Best national pizza chain (Chicago, Noble: company, Irish, free)

[emathias]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Never got the appeal of Chicago pizza, it's basically some pizza/lasagna hybrid with enough calories per serving to keep a hippo from not feeling hungry.

Also, the entire idea that all non-Chicago pizza is "cardboard" is proof of Chicago's midwestern insularity.

There are plenty of places Chicagoans think have decent pizza. And, for the record, most Chicagoans don't eat "Chicago-style" pizza very often. In fact, I'd guess the majority of local Chicago places don't even sell "Chicago-style" pizza if, by that term, you mean the deep dish or stuffed varieties (there are two thick "Chicago-style" styles, after all, plus the lesser-known but locally more popular style of thin crust).

Most Chicagoans are fine with New York or Detroit style pizzas. Also acceptable are pretty much anywhere northeast of Columbus, Ohio or, for some strange reason, Denver and, of course, Las Vegas. Also, we may not fully appreciate authentic California-style pizza (CPK notwithstanding), but we don't generally consider it cardboard.

What we do consider cardboard are any pizzas made with substandard ingredients using unpracticed techniques by people who couldn't care less about how it tastes as long as someone is willing to buy it. Which turns out to be on the menu in an awful big chunk of the country, especially in places that never actually had any significant Italian immigrant population. Which includes all of Texas.

[Dport7674]

Growing up I liked Godfathers Pizza, but haven't been there in years.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Never got the appeal of Chicago pizza, it's basically some pizza/lasagna hybrid with enough calories per serving to keep a hippo from not feeling hungry.

Also, the entire idea that all non-Chicago pizza is "cardboard" is proof of Chicago's midwestern insularity.

Have you had a thin crust pizza from Lou Malnati's? Compared with the "pizza" the chains offer, it's like saying a Yugo is as much of a performance car as a Porsche! So when I say Chicago pizza I really mean the local pizzerias and not just the deep dish style.
And the appeal of deep dish is that one piece will fill you up instead of needing to eat almost an entire pie. Quality over quantity is in play here.
And insular? Maybe, but I know what my taste buds like and I have had pizza all around the country. Some local pizzerias do a decent job, but the chains are awful to mediocre (at best).
It's like eating at a truly good local Italian restaurant and then saying Olive Garden is better.Blasphemy
Or put another way, it's like eating at a good, local seafood restaurant located in the heart of fresh product and then saying Long John Silver is better. Puh-leeze

[Gunner0325]

I love pizza threads! It always starts great arguments..haha! I saw someone say Detroit style pizza somewhere which is funny...what is Detroit style pizza? My wife is from there and whenever we visit Detroit we always order Jets pizza..it's actually a pretty good chain pizza. They opened one in Westmont last year I think? Other then that I refuse to order mass chain pizza like pizza hut or domino's...regardless if Domino's "changed" their recipe. If you live in Chicago or the burbs of Chicago, you have no excuse ordering that garbage pizza with so many other options..sorry

[gomexico]

Originally Posted by mistym

I'd rather poke my eye out.

Ok.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Gunner0325

Other then that I refuse to order mass chain pizza like pizza hut or domino's...regardless if Domino's "changed" their recipe.

I like pizza and find almost any pizza is better than no pizza.

[Gunner0325]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

I like pizza and find almost any pizza is better than no pizza.

Ok...you win...I have to agree with this

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

I like pizza and find almost any pizza is better than no pizza.

I respect this dude's opinions. Myself, if given the choice of McD's, Col. Heartburn or Pizza Hut will choose Pizza Hut especially if they have the pizza buffet. Still beats most frozen pizza. And I like pizza too and if someone has an event where mediocre pizza is served, I'll eat it, not complain, will often enjoy it and certainly be happy that I'm fed & happy. I'm not so haughty that I'll make a big deal about and I certainly prefer to not go hungry.
But like the Dos Equis guy:"I don't always eat pizza. But when I do, I prefer Lou Malnati's".

[almost3am]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

I respect this dude's opinions. Myself, if given the choice of McD's, Col. Heartburn or Pizza Hut will choose Pizza Hut especially if they have the pizza buffet. Still beats most frozen pizza. And I like pizza too and if someone has an event where mediocre pizza is served, I'll eat it, not complain, will often enjoy it and certainly be happy that I'm fed & happy. I'm not so haughty that I'll make a big deal about and I certainly prefer to not go hungry.
But like the Dos Equis guy:"I don't always eat pizza. But when I do, I prefer Lou Malnati's".

At Lou's, it is all about the thin crust for me. I am indifferent to their thick crust.

[chet everett]

Change pizza to women and you will end up like Bill Clinton...

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

I like pizza and find almost any pizza is better than no pizza.