Pizza Poll

The contention over pizza in my bar food post got me thinking that maybe it was time for another poll: 

Opinion Polls & Market Research

As usual, if your favorite isn't above, pick "other" and tell us your favorite in the comments.  It was particularly difficult this time to pick nine places; if you wonder why, try getting out the phone book and looking under the yellow pages for "pizza."  :)

The poll is also in the sidebar and on the polls page. 

Comments

[Toastie]

Not among your survey selections, but I've had an odd couple of experiences with Junior's (Long Island?) Pizza, in the old Varsity Ale/Damon's location by South Square. I've had their buffet on two occasions. On the first occasion, about two months ago, I was amazed to find such wonderful NY-style pizza in a buffet. It was very similar to the pizza at Randy's or Cinelli's. All-you-can-eat. Plus fresh salad items! So I was a looking forward to more of this a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately the buffet was nothing like it had been. The pizza was the thicker, doughy kind you might find in an Archer Farms pizza from the Super Target (which is fine with me if that's what I've brought home). And the fresh produce was no more.

While I agree with the poll results, I'm sad to see Satisfactions tied with Dominos.

[Joe]

Right now we have about 40 votes. That took less than 24 hours. Wow. Anyway, Randy's is in the lead. Cinelli's is 2nd. Pizza Palace and Mellow Mushroom are tied for 3rd, and are just behind Cinelli's. Satisfaction is way back in the pack, but is currently ahead of Domino's by maybe one vote.

[durhamfood]

I can't believe Cinelli's is second...grrrr....

Randy's, then Palace...then nothing!

[Michael Bacon]

I am extremely disappointed that the "Durham Pizza Restaurant" is not on the quiz. Granted, I've never been there myself, but the name is truly classic.

[Kira]

I have to base it on what I've eaten when I lived in Durham plus what I have eaten there since I moved away (whenever I visit, that is). I voted for Satisfaction, mostly because I can eat at a Mellow Mushroom down here so I don't see it as very special. I don't even KNOW what Randy's is, though. Where's that? Personally, though, after eating tons of Pizza Palace pizza (Remember--my ex worked there for a couple of years--LOTS of free food), I'd as soon vote for that one as Dominos.

[durhamfood]

There are four Randy's: http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&q=randy%27s&near=Durham,+NC&fb=1&view=text&sa=X&oi=local_group&resnum=1&ct=more-results&cd=1

[A. Nonny Muss]

I like Rudino's Pizza and Grinders out by Kroger and Home Depot. The sauce is spicy and the toppings are good.

[Joe]

I guess Rudino's is another chain? I've never tried them before.

[Ed]

I have to say that the Randy's up by Northgate was kicking tail for quite some time; Now they seem to have a different guy making the pies; they are still pretty OK. Cinelli's almost got my vote because their sausage (sliced sideways) is fantastic and they have hot cherry peppers (the only hot pepper that should ever be on a pie). They also gave me a free pie when they messed up my order. ~Ed

[Joe]

The dear, departed "Kallisti" on 9th street had really good food, including pizza and cheese steaks. A friend and I once got a pizza from them that had a small hole in the bottom crust. The guy could have just given us the thing; instead he told us as he handed us the pizza that it was inferior and did we want a free salad or the like to go with it. We just told him he was a great guy and kept going in there. :)

[Maura]

I voted for Randy's because I like traditional pizza, and have a big prejudice against gourmet pizza. It's peasant food, for God's sake.

I'd like to give Pop's kudos for their margerita (sp?) pizza. It's very good, and it's excellent cold. Great for breakfast.

[durhamfood]

It's peasant food, for God's sake.

Exactly! Why the heck anyone votes for Cinelli's is beyond me. Not only do they try to fancy-up pizza, they do it badly!

[ASE]

Amante.

[Joe]

I haven't eaten anything at Cinelli's in a long time. I think there are two reasons: They don't have a lunch menu, and their slogan turns me off. (I know those of you who hear the word fuck out of my mouth in every sentence may find that hard to believe, but there it it.) Never been in Amante either. I guess they're also a local chain?

Seriously, there are more pizza places around than I'll ever get to, unless my blog readers start subsidizing me full-time to do nothing but go out and eat (and blog about it). :)

[durhamfood]

Amante is from CH, but recently opened here. I've had their pizza in CH. It's pretty good, but not as good as Randy's.

[Joe]

I've been somewhat keeping up with Michael Bauer's Pizza Fridays on "Between Meals." I've been noticing that some of the places he lists are places where you don't have a lot of choice: It's, say, choose from these three pizzas, or maybe even just one. In a way, I think that's great. I guess really I should pull for the consumer here and say let people pick what they want, but screw it. These people have limited what they offer (presumably) in an effort to improve their business or the quality of its offerings. I think that's great. And if the market decides that their pizzas aren't good enough to support limiting their offerings, they go out of business. Since they're not out of business, I imagine their pies are pretty good. :)

[Russ]

Amante in Durham on MLK Blvd has a good pizza (and so far tops my list as having the best cheesesteak). For "eat in" Pulcinella on Hope Valley Road is good too. My pop-pizza choice (i.e. Papa Johns, Dominos) is Rudinos, but I've given that up in favor of Amante. We get Sal's pizza for staff meetings and I like their Mexican Pizza.

[Joe]

The pizza poll is just amazing: It currently has 139 votes, more than any other poll. And it got there really quickly, in less than two weeks. Randy's is still in the lead, but Satisfaction has really shown a late surge, and is solidly in 2nd place now. There have also been a lot of good suggestions (probably because there are so many pizza places around).

Russ: I did a cheesesteak survey with some other folks before I ever started this blog. Maybe it's time to revisit that. A lot of the establishments on it aren't even around anymore.

[Russ]

I checked out the cheesesteak survey. I forgot that McDonalds attempted a cheesesteak. I hope it has gone the way of the McDLT. I just started reading your blog so I hope to get through your archive at some point. Durham has a lot of great stuff to offer.

[Joe]

I think we'd all like to forget that McD's offered a cheesesteak.

Archives: Well, there's 3½ years of crap to read, so enjoy yourself. Every word is a sparkling gem. ;)