Cici's closed

[stevew]

Dammit, they built a location within walking distance from my house last spring, and now it's gone. I dunno if their lease was screwed up, or what, but I am very dissapointed. I know their food is not the greatest, but their 6 dollar carry out pizzas were always a good snack. Bummer. Hopefully they find a new location in town.

[vex]

That sucks. Cici's is great. Love the alfredo cheese pizza. Too bad there isn't a Cici's within 30 miles of where I live:(

[Schmidty]

I loved Chi Chi's. It made me sad when they were bought by Outback. :(

Happy, Happy, Happy birthday.
Happy, Happy, Happy birthday.
Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday,
To You, To You, To You. Ole!

I think I'm going to cry.

[hoosierdude]

That's weird. We are getting a CiCi's Pizza very soon, they started building this week. I guess we took yours from you. Sorry dude. :)

[Karlifornia]

$6 carry-out? If you want shitty pizza on the cheap tip, Little Caesars is always good. $5 for a large.

[stevew]

$6 carry-out? If you want shitty pizza on the cheap tip, Little Caesars is always good. $5 for a large.

Little Caes went out of buisiness about 10 years ago around here.

[Butter]

Why would you get a $6 carry out when you can get a $4 buffet?

[Raiders Army]

I love CiCi's. Great food for the price.

[GrantDawg]

It amazes me how cheaply they can make pizzas, and they are still decent (not quite what I'd call good, but edible). We have a knock off around here called Stevie B's which is basically the same thing. I had a manager tell me that unless you eat like 12 large pizzas in one sitting, they will always make money off you. Considering the food cost we used to have at Dominos (roughly 20% of price), they must get food much cheaper.

[ISiddiqui]

Threads like this make this Jersey boy twitch ;).

[JeeberD]

Decent stuff for being so cheap. The runs are worth it...

[Mantle2600]

We have about 2 little caesars left around the Greater Cleveland area around here.

[Lathum]

Threads like this make this Jersey boy twitch ;).

so true

[MizzouRah]

I loved Chi Chi's. It made me sad when they were bought by Outback. :(

Happy, Happy, Happy birthday.
Happy, Happy, Happy birthday.
Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday,
To You, To You, To You. Ole!

I think I'm going to cry.

We had one around here when I was a kid... loved the place.

[Raiders Army]

Decent stuff for being so cheap. The runs are worth it...

Yeah. I think it's because of the amount of people and touching the same serving utensils as them while eating with your hands that gives you the runs. Last time we went we used hand sanitizer before we ate and that got rid of the runs.

[sterlingice]

There's a Pizza Street here (same idea, better pizza, at least here) and they're trying to run CiCi's out of business in Lawrence. Either that or getting some overflow since they're on the other side of town.

SI

[stevew]

Why would you get a $6 carry out when you can get a $4 buffet?

Cause I don't want the disease that that place breeds. Due to other people touching common utensils.

[JonInMiddleGA]

We have a knock off around here called Stevie B's which is basically the same thing.

Similar in concept ... except that Stevie B's is the worst pizza I've ever eaten in my life.

[oliegirl]

Similar in concept ... except that Stevie B's is the worst pizza I've ever eaten in my life.

Agreed...

There is one right up the street from where we live, and every 9 weeks, when report cards come out, the school gives out coupons for a free buffet at Stevi B's to all the kids who make straight A honor roll...and even though any other day, Anthony won't eat there because it's "gross pizza", that night that he brings that stupid coupon home, we have to go there. It's awful...I've gotten to where all I'll eat are the breadsticks and the dessert pizza. The first time we went I tried some pizza with potatoes on it, some with Mac and Cheese on it, and some regular pepperoni...it was all horrible.

Stupid school giving out stupid coupons to stupid Stevi B's...the only bright side is that the kids also get coupons for a free half gallon of Publix ice cream, and a coupon for a free Chick Fil A sandwich, that almost makes up for the Stevi B's coupon.

[ISiddiqui]

Tell him not to get A's ;).

[oliegirl]

Tell him not to get A's ;).

Oh believe me, the thought has crossed my mind...damn kid being so smart, it's all his fault I have to eat crappy pizza 3 times a year. :rolleyes:

[stevew]

I will now take the next 30 seconds to mourn the fact that I'll have to drive approximately 30 miles to enjoy some mac n cheese Pizza.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I will now take the next 30 seconds to mourn the fact that I'll have to drive approximately 30 miles to enjoy some mac n cheese Pizza.

