# Favorite Chain Pizza **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 22, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943 "2009-02-22T14:58:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/61 "2009-02-23T01:32:47Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > My elementary school participated in the Book-It! program, and I liked to read, so I got a lot of coupons for a free personal pan pizza. The Pizza Hut near me was a full restaurant and the pizza they served in the restaurant was damned good. The delivered pizzas, not so much. College was the death knell for eating chain pizza for me. > > If I had to choose today, I’d go with Donato’s, though I don’t know how widespread they are and they were always a bit overpriced. You just activated my personal time machine. Remember how they used to give you that really big lenticular button, and you’d get stars for every pizza you got? Holy crap, that was probably 20 years ago. I turned 29 today. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/62 "2009-02-23T02:06:21Z")
Does Numero Uno count? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/63 "2009-02-23T05:18:53Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Does Numero Uno count? Yeah, but only once. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/64 "2009-02-23T05:36:11Z")
> [@wring](#): > > re-heat pizza? who the hell does that??? Uh, non-rich people (like me) who buy pizza and don’t eat it all? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/65 "2009-02-23T05:52:25Z")
We have a UNO where I live, and I understand that they started in Chicago and invented the deep dish. I like their pizza. Non-national I’ll go with Round Table. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/66 "2009-02-23T08:18:34Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Uh, non-rich people (like me) who buy pizza and don’t eat it all? I’m hoping by that incredulous remark **wring** was implying that s/he is among those who eat their leftover pizza cold for breakfast the next morning. I’m definitely in that camp. It is very important to me that a pizza is not only delicious when freshly baked, but also when eaten cold the next morning. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/67 "2009-02-23T09:10:42Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > There aren’t very many kosher pizza chains, so my choice is pretty much limited to Jerusalem Pizza. (At least, I think they’re a chain. They’re certaintly in more than one location). We have some good local stores, too. It all pretty much tastes the same to me. I don’t think there’s really such a thing as a bad pizza (unless you’re a cafeteria lady at my old elementary school. God, that stuff they called “pizza” was horrible). Oh, God. When I was in school, I used to describe the pizza in the cafeteria as resembling Bazooka gum on cardboard. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/68 "2009-02-23T09:26:19Z")
I would have to say Papa John’s. I usually prefer to get it from a place actoss from where I work, its a locally owned place, and the pizza (and all the other food, for that matter) is excellent. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/69 "2009-02-23T09:47:40Z")
I just wanted to add that, thanks to this thread, my plans for cooking a lovely dinner tonight were canceled so I could order a Korean BBQ pizza instead. Turned out to be a good idea because I got the equivalent of over 5 dollars off because of a sale this month! Score! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/70 "2009-02-23T13:20:49Z")
We have a smallish regional chain mostly in NJ where I believe the individual stores are franchises. The chain is Attilio’s. They range from better than the national changes to pretty damn good pizza. I like the one in Lincroft, NJ and Long Branch quite a bit. The ones in Tinton Falls and Freehold aren’t great. For a chain they make a very good pizza. If you are a thin crust fan though they are not a great choice. I never found a good chain thin crust and settle for the typical NJ thinnish crust that Attilio’s provides. As to National Chains, well quite honestly they all suck enough where I don’t consider them pizza but pizza-like food. Does Ray’s count as a chain in NYC? If so they are the best chain. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/71 "2009-02-23T13:39:21Z")
For me it is very hard to make a truly horrible pizza. So I am content with most of the chains. I find the local independents are usually better, but I will eat Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Papa John’s without complaint. I haven’t had any for a long time, but I think Papa John’s is my favorite of the three. ---
**Author:** ![rhythmonly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@rhythmonly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhythmonly)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/72 "2009-02-23T16:37:24Z")
Speaking of Shakeys, anyone remember what was on the doors of the under-the-counter fridges? “Icea Boxa” “More Icea Boxa” “Even More Icea Boxa” ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/73 "2009-02-23T16:43:31Z")
