Has anyone else noticed pizza quality has hit rock bottom?

[darkswordsman17]

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).

I would agree with this. I don't think people remember how bad a lot of things used to be, even in the relatively recent past. People bitch about fast food, but its actually a lot better quality than it used to be, and when you think about the massive improvements in variety that you can get at most of them, its actually pretty astounding.

Pizza seems more expensive now but I'd say its about the same when you factor in inflation, and might even be cheaper. Hell, a lot of places a large used to be $15-20 in the 80s and 90s and its still around that price, if not lower (for instance you could get a large pizza loaded with toppings at Pizza Hut for $10, a similar pizza in the 90s would've been $25-30 at places around here).

Independents are still very much a crap shoot, but I'd say that's gotten better. Its easier to find out what are the good ones.

But now you've gotten more choices, and if nothing else, and you're a supreme pizza snob, its easier than ever to get good ingredients that you want to make your own. Hell even frozen pizza is far better than it used to be.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I've had all sorts of pizza all over the world, and at least with respect to chain pizzas, I can't think of one that I couldn't eat and be relatively happy. Are there better pizzas? Sure, but I love pizza so much that just about any chain pizza will suffice in a pinch.

Seriously, these pizza threads (actually, any chain restaurant thread) make me laugh. It is cool to hate on the big restaurants/chains around here and that's all there is to it. I suppose I shouldn't laugh too much, because I AM a beer snob and cringe when I see people drinking any Coors product, for example.

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

I remember when Pizza Hut used to be nice sit in restaurant. The pan pizza's tasted awesome back then. Can't really find those anymore.

 

[Ns1]

find small respectable pizza joint, buy expensive pizza, get proper results.

I drop $20 for a large pretty regularly. Rather have 1 awesome large vs 3 shitty mediums.

 

[QueBert]

Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza > *

 

[BoomerD]

You buy CHEAP pizza...you GET cheap pizza.

Hell, even Costco's monster $10 pizzas are better than most chain pizza, and better than many of the local "mom & pop" pizza joints.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I don't eat it so I couldn't tell you. For the last 5 years it's just been too greasy for me to eat. I've been eating healthy foods for years now. Even the thought of take out pizza makes my stomach uneasy. What use to be a great tasting meal has now turned to a night on the toilet for me. My tastes have changed now too so pizza just isn't all that appealing to me. If you enjoy it that's fine. I just can't eat it.

 

[Wyndru]

I remember when Pizza Hut used to be nice sit in restaurant. The pan pizza's tasted awesome back then. Can't really find those anymore.

We still have one here in Albany NY, I went over to it last year. It still has the dim lighting atmosphere, then out come the red plastic cups and greasy pan pizza

 

[KMFJD]

When i was in Auckland i was addicted to the Dominos across from our hostel, had it almost every other day for a 2 weeks....come home and ordered local Dominos...yuch.....

 

[Vette73]

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

Yea but what do you tip for a cheap pizza? Same as a good pizza or no tip since you KNOW its not as good as it use to be?

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

We still have one here in Albany NY, I went over to it last year. It still has the dim lighting atmosphere, then out come the red plastic cups and greasy pan pizza

:awe:

 

[Saint Nick]

I remember when Pizza Hut used to be nice sit in restaurant. The pan pizza's tasted awesome back then. Can't really find those anymore.

There is a Pizza Hut located in Valentine, NE — a town of about 2,800 — that still has that nice "sit in" atmosphere. We go tubing and/or kayaking up there a couple times a year and not only is their service great, but the pizza is really good, too. They still kept the old signs and light fixtures. Very nice Pizza Hut. This is one of the last ones I know of in the area.

But, I know what you're saying. My hometown's Pizza Hut went to shit, mostly because it was run by druggie high schoolers. The rest of the Pizza Huts in the Omaha area have went from "sit in" type joints to the "take out only" type places. Too bad.

 

[thepd7]

And what's the deal with airline food?

haha nice

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Nothing beats New York pizza. I used to be a non-believer, but then I spent 4 days in the city. In those 4 days, I think I at 3 whole pies myself. MMMMMMMmmm So good.

 

[squirrel dog]

Papa Johns quality is not good where I hail from.:thumbsdown:

 

[KeithTalent]

I've noticed the quality of frozen pizza has inporoved tremendously over the past few years. Maybe the pizza brain trust has been focusing on that. :hmm:

KT

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Nothing beats New York pizza. I used to be a non-believer, but then I spent 4 days in the city. In those 4 days, I think I at 3 whole pies myself. MMMMMMMmmm So good.

Another new englander talking about how only de best pizza pies made in New York.

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

There is a Pizza Hut located in Valentine, NE — a town of about 2,800 — that still has that nice "sit in" atmosphere. We go tubing and/or kayaking up there a couple times a year and not only is their service great, but the pizza is really good, too. They still kept the old signs and light fixtures. Very nice Pizza Hut. This is one of the last ones I know of in the area.

But, I know what you're saying. My hometown's Pizza Hut went to shit, mostly because it was run by druggie high schoolers. The rest of the Pizza Huts in the Omaha area have went from "sit in" type joints to the "take out only" type places. Too bad.

Those take out only places don't even deliver!
If I'm going to take out I'd rather get a local New York style pizza but I've I think I've had my fill over the years. And if I do get delivery, the cheese almost always has slid to one side of the pie.

 

[SandEagle]

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.

14 inches. you like that Big Wick dontcha? who's your daddy. mmm mmm

for $40, did they at least butter your crust?

 

[OCGuy]

I eat chain-pizza with a well-done steak and bud-light while reading the bible. And I dont tip the delivery guy because he rides a road bike and the road is for cars only.

 

[joesmoke]

I eat chain-pizza with a well-done steak and bud-light while reading the bible. And I dont tip the delivery guy because he rides a road bike and the road is for SUVs only.

fxd. everyone knows this

 

[Numenorean]

Round Table still makes damned good pizza for a chain.

 

[TheVrolok]

Local shops are still awesome, chain pizza has always been sub-par.

 

[tokie]

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.

Well, you must be lucky.

The doughballs that I can find here are $5 just for one, and then you have to add the cost of toppings to that. Cheese is also pretty expensive and I use a lot of it for pizza, so a pizza made by me at home would probably cost around ~$13. A large from a chain including delivery is slightly cheaper at ~$12.

 

[vi edit]

Uh, there's not much to making pizza crust. It's flour, yeast, a pinch of salt, and some olive oil. It's like $.50 in ingredients.

- An 8oz bag of shreaded italian cheeses is like $2.
- A can of tomato sauce is $.50
- Random seasonings work out to be a couple cents
- Pepperoni is $2
- Mushrooms $.50
- Black olives $.50