Are the locally owned pizza restaurants better than the chain pizza restaurants? (undercooked, cooked)

[sskink]

This is only a debate if you're arguing with people that don't want to spend more than $5 and don't really care what that $5 buys them.

[eureka1]

Is this a serious question?

[gentlearts]

I have gotten uneven quality at both chain and private pizza joints.
I have gotten almost the best pizza ever at Pizza Hut once, but not consistently.
We go to a pizza place at the beach that is so fabulous, the pizza could make you cry. But sometimes it is only mediocre.
I actually like the Take and Bake from Walmart. I doctor it up a bit and it is really good.
I make my own pizza a lot, and even I get uneven results, but not sure why, so go figure.

Bottom line, it depends on who is making it and if they care or not, if they are watching the oven, and if the toppings are fresh.

[ultraviolet3]

Of course they are. Chain pizza, to me, is just nasty. Find a small pizzeria near you and try theirs. If not happy with it, try another until you find one that you like.

I went to a Papa John's exactly once in my life - it was bad. I can't remember the last time I went to a Pizza Hut or Domino's and honestly, I won't care if I never have it again!

[puginabug]

Unfortunately, here in Lafayette Louisiana, there are no decent locally owned pizzarias. Being from the Northeast, this is an annoyance for us.

I do wish I had the $, the business sense, and the recipes needed to start up an authentic Italian/Pizza restaurant.

[freemkt]

Originally Posted by Mopac1980

Are the locally owned pizza restaurants better than the chain pizza restaurants?

Generally much better. Portland has a wide variety of excellent local pizzas, while chain pizzas tend to run from mediocre to average.

[freemkt]

Originally Posted by ultraviolet3

Of course they are. Chain pizza, to me, is just nasty. Find a small pizzeria near you and try theirs. If not happy with it, try another until you find one that you like.

I went to a Papa John's exactly once in my life - it was bad. I can't remember the last time I went to a Pizza Hut or Domino's and honestly, I won't care if I never have it again!

There are plenty of online sources to steer you to good local pizza wherever you are.

[Flightoficarus87]

The vast majority of the time, absolutely!

In fact, I'd say that's the case for most, if not all types of restaurants.

[Dennis P]

Based on my experience, the pizza from mom-and-pop shops is better than the big chain restaurants.

[Missy2U]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

I have gotten uneven quality at both chain and private pizza joints.
I have gotten almost the best pizza ever at Pizza Hut once, but not consistently.
We go to a pizza place at the beach that is so fabulous, the pizza could make you cry. But sometimes it is only mediocre.
I actually like the Take and Bake from Walmart. I doctor it up a bit and it is really good.
I make my own pizza a lot, and even I get uneven results, but not sure why, so go figure.

Bottom line, it depends on who is making it and if they care or not, if they are watching the oven, and if the toppings are fresh.

This follows exactly my experience as well - one of the best pizza's I've ever had was from a Domino's. One of the worst was from a Mom n Pop type shop. Papa John's is and always has been regularly awful and that will never change, I won't go to Little Cesar's, and while Pizza Hut used to be ok way back in the day, now they are just plain bad. Our other favorites ARE chains, albeit local ones (Rosati's and Joe's come to mind, as does JJ Twigs). One of our favorite take home and bake it pizzas was the frozen Jewel Chef's Kitchen Thin & Crispy pizza - especially the deluxe version.

Good pizza depends on too many factors other than who owns them just as gentlearts pointed out - who's making it, if they care, if the ingredients are fresh, if they're paying attention, and I'll throw in if their delivery guy is on the ball too.