Cici's Pizza vs. Eatza Pizza Buffet

I know that they are probably not the best pizza in the world, but are good for a quick, cheap meal. I'm originally from NY(LI area) and am used to good NY style pizza. Now in FL (Daytona Beach area)there are a few ok places but we usually end up at Cici's.

There are 3 Cici's in the area. Now they are opening up an Eatza Pizza Buffet in New Smyrna Beach. I just looked at their website and it looks just like Cici's. Has anyone eaten at either of them? Which is better? We are going to try Eatza Pizza when they open in November so I'll update everybody on it.

Again I know this is'nt great Roadfood, but Cici's is literally 1 block away from us and for 5 bucks it will fill you up for the whole day. Great for us that are on a budget.

Okay I don't know the place but I can't help but say HEY! They spelled it wrong!!!

Ceci

My grandson worked at a Cici's for a couple of weeks before quitting in disgust over their cleanliness standards.

Pizza Street is another very similar chain - not bad for the money, but there are certainly better places.

I believe it is spelled CiCi's. It does not matter as it is simply dreadful pizza. Took a bunch of hungry college kids to one in Daytona once and that was the last time for me...........dirty looking place with people eating away like hogs. I cannoat understand how they stay in business. Even Pizza Hut is better!

As for the cleanliness of Cici's, the ones in Daytona Beach(which is brand new) and the one in Ormond Beach, they are not the cleanest restaurants out there. The one by me in Port Orange is spotless. I guess it's the management. I know there are better places out there. We eat at Cici's because it is fast and cheap. You can eat right away. The last time we were at Pizza Hut we waited 1 hour for our personal size pizzas. The food is not so bad for the price. Our Cici's Salad Bar is always clean and fresh. The pizza can be better but the cheesy garlic bread is fantastic. Also the brownies are some of the best I ever had. Again, I know this doesn't even qualify as Roadfood, but there aren't too many options for pizza in the Daytona area. I do make my own at home sometimes, but its not always the fastest way to get dinner on the table. The only options for pizza by me are, Cici's, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Papa John's, Hungry Howies, and the few family owned places around that are not that great or consistent.

I did hear there was a Giordano's in Orlando. It's supposed to be the same as the one in Chicago, which we ate at when we were in Chicago last year. We will be making a stop here the next time we are in Orlando. I like deep dish pizza, but I'm a NY girl and would love some NY pizza in FL. I wish they would open some pizza places from NY down here. Umberto's of New Hyde Park, Totonno's or Gino's would be nice.

An Eatza Pizza opened about a year ago here in Charlotte. Only was there once. As I recall, it was O.K. and a good deal for the price of around 5 bucks. They also have a decent fried chicken on their buffet. BUT......since my fussy wife didn't care for it, I'll probably never see the inside of it again, unless I sneak over with my 10 year-old pseudo-grandson. Yah, yah...I know I'm PW-ed.

On a chain-restaurant newsletter website I check once in awhile, they list expanding and shrinking chains. Eatza Pizza is one that is shrinking drastically, recently closing numerous stores. If memory serves me, almost all are franchised. If anyone cares, I could dig up the exact numbers and precise facts.

thats pizza on those round discs at cc's under the lamps?

I've never heard of Eatza Pizza, but I find it hard to believe anything could be worse that CiCi's.

No Eatza's in my neck of the woods, that I know of. I am forced to go to CiCi's from time to time. My gandzillas love the place, and when I have 4 of them, this place works good.

Like every buffet there are some tricks.

1. The salid bar is always good, start there. I like green olives on my salid, and they will get those for you if you ask. If the have it, you can get it for your salid.

2. You can order a specially made pizza, made fresh and just like you want it. It never sits under the lights. I have not had a bad one.

3. Save room for the disert pizzas. They are pretty good.

4. Bring some extra $$$ to give the kids, to play in the game room, so you can finish eating in peace!!!!

5. Have fun watching the other folks pig out. I am always entertained.
Joe

PapaJoe - my thoughts exactly as this is exactly what I do when I take my grandkids to CiCi's. I like a pizza with pep., onions, and pineapple and I always have them make me one of these. Their barbeque pizza is pretty good too.

The CiCi's in Irwin, Pa (outside Pittsburgh, just off the Turnpike and near the Big Mac museum) has been very good (for what it is) is in the past. They cleaned and restocked the salad and pizza bars frequently, and would make you custom pizza (even if what you wanted was just brought out to the buffet) without hesitation, and employees were friendly. I haven't been to Irwin over a year.

i went to the CiCi's in Gaithersburg, Md a couple of weeks ago and it was absolutely atrocious. Food everywhere, old pizza on the buffet, dirty bathroom and unclean tables (very short of staff). We did get a custom (sausage and mushroom, nothing exotic) pizza and it was good, but I would never go back to that CiCi's and based on the experience, I know understand why so many rip CiCi's apart.

