abruzzi is known for its pizza, which translated well to their house marinara sauce, which paired well with the stick.

Pinocchio’s Restaurant – 9/10

These are the best mozzarella sticks during my adventure to find the best. These sticks were a nice size but not as large as the ones from Chili’s. The cheese pull was charming as the breading kept its shape. These sticks had the best breading and the most different texture and flavor—a finer homemade breading that helped the stick stand out from the others. Because of the fried breading, the crunch was satisfying. Being a pizza parlor, I expected the sauce to be great, but it was not at the same level as Abruzzi’s.

Though Chili’s mozzarella sticks have become popular on social media because of their excessive cheese pulls, I found a local pizzeria that offers the best combination of sticks and marinara sauce. After all, it comes down to personal preference, and Pinocchio’s Pizza has that selection for me.