Papa John's is the worst pizza I've ever had.

[ChiTownDenny]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by DonViejo (a host of the General Discussion forum).

I recently relocated to South Florida from Chicago. Being a Chicago resident, it was ridiculous to order pizza from the Big 3 chains, Domino's, Pizza Hut, or Papa John's. I mean c'mon; Chicago Pizza! But now that I'm in the Sunshine state, on occasion I've ordered from Domino's and Pizza Hut. Today, for the first time, I ordered from Papa John's. YUK! Without a doubt the worst. And the most expensive of the three chains.
Just a friendly warning to anyone with a pizza craving. YUK!

[guillaumeb]

1. Stuffed pizza.

A great way to fight the winter cold.

We have gone to the same place for over 35 years on the south side of Chicago.

[Thekaspervote]

2. Yuk is right!

[edhopper]

3. Try local mom and pop places

STAY AWAY FROM THE CHAINS!
There are some good pizza joints in S. FLA. Transplanted NYers brought good pie with them.

[Hawaii Hiker]

19. Totally agree

Mom & Pop pizza places are ALWAYS the best, regardless of which city it is.....Chain pizza is garbage...Better off just getting some tomato sauce and putting it on a box and eating that as opposed to ANY big chain establishment....

[forgotmylogin]

65. We have a good local Italian family place nearby.

And as a fluke, our Papa Johns is actually really good, and the most consistent at delivering on time. Pizza Hut keeps getting lost, and Dominos last time I ordered overbaked the pizza.

I stopped ordering Papa Johns a year ago due to CEO politics and discovered the local place. Their food is awesome, but I've gotten an underdone crust from them once.

Luckily I'm eating Keto so the only pizza I eat now is made myself, with a cheese and egg crust! Back when I was baking bread I goofed up once with the ratios on a pizza crust but tried it anyway and ended up practically duplicating PH's pan crust. Delicious, but a little scary to realize a thick pan crust has the equivalent dough of an entire loaf of bread.

[Polybius]

4. From time to time, I order Domino's and I live in NYC

I just enjoy its unique taste. Never tried Papa John's though.

[Funtatlaguy]

5. Cicis and Hungry Howie are worse

[LeftInTX]

21. Cicis is horrible...never had Hungry Howie pizza, but their Greek salad is excellent

[rownesheck]

42. Cici's is good

if you need a good bowel clearing.

[superpatriotman]

6. Jet's in Fort Lauderdale is good

As is Time Square, Big Louie's, etc.

Little Caesars - strange as it sounds - is cranking out some decent pizza lately

[ChiTownDenny]

12. Thanks!

I'm in Fort Laudie. I recently went to Primanti Bros. I enjoyed it. New York style pizza. The owner brought us complimentary garlic bread.

[superpatriotman]

15. NO

If you're in that area Bona Italian on Wilton Drive is the BEST Italian food you'll find. Trust a DUer.

[ChiTownDenny]

17. Thanks for the recommendation, and LOL. n/t

[lindysalsagal]

7. I made the mistake once while on the road. Never, ever, again. Blech.

[violetpastille]

8. I'm sort of in the same boat in the PNW

I'll give you an example of the offerings of a highly rated pizza restaurant in my town



Chicken Alfredo, canned pineapple, Raw tomatoes. Stoner food. Okay, I get it.

You just learn how to make your own. Up here.

https://www.budgetbytes.com/knead-pan-pizza/

[Ohiogal]

16. I love Budget Bytes!

Every recipe easy, budget-friendly, and delicious.

[Igel]

9. Don't like it. Tried it a time or two.

So I don't go there.

Lots of people do go there. That's their business.

I've had bad pizza. Can't stand Li'l Caesar's. Worse than PJ's. Cici's isn't worth judging, it's too tasteless.

My friends like Abby's pizza (it was a locally-run place near Eugene, OR) that was matzoh with catsup, mozzarella, and various things on top--from pineapple to egg to iceberg lettuce to the more usual things. I thought the best pizza in town was Domino's. I think that's truly a sad state of affairs.

Not into Chicago pizza. Like NY pizza. I'm an East Coaster.

[LBM20]

10. Actually, I think the Papa John's in my area is very good. Personal preference.

[LeftInTX]

23. Same here...San Antonio is not known for it's great pizza...LOL

So Papa John's is actually very good. I like their vegetarian.

[Adrahil]

11. Chicago pizza is not pizza. Fight me!

But I like it. It’s more of a casserole than a pizza, but yummy!

[obamanut2012]

27. I 100% agree with you!

[ChiTownDenny]

52. Why I oughta... :)

[ooky]

13. Yeah, its bad. I don't know how they stay in business

in any place that has alternatives.

