# Are "Chain" Pizzas in the US really that bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 29, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704 "2010-04-29T02:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/21 "2010-04-29T04:29:09Z")
No, they’re not that bad. People who say that their local pizza places are so much better are missing the point. No one’s claiming that chain pizza is at all comparable to a top-notch local pizza. It’s fast food. But, at the same time, chain pizza is perfectly edible. I’ve certainly never seen anyone turn down a slice when offered. I have the misfortune of currently living in a country where chain pizza is all there is. I wouldn’t order Domino’s at home, but I will here. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/22 "2010-04-29T04:32:59Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I should add, for the benefit of the OP, who is an Australian, like me: > > Chain pizza over here is really pretty much the same as the chain pizza we get in Australia. If you walk into an Aussie Pizza Hut or similar, you can get a pretty good idea of what Americans are talking about, because in my experience there’s very little difference. > > I’ve had good pizza in Australia, but it was usually more modern, “gourmet” style pizza; generally one of those “wood fired” places that uses a lot of exotic ingredients. That stuff is nice, but it’s not the same as the stuff you get in New York. While you can get exotic ingredients in some NY places, the emphasis at the good, old-school places is on doing the traditional, basic stuff right. The crusts are thin and crisp and fantastic. Interesting how our experiences differ- I’ll agree Pizza Hut here isn’t great, but I quite like Eagle Boys and Dominoes pizzas. The thing is, I’ve eaten at “Gourmet Italian Woodfired Pizza Places that charge $30 for a fairly average sized pizza” here and just didn’t think they that great- they certainly weren’t $20 better than what I was getting from somewhere like Eagle Boys. Also, I _hate_ a thin crust on my pizza. Hate it. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/23 "2010-04-29T04:35:53Z")
We have a couple of local places around here that make very good pizza. But I’ve had Pizza Hut a few times recently and I have to say, it wasn’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eugene_of_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/24 "2010-04-29T04:44:44Z")
All pizza chains are glock. If you’re vulnerable to pizza delivery urges/pangs it’s a good idea to root out an independent operation close by. Having said that Little Seizures has just opened a new spot in my hood and I’m sure I’ll be hitting them up for five buck pizzas here and there just because I can. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/25 "2010-04-29T04:44:44Z")
Well, Ameci’s is a “chain” although a very small one, and they have the best thin crust pizza I have ever had. The local non-chain, a block away, is just OK. Round Table is better. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/26 "2010-04-29T04:48:45Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > If i’m sitting in front of a football game or something with some friends, and someone orders Pizza Hut or Papa John’s or some other chain pizza, i’ll happily eat it. It’s junk food, but in the right situation i have no problem with it. > > But it really just doesn’t compare to really good pizza. I’m particularly partial to New York pizza, and Lombardi’s on Spring Street in Manhattan is one of my favorites. I’ve only ever been to one place in Brooklyn, but it was also pretty awesome, and i know people who swear that New York’s best pizza is to be found in Brooklyn. > > Anyway, the quality of the crust, of the tomato sauce, and of the mozzarella just puts these places head and shoulders above any chain takeaway joint, IMO. > > I would, however, choose chain pizza over that disgusting, greasy puddle of cheese that passes for pizza in Chicago. Bite your tongue amigo! Pizzeria Uno.. or Giordiano’s.. Edwardo’s… all quality Chicago Pizza joints. We prefer it not flat and tasteless and eaten on the go like you New Yorkers.. Being in Atlanta i settled long ago for okay only.. local chain here Mellow Mushroom and Fellini’s do pretty good.. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/27 "2010-04-29T04:54:35Z")
I like some Round Tables but find they vary quite a bit from location to location. Papa John’s is ok but I want to shoot them every time they put a tub of butter in the box and tell me I’m supposed to dip my pizza in it. Good local places are great. But in my experience on average local places are worse than the chains 9so when in doubt there’s a fair chance I’ll go with the known entity of the chain), though once you find one of the good ones it is something to be treasured. I’m fine with whatever type of crust and style of toppings are offered. I don’t consider New York pizza better or worse than than Chicago style. Just different. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/28 "2010-04-29T04:55:05Z")
Foodie/indie elitism at work here, folks. Consider that the average American Doper gets dry heaves when they think of random-crap-on-the-walls chain restaurants like Applebee’s. See … there they go! Chain pizza in the US varies, but it’s generally consistent within the chain. Places like Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s and the like are all about … well, average. Not bad, but not great. They’re good, and Dopers that claim to be sickened by the thought of them are likely exaggerating. Pizza buffets like CiCi’s …meh, it’s edible. High-end chains like California Pizza Kitchen and Pizzeria Uno are pretty good. Rule of thumb: in a city with a large Italian-American population, and a strong local pizza tradition (NYC, New Haven, Chicago, and Buffalo come to mind), the chains aren’t going to be as good as a typical independent corner pizzeria or local chain, comparatively speaking. In smaller cities and towns, rural locations, and generic Midwestern and Southern cities, the big national delivery chains are often better than a typical local pizzeria, although there’s often going to be one or two local pizzerias in town that are fairly decent. It really comes down to “authenticity”. In many parts of the country, “authentic” local pizza is quite mediocre, so the delivery chains are really good by comparison. However, some foodies value “authenticity” over quality. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/29 "2010-04-29T05:01:47Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > It really comes down to “authenticity”. In many parts of the country, “authentic” local pizza is quite mediocre, so the delivery chains are really good by comparison. However, some foodies value “authenticity” over quality. What in the world do you mean by “authenticity” that admits a statement like this? ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/30 "2010-04-29T05:05:27Z")
