Pizza

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I saw somebody mention that Matador is overrated. I disagree. I think it's the best pizza in town and literally the one and only restaurant in the north worth driving up from the south for. I go a couple times a year and love it every time. Their house salad is awesome, too.

Twas me. I worked next door for 20 years, and ate there probably once per week. The pizza is okay, not great in my opinion - kinda salty (the cheese?), and I feel like I need to drink a liter of water afterwards. They changed ownership a few years ago, but I don't think the food changed at all. The house salad dressing is very popular for sure. I would rather have Nicks or Gus's pizza any day in the NW.

I believe Matador was or is connected to Odyssey on Bow Trail, and they have similar menus.

[troutman]

I forgot about The Place in Bowness. It has decent pizza.


Abbott: Anyone have a pizza delivery restaurant recommendation for Calgary?

Costello: The Place.

Abbott: That's what I want to find out. I want you to tell me the name.

Costello: I'm telling you, The Place.

Abbott: You know the restaurant's name?

Costello: Yes

Abbott: Well, then name the place?

Costello: That's it.

Abbott: I mean the name of the restaurant.

Costello: The Place.

http://www.theplacerestaurant.ca/

[IrishSpring2013]

...

[Calgary14]

In the south I would say best is Sammy's (Midnapore), Tommy's (Canyon Meadows) and now Paul's is opening in Shawnessy which is supposed to be just as good

[Insufficient Funds]

Originally Posted by IrishSpring2013

the "brooklyn" from little ceaser is one of my favs

73 has a good chicken one as well

Yuck. Lol

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by troutman

Twas me. I worked next door for 20 years, and ate there probably once per week. The pizza is okay, not great in my opinion - kinda salty (the cheese?), and I feel like I need to drink a liter of water afterwards. They changed ownership a few years ago, but I don't think the food changed at all. The house salad dressing is very popular for sure. I would rather have Nicks or Gus's pizza any day in the NW.

I believe Matador was or is connected to Odyssey on Bow Trail, and they have similar menus.

I am new to the NW so I have been trying various places recently. Agreed with this Matador was ok but not awesome. Would eat again just not my first choice.

I tried the mexican pizza from Al's Pizza and steak house and it was awesome if you are ok with non traditional pizza. I am going to try the donair next as I have been searching for a replacement since Kingo's closed down.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by IrishSpring2013

the "brooklyn" from little ceaser is one of my favs

73 has a good chicken one as well

It's definitely interesting watching the chains try to reinvent themselves and seeing the different directions they're all going in.

Little Ceaser's used to be a typical pizza chain. Now it's become a very low end, typically pick up only, place.

Pizza Hut has almost totally transitioned away from their sit down restaurants.

Panagos....is exactly the same 20 years later. I'm not sure how they are still in business.

One thing that really surprised me was trying a Domino's pizza, which was historically crap. It was actually pretty good and the sauce was very tasty for a chain place.

[BurningYears]

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by blankall

Panagos....is exactly the same 20 years later. I'm not sure how they are still in business.

The Buffalo Chicken Pizza from Panago is fantastic. As chains go, they are far and away the best.

[Shazam]

Panago is terribad. I ordered a pepperoni pizza from them, I got TWO pieces of pepperoni on the entire pizza. Screw them forever.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

The Buffalo Chicken Pizza from Panago is fantastic. As chains go, they are far and away the best.

They have good dipping sauces. Don't know how they can be considered "far and away" the best though. Every once in a while, I do like to order a BBQ sauce pizza with double cheese and pepperoni from them though. One thing I will say about them, is that when you order double cheese, you actually get a double cheese pizza.

All of the major chains serve some kind of purpose, but I'd hardly consider any them truly good. They are all pretty mediocre. They are better than the really bad independent places, and typically cheaper than the good independent places.

[Calgary14]

Pro tip - go to Panago to pick up dipping sauces (bigger glass jars) only for $3 each. They give you a funny look when you go in just to buy dipping sauces but totally worth it

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by blankall

Pizza Hut has almost totally transitioned away from their sit down restaurants.

I was driving along 17 Ave SE recently and noticed there was a Pizza Hut restaurant, advertising a $9.99 (?) buffet. I was surprised these are still around; I would give it a try for nostalgia but I know without question that it would end badly...

[jayswin]

Papa John's is pretty good as far as chains go.

[8 Ball]

I use to go to Tommy’s all the time years ago when I was in my teens, and the pizza was excellent. Went back there by chance with the fam about five or so years ago, and it was not good at all. Have they changed ownership?

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Pro tip - go to Panago to pick up dipping sauces (bigger glass jars) only for $3 each. They give you a funny look when you go in just to buy dipping sauces but totally worth it

Their Cayenne hot sauce is pretty good too.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

I use to go to Tommy’s all the time years ago when I was in my teens, and the pizza was excellent. Went back there by chance with the fam about five or so years ago, and it was not good at all. Have they changed ownership?

It's a weird dynamic (or was, not quite sure how it is now). The shop owner would make incredible pizzas, then they had other people that helped on the weekends and they seemed to botch the cooking times (either still uncooked tasting, which is the worst taste ever for a pizza, or overcooked).

I think these days the son has pretty much taken over and they're really good all the time.

[BowRiverBruinsRule]

Papa Nikolas pizza in Bowness/ Montgomery is good.

[Scorch]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

The Buffalo Chicken Pizza from Panago is fantastic. As chains go, they are far and away the best.

Ditto, they are the best among chain pizza.

I never understood why there’s hate for panago. Like A&W, they try to improve their ingredients. I guess it’s cool to hate chains restaurants?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

The Buffalo Chicken Pizza from Panago is fantastic. As chains go, they are far and away the best.

See, this sounds like it depends on what you are looking for from a pizzeria.

There are a few of the more common traditional styles like New York, Chicago, Neapolitan, and Greek which you can find in a lot of places here, also some less common in Calgary like Detroit.

I think it was California that started popularizing a lot of the odd ingredients and I look at Panago as more of a novelty pizzeria, with all of their weird sauces and varieties. I don’t think their crust or basic tomato sauce are anything more than bland and passable.

There is a place for what they do. But I wouldn’t compare them to any of the pizzerias that make a particular traditional style well.

The Italian supermarket on Edmonton Trail and 20th will fire up their pizza oven at certain times - pretty sure you can get them Saturday afternoons, and they make a pretty good pie.