So, like, this would be a bad time for me to mention that there's a CiCi's less than 5 minutes from my house? Just two traffic lights, quick right and then a quicker left into the shopping center.

[stevew]

So, like, this would be a bad time for me to mention that there's a CiCi's less than 5 minutes from my house? Just two traffic lights, quick right and then a quicker left into the shopping center.

Bastage.

[oliegirl]

So, like, this would be a bad time for me to mention that there's a CiCi's less than 5 minutes from my house? Just two traffic lights, quick right and then a quicker left into the shopping center.

Or for me to mention that the Stevi B's I'm dragged to is equally close to our house? Just a right, a left and then a right into the parking lot...

Where is the puking smilie when you really need it????

[headtrauma]

Which is worse, Cici's, Golden Corral, or TGI Friday's?

Discuss.

[korme]

Cicis blows but Golden Corral is the shiznasty

[stevew]

Rumor has it there is a local place with a Pierogi Pizza. I check into this.

[GrantDawg]

Similar in concept ... except that Stevie B's is the worst pizza I've ever eaten in my life.


They are both the same level of "blah" to me. Can't taste a difference. Along with Pizza Inn, which is the one that is less than 5 minutes from my house, and you can even have the crappy pizza delivered! I have heard a rumour just this week, though, that they have a very good breakfast bar. I've only been in the place twice since it open three years ago, but I might have try it some morning to see.

[Tyrith]

Mr. Gatti's pizza buffet down here in Texas is way, way better than Cici's, I've learned. Cici's seems to have problems keeping out normal type pizza -- sometimes you'll go there and it'll be fairly busy, and the only pizzas out will be irregular random stuff no one actually wants to eat. I know some people like all the different varieties, maybe even a lot of people, but when I go I just want to eat generic pizza in quantities vast enough to make me ill.

[Schmidty]

I wonder if cartman eats pizza.

Like, just bread and sauce and a donut.

[JeeberD]

Mr. Gatti's pizza buffet down here in Texas is way, way better than Cici's, I've learned.

I went to Mr Gatti's once in Abilene, and it was NASTY. I usually don't have a problem with greasy pizza, but everything was sopping wet with it. Just gross.

It's been quite a few years, though, so they may have gotten better.

[Izulde]

Domino's is the single worst pizza in the US, maybe even the world.

I honestly don't know how they manage to stay in business, unless it's delivering to people who've killed all their taste buds off.

Never been to Cici's. Golden Corral is overrated yeah.

I actually like TGI Friday's though. It's a hell of a lot better than Applebee's.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I actually like TGI Friday's though. It's a hell of a lot better than Applebee's.

TGI Friday's tend to be real uneven in my experiences. When you find a good one, it really isn't half bad, at least no worse than any of the others in the same category. Problem is, there seem to be more bad ones than good ones.

The same seems to be becoming true about Applebee's as well, although even the best ones aren't all that good any more.

[stevew]

I only went to Gatti's a few times when I lived in Bristol, but I thought it had some seriously awful pizza. It just didn't taste good at all. I mean, Cici's quality can vary, but if their is frequent pizza rotation, you'll get an okay meal. Gatti's was shit. I think we called it Mr. Shat-ti's.

[stevew]

Bumping an old ass thread-
Now I see that the last remaining Cici's in the area has closed. I think the nearest one is like 60-70 miles from me.

Couple of questions-
1. Do you still have a cici's in your area
2. are you absolutely pummeled with their commercials anyways, regardless of the answer to #1.

[Matthean]

Mine closed a couple of years ago due to not paying their rent despite always being busy. They were basically a buffet version of Little Caesars.

[sterlingice]

Houston still has CiCi's

SI

[PilotMan]

Yes

No

I know the owners. I think they are doing well, but I do know they had to close one location of the 3 they have.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Couple of questions-
1. Do you still have a cici's in your area
2. are you absolutely pummeled with their commercials anyways, regardless of the answer to #1.

Ours seems to be alive & well on the crowd front, but earlier this week I did notice the disturbing trend toward cost cutting/staff cutting measures like going to the little packets of salt/pepper/cheese instead of the jars on the table. Plus the damned good manager was nowhere in sight, which was the first time I'd been there without seeing him.

I suspect margins must be getting lean, even with a recent $1 price increase (now $4.99 instead of $3.99)

[cuervo72]

Ours is still open. Pretty sure it is $5.69 here.

[Thomkal]

The one in Myrtle Beach is still here.

