When on an extended road trip, I get tired of the fast food McRestaurants as the primary road diet. And sometimes, getting a pizza to eat on the road is a nice alternative, since it doesn't have to be eaten right away.
And sometimes, popping a pizza in the oven at home is a quick, filling meal.
What are your go-to brands for pizza that you order fir pickup and delivery, and what brand(s) are your favorite in the Frozen Food aisle??
I personally would recommend going to a grocery store and buying a frozen pizza. DiGiorno is usually a good choice for store brought. If I ever order pizza out, I usually go to a nice local spot (we have plenty of those in Greater Boston) vs a chain place. I've never eaten at a Pizza Hut, but in my area, Papa Gino's is a good choice.
What I would do if I wanted a pizza on the road is research what local pizza restaurants are around, and if I find one that looks good, call the order ahead, so it's ready by the time I drive to the restaurant.
For frozen I get a small-brand Village Pub pizza. I rarely ever get takeout pizza, Jets recently opened up here and I seem to like it.
For the major chains, I like Little Caesars the best if it's made right but that is a very big IF -- the quality from store to store, and even from one visit to the next at the same store, varies wildly. I like a lot of sauce on my pizza and I think theirs is the best-tasting sauce of the chains.
Pizza Hut is the worst of the chains. Overpriced and mediocre at best. The barest appearance of multiple toppings but they charge like sin for them.
I used to love Marco's Pizza...when it was just a neighborhood pizza chain in and around Toledo, Ohio. Back in the 80s they had a great recipe in place that was just a tad sweet, and the parmesean crust topping was zestier.
By the time they expanded out west, that original recipe taste was gone. And I tried a few locations in Colorado and Utah hoping to find the original taste again.
Frozen:
Red Baron
Totino's (dirt cheap bottom of the barrel, but a good amount of sauce)
Heggie's
Chain:
I like Pizza Hut's pizza and Domino's side items.
When I went to St. Louis last summer I had Imo's. The day I ate it I found it to be nothing special, but after a couple weeks I was craving more of it.
My chain of choice is Pizza Hut. I'm not going to pretend that it's the best pizza in the universe or anything, but it's what my family got growing up so it's the Canonical Pizza to me. The yardstick I judge all other pizzas relative to.
For frozen, I like to get the individual deep dish Red Barons.
Quote from: thenetwork on May 07, 2022, 10:06:39 PM
I used to love Marco's Pizza...when it was just a neighborhood pizza chain in and around Toledo, Ohio. Back in the 80s they had a great recipe in place that was just a tad sweet, and the parmesean crust topping was zestier.
They opened a Marco's right by us and sent out coupons for the grand opening. We used it to try them out. Everyone who had some agreed that it was the most precisely average pizza they'd ever had. 2.50000000000000000 out of 5 stars, with that many significant digits.
There's a regional chain in the Albany, NY area called I Love NY Pizza and it's typically good. Not sure how many locations they have.
I don't regularly get frozen pizza, though Red Baron's french bread pizza is good (too bad I have to make special stops to get it, as my regular grocery store no longer sells it). I've had their regular frozen pizza too, and it's pretty good.
For chains, I'll go with Paesan's, which is technically a chain as they have other locations around the Capital District beyond the one I go to in Latham (I've even been to a couple other ones, due to them all having different holiday hours around New Year's). If I'm traveling, I'm fond of service area Sbarro's or Pizza Hut Express where they exist, although if I'm getting dinner at a destination I'll go for somewhere more local.
Paesan's is...passable.
DiGiorno for store-bought, Mellow Mushroom for chain restaurants.
I don't really have a preference for store-bought. Even the generic ones at Walmart are good if I'm hungry enough.
We have a regional restaurant chain here called Seasons, good for sit-down or takeout.
Domino's makes a good enough thin-crust pizza that has very little breading, allowing 2 people to eat a whole pie in one meal without feeling stuffed.
DiGiorno isn't as good as it was when it first arrived on the scene.
As for chains, I really can't differentiate between Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Papa John's. Little Caesar's sauce is almost too tangy for my tastes. Where the other three are concerned, I have Domino's the least frequently, so I will defer to them if I have to make a choice and all three of those (Domino's, Pizza hut, and Papa John's) are available if there is a decent coupon or special.
