The Best National Restaurant Chain Thread

[Commando]

In Arizona now as well apparently.

Yeah there's one in Tempe. We have some pretty good pizza in phoenix, I will admit. Everyone talks about Pizzeria Bianco, which got some press as the best pizza in the country, and it's great, but there's a lot of little spots and lesser known chains that are great without the long wait and tall expectations. I'm partial to Dough Bird, which is just Arizona, but I see they have opened one in Nashville, too. There are a lot of artsy fartsy one-off pizza spots that try to copy Bianco and kind of succeed, but I don't really crave that style of pizza; I'd almost prefer a greasy old school Pizza Hut pan pizza, and If I'm feeling like a real fat POS I'll hit Lou Malnati's for that Chicago style gut bombing.

[YOhio]

Marcos is fine, but it’s hit and miss like most chains. Plenty of great local pizza here, but when we are ordering cheap chain pizza for kids parties, the best is definitely Dominos Brooklyn style crust. Don’t waste your time with the thin crust or the regular. Brooklyn style. You’re welcome.

Agree about Brooklyn style from Dominos. But disagree that it's the best option for kids parties. Cheapest is always the best option for those because kids will eat anything and they'll always destroy a pile of caesars hot and ready.

[Donuthole]

Agree about Brooklyn style from Dominos. But disagree that it's the best option for kids parties. Cheapest is always the best option for those because kids will eat anything and they'll always destroy a pile of caesars hot and ready.

I suppose it depends on whether my dinner is coming from the kids' party pizza. If that's the case, I'm splurging on Dominos Brooklyn Style.

My youngest , M, (9) is admittedly quite spoiled, which affords her the luxury of a refined palate. She has always hated pizza, a fact that has thrown a real cramp in our dinner style on more than one occasion. Last year I took her to Grimaldi's (speaking of fantastic chains, btw) and she devoured the pizza, including the crust. Turns out she doesn't hate pizza, she just hates shit pizza. Now that she knows what good pizza is, there are a few nearby pizza places she will eat. And thankfully, she will eat Domino's Brooklyn Style (though she will point out the entire time that it's not nearly as good as Grimaldis. Yeah, yeah, we get it, M. We get it. Now shut up and eat your pizza).

[falafel]

I suppose it depends on whether my dinner is coming from the kids' party pizza. If that's the case, I'm splurging on Dominos Brooklyn Style.

My youngest , M, (9) is admittedly quite spoiled, which affords her the luxury of a refined palate. She has always hated pizza, a fact that has thrown a real cramp in our dinner style on more than one occasion. Last year I took her to Grimaldi's (speaking of fantastic chains, btw) and she devoured the pizza, including the crust. Turns out she doesn't hate pizza, she just hates shit pizza. Now that she knows what good pizza is, there are a few nearby pizza places she will eat. And thankfully, she will eat Domino's Brooklyn Style (though she will point out the entire time that it's not nearly as good as Grimaldis. Yeah, yeah, we get it, M. We get it. Now shut up and eat your pizza).

Gee I wonder where she gets that from.

[Donuthole]

Gee I wonder where she gets that from.

I know, right? Mrs. Donut's genes are pretty dominant.

[YOhio]

I suppose it depends on whether my dinner is coming from the kids' party pizza. If that's the case, I'm splurging on Dominos Brooklyn Style.

My youngest , M, (9) is admittedly quite spoiled, which affords her the luxury of a refined palate. She has always hated pizza, a fact that has thrown a real cramp in our dinner style on more than one occasion. Last year I took her to Grimaldi's (speaking of fantastic chains, btw) and she devoured the pizza, including the crust. Turns out she doesn't hate pizza, she just hates shit pizza. Now that she knows what good pizza is, there are a few nearby pizza places she will eat. And thankfully, she will eat Domino's Brooklyn Style (though she will point out the entire time that it's not nearly as good as Grimaldis. Yeah, yeah, we get it, M. We get it. Now shut up and eat your pizza).

Ha! She sounds great.

[Shaka]

Brooklyn style is my favorite Domino's crust.

