Why You Should Think Twice About Ordering Margherita Pizza At A Restaurant

One of life's hardest decisions is trying to decide which type of pizza you want to order for dinner. Pepperoni, white, supreme, Hawaiian, veggie — the list of mouthwatering options just goes on and on. But perhaps one of the most beloved, or one of the types you're likely to see on the menu at any pizza shop worth its weight, is Margherita. The classic pie is simple but delicious, slathered with chunky tomato sauce and topped with hunks of mozzarella cheese and sprigs of fresh basil. It's no surprise that Taste Atlas dubbed it one of the most popular pizzas in the world.

However, for as tasty as Margherita pizza may be, it might not be worth ordering the next time you're at your favorite Italian restaurant. So you might want to rethink your choice of pizza, at least if you don't want to overpay on your bill at the end of the night. Here's why one professional chef warns against the popular pizza order.

Ordering Margherita pizza at a restaurant is, unfortunately, a waste of money, according to chef and restaurant consultant Julia Helton. When interviewed by Insider, the chef warned that the Margherita pizza you so often order is a "total rip-off." Having previously worked as the executive chef at an Italian restaurant, Helton explains that because Margherita pizza is so simple (it's made with just dough, sauce, mozzarella, and basil), it's often one of the most over-priced items on the menu. In fact, she says you could be paying upwards of $12 for something that takes about $1 to make. Yikes.

A better alternative if you want to get your money's worth, Helton told Insider, is to order something with fancier toppings or that's cooked in a more unique way (like wood-fired, for instance). Essentially, order something that you can't recreate at home to make the most of your night out.