If your local CiCi's has good management, you won't have a bad experience (hey, it is a $6 buffet), but if they're at all lacks, forget it.

Never heard of Eatza Pizza Buffet.

Kevin

quote:

Originally posted by KOK

If your local CiCi's has good management, you won't have a bad experience (hey, it is a $6 buffet), but if they're at all lacks, forget it.

I'll second that.

The first two opened in West Virginia were in my area of Princeton and Bluefield VA. The Princeton one changed management, went downhill fast, and was closed due to health dept violations. The Bluefield one is still open and is usually clean.

Well, the Eatza Pizza near me folded up. The signs were changed to some independent name. I don't remember what it was, but it wasn't anything familiar. They lasted about 18 months.

kensandyeggo...what is this chain restaurant newsletter you speak of? Please post the link. Thanks in advance. Lindsey

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

My grandson worked at a Cici's for a couple of weeks before quitting in disgust over their cleanliness standards.

Very interesting, Michael: my RF friend Amyhow dreads the disgusting bathrooms at the Cici's in Rock Hill, but her small children love the place, plus it's super cheap...it's a tough call for her, she tells me. Chris

quote:

dirty looking place with people eating away like hogs. I cannoat understand how they stay in business. Even Pizza Hut is better!

Kind of a rude comment. Not everyone can afford to be a foody snob.

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Sims

quote:

dirty looking place with people eating away like hogs. I cannoat understand how they stay in business. Even Pizza Hut is better!

Kind of a rude comment. Not everyone can afford to be a foody snob.

There's nothing rude about that comment. And not enjoying eating in a dirty place with people gorging on sub-standard food certainly does not make one a "foody snob." In fact, the best description of such a person is smart.

I would not dine in a dirty place no matter how good the food. I guess cleanliness is in the eye of the beholder but I feel I have a very good eye for cleanliness issues that are important to me. If my red flag goes up, I go out.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Sims

quote:

dirty looking place with people eating away like hogs. I cannoat understand how they stay in business. Even Pizza Hut is better!

Kind of a rude comment. Not everyone can afford to be a foody snob.

I bet that I have eaten in many more inexpensive places than you have but they are clean. My mother told me that one of the things anyone can afford is soap! When a place is dirty, I choose to stay away; has nothing to do with being a food snob. It is more like protecting one's self!

By rule, I don't/won't eat any pizza from any place that makes/serves a "dessert pizza."

The Cici's I go to is real clean. The whole kitchen area is open so you can see. About the gorging, maybe that was me :~). I try to go during off lunch hours and it is never crowded. Substandard, maybe? but Sassy and I still like some of their stuff.

If only they had coconut shrimp!
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Sims

quote:

dirty looking place with people eating away like hogs. I cannoat understand how they stay in business. Even Pizza Hut is better!

Kind of a rude comment. Not everyone can afford to be a foody snob.

She's just being truthful Mr. Sims. If you're looking for sugar coated opinions, this ain't the place.

Round sandwich kinda things maybe?... is some of what Cici's serves. Some are more a sweet disert kinda thingy. They also have a few things some could call pizza but... It's those other things I like there. Oh, and the salid.
Joe

Lindsey, here is that link. You have to kind of search around, but it has a lot of interesting info. One may have to subscribe now, but I believe it's free anyway. I couldn't find the reported closings of various chains, but I know I've seen it before. Eatza Pizza and Roly Poly were on it as I recall with an inordinate number of closings.

http://app.e2ma.net/campaign/0719dde06837761771a45ebd3a8df626

My mistake in the quote, I don't like eating in a dirty place either

quote:

people eating away like hogs.

I was referring more to the hog quote.

I was in a clean CiCi's and the staff were extremely friendly.

I will agree, it is not fine dining; but nice to see a place that common folk can afford to take their children.

Right Doug, I forgot to mention that the folks who work at Cici's are always real nice, to me anyway. The seem to be having fun. Gitting to watch tha youngens snack on those mac n cheese pizzas even gets me in a good mood.

Hogs are smarter than dogs and and stay clean if left to their own devices. Dogs would be in trouble if pigs didn't taste so good. Hmmm, pulled pork pizza? Never seen that at Cici's.
Joe

Thanks Ken!!

hey scorereader, you should come down to the Daytona beach area. I'll take you to a little pizza place on A1A in Ormand by the sea called Lenny's New York Pizza where they personally make a desert pizza
TO DIE FOR.
AFTER you've barely finished your tillapia over pasta special for $12.99!!!

A1A... what a road!
Joe