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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: noisyturtle on Wed, 13 August 2014, 15:51:39

Title: The best worst pizza?
Post by: noisyturtle on Wed, 13 August 2014, 15:51:39
Do you have any preference when it comes to national pizza chains? Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Papa John's, Little Ceaser's, even Papa Murphy's?

Personally I'm a Dominoe's guy since they redid the crust and sauce years ago, plus they are the only chain that still does the '2 med 2 topping for $5 ea.' which on average makes them about $5-7 cheaper than similar deals other chains have. I mean sometimes all your body wants is a lot of pizza, doesn't have to be good pizza, as long as there's a lot of it  :p

Pizza Hut's crust is too thin and the sauce is too bland for my tastes, but their wings are better than Dominoe's for sure. I actually like Papa John's dough the best, and they use (usually) fresher ingredients, but their sauce is so thick it ruins everything and their pizza's are always 'chunky' which ruins the crisp shell of the crust usually (does that make sense?)
Actually really like Papa Murphy's, but not having a car makes it impossible to take back home on a bike. Their Cowboy Stuffed Pizza is ****ing amazing though.
Little Ceaser's is the worst in my opinion. Worst staff, worst ingredients, and their pizza's just bland. Nothing makes it stand out at all, it's just there. They do get props for the cheapest though at $5 for a 1 topping large. Great for when you're coming home from the bar or something.

So what's your favorite national pizza chain? Do you have a favorite item?
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 13 August 2014, 15:55:22
Taste - Pizza Hut

Value - Little Caesar's

All Around - Papa John's

Honorable Mention - Dominoes
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 13 August 2014, 15:56:53
Taste - Pizza Hut

Value - Little Caesar's

All Around - Papa John's

Honorable Mention - Dominoes

Pretty much my sentiments exactly.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: D01 on Wed, 13 August 2014, 16:21:35
Round Table.  Best worst pizza imho.  I'd actually rather just buy a frozen Red Baron, take that home and cook it than have anything from one of the chain pizza joints.  Similar quality, whole lot cheaper.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: absyrd on Wed, 13 August 2014, 16:25:39
I'm a fan of Papa John's in a pinch (fav mom n pop's doesn't deliver).
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: hcry4 on Wed, 13 August 2014, 16:29:07
I had Straw Hat Pizza on Saturday. It's not the best, but it was damn nostalgic.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: noisyturtle on Wed, 13 August 2014, 16:55:27
Round Table.  Best worst pizza imho.  I'd actually rather just buy a frozen Red Baron, take that home and cook it than have anything from one of the chain pizza joints.  Similar quality, whole lot cheaper.

Best frozen pizza I've ever had was called Home Run Inn. My god, that **** was DELICIOUS. Better than some fresh pizza I've had, even. Sadly they don't sell it out here, so it might be only a Midwest grocery store brand :(
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: clacktalk on Wed, 13 August 2014, 17:07:48
Costco pizza should be in the mix as well. Lots and lots of mediocre pizza for a pocketsful of change!
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: asassdsd on Wed, 13 August 2014, 17:22:12
Between the three big chains (Pizza hut, Papa John's and dominoes) I would say Papa John's, can't go wrong with those garlic sauce.

Value wise Costco hands down. Big ass slices there.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: ComradeSniper on Wed, 13 August 2014, 17:32:01
Costco pizza should be in the mix as well. Lots and lots of mediocre pizza for a pocketsful of change!

Hey, don't you call Costco pizza mediocre!  :))
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: Zeal on Wed, 13 August 2014, 17:37:34
Best - Panago (I think it's a Canadian chain only). Always have a huge variety of Pizzas that you don't see in other chains. Large menu, and great dipping sauce variety. Always makes pizza on the spot. Can be a bit pricier than others.

Little Caesars is actually decent in Canada, but their "Hot-n-Ready" $5+tax pizza is a medium peperoni. :( I've had their hot-n-ready from different chains, and some feel like the pizza doesn't even have a crust! It literally sinks downwards...

Dominos is ok. Decent value, and have been pretty consistent in my area.