There's a local place where I work called Variety Pizza that is outstanding.
I like Donato's
SM-G996U
Papa Murphy's, almost every single time.
Of the big 3, probably Pizza Hut.
Regional chain, Rosati's.
Store-brand, it's a toss-up - every frozen pizza I've ever had tasted like a bowling alley pizza to me.
For frozen pizza. I like Tombstone, Tony's, or Red Barron.
For take out. There's a local place called Ragetti's that has great Pizza and steak subs.
My pizza preference is anything family-owned single-store pizzeria; they make their pizza with care and effort and fresh ingredients. If I do pizza chains then Uno's Chicago Grill is by far my top choice. Anything that makes and sells Chicago-style deep dish gets my immediate attention. Not just any deep dish, but it has to be Chicago-style deep dish.
I have worked at a Pizza Hut store (delivery driver) from 1998 to 2001, and got turned off of their food from working there; I would never choose Pizza Hut ever since then.
I quit eating at Pizza Hut when they quit selling there steak sandwiches.
7-Eleven has pretty tight frozen pizzas
Quote from: jgb191 on May 10, 2022, 12:38:23 AM
My pizza preference is anything family-owned single-store pizzeria; they make their pizza with care and effort and fresh ingredients. If I do pizza chains then Uno's Chicago Grill is by far my top choice. Anything that makes and sells Chicago-style deep dish gets my immediate attention. Not just any deep dish, but it has to be Chicago-style deep dish.
I have worked at a Pizza Hut store (delivery driver) from 1998 to 2001, and got turned off of their food from working there; I would never choose Pizza Hut ever since then.
How do you even ensure that you've found a family-owned single-store pizzeria that meets your fresh standards while on the road?
Quite interesting that Uno's gets your attention for deep dish pizza.
Blackjack is where I work, and it's decent. Mostly a Colorado/Wyoming thing, but I think they have store or two in AZ and FL.
We have one that's basically jalapeno poppers on a pizza, with this raspberry drizzle stuff on it that is to die for.
Quote from: Rothman on May 10, 2022, 06:48:22 AM
Quote from: jgb191 on May 10, 2022, 12:38:23 AM
My pizza preference is anything family-owned single-store pizzeria; they make their pizza with care and effort and fresh ingredients. If I do pizza chains then Uno's Chicago Grill is by far my top choice. Anything that makes and sells Chicago-style deep dish gets my immediate attention. Not just any deep dish, but it has to be Chicago-style deep dish.
I have worked at a Pizza Hut store (delivery driver) from 1998 to 2001, and got turned off of their food from working there; I would never choose Pizza Hut ever since then.
How do you even ensure that you've found a family-owned single-store pizzeria that meets your fresh standards while on the road?
Quite interesting that Uno's gets your attention for deep dish pizza.
Uno's buttery crust is my favorite part of their slice (any slice for that matter). And I trust any family-owned local diner/cafe over a nationwide chain. I'll put it this way: even the least-good family-owned or locally-owned pizzeria that I've been to was way better quality than Pizza Hut.
Quote from: jgb191 on May 10, 2022, 12:43:01 PMI'll put it this way: even the least-good family-owned or locally-owned pizzeria that I've been to was way better quality than Pizza Hut.
Consider yourself lucky - I've had any number of pizzas that were from locally-owned pizzerias and were worse than Pizza Hut. The last time I got a pizza from Gelsosomo's (a local chain in NWI), it...wasn't a pizza, but it was still good.
Quote from: jgb191 on May 10, 2022, 12:43:01 PM
Uno's buttery crust is my favorite part of their slice (any slice for that matter). And I trust any family-owned local diner/cafe over a nationwide chain. I'll put it this way: even the least-good family-owned or locally-owned pizzeria that I've been to was way better quality than Pizza Hut.
Pizza Hut isn't the only chain, though. I don't think I've ever had a bad pizza from Papa John's, for example. Same with Papa Murphy's, where I can literally watch them put the toppings on, and then I get to be in charge of how long it stays in the oven.
