bodyboarder
Member
Pizza Hut in Australia for the win. Always get terrible pizzas at dominos.
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Let's talk about mainstream pizza chains
- Thread starter shinobi602
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As mentioned already, the UK is pretty shit for chain pizza, but there's loads of independent places dotted around and they're usually quite good from my experience. I don't get takeaway pizza very often, but I've had Pizza Hut pizza from a few different locations (Weybridge, somewhere near Hammersmith, Brighton) and it was good in all cases. However, I absolutely swear by a place near where my ex lives and I will always do the 45-50 minute round trip if I want god-tier pizza.
It's more of a local/regional chain, but my favorite is Imo's.
For the big chains, Pizza Hut is just okay. Domino's has improved quite a bit, though, and Papa Johns is decent. If I was stuck with a national chain, I'd probably do Domino's > Papa John's > Pizza Hut.
If there's a Casey's around, though, I'd probably end up with that. My wife isn't a big fan of pizza, but she likes Casey's, so it's a workable compromise if I'm in the mood for some pizza.
I'm kind of surprised at all of the mentions for Papa Murphy's. I had never heard of them before I moved last year, but I've yet to try them. There's something about the thought of paying the same price as a normal pizza chain, but still having to cook it myself that sort of turns me off to them.
For the big chains, Pizza Hut is just okay. Domino's has improved quite a bit, though, and Papa Johns is decent. If I was stuck with a national chain, I'd probably do Domino's > Papa John's > Pizza Hut.
If there's a Casey's around, though, I'd probably end up with that. My wife isn't a big fan of pizza, but she likes Casey's, so it's a workable compromise if I'm in the mood for some pizza.
I'm kind of surprised at all of the mentions for Papa Murphy's. I had never heard of them before I moved last year, but I've yet to try them. There's something about the thought of paying the same price as a normal pizza chain, but still having to cook it myself that sort of turns me off to them.
Pizza Hut sucks but it has the best breadsticks
If we're looking at chains, my favorite is Dominos Pan Pizza, but for some reason, if that pizza gets a wee bit cold, my teeth get really sensitive to it. Pizza Hut has stuffed Crust which is awesome, and Papa Johns has the best toppings.
If we're looking at chains, my favorite is Dominos Pan Pizza, but for some reason, if that pizza gets a wee bit cold, my teeth get really sensitive to it. Pizza Hut has stuffed Crust which is awesome, and Papa Johns has the best toppings.
thoseAREmySHOES
Member
If it's this guy:
then yes. Make sure you get the deep dish with turbo crust.
That's the one! I'll have to give it a shot!
shinobi602
Member
Looks damn good.This Dominos pan with extra Cheddar everyday...
chickdigger802
Banned
This Dominos pan with extra Cheddar everyday...
still retarded they dont come in any size bigger than medium.
In the UK...
Domino's is okay but too expensive. This hasn't stopped it from becoming incredibly popular though, especially in Uni towns. I have a local place in my village that I like to go to, good price and a recipe that hasn't changed since I was 8.
Opposite my sister's flat is a 'Pizza Go-Go', sketchy looking place but better pizza than Domino's at £4.
One of my favourite take out pizza experiences is a Pizza Hut I used to order from in Lambeth in London, the dough always tasted like sugar doughnut - it was wonderful. Never found another Pizza Hut outlet that had the same taste.
Domino's is okay but too expensive. This hasn't stopped it from becoming incredibly popular though, especially in Uni towns. I have a local place in my village that I like to go to, good price and a recipe that hasn't changed since I was 8.
Opposite my sister's flat is a 'Pizza Go-Go', sketchy looking place but better pizza than Domino's at £4.
One of my favourite take out pizza experiences is a Pizza Hut I used to order from in Lambeth in London, the dough always tasted like sugar doughnut - it was wonderful. Never found another Pizza Hut outlet that had the same taste.
speculawyer
Member
IMHO, modern Pizza *IS* an American dish, not an Italian one. So American Pizza places are the best place to get it. I've had pizza in Italy . . . it was 'meh'.
HoodWinked
Member
pizza hut - oily mess, makes you feel like a piece of shit afterwards
papa johns - dollar more, usually very sparse on their toppings the garlic dip is very good tho
dominos - ridiculously cheap, tastes on par with papa johns but with more toppings
papa johns - dollar more, usually very sparse on their toppings the garlic dip is very good tho
dominos - ridiculously cheap, tastes on par with papa johns but with more toppings
Robot Carnival
Member
lived in Los Angeles for the most part and Domino's & Papa John's out here are pretty decent for the most part. PJ for the garlic dip and cheese on top and Domino for their take out specials which is hella good for the price. I don't think I've had any Pizza Hut for a long time, not avoiding them or anything, just never got to get one when we order pizza that's all so can't tell if it's really as shitty as everyone says. Little Caesar's price sure seema right but I don't really trust the whole ready made thing.
does CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) counts as mainstream chain? I've tried it ones and it wasn't bad, just that I feel I can get better for that price.
on a side note, I worked in Papa John's for a year or two during college amd I have to say at least back then at that store we did things nice and by the book, prepare all the veggies fresh in the back and slap out the doug on order. we even would make a few extra large ones and bring it to the El Pollo Loco grill chicken place down the street and exchange food with them. we were making p'zones before it became mainstream product in all the pizza chains. was fun time and I LOVE getting a slice fresh from the oven.
also, Shakey's with their all you can eat bunch o'lunch pizza and chicken is great too, never did try orsering just a pizza to go thou.and there's also Round Table which I've only tried two or three times before and is pretty good too.
does CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) counts as mainstream chain? I've tried it ones and it wasn't bad, just that I feel I can get better for that price.
on a side note, I worked in Papa John's for a year or two during college amd I have to say at least back then at that store we did things nice and by the book, prepare all the veggies fresh in the back and slap out the doug on order. we even would make a few extra large ones and bring it to the El Pollo Loco grill chicken place down the street and exchange food with them. we were making p'zones before it became mainstream product in all the pizza chains. was fun time and I LOVE getting a slice fresh from the oven.
also, Shakey's with their all you can eat bunch o'lunch pizza and chicken is great too, never did try orsering just a pizza to go thou.and there's also Round Table which I've only tried two or three times before and is pretty good too.
