# Papa Johns - How do they manage to make some of the greatest pizza on earth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2017, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705 "2017-10-13T05:16:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/41 "2017-10-13T16:40:49Z")
Is Papa John’s different in other places? Where I live, it’s absolutely awful. They manage to be worse than Domino’s which is pretty impressive in light of the aggressive mediocrity that Domino’s strives for. Our options for delivery are all pretty average chain places. You have to get takeout for really good pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/42 "2017-10-13T16:49:07Z")
Who buys pizza from a restaurant? Everyone knows you can make it better and cheaper yourself! Here’s what you do. First plow a field and sow with hard winter wheat. Six months later, rent a combine harvester… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/43 "2017-10-13T16:51:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Of the chain pizzas, it’s the worst, in my opinion. I don’t care about his politics; I just care about the pizza, and it’s just godawful. Domino’s, Little Caesars, Chuck E Cheese Pizza, even Pizza Hut are all better, in my opinion. Never had Papa Murphy’s then, I take it? It makes Papa John’s look like the gold medal of pizzas. Remember the old saying “Never eat at a place called ‘Mom’s’”? that should also apply to anything with ‘papa’ in it’s title. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/44 "2017-10-13T16:52:39Z")
^^Don’t forget to bitch about the weather constantly while your crop is growing and when you want to harvest. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/45 "2017-10-13T16:55:38Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Who buys pizza from a restaurant? Everyone knows you can make it better and cheaper yourself! Here’s what you do. First plow a field and sow with hard winter wheat. Six months later, rent a combine harvester… Real pizza is harvested by hand. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/46 "2017-10-13T17:03:57Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > What are the better Schenectady local pizza joints? I might try them some time if I am up to visit my mom and for some reason I don’t feel like visiting Jumpin’ Jacks. I recommend Pizza King on Jay Street (it’s across the street from City Hall). [http://www.pizzakingschenectady.com/](http://www.pizzakingschenectady.com/) ---
**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:** [October 13, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/47 "2017-10-13T17:05:10Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Never had Papa Murphy’s then, I take it? It makes Papa John’s look like the gold medal of pizzas. Remember the old saying “Never eat at a place called ‘Mom’s’”? that should also apply to anything with ‘papa’ in it’s title. They don’t appear to exist around here. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them in Iowa City, but they’re take & bake places, right? You can’t get a cooked pizza at the restaurant. Or am I wrong? Because if it’s take & bake, I don’t really count those places because, first, what’s the point and, second, the product is going to be hugely variable depending on how one bakes it. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/48 "2017-10-13T17:07:16Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I had New York style pizza in New York once and it was horrible. Papa John’s was even better than that and Papa John’s sucks. You are well and truly insane, but, also, if you only had one slice, well, maybe you just had a shitty pizza. Look, I’m a Chicagoan, and I know there’s supposed to be some big macho Chicago-New York pizza war or something like that, but New Yorkers make some fucking great pizza. But, just like in Chicago, there’s also a lot of shitty pizza out there. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/49 "2017-10-13T17:09:37Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Never had Papa Murphy’s then, I take it? It makes Papa John’s look like the gold medal of pizzas. Remember the old saying “Never eat at a place called ‘Mom’s’”? that should also apply to anything with ‘papa’ in it’s title. I like Papa Murphy’s. It’s not great by any stretch, but it’s nice to have it piping hot out of your own oven. I usually go for pretty minimalist pizza. Their thin crust with just cheese and one or two light toppings is not bad. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/50 "2017-10-13T17:13:32Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I like St Louis style pizza, in that I like the cracker-style crust that doesn’t get in the way of the toppings. Not the biggest fan of provel cheese, but the place closest to us you can choose provel, mozzarella, or half/half. > > I like other styles too. Just saying I like St. Louis style FTR. It’s not really the cracker style – I LOVE cracker style pizza, but that’s the Midwesterner in me. It’s that weird fucking provel cheese, like putting a Kraft-singles like product on pizza. That said, I do appreciate its uniqueness and I’m always curious about regional foods, so I do kind of have a soft spot for it and can totally understand loving it if you grew up with it. But the provel styles of St. Louis Pizza (like the famous Imo’s, of course) is just odd with that cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/51 "2017-10-13T17:18:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’s not really the cracker style – I LOVE cracker style pizza, but that’s the Midwesterner in me. It’s that weird fucking provel cheese, like putting a Kraft-singles like product on pizza. That said, I do appreciate its uniqueness and I’m always curious about regional foods, so I do kind of have a soft spot for it and can totally understand loving it if you grew up with it. But the provel styles of St. Louis Pizza (like the famous Imo’s, of course) is just odd with that cheese. Have you ever had Stefanina’s pizza? I think they have 3 or 4 locations now. Definitely St. Louis style, with provel, but somehow less provel-ly than Imo’s. