Okay, we have to admit we fell for this press release as soon as it contained the phrase “Sbarro of Tomorrow,” because it conjured up two of our favorite things, that future-that-never-was of jetcars and robot maids and instantaneous communication about nothing via computer, and pizza. (Just not Sbarro pizza.) Though come to think of it, applied to fast food pizza, we kind of think we’re close enough to dining a la Matrix as it is and we’d just as soon turn back the clock to the pizza of yesterday.
Thankfully, the Sbarro of Tomorrow seems to be a little more in that direction than some fresh dystopian hell, saying that it will include “new open-flame ovens” (as opposed to what? Do they normally use those conveyer belt toaster ovens like the Pizza Hut at Target does?) and pastas cooked to order (rather than sitting in the bin turning to Spaghetti-O mush). Anyway, you can boldly go where no mall haunter has gone before on June 12 when the Sbarro at the Westfield Mall in south suburban Chicago Ridge becomes the first one in the area, and one of the first ten nationwide, to get the Sbarro of Tomorrow treatment, complete (for the debut event) with strolling violinists, red-checked tablecloths and candles straight out of The Lady and the Tramp, and a chance to win a Vespa. Who knows? It might be better than pizza from London, anyway.