Yeah CPK is a nationwide chain. Their BBQ Chicken is godlike.
Gotta invest a lot more capitol in pan pizza because you need to buy lots of different sized pans for each store.
HypnoDarkrai
Member
Costco and Shakey's.
Rastafarian42
Member
I wish Round Table Pizza was in other parts of the USA I was devastated when I moved to Texas and found out it was only a West Coast Chain. :,,,(
Allforce
Member
We've got a local place that sells a decent pie for 7.99, pick up only and they have a drive thru which is pretty bad ass.
They're right in an area I call "pizza corner" which has the aforementioned Zanzi's, a Little Ceasers, a Dominoes, and another local place called Wedgewood (which is ok).
They fight to the death for cheap pizza superiority. Like I have seen two sign-swingers battling it out on the road, one from Little Ceasers and the other from Dominos. It was crazy.
Dominos sells a 8 slice pan pizza for FOUR bucks because of Little Ceasers now. I picked up 8 of them for a birthday party and it wasn't really bad at all. MUCH better than Ceasers. Pretty hilarious that I got 64 slices of pizza for 32 bucks.
They're right in an area I call "pizza corner" which has the aforementioned Zanzi's, a Little Ceasers, a Dominoes, and another local place called Wedgewood (which is ok).
They fight to the death for cheap pizza superiority. Like I have seen two sign-swingers battling it out on the road, one from Little Ceasers and the other from Dominos. It was crazy.
Dominos sells a 8 slice pan pizza for FOUR bucks because of Little Ceasers now. I picked up 8 of them for a birthday party and it wasn't really bad at all. MUCH better than Ceasers. Pretty hilarious that I got 64 slices of pizza for 32 bucks.
JJDinomite
Banned
Pizza Hut > Papa Johns > Dominos > don't waste your time
ElRenoRaven
Member
Papa Johns will always be my favorite. They're followed closely by Mazzio's (Ken's back in the 80s). The rest don't even come close.
BattleMonkey
Member
Marco's is the shit. Somewhat new chain thats growing, but damn are they good. We recently in the past two years have had a bunch open around us, and it's amazing good for chain pizza.
It's more about cooking time if anything. Thick pizza takes longer, and bigger it is, harder it is to cook it through well.
It's more about cooking time if anything. Thick pizza takes longer, and bigger it is, harder it is to cook it through well.
For me Dominos is by far my favourite mainstream pizza chain. It has some good quality to it compared to most of the other crap like Little Caesars. It's not very expensive either...at least in Canada there is constantly a coupon for 2 larges for $16.99, or a medium and cheese bread for $12 which is perfect for me.
Royal pizza is best but expensive. A rare treat.
Dominos is excellent when the $9 any pizza special is on. You can load a pizza so heavy it rips through the box but regular pricing is too expensive.
Costco is the worst pizza. 9/10 homeless people agree they rather luck the drippings off trashed McDonald wrappers than eat costco pizza.
Dominos is excellent when the $9 any pizza special is on. You can load a pizza so heavy it rips through the box but regular pricing is too expensive.
Costco is the worst pizza. 9/10 homeless people agree they rather luck the drippings off trashed McDonald wrappers than eat costco pizza.
shinobi602
Member
Everybody's taste buds are different. It's not hard to understand honestly...
Eh, I don't think that's really true though. In a lot of places chains are all there is. I mean there is no disputing the fact that chains use lower quality ingredients that are purely designed for mass production...Maybe a lot of people are used to it but chain food is objectively worse in several ways.
Now that said there are times I like dominos but I can't imagine actually preferring it over a good handmade local pizza place. Pizza hut and their bread like crust suck.
shinobi602
Member
Indeed, but I don't think anyone in the thread so far has said they're better or prefer them over more 'authentic' food...I certainly haven't. That doesn't mean they still don't taste good to our palette.
TemplaerDude
Member
Dominos pan is my go to chain, I used to get pizza hut occasionally but they dropped in quality huge for some reason. The local chains are better, of course. My roommate has gotten addicted to a mac and cheese pizza from a local chain that is pretty top.
100% agree on the spoiler, Big Al's is the shit.
Kaidfather
Member
About 3 times a year I get in the mood for some chain pizza and have to order Dominos - Ham and pineapple, side order of breadsticks, and a 2 liter of coke.
The rest of the year when its pizza we do a local place that does a decent NY style pizza, and of course there is always Zachary's.
The rest of the year when its pizza we do a local place that does a decent NY style pizza, and of course there is always Zachary's.
I've been to plenty of local or regional restaurants that were just garbage too. There's no guarantee that some cheapass manager isn't buying crummy canned sauce or using dough that's too old.
Chain places tend to be cheaper, offer larger portions, and have more reliable service/safety since there's more corporate oversight.
That is very true if you live in a small town but if you live in even a medium sized city there should be dozens of better local places.
TangerineCloud
Banned
Pizza Hut's pan pizza is my go-to. Love it. Papa John's is pretty inoffensive; can't complain. Domino's occasionally has good pizzas, but the quality just isn't consistent enoough. 90% of the pizzas I've gotten from them were mediocre but the other 10% were pretty damn good.
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