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/52 "2017-10-13T17:21:20Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I like St Louis style pizza, in that I like the cracker-style crust that doesn’t get in the way of the toppings. Not the biggest fan of provel cheese, but the place closest to us you can choose provel, mozzarella, or half/half. Are you in the StL area? ISTR you being in KC (you gave me some good input when I thought I was moving there IIRC). Or has StL style pizza just migrated cross state? ---
**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:** [October 13, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/53 "2017-10-13T17:22:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > They (Papa Murphy’s) don’t appear to exist around here. They used to; I got a pizza from a location in the western suburbs (probably Villa Park) a few years ago. It wasn’t bad, but not worth having to pick it up and bake it myself. But, it looks like they’ve given up on the Chicago market – their nearest location now is in Woodstock, which is so far to the northwest that it doesn’t even really count as suburban Chicago, being closer to Rockford. That said, national pizza chains, in general, struggle in Chicago, because we do have so many good local pizzerias (both the mom-and-pops, and the regional chains). I had Pizza Hut as a client for a time, and they acknowledged that Chicago was one of their worst markets, for that very reason. ---
**Author:** ![witzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/edb3f5/32.png) [@witzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/witzel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/54 "2017-10-13T17:37:04Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I was in NYC and went to a pizza place that wasn’t a national chain and got a slice of pizza, therefore it was New York-style pizza to me. Yes, one slice at a randomly-selected pizza place is an acceptable barometer of the other thousands of non-chain pizzerias in the city, got it. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/55 "2017-10-13T17:57:04Z")
Papa Johns is the one chain I refuse to eat. At work, we only have a few options for delivery. PJ’s wasn’t very good the couple of times we had it. Too many crust bubbles where the crust rises during baking and the ingredients slide off that area. Plus I dislike stores that get all political and up in their employee’s business including PJ’s, Hobby Lobby, and Chik Fila. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/56 "2017-10-13T18:02:56Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > That said, national pizza chains, in general, struggle in Chicago, because we do have so many good local pizzerias (both the mom-and-pops, and the regional chains). I had Pizza Hut as a client for a time, and they acknowledged that Chicago was one of their worst markets, for that very reason. I’m sure it’s tougher, but there doesn’t seem to be a lack of Domino’s or Pizza Huts near me. Within about a square mile, maybe two, I can think of a Domino’s, a Pizza Hut, a Little Caesar’s, and a Chuck E Cheese (if you want to count that). Granted, there are also probably about four- or five-fold the amount of ma & pop places and regional changes (Beggar’s, Home Run Inn, and Giordano’s–oh, we finally got a Lou’s out here, too) in there (some quite good, some terrible). So there’s a decent mix of big chains, little chains, ma & pops. The reason I pick the big chains some days is usually one of economics. I can get a reasonable pizza the kids enjoy from Domino’s for half the price or less than the same pizza at a local ma & pop. And usually quicker, too. And they’ll accept credit cards (not all the ma & pop around me do.) And I can order from the computer. So sometimes, convenience and price win out. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/57 "2017-10-13T18:06:36Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Have you ever had Stefanina’s pizza? I think they have 3 or 4 locations now. Definitely St. Louis style, with provel, but somehow less provel-ly than Imo’s. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been in the area, so I haven’t checked it out. One of my high school friends lives out in O’Fallon, and I’ve been meaning to visit him for awhile. He swears there’s a place there that does the best version of Chicago deep dish he’s ever had, anywhere, (maybe Pi Pizzeria?) but I’m not necessarily a huge fan of deep dish and would prefer to eat the style of food indigenous to the area. In other words, next time I’m out there, I’ll remember to give Stefanina’s a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/58 "2017-10-13T18:12:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been in the area, so I haven’t checked it out. One of my high school friends lives out in O’Fallon, and I’ve been meaning to visit him for awhile. He swears there’s a place there that does the best version of Chicago deep dish he’s ever had, anywhere, (maybe Pi Pizzeria?) but I’m not necessarily a huge fan of deep dish and would prefer to eat the style of food indigenous to the area. In other words, next time I’m out there, I’ll remember to give Stefanina’s a shot. O’Fallon MO or IL? If you’re in O’Fallon MO, that’s where Stefanina’s first location is. I grew up just outside O’Fallon. My first job was at the strip mall just down Main Street from Stefanina’s. Stefanina’s was kind of the special occasion place for my family. (It’s not expensive; money was just tight for my folks). Anyway, I have warm memories of it. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/59 "2017-10-13T18:15:17Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I like Papa Murphy’s. It’s not great by any stretch, but it’s nice to have it piping hot out of your own oven. I usually go for pretty minimalist pizza. Their thin crust with just cheese and one or two light toppings is not bad. Their Chicago style pizza is better than anything Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Little Caesars or Dominos can make. The only time I ate Papa John’s was when they has a buy one get one free carry out special in my college town. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705/60 "2017-10-13T18:17:37Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > I Live in St Louis, home of the CRAPPIEST style of pizza ever! I also run a “Mom and Pop’s” Pizzeria. > We sell REAL NY style Pizza, the only thing missing is the NY city water. [Would it help if I told you the water probably isn’t key?](http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2010/01/does-nyc-water-make-a-difference-in-pizza-quality.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papa-johns-how-do-they-manage-to-make-some-of-the-greatest-pizza-on-earth/798705.md?page=4)