Pizza hut's pizzas are super oily (here). The pizza box is probably responsible for soaking up half of the oil under the pizza.  :confused:

Papa John's in Canada has a very weird doughy crust. Taking a bite into it feels like defalting a fresh baguette. Their "special garlic" sauce that comes for free also smells really weird. It literally smells like popcorn+butter.

Worst, but cheapest - Costco. Huge slices, but just doesn't taste right. Also their take home pizzas don't fit in my oven properly.   :'(
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: Novus on Wed, 13 August 2014, 18:12:54
You guys forgot round table
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: D01 on Wed, 13 August 2014, 18:15:54
Costco pizza should be in the mix as well. Lots and lots of mediocre pizza for a pocketsful of change!

Winco too.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: HardCelery on Wed, 13 August 2014, 18:18:23
You guys forgot round table
Never seen one on the east coast..I vote Papa Johns.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: osi on Wed, 13 August 2014, 18:24:42
Worst ever - donatos
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: PointyFox on Wed, 13 August 2014, 18:27:15
The pizza at Sam's Club is pretty good and cheap.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: noisyturtle on Wed, 13 August 2014, 18:28:27
Forgot to mention 7-11 pizza. It's actually not bad, I like it better than Little Ceaser's.

Also, I gotta give Pizza Hut a few bonus points for their specialty pizza's they have sometimes. Their crazy crust and hot dog crust pizza's are... crazy.
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=42512.msg856908#msg856908 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=42512.msg856908#msg856908)
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: Novus on Wed, 13 August 2014, 18:29:18
Can't beat little Cesar's 5 buck pizza. Price hasn't changed since 10+ years
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: SSIPAK on Thu, 14 August 2014, 00:17:00
Papa Jones = When I feel like driving for a decent pizza.
Dominoes choose 2 for $5.99 = When im feeling lazy
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: Lanx on Thu, 14 August 2014, 08:38:17
papa johns, they send you coupons garlic dipping sauce pretty good, always fresh and doesn't look stank

dominos, always got the brooklyn style, wings were the best

pizza hut, never really cared for them, seemed worst taste than dominos

now that i've moved to NJ, i can finally have decent pizza again tho, will never touch chain pizzas again.

note: for reheating pizza, you MUST have a pizza stone (bakers stone) please do not microwave, many italians will cry.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: dante on Thu, 14 August 2014, 08:40:49
Round Table.  Best worst pizza imho.  I'd actually rather just buy a frozen Red Baron, take that home and cook it than have anything from one of the chain pizza joints.  Similar quality, whole lot cheaper.

Best frozen pizza I've ever had was called Home Run Inn. My god, that **** was DELICIOUS. Better than some fresh pizza I've had, even. Sadly they don't sell it out here, so it might be only a Midwest grocery store brand :(

We have Home Run Inn restaurants here in the Chicagoland area.  So sorry for you :p
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: osi on Thu, 14 August 2014, 08:50:46
Best pizza in Orlando - Brooklyn Pizza, just north of MCO on pershing ave.

Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 14 August 2014, 10:51:54
Sarpinos is pretty good for chain pizza. I can't stand Pizza Hut, Dominos, Papa Johns or Little Caesars.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Thu, 14 August 2014, 11:00:40
Surprised nobody mentioned Sbarro yet...
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: dante on Thu, 14 August 2014, 11:42:42
Sarpinos is pretty good for chain pizza. I can't stand Pizza Hut, Dominos, Papa Johns or Little Caesars.

Sarpino's is great!  I love that they carry some spicier ingredients.

Surprised nobody mentioned Sbarro yet...

Its been a long time since I've been to a mall but yes - if memory serves me this is very good too.  Also good pasta.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 14 August 2014, 13:13:49
I HATE ALL THE PIZZA CHAINS.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: osi on Thu, 14 August 2014, 13:19:28
mmm sbarro ziti with a breadstick.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: jalaj on Thu, 14 August 2014, 13:24:25
How about frozen pizza?
$1 Totino pizzas were my goto junk food lunch meal way back in the day.
Would get my parents to stock up on it like we were going to barricade ourselves in for at least two weeks.
Was a guilty food pleasure, even at a young age I knew it had to be unhealthy for being so cheap.