In my experience, local family-owned pizza joints are almost always good, but a substantial number of them are good in part because their pizza is dripping in grease.
My taste in pizza has been honed since living in NY. There is a lot of bad pizza out there in dinky pizzerias as well as chains (Papa Gino's comes to mind...yuk).
I can't imagine Pizza Hut being worse than whatever they're doing over in Altoona (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altoona-style_pizza). (Thankfully Sheetz hasn't picked up on it. Yet.)
All the love I've seen shown for Casey's pizza in other threads, yet no one has mentioned it here.
For the record, I've never had Casey's pizza.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 10, 2022, 03:31:16 PM
All the love I've seen shown for Casey's pizza in other threads, yet no one has mentioned it here.
For the record, I've never had Casey's pizza.
No one said anything about gas station pizza.
My favorite gas station pizza is Casey's.
For frozen pizza, I have a nostalgic fondness for Stouffer's french bread pizza. Otherwise, Totino's is ok on occasion, and I used to like DiGiorno but it seems like every time I make one it's very inconsistent. But it could be my oven, or convection toaster oven, that's screwing it up.
For chain pizza, I used to go to Papa Murphy's all the time in TN, because they were excellent and I could watch it be assembled and control the cooking myself. Sadly, no locations anywhere near me in SC. I think it might be time for them to go through a growth phase. Other regional chains that I've tried and liked over the years include Papa Gino's in MA and LaRosa's around Cincinnati, which has now spread south to Lexington. Also Sir Pizza, which is an old franchise that I've seen mostly in the Nashville area and the Piedmont area of NC, though I think they started in IN.
There is also a regional chain based in Ashland, KY called Giovanni's that many Eastern Kentucky natives truly believe is the best. I grew up with it and got tired of it myself, but during a visit to my mother in Lexington a few years ago she ordered some Giovanni's as they had recently opened a location near her. It took me back, and I instantly got over being tired of it and wanted more.
For national chain pizza, I usually settle for Papa John's but tell them to make the pizza well done. But if Hungry Howie's or Donato's are options, I will choose them instead.
I don't think I've ever had Casey's as far as gas station pizza is concerned, but QT's pizza isn't too bad if you get it fresh.
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 10, 2022, 11:19:15 AM
Blackjack is where I work, and it's decent. Mostly a Colorado/Wyoming thing, but I think they have store or two in AZ and FL.
We have one that's basically jalapeno poppers on a pizza, with this raspberry drizzle stuff on it that is to die for.
I order Blackjack a lot because they send out so many coupons. Pretty decent too.
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 10, 2022, 04:21:54 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 10, 2022, 03:31:16 PM
All the love I've seen shown for Casey's pizza in other threads, yet no one has mentioned it here.
For the record, I've never had Casey's pizza.
No one said anything about gas station pizza.
My favorite gas station pizza is Casey's.
As I said in another thread, my wife was enticed into a Casey's for pizza by a poster hung on its wall. She shortly came out empty-handed and disgusted.
Gas stations are no place to buy pizza, no matter how strong the desire.
Quote from: ibthebigd on May 08, 2022, 06:12:47 PM
I like Donato's
SM-G996U
I used to have a Donatos at the end of my street when I lived in Ohio. I would have to say getting it at an ACTUAL Donatos is truly worth it...Getting it at a Red Robin (which recently added Donatos pizzas at my area Colorado store) can be a hit or miss.
Been a while since I've been back in Cleveland, but they do/used to have a couple of good local chains: Geppetto's and East of Chicago Pizza. A local one off is/was Papa Nick's on the Cleveland/Lakewood border.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on May 10, 2022, 05:18:11 PM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 10, 2022, 11:19:15 AM
Blackjack is where I work, and it's decent. Mostly a Colorado/Wyoming thing, but I think they have store or two in AZ and FL.
We have one that's basically jalapeno poppers on a pizza, with this raspberry drizzle stuff on it that is to die for.
I order Blackjack a lot because they send out so many coupons. Pretty decent too.
