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Sub-Par Pizza Blues - Where Has the Good Pizza Gone!


Jax Snacks

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During the Monday Night Football double header, I wanted celebrate the end of summer sports boredom and to order some pizza.  The problem is that the pizza industry seems to have been taken over by the big 4: Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, CiCi's and Dominoes.  All 4 of those make me barf!  Even the mom and pops seem to have gone down hill.  Unfortunately as I have aged, my body has become more sensitive to artificial and lower grade ingredients that cause headaches or hives.  Anyhow, I do have one locally owned place near me that is still pretty good and does not cause me to get sick!  I just have to pick it up since their delivery time is sometimes 1.5 hours!  Even my relatives in northern New Jersey used to complain about the quality of pizza and they were just 30 miles from NYC!  I really miss the 1970's and the awesome pizza those Italians use to make in our neighborhoods.

So, I ask.  Why the heck is it so darn hard to find good pizza these days?

Jax

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I suggest you move to central Illinois,theres some real good pizza there.

if you want something a little better for you try a ham and mushroom pizza whaletail an all meat pizza isn`t the only option at a pizzeria.another good option is a veggie pizza.

mom and pop shops make up about 50 percent of all pizzerias in USA.look harder you will find one you like.

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So THAT must be why all of these pizza places down here have a New York theme!  We have places called Brooklyn Pizza, Broadway Pizza, NY Pizza.  Even the independents all claim to have "New York Style" pizza!  Even the Chinese get in the act with their "New York Style Carry Out Chinese Food".  Wonder if I could put "New York Style Gumballs" on my machines to increase sales?  :D

Jax

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I must say that some of the best pizza in the US is in southern Connecticut.  New Haven/West Haven area, very very good.  The problem with many pizza places is they either do not let the dough rise or they use day old dough that was not kept cold enough and the yeast is dead (and won't rise).  You get a cardboard texture.

Next, they need a good I quality sauce that is not too acidic, a quality low moisture mozz (to prvent pools of greasy water).

AND cook it at a nice hot temp so the dough get crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside.

Maybe I should run a pizza place!  anyone want to place a rack? :rolleyes:

Just my opinion.

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day old dough is fine; in some cases even better, but I swear some places near me keep it in the mixer all night.  Gotta keep it cold until you let it rise. I will admit I'm not an expert pizza maker.  although I bet I rank up there in professional pizza eating. I ran a small cafe on a big campground, we served pizza, you could tell when the dough was not right.....

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Forgot about the Chicago style deep dish stuff!  For a chain, Uno's makes a good deep dish pizza, but it's very filling!  I remember a place in Arlington or Alexandria Virginia that had a deep dish pizza buffet on certain week nights - very tasty!

Jax

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Go to NY for the best pizza. Right T-Bird Johnny?

Gary

Right Gary!

Come to New York gang and I will treat you to a very thin crust pie at a joint called Johnny's.  ( not me )  They do not sell slices.  They have been making this type of pie for well over 50 years.  They slice the mozzarella very thin for each pie.  They are in lower Westchester County in NY.  ( Mount Vernon ).  I can eat a large one myself.  What a pie!

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Woah woah, what about the chicago style deep dish?  Go to the windy city if you want a good pizza.

High five!

I love getting in peoples faces with their Brooklyn/NY pizza myth. And I ask them: Have you eaten Pizza in NY, Indianapolis, Seattle, California, Miami, Detroit, and Chicago? (No) Exactly! Nobody beats Chicago.

Please note I am not from Chicago, I have never lived there. I did however tour there and it was the best pizza I ever ever had. However... The best CALZONES I have ever had are at Satchels Pizzeria in Gainesville FL. No where near I75 but I can't find anywhere else like it.

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  • 1 month later...

One thing I miss about Chicago is the Pizza (forget the chains they are processed garbage nothing like real fresh pizza) Lou Malnatis' and Ginos' East in Chicago are a good place to start. BJ's restaurant in So Cal. has excellent Pizza. New York Style is good But true Chicago style Pizza from real Chicago pizzerias  is the best!!!! (Of course I am slightly biased since I was born there.)

http://www.loumalnatis.com/

http://www.ginosonhiggins.com/

BJ's is really good Pizza outside of Chicago:

http://www.bjsbrewhouse.com/locations.aspx

Supposedly there is an excellent New York style Pizza place in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte NC but I haven't tried it yet.

For good greasy pizza when your hungry Fuel Pizza in Charlotte is decent too.

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Pizza connoisseur's must visit places (that I can think of right now.)

ZwanzigZ pizza - Columbus, IN

Amato's fire grill pizza - Delaware, OH

Louisiana Pizza kitchen - New Orleans, LA

Other restaurants of interest:

mama's and papa's - natchitoches, LA

Chances R - york, NE

Bun's - delaware, OH

red fish grill - New Orleans, LA

17th street bar and grill(ribs) - murphysboro, IL

Big bob gibson's(ribs) - Decatur, AL

rendezvous (ribs) - Memphis, TN 

17th Street grill (ribs) - Las Vegas, NV

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