I like Hungry Howies, thought I don’t think they are nationwide yet.
I’m Johnny L.A., and I endorse this message.
Many years ago, I would have said Shakey’s. I liked everything about that place when I was younger: the pizza was good, the mojo potatoes were to die for (yeah, literally–I can’t even imagine how much salt, fat and cholesterol were in those things, but damn they were good!) and the “old tyme” atmosphere was cool.
They’re not good anymore, though, IMO. I went back a couple of years ago to the only Shakey’s left in our area, and the place was dingy, the pizza didn’t taste the same, and the Mojos were awful. I guess you can’t go home again.
These days my favorite is Round Table. Still not great on the greater scale of pizza yumminess (for me, that would have to be a small local chain), but pretty good for delivery pizza.
I can’t stand any of the “take and bake” places like Papa John’s (I wish I could…it would be nice to be able to pick one up and bake it when ready).
I actually like Dominos, but the trick to it is it must be very hot. So for delivery more than a couple block away, it’s not worth it. I like Little Caesars, too. Pizza Hut is too greasy and too much bread. I’m coming around to Papa Johns, but I find it’s sauce a bit too sweet - the garlic butter does redeem it though.
I used to love Shakey’s when I was a kid! The pizza was great. (I didn’t care all that much for the ‘adult’ place at the time – Filippi’s, in San Diego – but nowadays I’d probably prefer it.) Shakey’s didn’t have mojos when I was a kid, as I recall. But they did have a projector so I could watch Woody Woodpecker and Chilly Willy and Laurel & Hardy.
I saw that there was one Shakey’s somewhat near me when I lived in L.A., but it wasn’t near enough so I never went there.
There’s a Domino’s just off my freeway exit. I’ve tried it twice, and both times the pepperoni tasted like dirty dishwater. So my default has to be Little Seizure’s. Not especially good, but closer and better than Domino’s.
I would have to say Papa John’s.
I wish Bertucci’s was a national chain. Their pizza is fantastic! Baked in a brick oven, with fresh mozzarella…yum! It’s been 5 years since we left the Boston area and I still miss Bertucci’s.
Band Name!
There is at least one Bertucci’s that I know of in the Baltimore area. It’s in Timonium. I have been there for pizza but what I really liked there was Bruschetta on crusty bread. I had never had Bruschetta before and it was really good. Sadly that was like four years ago. Man, when I read threads like this I so totally miss carbs!
The only reason to buy any pizza from Little Ceasar’s is a lack of money in your wallet. It isn’t even real pizza; they simply use an illusion to fool your tastebuds. If you like Little Ceasar’s, you haven’t ever HAD good pizza. :eek:
Round Table Pizza is the best chain pizza I’ve ever had. Much better than Pizza Hut, and of the national chains, Pizza Hut is clearly the best (Domino’s somewhere in between PH and LC’s).
Fazoli’s can pop out a decent pie, too.
So who here makes his own pizza?
I’ve made them, but I don’t much care for the kneading and rolling. The thought of making a pizza has been on my mind for a few weeks. I’m thinking I may get a stand mixer to make the job easier.
Back in the 70’s and 80’s there was a guy at work who also had a thriving side business selling Pepe’s pizza kits. They came with 10 10" pizza “crusts” (on the order of pie crusts but with a pizza-like chewiness), a can of pizza sauce, a bag of crumbly cheese mix, and your choice of a bag of pepperoni or sausage. As best I can recall the kit was maybe $10, so you were paying a dollar or so for a pizza.
Adding your own extras like mushrooms, olives, onion, peppers, pineapple, hamburger, bacon, anchovies, or whatever, was your own affair. But that was the way to get them to taste like “real pizza.”
They were surprisingly good for the money and hassle. Then the frozen pizzas began to be closer to what you could get at a pizzeria. And Pepe’s faded into the history of my pizza experience.
Never made one all the way from scratch though.
I’m going to be stoned for this. I do appreciate good pizza, but I’m not going to pay $12 or $16 for a pie. I’m not super picky about pizza, I haven’t had what I would consider a bad one from a chain. I go to Little Caesar’s for the price. $5 for a large pepperoni, and it’s ready when you are. No calling ahead, just walk in, walk out. Or get a large supreme with pepperoni, Italian sausage, green peppers, mushrooms, and onions for only $8. Not everyone’s favorite from what I read here, but I’m only buying for myself, no one else is eating it. Much better than a heat 'n eat from CostCo or wherever.
You know, their normal Hot n Ready pizzas taste like cardboard, but I’ve discovered that Little Ceasar’s Deep Dish Pepperoni pizza is actually pretty good! The crust is nice and thick and well-cooked and garlicky.
Otherwise, Pizza Hut is the best chain pizza. Domino’s is awful.
Straw Hat is definitely our choice when it comes to chain pizza.
I was surprised to see that Shakey’s still exists…I thought they were only a local chain in and around Sacramento. Looking at the Wikipedia article, I see that I was very much mistaken.
:smack:
My earlier post about Shakey’s was actually Straw Hat!
:smack:
Dammit, everywhere I look today I see food (getting probed by aliens tomorrow). I have to say that every once in a while I HAVE to have a Pizza Hut thin crust supreme pizza. I like Donatos but I always seem to pay for it in the end. I don’t know if Marions is national but I like their sausage.
What amazes me about pizza is that no single set of ingredients work universally. By that I mean different combinations work for different chains.
The thin crust Papa Johns is really good, IMHO. Much better than anybody else’s regular crust. Also, you can order online and not have to talk to a slobbering moron who gets your order wrong.
There used to be a chain here in Salt Lake called Godfathers, and it was one of my favorites. There were about a dozen of them in the SLC metro area, but now, there is only one remaining location, which is all the way across the valley…
We also used to have several Round Table Pizza’s, but as far as I can tell, they have also all closed. Too bad, as they always did a good job.
Reference my earlier comment about Roma’s. This blithering entitled lout was going to argue with us about where our street is located and as many details of our order as she could. Eventually we got the manager on the phone and complained. He was anxious to give us a free pizza to make up for the sorry service, but I explained that anybody who was that ornery and hostile over the fucking phone was likely to do bad things to our food. I told the manager we’d check back in a month or so, but we just stopped dealing with them.
Some people who seek food service work ought to consider how their behavior jeopardizes not just their own job but perhaps the place they work as well. But then, most people with that sort of attitude never consider their place of work to begin with.