[Iggo]

14. It ain't the pizza.

I have no problem with the taste of Papa John's pizza. It's no better or worse than any of the other pizzas that get driven to my house and walked up to the door. I know that when I pick up the phone and say "Please bring a pizza to my door" I'm trading quality for convenience. I don't have a problem with that.

My problem with Papa John's isn't with the quality of the pizza.

[Jake Stern]

18. To me the sauce is sickly sweet

Tastes like they dump a pound of sugar into a gallon of sauce.

[RainCaster]

20. Given the RWBS spewed by their founder, I will NEVER eat their swill

I thought that asshole was going to move to Canada if Obama care passed?

[Iggo]

22. This right here.

[DontBooVote]

24. Amen to that! No other reason is needed to avoid his establishments.

[Snotcicles]

25. The P Js that opened in my town lasted less than a year. nt

[obamanut2012]

26. There are great local pizza places in every town in SOFL

[MyNameGoesHere]

28. Papa John's is great!

If you toss it in the garbage and order a real pizza.

Hmm feel like a Lou deep dish.

[ChiTownDenny]

54. Lou invented the deep dish.

He and two partners. They opened Pizzaria Uno. Then Lou separated and opened Lou Malnati's. Or so the story goes.

[RandySF]

29. Little Ceasars is the best chain pizza I've had

Dominos is my worst.

[kimbutgar]

36. I like little Caesar's also

But my hubby hates it. In SF we have a good local pizza chain Goat Hill Pizza.

[RandySF]

37. For us it's Uncle Vito's

[Sinistrous]

64. Little Ceasars is the only pizza

I ever threw in the trash as totally inedible. Right now, I even hate to drive past the joint.

[NRaleighLiberal]

30. We loathe all chain pizzas. Small and local, or our own.

[we can do it]

31. The worst.

[aeromanKC]

32. Papa's pizza is the BEST!!

Papa Murphy's that is!!

[Heartstrings]

59. Yes! nt

[MarcA]

33. Who owns PJ now.

All the ones I have seen or heard about have taken down all of the original
owner's posters, pictures, name plates, etc. No reference to him whatsoever.
Would be interesting to know who the local franchisees are for PJ and other
food places.

[Hoyt]

34. It's bad. We moved last year from a place with a really good local pizza joint. Nothing great here,

but we recently tried Marco's, out of desperation when starving. It was really pretty good and cheap.

[JI7]

35. papa johns actually got worse in the last year or so

even worse than it was

[NCjack]

38. You must have missed my suggestion several years ago on enjoying PJs pizza pie.

Here it is:

1. Call and place your order for delivery. (Have your credit card handy.)
2. Turn on your oven and set to 450 deg-F.
3, When the pie is received, open the box and verify it is the pie you ordered. Leave the pie in its box and re-close it.
4. When the oven temp has reached the setting, place the box (with the pie in it) into the oven.
5. In about 10 minutes, the kitchen will fill with a wonderful fireplace odor. It is now ready!
6. Remove from the oven, open the box, and carefully toss the pie into a garbage can.
7. Eat and enjoy the box.

[Ron Obvious]

39. I'm more of a brick oven man

But of course that usually means they don't deliver...

[tymorial]

40. Meh. It's a chain pizza

Its no worse than most chain pizza places.

[KG]

41. so bad I'll never understand how it got to be a major chain

[bearsfootball516]

43. It's just eh to me. Not great, but definitely not the worst I've ever had.

As others have said, buy local.

[JaneQPublic]

44. Domino"s earns points for "Most Improved."

I recently had the first pizza from Dom in 15 years, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Not only was it NOT flavorless, but it tasted great.

Three times since, they have delivered in less than 25 min.

Check out their webpage or app. They give choices for crust (hand-tossed, Brooklyn style, deep-dish etc.), sauces, and of course toppings, but then you can fine-tune more or less than the standard amounts.

What's really handy is their pizza tracker for delivery orders. It tells you when the pie goes in the oven, comes out, departs for delivery, etc. You can even get texts to let you know when the pizza is heading your way.

I used to give my business to a locally owned pizzeria, but after the third time they messed up my order, I'm Dom's newest fan.

[genxlib]

45. You absolutely must watch this classic Colbert bit on Papa Johns

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/4fqxvr/the-colbert-report-obamacare---pizza-costs

One of my all time favorites

[ChiTownDenny]

56. Racoon ass. LOL.

[GaYellowDawg]

46. Papa Johns: Shitty ingredients. Shitty pizza.

I really enjoyed Papa Johns pizza back in the 90's when they were still trying. Since then, the meats, the cheese, the crust, and even the damn garlic butter have clearly degraded in quality. They suck now. Wouldn't accept a pizza for free from them.