My go-to for cheap pizza is Costco. I think it punches above its weight and kind of reminds me of Pizza Pipeline. I also like Papa Murphy's.

[Pelado]

Brooklyn style is my favorite Domino's crust.

My go-to for cheap pizza is Costco. I think it punches above its weight and kind of reminds me of Pizza Pipeline. I also like Papa Murphy's.

I haven't done the math, but it would be easy to believe that the price per square inch of Costco pizza is lower than even Little Caesar's, yet the product tastes significantly better. As long as you don't require any other toppings beyond cheese or pepperoni, it's tough to beat on value.

[Copelius]

I haven't done the math, but it would be easy to believe that the price per square inch of Costco pizza is lower than even Little Caesar's, yet the product tastes significantly better. As long as you don't require any other toppings beyond cheese or pepperoni, it's tough to beat on value.

That would be an interesting math problem. We always go Sam's when we get pizza because of that. Sam's also have the advantage of 4 meat and deluxe options.

[Pelado]

That would be an interesting math problem. We always go Sam's when we get pizza because of that. Sam's also have the advantage of 4 meat and deluxe options.

Yeah, Costco cut out their combo pizza a while back, I think at the same time they cut the polish dog from the menu. Sad days. Sam's Club's presence in the Treasure Valley market was short-lived. I believe the former Sam's Club location is now one of the campuses for the College of Western Idaho.

[USUC]

Costco's pizza crust is subpar. I'll only eat it if I get it to go and throw it on a pizza screen in the oven to crisp up the crust.

[Omaha 680]

I suppose it depends on whether my dinner is coming from the kids' party pizza. If that's the case, I'm splurging on Dominos Brooklyn Style.

My youngest , M, (9) is admittedly quite spoiled, which affords her the luxury of a refined palate. She has always hated pizza, a fact that has thrown a real cramp in our dinner style on more than one occasion. Last year I took her to Grimaldi's (speaking of fantastic chains, btw) and she devoured the pizza, including the crust. Turns out she doesn't hate pizza, she just hates shit pizza. Now that she knows what good pizza is, there are a few nearby pizza places she will eat. And thankfully, she will eat Domino's Brooklyn Style (though she will point out the entire time that it's not nearly as good as Grimaldis. Yeah, yeah, we get it, M. We get it. Now shut up and eat your pizza).

Pizza is my absolute favorite food. I will eat any pizza but I also consider myself a connoisseur. I didn't know Grimaldi's had grown to the point where they are now. Last I looked 10 years ago they had maybe 4 total locations. I don't know if I would qualify them as a chain in the spirit of this thread as they are only in 10 states (and the UAE!) but they do have 47 restaurants. If they qualify as a chain I would definitely make them my top pizza chain. That being said (sorry JL), the best pizza in the world used to be served at Grimaldi's original location under the Brooklyn Bridge until they moved to a much larger location next door in 2010. Their expansion, downturn in quality, and above all abandonment of the original location with its grandfathered and therefore largely unregulated coal fired oven prompted Patsy Grimaldi (who sold to the current owner in 1998) to come out of retirement and open Juliana's in the original location where he started Grimaldi's. It is the best I have encourntered in all my travels including searching everywhere in NYC.

Anyway your story about your daughter reminded me of a somewhat opposite story about mine. The first pizza she ever ate was Juliana's and the first burger she ever ate was Shake Shack (back when there were 2 locations only in NYC and it was very high quality). So we joked that she would be ruined for normal pizza and burgers forever. But some time after she learned to talk and before we moved away from NYC, I asked her what her favorite pizza was. Her answer: "Probably first Juliana's, and then Little Ceasar's".

[Shaka]

Costco's pizza crust is subpar. I'll only eat it if I get it to go and throw it on a pizza screen in the oven to crisp up the crust.

I disagree. I think that it is decent, especially considering the price.

[Pelado]

I disagree. I think that it is decent, especially considering the price.

Considering the price, it's hard to complain about Costco pizza.

[Northwestcoug]

I disagree. I think that it is decent, especially considering the price.

The only time I eat Costco pizza is when our office manager brings it in to soothe the employees on busy days. I usually eat more than I should. It ain’t bad.