In fitting USC Village fashion, when one place closes, another swiftly pops up in the same location as a subpar, expensive replacement. But this could not be further from the truth for Terra Mia Pizzeria — USC Village’s newest eatery.

Nestled right between City Tacos and Solé Bicycles, this newfound gem replicates the New York-style slice in ways most other places in Los Angeles fail to do. Terra Mia opened up last week with a menu featuring not only pizza but also chicken wings, calzones, subs, salads, strombolis and their “famous” garlic knots. Terra Mia currently operates with a limited menu, featuring only pizza and garlic knots.

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In the former home of Pizza Please came one of the fastest turnarounds USC Village has seen. Already equipped with pizza-making supplies, Terra Mia quickly took to the space to serve up their New York slices. The restaurant has a variety of tables to sit at, both inside and on the outdoor patio.

It was very sparse when walking in — as one may expect of a new place that was not advertised very widely. The workers were very attentive and very welcoming. They constantly checked in to see if customers needed anything or had any advice on the menu. If it was any sign of their friendliness, one worker behind the counter sported a Yankees hat, and the worker to his right a Dodgers one.

Despite the limited menu, Terra Mia’s workers were still very accommodating. They helped show off all the different combinations of pizza ingredients in their vast selection.

Pizza is usually known for its classics: the cheese and pepperoni slices. Both were done fine at Terra Mia. The slices were warmed up when ordered and brought to the table. The cheese slice was fairly standard with a loose consistency but a very well-made crust; however, the flavor was slightly drowned out by oil.

In terms of pepperoni, the slice was similar to the cheese — almost too much so. There was a fair helping of pepperoni scattered across, but upon first bite, there wasn’t as much of a pepperoni flavor as one might have hoped. The pizza wasn’t bad, but by no means blew us away. Side by side, the cheese and pepperoni slices tasted virtually the same.

Terra Mia overadvertised their “famous” garlic knots. The restaurant dedicates a whole section on the front of its menu to the dish, even going as far as apologizing: “Sorry, they’re addictive.” Despite their own glowing reviews, the garlic knots were largely disappointing.

The garlic knots looked like they’d hold up, seemingly covered in seasoning and doused in butter. However, the first bite was largely dry, and the seasoning did not come through. They were mostly dry and just filling. By the end of the meal, it came down to us insisting that the other eat the last garlic knot because neither of us wanted to be put through the marathon that was finishing one of the garlic knots.

The vibrant slice of buffalo chicken and ranch pizza was by far the highlight of the meal. The piece of pizza was perfectly lined with buffalo sauce and ranch, and it had seasoning sprinkled throughout. The chicken was abundantly distributed and helped elevate the flavor of the whole slice.

Each bite felt like that iconic scene in “Ratatouille” (2007) where Remy (Patton Oswalt) is transported to another plane of existence while sampling various foods, and fireworks go off when he combines all the flavors with one another. The ranch and the buffalo sauce really complemented each other nicely and left us feeling full after finishing. The sauces on the pizza also helped bring out the best flavors and crunchiness of the crust.

This buffalo chicken and ranch slice gave that perfect bite that you always look for in a piece of pizza but didn’t suffer from the greasiness of the cheese and pepperoni slices.

In terms of price, Terra Mia offers “Slice Specials” — including the three-slice deal with a fountain drink for $15, which proved to be worth the price and then some. An order of four garlic knots was $5.

For $15, you should get a full meal, and Terra Mia does that. The slices are big and filling, leaving you stuffed by the time you leave. Compared to many of the other hefty prices in USC Village, this seems like one of the better deals. The price for the garlic knots isn’t out of hand, but it’s not worth getting them on taste alone.

Terra Mia provides a good option to stop by on the way to USC Village and have an easy lunch when you want to debrief the week with your friend or if you’re rushing to your next class. It helps deliver a more affordable option while still giving you a full meal.

There is a wide array of selections at USC Village, from Ramen Kenjo to crowd favorite Cava. For a quick, easy and enjoyable experience, there aren’t many things quite like a classic slice of pizza, and Terra Mia brings just that.