I don't know how it is down there, you're in a different franchise than me... up here, our phone people (who are often drivers) will, after you're done ordering, scour the coupons and deals to find something that applies... and there's always something.
The owner of my franchise is trying to recover from a previous owner who ran the place into the ground, and made a lot of bad juju up here. and he's succeeding.
if you doordash, you're paying full price.
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 11, 2022, 12:09:03 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on May 10, 2022, 05:18:11 PM
Quote from: zachary_amaryllis on May 10, 2022, 11:19:15 AM
Blackjack is where I work, and it's decent. Mostly a Colorado/Wyoming thing, but I think they have store or two in AZ and FL.
We have one that's basically jalapeno poppers on a pizza, with this raspberry drizzle stuff on it that is to die for.
I order Blackjack a lot because they send out so many coupons. Pretty decent too.
I don't know how it is down there, you're in a different franchise than me... up here, our phone people (who are often drivers) will, after you're done ordering, scour the coupons and deals to find something that applies... and there's always something.
The owner of my franchise is trying to recover from a previous owner who ran the place into the ground, and made a lot of bad juju up here. and he's succeeding.
if you doordash, you're paying full price.
I get coupons emailed to me probably every other day. 50% off is a pretty regular one. My wife and I can get two medium pizzas delivered with tip for about $25 or so.
Quote from: wriddle082 on May 10, 2022, 05:13:24 PM
For chain pizza, I used to go to Papa Murphy's all the time in TN, because they were excellent and I could watch it be assembled and control the cooking myself. Sadly, no locations anywhere near me in SC. I think it might be time for them to go through a growth phase. Other regional chains that I've tried and liked over the years include Papa Gino's in MA and LaRosa's around Cincinnati, which has now spread south to Lexington. Also Sir Pizza, which is an old franchise that I've seen mostly in the Nashville area and the Piedmont area of NC, though I think they started in IN.
There is also a regional chain based in Ashland, KY called Giovanni's that many Eastern Kentucky natives truly believe is the best. I grew up with it and got tired of it myself, but during a visit to my mother in Lexington a few years ago she ordered some Giovanni's as they had recently opened a location near her. It took me back, and I instantly got over being tired of it and wanted more.
Sir Pizza had numerous locations in Kentucky, including Morehead and Winchester. Ate there reasonably often when I was in college in Morehead, and a few times when I lived in Winchester. They cut their pizza into squares. I liked their pizza.
LaRosa's was sold at Kings Island, and that's the only time I've ever had it. It's been decades since I've been to Kings Island, but I remember LaRosa's as having a lot -- I mean a
LOT -- of cheese, which I liked.
Never had Giovanni's, but there was another chain in northeastern Kentucky called Pasquale's that was a favorite in Morehead. Brought back a lot of memories when I was in Morehead for a work meeting a few years ago and we decided to eat lunch there.
Other regional chains that appear to have popular followings are Steph & Andy's Pizza Plus (far southeastern Kentucky, southern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia and far northeastern Tennessee) and Gino's Pizza & Spaghetti in West Virginia. I haven't had either, but they sure seem to have a loyal fan base.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 11, 2022, 12:42:01 PM
Sir Pizza had numerous locations in Kentucky, including Morehead and Winchester. Ate there reasonably often when I was in college in Morehead, and a few times when I lived in Winchester. They cut their pizza into squares. I liked their pizza.
I wouldn't want it THAT often, but there are a couple (I think just 2 now, used to be 3) Sir Pizza's in the North Hills (of the Pittsburgh region), and I also usually enjoy their pizza. In addition to the round pizza cut into squares, all the toppings are also ground up (so, for instance, pepperoni crumbles instead of round slices). It's all part of their "Good to the very edge" slogan.
Quote from: Rothman on May 07, 2022, 10:45:25 PM
There's a regional chain in the Albany, NY area called I Love NY Pizza and it's typically good. Not sure how many locations they have.
Ever heard of Taste of Heaven and Twin Trees?
