Domino’s
14 Austin locations
Various hours
Having turned pizza delivery into a widely emulated science, Domino’s challenge in the new millennium is to differentiate itself from its many competitors. To this end, the chain has begun offering “Italian Original” specialty pizzas such as the Chicken Grill, which features marinated chicken along with red, green, and yellow peppers. Domino’s pizza comes on three different kinds of crust: Classic Hand-Tossed, Crunchy Thin Crust, and Ultimate Deep Dish.
Pizza Hut
21 Austin locations, 444-4444 (citywide delivery)
Various hours
No one would ever argue that Pizza Hut’s pizza is all that, yet something about their distinctive, buttery crust sets the Dallas-based chain’s pies apart as objects of singular craving. Their Personal Pan pizzas are now ubiquitous in our nation’s airports, making a quick, inexpensive meal possible even on a 30-minute layover. Pizza Hut’s new Big New Yorker Pizza attempts to approximate New York street pizza with a sizable 16-inch pie.
Papa John’s
16 Austin locations
Various hours
Although an unprecedented court decision recently forced Papa John’s to stop using the ad slogan “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza,” many pizza delivery junkies swear by Papa John’s thick pizza sauce made with vine-ripened tomatoes. For my money, though, the chain’s most distinguished menu item is their tasty garlic dipping sauce, which comes in little packets with every pizza.
CiCi’s Pizza
1901 W. William Cannon, 462-3100
5635 N. I-35, 453-4488
9717 N. Lamar, 873-8800
1601 S. I-35, Round Rock, 388-7844
6001 W. Parmer, 257-8400
200 S. Bell, Cedar Park, 258-8600
Daily, buffet hours 11am-9pm; takeout hours vary
Epitomizing the old adage that “Quantity is a quality,” CiCi’s stuffs you with all the pizza, pasta, breadsticks, and iceberg lettuce-based salad you can eat for the unbelievably low sum of $2.99. Bring the toddlers, too, because all kids three and under eat for free. You can definitely find better pizza, but you’ll pay a lot more than $2.99 for it. The tried-and-true favorites like pepperoni are perfectly adequate, and the dessert pizzas deliver a powerful sugar high. Just remember to stay away from the taco pizza unless you’re a big fan of shredded lettuce topping.
Little Caesar’s
7 Austin locations
Various hours
Ever since they began backing away from the novel “Pizza! Pizza!” concept and ad campaign, Little Caesar’s has been suffering from a big identity crisis. Their presence in Austin has dwindled considerably in recent years. Nevertheless, they still champion value by selling in bulk (even by the foot, in some cases) pizza that holds its own against the other chains. Little Caesar’s Shockwave-happy Web site (www.littlecaesars.com) includes a page that plays the national anthem of every country with a franchise.
Mr. Gatti’s
21 Austin locations, 459-2222 (citywide delivery)
Various hours
From one Austin restaurant founded by a retired Air Force officer in 1964, Mr. Gatti’s has grown into a chain of over 200 locations nationwide. While quality varies greatly from location to location, a good Gatti’s can turn out chewy cheese-heavy pizzas that are quite delectable by chain standards. Some locations have buffets, allowing diners to sample both traditional and specialty pizzas, like the sweet and tangy barbecue chicken pie.
GattiTown
7101 Hwy. 71 W. (at the “Y” in Oak Hill), 301-7777
Sun-Thu, 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-10pm
From the folks who brought you Mr. Gatti’s, GattiTown is a Chuck E. Cheese-style pizza arcade that provides extra good value by serving all foodstuffs buffet-style for $5 (kids and seniors pay less). The pizza, pasta, and salad bar are all a cut above Mr. Gatti’s usual fare, and the menu also includes new non-Gatti items like spinach lasagna. The arcade is huge, featuring everything from pinball machines to bumper cars. If gaming isn’t your madness, check out the three-screen TV room with individual volume controls at every table.
Chuck E. Cheese Pizza
502 W. Ben White, 441-9681
8038 Burnet, 451-0296
Mon-Thu, 10am-10pm; Fri-Sat, 10am-11pm
Not many people realize this, but pizza is not the main attraction at Chuck E. Cheese. What they serve is adequate but somewhat overpriced to compensate for all the kid-friendly animatronic fun. If you’re planning a birthday party, be sure to check your mail for coupons offering discounts on party packages that include pizza, soft drinks, and game room tokens. And if you’re a grownup going to eat at Chuck E. Cheese alone, prepare to be stared at.
Peter Piper Pizza
801 E. William Cannon, 444-4143
13376 Hwy. 183 N., 257-9100
Mon-Thu, 10am-10pm; Fri-Sat, 10am-11pm
Peter Piper Pizza is now Chuck E. Cheese’s main competition for that lucrative family-pizza-and-fun emporium dollar. Though not quite as over-the-top as Chuck E. Cheese, most kids should find plenty to do in Peter Piper’s spacious gaming arcades, complete with redemption centers. Oh yeah, they also sell pizza, salad, and chicken wings there.
This article appears in May 26 • 2000.