Has anyone else noticed pizza quality has hit rock bottom?

[FelixDeCat]

Back in the day pizza was expensive (relatively speaking) and two large pies would be close to $25 fully loaded. But they were damn good and worth every penny. Todays $5 crap made with glues, cardboard and particle wood is so nasty it hardly qualifies as food anymore, much less delicious pizza. Little Ceasers (owned by the makers of Spam - Hormel) is the worst.

We have UNOs and a local outfit called Mamma's Pizza that is made the old fashioned way - expensive and filling.

Why did mainstream pizza makers like Dominoes, Pizza Inn, Pizza Hut, etc. decide to stoop so low for so little?

Update - 09/02/11

Since I first created this thread I have made an astounding discovery:


If you add fresh tomato slices to ANY pizza and I do mean ANY pizza it will taste fantastic. Simply fantastic. This of course assumes you are a fan of freshly sliced tomatoes.

 

[F1N3ST]

Has anyone else noticed the sheer amount of people who bitch about pizza on these forums?

 

[nageov3t]

chain pizzerias have always sucked.

I have no complaints about my local shop other than that they're too expensive... I grew up with $8/pies. seems like lately they're double that.

 

[Phokus]

And what's the deal with airline food?

 

[vi edit]

Exhibit A: The modern consumer wants dirt cheap food. The rise of the "Value Menu".

Exhibit B: The rise of the rising self bake pizza available at your local grocery for $5.50.

 

[shiner]

Make it at home yourself.

I was never impressed with Uno's when they had a place here. Overpriced and questionable quality.

 

[DesiPower]

@OP - No, Pizzas taste just same to me, I guess its hip these days to criticize pizzas.

 

[PingSpike]

And what's the deal with airline food?

What airline food? You mean that bag of peanuts that shrinks every month?

 

[preslove]

I'd say that chain pizza has improved dramatically since the 80's while decreasing in price. At the same time, independent and high-end chain pizza shops have spread across the country to even shit-hole bumfuck rural areas. Pizza quality has never been better.

Of course, the only independent place around me is terrible. Ethnic food sucks when 95 percent of the population is mexican (even mexican food).

 

[DesiPower]

And what's the deal with airline food?

airlines have "food"??!!

 

[JoPh]

people who eat chain pizza cannot complain..

 

[lsv]

It's just pizza, make your own if shit you can buy made by someone else is terrible.

 

[NYHoustonman]

Be happy you're not stuck in California's bay area. Pizza here is generally terrible, chain or no, at least compared to the New York pies I'm used to - every time I head back out East I tend to stuff my face with as much pizza as possible. Every other block there's an Italian deli or restaurant that does pizza better than anyplace I've been to out West.

More on topic, chain pizza sucks, etc.

 

[PingSpike]

Pizza has declined in quality I think. I know people hate on the hut, but I also remember it being an expensive treat when I was a kid. I went there for the first time in a decade a few years back and left thinking either nostalgia had clouded my memory or these pizzas had both shrank and started to suck ass big time.

I really don't blame the companies though. Americans complain all the time, but their actions speak louder than words: They mostly want massive quantities of something for the least amount of money, quality be damned.

I don't hate chain places for a lot of things...but there is no good chain pizza around here. There's a few local places that are decent though, but there are certainly some local places that blow major ass too. Those frozen pizzas in the grocery store actually outclass most chain pizza today.

 

[spidey07]

Just got a 14 inch Big Wick from wicks last night with a veggie salad. We get two meals out of this. 34 dollars plus a 6 dollar tip makes 40 bucks for pizza.

But absolutely worth it. If you want quality, then pay for it.

 

[BassBomb]

pizza depot near my house is expensive compared to pizza pizza pizza nova etc... but they make some damn good pizza, never skimp on cheese or toppings and the bread is thick!

i r satisified... the fight for cheapest caused quality to go shit

 

[techs]

I flat out don't eat chain pizza.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

do you really not know the answer to this question?

 

[Ika]

this is partially why I don't eat pizza anymore - it usually sucks. doesn't taste like anything, the dough is dry and nasty, and the sauce is gross. as a college student, not liking pizza is unfortunate though

 

[shiner]

I flat out don't eat chain pizza.

Probably a good policy. I would imagine the links would be hell on your teeth.

 

[Wyndru]

chain pizzerias have always sucked.

I have no complaints about my local shop other than that they're too expensive... I grew up with $8/pies. seems like lately they're double that.

This.

I just make my own now, with the doughballs you get from the refrigerated isle at the supermarket and a pizza stone.

Then I can put a ton of toppings on it, and it still ends up being under $5.

 

[herm0016]

papa murphy's take and bake is still good. we just got one in town. very exciting addition to our giant truck stop town.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Looks like the ATOT pizza snobs are checking in, right on schedule.

 

[Phokus]

I'd like to know how the hell domino's is still in business though

 

[Taejin]

why does mcdonald's suck but taste delicious