I like them. But needs more taste to it.
https://goo.gl/maps/WmNvn6LtJv79vvaZ9 (https://goo.gl/maps/WmNvn6LtJv79vvaZ9)
I lived in Madison WI in the late 70s and frequently bought Rocky Rococo's (https://rockyrococo.com/) by the slice. They only made deep dish-style pizza and you could order a slice and glass of beer at their old location across from the UW Bookstore. (Drinking age was 18 in WI at the time.) They were a growing chain for a short time in the 80s but I believe they're mostly just in Wisconsin now. No idea if I'd still like them as I don't know if they changed their recipe which, according to a former roommate who worked at their original Gilman St location, included a slice of muenster between the crust and sauce along with the standard mozzarella topping the sauce for a really cheesy slice.
I also want to mention my least favorite pizza, St Louis-style pizza. My first experience was when I moved to St Louis in the late 80s and tried it out. It's not just mediocre; it's awful. The crust is like a cracker and topped with a thin, watery sauce. The cheese isn't mozzarella but a weird processed cheese called provel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provel_cheese). The cheese separates in the oven and leaves large puddles of oily mess on the surface. Local chains that serve this monstrosity include Imo's (the inventor), Elicia's, and Cecil Whittaker's. While many locals love this, probably because they grew up with it, most transplants hate it. I recommend Dewey's (https://deweyspizza.com/) or Pi (https://www.pi-pizza.com/)(my local favorite with a big π symbol on the façade) if you visit St Louis.
I'm almost positive there were Rocky Rococo's in Chicagoland in the 80s. IIRC, they were one of the first pizza chains to offer a whole wheat crust.
Quote from: skluth on May 15, 2022, 12:48:21 PM
I lived in Madison WI in the late 70s and frequently bought Rocky Rococo's (https://rockyrococo.com/) by the slice. They only made deep dish-style pizza and you could order a slice and glass of beer at their old location across from the UW Bookstore. (Drinking age was 18 in WI at the time.) They were a growing chain for a short time in the 80s but I believe they're mostly just in Wisconsin now. No idea if I'd still like them as I don't know if they changed their recipe which, according to a former roommate who worked at their original Gilman St location, included a slice of muenster between the crust and sauce along with the standard mozzarella topping the sauce for a really cheesy slice.
As I understand it, many recipes for deep dish pizza do indeed call for a layer of cheese between the crust and the sauce. (Speculation on my part) I'm thinking it might be to inhibit the crust soaking up too much sauce as it cooks.
Similar to your case, when I was a student in the late 1970's (University of Florida) there was a local pizza place called "Leonardo's" that only served deep dish pizza, and served as my introduction to it.
I like Pizza Hut and Papa Johns, but NOT Dominos!
We have all three in our area as of now.
Pizza Hut is very good, and fills you up.
Papa Johns is too expensive, but is good. That garlic sauce is good!
Dominos, nope. Too greasy and too doughy. Almost got sick.
Bryce
Pizza Hut is not very good.
Quote from: Rothman on May 15, 2022, 04:22:48 PM
Pizza Hut is not very good.
Which is better, Papa Johns or Pizza Hut?
Bryce
Quote from: snowc on May 15, 2022, 04:56:29 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 15, 2022, 04:22:48 PM
Pizza Hut is not very good.
Which is better, Papa Johns or Pizza Hut?
Bryce
It's kinda like asking which worst place team is the best. One may be slightly better, but they both suck.
Quote from: abefroman329 on May 15, 2022, 01:18:15 PM
I'm almost positive there were Rocky Rococo's in Chicagoland in the 80s. IIRC, they were one of the first pizza chains to offer a whole wheat crust.
There is one in the MSP area, in Brooklyn Center. I've never eaten there; I found the Rocky's I did have in La Crosse to be average enough to not be worth going out of my way for again.
I had a very good pizza for lunch last Thursday from Square Pie Guys on Mission Street in San Francisco. It was rather pricey, but it was excellent and the service was fast. I suppose they qualify as a chain because their website said they have a second location in Oakland.
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 15, 2022, 06:02:07 PM
I had a very good pizza for lunch last Thursday from Square Pie Guys on Mission Street in San Francisco. It was rather pricey, but it was excellent and the service was fast. I suppose they qualify as a chain because their website said they have a second location in Oakland.