Price remains relatively the same to this day, definitely can't be healthy at all, LOL.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Thu, 14 August 2014, 13:26:56
How about frozen pizza?
$1 Totino pizzas were my goto junk food lunch meal way back in the day.
Would get my parents to stock up on it like we were going to barricade ourselves in for at least two weeks.
Was a guilty food pleasure, even at a young age I knew it had to be unhealthy for being so cheap.

Price remains relatively the same to this day, definitely can't be healthy at all, LOL.
I used to eat Ellio's pizza like it was my job.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: osi on Thu, 14 August 2014, 15:32:59
How about frozen pizza?
$1 Totino pizzas were my goto junk food lunch meal way back in the day.
Would get my parents to stock up on it like we were going to barricade ourselves in for at least two weeks.
Was a guilty food pleasure, even at a young age I knew it had to be unhealthy for being so cheap.

Price remains relatively the same to this day, definitely can't be healthy at all, LOL.

Totinos pizza.....yes!! Add garlic powder, red pepper,  splash of oregano and you're good
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: noisyturtle on Thu, 14 August 2014, 18:48:26
How about frozen pizza?
$1 Totino pizzas were my goto junk food lunch meal way back in the day.
Would get my parents to stock up on it like we were going to barricade ourselves in for at least two weeks.
Was a guilty food pleasure, even at a young age I knew it had to be unhealthy for being so cheap.

Price remains relatively the same to this day, definitely can't be healthy at all, LOL.

+1 for Tostinoe's it's amazing they retain that price point without any dip in quality over the years. I mean, the quality bar is low but also it's a dollar.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: divito on Thu, 14 August 2014, 23:55:52
For the bigger chains (in Canada/my area at least), I'd rank them as:

Taste
1. Topper's Pizza - Solid variety and combinations, their bacon is great; and garlic butter crust.
2. Pizza Nova - Different compared to the other chains, a little more authentic.
3. Pizza Hut - Only "thick/deep" crust pizza around (in my area), other than the small Little Caesar's option. And their butter chicken pizza is awesome, and non-existent at other chains.

Value
1. Little Caesar's - Hot N Ready is the only real value option.

All-Around
1. Papa John's - It's been a really long time since I've had it, because I stick to Pizza Hut or Topper's Pizza.
2. Topper's Pizza
3. Pizza Hut

Honorable Mentions
1. Dominos - They had a bad rap before, but their new ingredients gives a nice new taste; their only problem to me is their prices for what you get. But they're not really bad by any stretch.

Crap
1. Pizza Pizza - Generic everything, weak crust/dough.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: paicrai on Fri, 15 August 2014, 03:22:45
brand pizza
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: smarmar on Wed, 10 September 2014, 14:10:32
Best pizza in Orlando - Brooklyn Pizza, just north of MCO on pershing ave.
I think the best pizza in Orlando is at Park Avenue Pizza on Lyman Av. They make the crust thin and the garlic thick! It's family-owned and the delivery guy rides a bicycle.  :thumb:
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: ApocalypseMaow on Wed, 10 September 2014, 14:15:15
cici's pizza!
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: inanis on Wed, 10 September 2014, 14:33:32
Domino's. Mostly because they seem to have perfected the online/mobile app ordering process. If you make it easy, I'm more likely to take that path. Every time I'm talked into ordering Papa John's - or even worse Papa Gino's the whole online ordering experience is just aggravating. Though Papa Gino's makes some damn good pizza. It is too bad their online system sucks.

Could I call instead? Yes. Will I call instead? No. No, I won't.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: HipsterPunks on Thu, 11 September 2014, 07:16:37
Pizza hut dinner box. The girlfriend and I's late night snack

At this point its not about the taste of pizza but how much greased up cheese dough you can shove down your throat,

2 medium pizzas
Order of wings
Breadsticks

$20 and your not moving for a while
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: The Mad Professor on Thu, 11 September 2014, 11:46:14
Cici's Pizza. Specifically their spinach pizza. Delicious.
Title: Re: The best worst pizza?
Post by: cmadrid on Thu, 11 September 2014, 11:49:46
I like Dominos the most out of the chains.. cheap and tasty.  Pizza Hut is dumpster pizza