[BannonsLiver]

47. Still better than Chicago style

If I want lasagna I’ll order lasagna.

[ChiTownDenny]

57. Friggin' New Yawker. LOL

[GaYellowDawg]

61. Damn straight. Real pizza can't be folded.

And it takes a New Yorker to be unable to distinguish between pasta and crust. LOL

[BannonsLiver]

63. Real pizza

You mean like the kind commonly found in Italy that can in fact be folded?

The reason Chicago style can’t be folded is because it’s a casserole.

[GaYellowDawg]

66. Who says

that Italian pizza can't be improved on?

Clearly, Chicago has.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

48. Post your complaint in the Lounge, and name your town.

I bet someone will reply with a few local, non-chain pizza joints that are far better than the chains.

Yeah, the pizza may not be the equal of Chicago, but at least you don't have to trudge through the snow to get it.

This from a Detroiter who sympathizes with your plight of being in a warm land. Alligator tears, these.

[egduj]

49. I like it.

Their breadsticks are fantastic.

[Awsi Dooger]

50. Papa John's is awful

I would never order it again. Basically a double helping of cardboard.

Pizza Hut pan is my favorite among chain pizzas.

I used to like Dominos but once they added provolone to the cheese mix I can't eat it. I literally throw up. Multiple times. I don't like cheese in general but can handle mozzarella only, as long as there is not too much of it.

Little Caesar's will make mozzarella only for me, and as long as I order Classic and stay away from the Extra Most Bestest, I am okay.

Cici's is good if I order the veggie pizza and specify cheese/sauce/etc. Their salad bar is also good although some of them are too small. I often have to ask for a little cup of mushrooms and also a cup of black olives. Those aren't available on the salad bar but they get them for me from the pizza topping lineup.

[muntrv]

51. In SE Michigan, I like Buddy's and Cottage Inn.

[Freddie]

53. Had one in my town

Pizza is one of those things that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” - the crust, sauce and cheese should turn into something great when cooked right. Papa Johns pizza was sauce and cheese on bread. The crust was obviously a pre-made disc of something. We have a number of good mom & pop pizza places here and also Pizza Hut, Dominos and Little Caesar’s. The Papa Johns closed in less than a year.

[Clash City Rocker]

55. Life is too short to eat pizza from any national chain

Some regional chains are quite good; for example, Round Table in California. But it’s pretty much always better to find a neighborhood pizza place. Better still, make it yourself, it isn’t that hard.

Chicago pizza is the best. I live in New Jersey, and I don’t get the romanticism of New York pizza. I can’t go to Chicago without hitting Giordano’s at least once. And yeah, Papa John’s is gross. You can find better pizza at a mall, or a 7-11.

[Lotusflower70]

58. Lol

Don't ever order from a chain. That's not pizza. I used to live near Little Italy in New York. I moved but I always try to find the hole in the wall, family owned places. Those are the way to go.

[akraven]

60. C'mon up! You buy the Alaskan Amber, I'll spring for the pizza:

http://gambardellas.com/

[DonaldsRump]

62. Little Caesar's

Had some of the funniest commercials in the 90's and 2000's. Don't see much of them anymore though.

Great prices combos too, and still has a $5.99 large pepperoni pizza for lunch that's already ready.

Even better, the founder Mike Illitch seemed like a wonderful person, even paying Rosa Parks' rent!

One of Ilitch's first philanthropic efforts was the Little Caesars Love Kitchen, established in 1985. The traveling restaurant was formed to feed the hungry and assist with food provisions during natural disasters. The program has been recognized by former Presidents Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and has served more than 2 million individuals in the United States and Canada.

In 2006, inspired by a veteran returning to civilian life after losing both of his legs in war, Ilitch founded the Little Caesars Veterans Program to provide honorably discharged veterans with a business opportunity when they transition from service or seek a career change. Ilitch received the Secretary's Award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for this program in 2007; it is the highest honor given to a civilian by the department.

The Little Caesars Amateur Hockey Program, established by Ilitch in 1968, helped thousands of children. Additionally, Ilitch Charities for Children was founded in 2000 as a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving the lives of children in the areas of health, education and recreation.

In 2008, the charity was renamed Ilitch Charities and its focus was broadened. The new charity invests in the community's future by supporting innovative, collaborative and measurable programs that promote economic development and spur job growth, as a means to address social issues such as poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and hunger.

***

From 1994 until her death in 2005, Ilitch paid Rosa Parks's rent to enable her to live in a safer part of Detroit.

[link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ilitch|

[Irishxs]

67. Quit eating it when refused healthcare for employees.

[DonViejo]

68. Locking...

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