Pizza Hut or Gino’s East (is Gino’s considered a chain?) for a chain. I used to like Rosatti’s (local chain) but not so much anymore. Ditto with CPA. ETA - Pillsbury makes a thin and crispy premade crust that comes in the can (in the fridge section of the store where the other in a can rolls are) that is really good - husband made a pizza with it once and it was better than we’ve had in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/74 "2009-02-23T16:52:02Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > We have a UNO where I live, and I understand that they started in Chicago and invented the deep dish. I like their pizza. 'Struth, though the Unos that are any place other than downtown Chicago are run by a separate company, which licenses the name and recipes from the original (and isn’t even based in Chicago!) Here in Chicago, I think we’re blessed with a lot of great local / family pizzerias, which may be why the big chains have never dominated here. Every once in a while, I get a craving for Pizza Hut’s thin crust pizza. And, I love the Buffalo Chicken Pizza at CiCi’s Pizza Buffet. But, other than that, I’d much rather have a pizza from one of our local places. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/75 "2009-02-23T17:05:08Z")
Don’t know if it’s nationwide, but Papa Sevario’s has great pizza, but they’re just really expensive. Same with Jimano’s. Rocky Roccoco’s is my favorite – but only the Roccoco Chicago. They have the \*best \*sausage. I can’t stand Papa John’s or Rosatti’s. I do like Pizza Hut and Little Ceasar’s for chains. I’ll order Domino’s only when cost or time is a factor. Even then, only the thin crust with pepperoni. As someone else here mentioned, the best pizza is usually a small non-chain place. It’s always amazed me that no matter how many pizza places there are, the pizzas all taste slightly different. Where I go will often depend on what flavor I’m looking for. Some have better cheeses, others better sauce, others have the crust. You’d think they’d all taste the same… ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/76 "2009-02-23T17:25:25Z")
> [@FalconFinder](#): > > Rocky Roccoco’s is my favorite – but only the Roccoco Chicago. They have the \*best \*sausage. I miss Rocky Rococo’s. They’re based out of Madison, WI, where I went to college; they expanded in the mid-80s, but not successfully, and a lot of those expanded locations closed soon after. There aren’t too many of them outside of central Wisconsin. (And, I agree about their sausage!) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/77 "2009-02-23T17:28:46Z")
> [@FalconFinder](#): > > It’s always amazed me that no matter how many pizza places there are, the pizzas all taste slightly different. Where I go will often depend on what flavor I’m looking for. Some have better cheeses, others better sauce, others have the crust. You’d think they’d all taste the same… Chuckle…I know what you mean. Some of my in-laws live in Florida. They _hate_ the pizza down there, and adore Chicago pizza. About a decade ago, we sent them mail-order Chicago pizzas for Christmas, and they declared that (a) this was one of their all-time favorite gifts, and (b) they wanted us to keep sending them those for Christmas until further notice. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/78 "2009-02-23T17:30:25Z")
Papa John’s. Domino’s sucks, and Pizza Hut has a web interface that is a pain in the butt to use. Besides, I like Papa John’s thin crust. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/79 "2009-02-23T18:02:20Z")
We use Papa Johns as our standard pizza place. That being said, the best pizza I have ever had was from a place close to Charles St in Boston (I wish I could remember the name). Also, since the opening post did not specify which nation in “national chain”, I will say that South African chain pizza is an order of magnitude better than United States chain pizza. National chains like Debonairs or St. Elmos are far more awesome. One thing I definitely miss … ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943/80 "2009-02-23T18:23:43Z")
Former NYer here. Having been out of the city for almost 20 years now, I’ve had to make do with pizza chains. While none of them come close to real NY pizza, some chains are better than others. I like Pizza Hut’s pan and hand-tossed–the thin crust stuff reminds me too much of how awful PH was when that’s all they had. Didn’t like Papa John’s originally–the sauce was way too sweet. They appear to have corrected that problem and have moved up to a distant second. Domino’s is just plain gross. I think it’s the cheese mixture they use–it just has the most awful texture. Little Caesar’s is better than it used to be, which isn’t saying much, but for 5 bucks, it’s still better than Domino’s. As far as “mall pizza” goes (Sbarro, Villa, etc.), just OK, nothing special. Sbarro’s strombolis are better than the pizza. Papa Murphy’s “take & bake” pizza is pretty decent and, IMO, the best of that category. I especially like their stuffed pizza. What surprised me is Costco’s pizza. Not the “take & bake” ones, but the ones you get hot from the food court. For around 10 bucks, it’s actually pretty darned tasty. If you live near enough to one that you can get the pie home while it’s still reasonably hot, you could do a lot worse–say, Domino’s. Locally, we have a few places that profess to serve “New York” style pizza, but the ones that are any good charge way more for a pie than I’m willing to pay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-chain-pizza/486943.md?page=5)