Ok, so now I’m curious. I love pizza, but frankly most of my experience has been with either chain or homemade stuff. Anyone one know of a good local place in or around St. Louis? I went to a good wood-fired place in Clayton about a decade ago, but I don’t know what it was called or if it is still there. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/31 "2010-04-29T05:05:32Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > What in the world do you mean by “authenticity” that admits a statement like this? I know! The word effectively has no meaning in that sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/32 "2010-04-29T05:07:02Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > local chain here Mellow Mushroom 100 locations in 15 states isn’t that local. There is one within a mile of my house in central Indiana. Everyone (myself included) seems to think they are local originally though. They did originate in Athens though. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/33 "2010-04-29T05:08:25Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > What in the world do you mean by “authenticity” that admits a statement like this? “Authentic” doesn’t always mean “good”. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/34 "2010-04-29T05:15:28Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > “Authentic” doesn’t always mean “good”. I’m asking you what you think the word _does_ mean. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/35 "2010-04-29T05:28:38Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I’m asking you what you think the word _does_ mean. I’ve heard Foodies throwing it around a lot to describe food that’s made by hand with fresh ingredients, and not as part of a sort of “assembly-line-cooking” process. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/36 "2010-04-29T05:29:35Z")
Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t mean it’s “shit”. It just means your tastes are different to those who shop there. So say I, a man who doesn’t really like food. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/37 "2010-04-29T05:51:35Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > Bite your tongue amigo! Pizzeria Uno.. or Giordiano’s.. Edwardo’s… all quality Chicago Pizza joints. We prefer it not flat and tasteless and eaten on the go like you New Yorkers.. > Being in Atlanta i settled long ago for okay only.. local chain here Mellow Mushroom and Fellini’s do pretty good.. Nah. Chicago-style pizza is a once-in-awhile treat. Everyday Chicago pizza is the thin crackery crust that’s cut into square. Both have their place on the pizza echelon, but I prefer the thin stuff by far to the thick stuff. And Giordano’s sucks. NY Pizza can be fantastic and it can be terrible. It’s not all great pizza. But the best NY pies are anything but tasteless (I’m thinking Grimaldi’s, Patsy’s, etc.) Until recently, you couldn’t find such fantastic flavorful crusts here in Chicago. (Chicago cracker crusts have a nice texture, but don’t have the depth of flavor a good NY crust has with its poolish [starter dough] and charring). However, now things have changed and you can get great examples of many styles here in our fair city. Anyhow, as to the OP. I hate to say it, as I really try to judge everything in its own category and not try to compare it to other similar products aiming at a different market (for example, comparing Neapolitan pizza with Chicago deep dish, or Old Style beer with Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, although I like all these in the right situation), but I simply do not like any of the major chain pizzerias. The only one I can somewhat stand is Pizza Hut. Domino’s is awful (although I haven’t tried the new recipe. Last time I had Domino’s was about 15 years ago.) I don’t like Little Caesar’s. Papa John’s is terrible. Actually, it’s been 15 years since I’ve had any of those. (More like 20 for Little Caesar’s). So are they “that bad” as in inedible? No, of course not. But there’s no reason I would eat them with so many options around. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/38 "2010-04-29T05:51:48Z")
Domino’s really was that bad (haven’t tried the new version). The only two times I can remember throwing out food are once when I let strawberries get rotten, and once when I ordered Domino’s pizza. I figured it wasn’t healthy and it tasted bad, so the waste of money was more palatable than the pizza. Domino’s themselves admits it was terrible. Their current advertising is “we’ve changed, our pizza isn’t gross any more!” Pizza Hut and Round Table taste OK to me (after all, it is hard to make pizza bad), though I would certainly never confuse them with the good pizza places I frequent. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/39 "2010-04-29T05:56:25Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Rule of thumb: in a city with a large Italian-American population, and a strong local pizza tradition (NYC, New Haven, Chicago, and Buffalo come to mind), the chains aren’t going to be as good as a typical independent corner pizzeria or local chain, comparatively speaking. And lest I be unfairly maligning the chains, I should say that I don’t like about 85% of the pizzas at local pizzerias here in Chicago. There is just a lot of shit pizza out there. Just because it’s locally owned doesn’t mean it’s good. The idea that there’s no such thing as bad pizza is simply crazy to me. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704/40 "2010-04-29T05:59:13Z")
It’s not that they’re “crap”, it’s just that they’re much worse than good local pizza places (in cities that _have_ good local pizza places). To some people, though, anything that’s not the really good stuff might as well be crap. Personally, I’d never choose pizza from one of the big chains over any of my favorite local places except for reasons of cost or convenience (there are chain places closer to where I live so they deliver faster). However I still enjoy the big chain pizzas when I don’t have a better alternative. I have eaten pizza I don’t enjoy . . . believe me, you can find much worse than Pizza Hut, Papa Johns or Dominoes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-chain-pizzas-in-the-us-really-that-bad/537704.md?page=3)