Beyond the plain, pepperoni, and buffalo chicken versions we’ve already covered, three of our calzones take genuinely different directions: one loaded with multiple cured meats, one built around a single protein, and one with no meat at all.
Here’s exactly what’s in our Italian, Steak, and Vegetables Calzones, and how to tell which one actually matches what you’re craving.
Each of these three sits at a different point on the same underlying scale — how many ingredients does the calzone actually have, and what kind. That framing makes the decision more concrete than just picking a favorite protein, since it also tells you what kind of eating experience to expect before you order.
Most calzone content online covers meat-versus-vegetarian in the abstract. This is about three specific, real options and the genuine differences in ingredient count and flavor complexity between them.
It’s also a wider spread than most of our other calzone comparisons. Where Buffalo Chicken and Chicken Calzone differ mainly by sauce, these three genuinely diverge in every direction — protein count, vegetable content, and overall complexity all change substantially from one to the next.
Italian vs. Steak vs. Vegetables Calzone at a Glance
| Italian Calzone | Steak Calzone | Vegetables Calzone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat | Ham, salami, pepperoni | Steak | None |
| Cheese | Not listed | Mozzarella | Not listed |
| Vegetables | Peppers, onions | None | Mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, onions, olives |
| Ingredient count | Highest | Lowest | Highest (vegetable-only) |
Italian Calzone: The Loaded Option
The Italian Calzone is built from ham, salami, pepperoni, peppers, and onions — three different cured meats plus two vegetables. It’s the most ingredient-dense of the three, and the closest thing to an Italian Hoagie folded into calzone form.
Three distinct cured meats means three different textures and salt levels in the same bite — ham’s milder and slightly sweet, salami’s more intensely seasoned and fattier, pepperoni thinner and crisping at the edges as it bakes. If you want maximum flavor complexity in one calzone, this is the one built for that.
The peppers and onions matter here too, even though they’re easy to overlook next to three different meats. They add sharpness and a bit of crunch that cuts against the richness of the cured meats, keeping the calzone from tasting purely like salt and fat by the last bite.
Steak Calzone: The Simple, Single-Protein Option
The Steak Calzone takes the opposite approach: steak and melted mozzarella cheese, nothing else. It’s the shortest ingredient list of any calzone on our menu.
That simplicity is the whole appeal if you want the steak-and-cheese flavor of a cheesesteak in calzone form, without peppers, onions, or a second protein competing for attention. It’s closer in spirit to our Cheesesteak than to the more loaded Italian Calzone.
Fewer ingredients also means fewer things that can throw off the balance of the calzone. With only steak and cheese, there’s no risk of one topping overpowering another the way three different cured meats or five vegetables might. It’s a predictable, consistent order every time.
Vegetables Calzone: The Only Meatless Option
The Vegetables Calzone is mushrooms, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and black olives — five distinct vegetables and the only calzone on our menu with no meat at all.
According to Eronj’s guide to different calzone types, vegetable-forward calzones are generally considered a lighter option than meat-based ones, since they skip the extra fat that renders out of cured meats and sausage during baking — useful general context, even without specific numbers for our own version.
That doesn’t mean the Vegetables Calzone is a diet food, and we’re not framing it that way. It just means the fat content comes from a different place than it does on the meat-based versions — whatever cheese and dough contribute, rather than rendered fat from three different cured meats.
Mushrooms and black olives in particular bring an earthy, briny depth that’s genuinely different from what any of the meat-based calzones offer — not a lighter version of the same flavor, but its own distinct direction entirely.
Five vegetables is also more variety than either of the other two calzones offer in any category. The Italian Calzone has two vegetables alongside its three meats; the Steak Calzone has none. If vegetable content specifically is what you’re optimizing for, the Vegetables Calzone isn’t just the meatless option — it’s also the most vegetable-forward item in the entire calzone lineup.
Pros and Cons of Each
| Calzone | Best For | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Italian | Maximum flavor complexity, three meats | Richest, heaviest of the three |
| Steak | Simple, classic steak-and-cheese | No vegetables, one flavor note |
| Vegetables | Meatless, real vegetable variety | No confirmed protein or cheese |
Which One Should You Order?
If you want maximum flavor complexity and don’t mind three different meats in one bite, order the Italian Calzone. If you want the simple, classic steak-and-cheese combination, order the Steak Calzone. If you want a genuinely meat-free option with real vegetable variety, order the Vegetables Calzone.
If you’re still torn, think about how you’d order a pizza with the same logic. Someone who always gets “the works” leans Italian Calzone. Someone who orders plain cheese or a single topping leans Steak. Someone who always asks for extra vegetables leans Vegetables. The same instinct that guides a pizza order applies just as directly here.
See the rest of the lineup, including our Buffalo Chicken and Chicken Calzones, in the complete calzones & stromboli guide.
Ordering for a group with different dietary preferences is one of the more practical reasons to know all three well. The Vegetables Calzone covers anyone avoiding meat, the Steak Calzone gives meat-eaters a straightforward option, and the Italian Calzone works as the “loaded” choice for anyone who wants the most out of a single order. Between the three, most preferences at a table are covered without anyone settling.
And unlike some menu comparisons where one option is clearly the “safe” default, there isn’t really a wrong choice among these three — each one is a complete, real version of a calzone built for a different craving, not a compromise version of the others.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s in the Italian Calzone?
- Ham, salami, pepperoni, peppers, and onions — the most ingredient-dense calzone on our menu.
- What’s the simplest calzone on the menu?
- The Steak Calzone, with just two ingredients: steak and mozzarella cheese.
- Is the Vegetables Calzone the only meatless option?
- Yes — it’s the only calzone on our menu with no meat, built from mushrooms, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and black olives.
- Does the Vegetables Calzone have cheese?
- Cheese isn’t listed in our recovered description for this item. Call (215) 904-7353 to confirm before ordering if that matters to you.
- How much do these calzones cost?
- Pricing depends on size. Call (215) 904-7353 to hear current pricing and order.
Loaded, simple, or meatless — three real directions.