I miss Blondie's on Market. Cheap, average pizza.
Quote from: Rothman on May 15, 2022, 09:39:09 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 15, 2022, 06:02:07 PM
I had a very good pizza for lunch last Thursday from Square Pie Guys on Mission Street in San Francisco. It was rather pricey, but it was excellent and the service was fast. I suppose they qualify as a chain because their website said they have a second location in Oakland.
I miss Blondie's on Market. Cheap, average pizza.
Rothman, is that in the shopping mall across from the cable car turnaround? If so, I'll try to check it out when I'm back there in July. Didn't get in there this time.
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 15, 2022, 09:52:15 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 15, 2022, 09:39:09 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 15, 2022, 06:02:07 PM
I had a very good pizza for lunch last Thursday from Square Pie Guys on Mission Street in San Francisco. It was rather pricey, but it was excellent and the service was fast. I suppose they qualify as a chain because their website said they have a second location in Oakland.
I miss Blondie's on Market. Cheap, average pizza.
Rothman, is that in the shopping mall across from the cable car turnaround? If so, I'll try to check it out when I'm back there in July. Didn't get in there this time.
Nope. Blondie's was in this weird metal shed place near the end of the cable car line. It was like walking into a garage. Closed down years ago, which is why I miss it.
Ah. Thanks. The map shows a "Blondie's Pizza" in the shopping mall, hence why I asked that. Square Pie Guys worked out quite well since it's right across the street from where I was working, but $23 for an individual pizza is pretty expensive (even recognizing it filled me enough that I skipped dinner that night).
Quote from: 1995hoo on May 15, 2022, 10:12:50 PM
Ah. Thanks. The map shows a "Blondie's Pizza" in the shopping mall, hence why I asked that. Square Pie Guys worked out quite well since it's right across the street from where I was working, but $23 for an individual pizza is pretty expensive (even recognizing it filled me enough that I skipped dinner that night).
Huh. Wonder if they reopened...being in the mall would make me lean towards them sucking now. :D
Quote from: dlsterner on May 15, 2022, 01:42:21 PMAs I understand it, many recipes for deep dish pizza do indeed call for a layer of cheese between the crust and the sauce. (Speculation on my part) I'm thinking it might be to inhibit the crust soaking up too much sauce as it cooks.
Correct - if you put the sauce directly on the dough, you end up with cheesy foccacia.
For anyone that has Domino's, Little Caesars, or Pizza Hut in their top 5... I am very, very sorry about the pizza scene in your area.
Quote from: webny99 on May 19, 2022, 11:10:02 PM
For anyone that has Domino's, Little Caesars, or Pizza Hut in their top 5... I am very, very sorry about the pizza scene in your area.
I would add Marco's to that list!
Surprised we got this far without a mention of the infamous Midwestern cult chain Pizza Ranch. But I guess that shit would have to be good to get a mention.
Quote from: webny99 on May 19, 2022, 11:10:02 PM
For anyone that has Domino's, Little Caesars, or Pizza Hut in their top 5... I am very, very sorry about the pizza scene in your area.
In no particular order, but in this metro Carbone's, Sammy's, Davanni's, Broadway, and Pizza Luce immediately eliminate those national chains from the top 5 - and that's before the standalone pizza shops!
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 20, 2022, 01:12:44 AM
Quote from: webny99 on May 19, 2022, 11:10:02 PM
For anyone that has Domino's, Little Caesars, or Pizza Hut in their top 5... I am very, very sorry about the pizza scene in your area.
In no particular order, but in this metro Carbone's, Sammy's, Davanni's, Broadway, and Pizza Luce immediately eliminate those national chains from the top 5 - and that's before the standalone pizza shops!
Now we're talking! :clap:
My top-5 would be Guida's, Salvatore's, Caraglio's, Pontillo's, and Mark's in some order, and there's probably more I'm forgetting before getting to the national chains which are well below those for the most part. We also have Uno Chicago, which I will admit I've never had.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 20, 2022, 01:12:44 AM
Surprised we got this far without a mention of the infamous Midwestern cult chain Pizza Ranch. But I guess that shit would have to be good to get a mention.
