The best major pizza chain?

I'd have to say Home Run Inn...............
even the frozen product is better than most chains.

If I've already expressed my opinion on any of the previous pages of this thread, I'm sorry. But, as long as this (old) thread has been "revived", I would like to say, I still enjoy Domino's thin crust with pepperoni. The large size, please. I have a coupon.

I think that they're all pretty weak. The original Pizzeria Regina in Boston's North End is heavenly, but it's still got the same oven for decades; the menu's different; basically no comparison to the stuff you find in food courts, which is no better than Sbarro's or something. I'd assume that the original Uno's is similar. Or is it? People in Chicago can't be that crazy for the original Uno's if all it tastes like is every other Uno's across the nation.

No problem...Twinwillow,I repect your palate! Food is in the taste of the beholder...but definitions of food come more from the heart! Some love McDonald's hamburgers and call them such...some would deny them the word "hamburger" ...it's not a matter of "purist" or "non-purist"...it's a matter of defining such foods in your own mind with your own prerequisites. As an Italian who has eaten tons of good pizza and bad in many countries....I don't feel right labeling Pizza Hut and such,true pizza....but that's using my own minds standards...and my own taste buds....and the standards of the pizza organization of Naples Italy....life is too short...go for the gusto...and enjoy what you like...and the rest of us be damned!!!

I have to say, the All you can eat deal at Papa Gino's is pretty good. I think their pizza most mirrors the thin crust NY style that I love. While it does reak of chain food, it does actually taste like pizza. And on Tuesdays, All you can eat is about seven bucks!

quote:

Originally posted by braunsteinm

I have to say, the All you can eat deal at Papa Gino's is pretty good. I think their pizza most mirrors the thin crust NY style that I love. While it does reak of chain food, it does actually taste like pizza. And on Tuesdays, All you can eat is about seven bucks!

As long as I can remember, Papa Ginos has been a great chain.

Major chains

1 papa john's
2 Pizza Hut

Regional chain
1 Mazzios

This is like asking would I rather be shot, stabbed, or run over by a car. None of the above, please.

Since I grew up on outstanding pizza, I can and will be a spoiled brat, about it. If I grew up in an area that was not so rich in the pizza offerings, I might be warmer to the idea that the major chains are acceptable. The taste reminds me of a kids Lunchable. Ick.

I drove out of Waco down 77 a few weeks ago, and on my left I spotted a Pizza Inn. I hadn't been to one in years, and so I did a u-turn and stopped. I ordered a medium thin-crust, topped only with jalapenos.



I snacked on that all the way back to Round Rock. I noticed they still offer the Taco Pizza, and I haven't eaten one of those since I was in college. Next time I'm up there, I'll have to try one for old times sake.

I still love that crust.

though I do not consider it real pizza, and would never get it if I were not stranded in a pizzaless land( northern ca), Papa Murphys Take and Bake can make a tasty and cheap treat...it aint pizza though

quote:

Originally posted by californyguy

though I do not consider it real pizza, and would never get it if I were not stranded in a pizzaless land( northern ca), Papa Murphys Take and Bake can make a tasty and cheap treat...it aint pizza though

We had a new Papa Murphys Franchise open near us last week. I got the $6.99 opening special, one topping Pepperoni. It was flavorful, loaded with ingredients and tons of pepperoni. As long as this was not the opening week bait & switch pizza - extra stuff just to suck you in - I'll go back. My wife didn't like it but I thought it was pretty good.
As far as Chain Pizza Joints, They all suck!

The Pizza Inn menu lists a Stromboli. I've never had that. The picture tells me if I didn't see it and closed my eyes and took a bite I would think it was a Calzone.

Is that accurate ? Research says it's just the shape and the addition of ricotta in Calzone.

Do you have Stromboli in your area ?

quote:

Originally posted by CCinNJ

This is like asking would I rather be shot, stabbed, or run over by a car. None of the above, please.

hilarious....

I was thinking being called the best pizza chain is like being named the talles midget..

I wont eat any chain pizza, I prefer local mom & pop joints, thin crust sausage, and mushroom. aka. "Chicago Style" pizza on the S.Side.

quote:

Originally posted by KingCrab

I prefer local mom & pop joints, thin crust aka. "Chicago Style" pizza on the S.Side.

I thought it was all deep dish, Is the South Side known for thin crust ?

NONE !!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by CCinNJ

This is like asking would I rather be shot, stabbed, or run over by a car. None of the above, please.

Since I grew up on outstanding pizza, I can and will be a spoiled brat, about it. If I grew up in an area that was not so rich in the pizza offerings, I might be warmer to the idea that the major chains are acceptable. The taste reminds me of a kids Lunchable. Ick.

quote:

Originally posted by No Talent

quote:

Originally posted by KingCrab

I prefer local mom & pop joints, thin crust aka. "Chicago Style" pizza on the S.Side.

I thought it was all deep dish, Is the South Side known for thin crust ?

many Chicagoans consider deep dish "tourist pizza", Many like me, grew up on thin crust, and dislkie pan/deep dish/stuffed pizza.

quote:

Originally posted by leethebard

....I don't feel right labeling Pizza Hut and such,true pizza....

so, what do you call it?!?!?!?!?!?


I'm always stunned when I hear people say this type of stuff. It's pizza. Dough, sauce, cheese, toppings - it's pizza. Is it Neopolitan Pizza? no. But it is pizza. And, in fact, only a small amount of pizza made in the world is Neopolitan.

We have a Neopolitan pizza place here in DC. Two Amys Pizza. http://www.2amyspizza.com/
They make d.o.c. pizza - they also make non-d.o.c. pizza. While the non-d.o.c. pizza doesn't fit a small prescribed idea of how to make pizza, it's all still pizza.

Does McDonalds serve hamburgers? yes, they do.

Does Taco Bell serve tacos? yes, they do.

Is DiGiorno better than delivery? no, not really. But, it's still pizza.

Dominos may not be a style of pizza one prefers, but, it's still pizza. To say otherwise, is pure snobbery.

And, this, from a guy, who does not eat, refuses in fact, chain pizza - except for the local DC area chain Ledo's when our office has a pizza party. I grew up with real pizza all around me. My family made pizza at home nearly every Saturday night, for several years.

One pizza or another may be below one's standards of edibility, however, it's all pizza...unless of course, it's focaccia - but I don't think anyone would confuse focaccia for pizza and vica versa.

quote:

Originally posted by Guilty One

The Pizza Inn menu lists a Stromboli. I've never had that. The picture tells me if I didn't see it and closed my eyes and took a bite I would think it was a Calzone.

Is that accurate ? Research says it's just the shape and the addition of ricotta in Calzone.

Do you have Stromboli in your area ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromboli_(food)

I had always thought Stromboli had sauce on the inside, while a calzone did not. I was, of course, wrong. A friend told me about ricotta cheese being the difference (other than the shape) He was wrong too. According to wikipedia (and we all know how undeniably accurate wikipedia is), they are more or less the same thing. And, the article makes since, because I don't recall seeing a stromboli and a calzone on the same menu. The place either made calzones or strombolis. But, I'm sure there are many exceptions to that, too. And while they do seem to basically be the same thing, I think I prefer the stromboli.

clear as mud?

Glass Nickel is a good local (Madison WI) chain and both are on the[url='http://www.glassnickelpizza.com/menuView2.jsp?store=7&category=22']menu[/url]. It looks like the same photo is used for each but they're definitely different.

Brad