Pizza Ranch is kind of its own league because it's a buffet. It's not bad, and it's fun to try a bunch of different kinds, but it's kind of hard to compare. I guess I would put it above most of the national chains but below most of the local chains in terms of quality pizza.
Quote from: webny99 on May 19, 2022, 11:10:02 PM
For anyone that has Domino's, Little Caesars, or Pizza Hut in their top 5... I am very, very sorry about the pizza scene in your area.
As for Little Casear's... Their sauce is decent, which means their pizza is pretty good when it's fresh out of the oven. The problem is that–just as with McDonald's French fries or Chick-fil-A waffle fries–you have approximately 52 seconds before the quality drops off precipitously. Leftover Little Caesar's is the bottom of the barrel (and might actually work well as a patch if your barrel has a hole in the bottom).
Quote from: webny99 on May 20, 2022, 01:53:02 AM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 20, 2022, 01:12:44 AM
Surprised we got this far without a mention of the infamous Midwestern cult chain Pizza Ranch. But I guess that shit would have to be good to get a mention.
Pizza Ranch is kind of its own league because it's a buffet. It's not bad, and it's fun to try a bunch of different kinds, but it's kind of hard to compare. I guess I would put it above most of the national chains but below most of the local chains in terms of quality pizza.
It's definitely better than CiCi's and possibly better than Round Table - I ate there once and that was fifteen years ago.
Quote from: kphoger on May 20, 2022, 09:33:40 AM
... you have approximately 52 seconds before the quality drops off precipitously. Leftover Little Caesar's is the bottom of the barrel (and might actually work well as a patch if your barrel has a hole in the bottom).
:-D
Speaking of leftovers, that reminds me of another chain I forgot to mention: Pudgie's, which many people around here say is as good or even
better leftover!
Quote from: webny99 on May 20, 2022, 09:40:46 AM
Speaking of leftovers, that reminds me of another chain I forgot to mention: Pudgie's, which many people around here say is as good or even better leftover!
Papa John's is probably the best pizza I've ever had left over, the next morning, cold straight out of the fridge.
Quote from: kphoger on May 20, 2022, 09:44:33 AM
Quote from: webny99 on May 20, 2022, 09:40:46 AM
Speaking of leftovers, that reminds me of another chain I forgot to mention: Pudgie's, which many people around here say is as good or even better leftover!
Papa John's is probably the best pizza I've ever had left over, the next morning, cold straight out of the fridge.
We don't have Papa John's anymore. The way I remember it, I'd probably put it in the same tier as Pizza Ranch - good, but not great.
(I also don't like cold pizza under any circumstance.)
Quote from: webny99 on May 20, 2022, 09:49:31 AM
Quote from: kphoger on May 20, 2022, 09:44:33 AM
Quote from: webny99 on May 20, 2022, 09:40:46 AM
Speaking of leftovers, that reminds me of another chain I forgot to mention: Pudgie's, which many people around here say is as good or even better leftover!
Papa John's is probably the best pizza I've ever had left over, the next morning, cold straight out of the fridge.
We don't have Papa John's anymore. The way I remember it, I'd probably put it in the same tier as Pizza Ranch - good, but not great.
(I also don't like cold pizza under any circumstance.)
Papa John's is the only pizza besides the aforementioned Imo's that I've thrown out without finishing. Domino's and Pizza Hut may struggle to reach mediocre, but even that is too low a bar for Papa John's.
The pizza scene in my area is pretty lousy to be honest. There aren't many small chains, just national brands and local pizza shops. The best in the area in my opinion is Grace Pizza in Alvin. Otherwise, here are my chain rankings:
1. Pizza Hut (very tasty as leftovers)
(Huge gap)
2. Little Caesars
3. Domino's
4. Cici's
As for frozen pizza, I like Totino's the best, but DiGiorno is good too. For a period of time Walmart sold something called Wild Mike's, which was pretty darn good, but they don't sell it here anymore.
One of my faves in central Colorado is Beau Jo's. They have several locations serving Colorado Mountain (Pizza) Pies. If dining in, the standard practice is to dribble honey on your pizza crust (or over the whole thing).