[Suicane75]

It's always fun reading through a thread thinking it's at least semi recent and then you see a posters name and realize this stuff happened a long ass time ago.

And don't you guys have any local mom and pop joints that make real pizza? As Issidqui said and Lathum reiterated, ya'll are making me weep.

[stevew]

We can't all be where real pizza lives

[CraigSca]

Cici's is the suck and they should all rot to death. Yes, we still have a ton of them here in Central Florida.

[Suicane75]

We can't all be where real pizza lives

lol, no, but it's not that hard to use fresh ingredients. I've traveled very little in my life but are there really not that many mom & pop pizza joints in the rest of the country? I just can't fathom chain pizza being the best you guys can get.

[claphamsa]

there are cici's around here... but i had never heard of it. lots of good local pizza.

[JonInMiddleGA]

It's always fun reading through a thread thinking it's at least semi recent and then you see a posters name and realize this stuff happened a long ass time ago.

And don't you guys have any local mom and pop joints that make real pizza? As Issidqui said and Lathum reiterated, ya'll are making me weep.

Off the top of my head there's maybe two here in Athens. One is buffet style and similar quality at this point (it just has a beer license vs Cici's). The other is kind of a mom & pop but it's now got 4-5 locations scattered around the area so it's semi-chain (it just happens to be founded here). The rest, afaik, are small chains or uber-chains ... and that's in a college town.

Not all that many people willing to pay $15-$25 for a large when P'Hut has 'em for $10.

[Suicane75]

I have 3 M&P's in my 5x15 block town and none of them are more than $13 for a large pepperoni pizza. I like Pizza Hut once or twice a year, but it's not even close.

[stevew]

None of the mom and pops really deliver and/or are too expensive/a pain in the ass. We have horrible traffic for being a nothing town, I pretty much only go out if I absolutely need to during the day.

[General Mike]

I've never been to CiCi's or Golden Corral.

I did enjoy the occasional trip to Ponderosa back in the day (20 years ago).

[cuervo72]

CiCi's is good when you want to try a little of everything, and you don't want to coordinate toppings with the whole family (my daughter is seriously picky). And I think their thin crust (flatbread?) is pretty darned tasty. And it's casual, pick your own seat, wander around/take your time. Sometimes you're just in the mood for that.

I unfortunately have to agree on the price for M&P places. I love the pizza, but man - you get three toppings and you're talking $20 for one pie. I jump on the place around the corner when they have their $7.99 1-topping large special on Mondays, but outside of that, it's tough (especially when my wife prefers Pan to a NY style pizza).

Papa Murphy's is a decent option now and then (I know I've trumpeted them before and have heard a big "fuck that" on cooking it yourself). Good variety on sauces/toppings/crusts, and they run tons of specials.

[Marc Vaughan]

We've got a Cici's just down the road - its next to my favourite Chinese takeaway ....

My youngest son (11) is the only one who ever wants to eat there - they're not 'bad', but frankly any frozen pizza is on a par with their pizza in my experience ... although my wife does like their desert items (which is also one of the reasons she never wants to go there ;) ).

[Abe Sargent]

Cici's literally made me vomit the first time there after eating their crappy ass food Never again.

[Matthean]

I unfortunately have to agree on the price for M&P places. I love the pizza, but man - you get three toppings and you're talking $20 for one pie.

I think the most I have seen a large pizza go for is around $18 and that's a deluxe.

[B & B]

Just looked online for the mom-n-pop pizza place closest here.

The only large pies they have for LESS than 18 bucks are cheese, 3 cheese and Hawaiian. Most others are 18-20.

They don't deliver.

There are some Mellow Mushrooms around here, but Id bet from experience , those pies are 22-26 bucks for a large and they also don't deliver.

Its a nice racket. Food costs on pies are like 2-3 bucks using good ingredients, but that's another story.

[ISiddiqui]

Price for mom & pop's are so, so, so worth it. I have eaten at CiCi's and I'd literally pay 5 times their prices for decent pizza pie. Thankfully the Atlanta metro does have decent pizza (just not "good" pizza, according to NY/NJ standards - they have a hard time getting the crust right and the sauce the proper level of tanginess. Oh, and they usually put way too much sauce and cheese on the damned thing - it sounds counter-intuitive because the sauce and cheese are delicious, but a thin layer of each makes it so ridiculously good)

[JonInMiddleGA]

On a kinda random note, here's one online blogger guy ("The Pizza Snob") with a review (http://thepizzasnob.net/2013/12/27/little-italy-pizzeria-some-fine-tasting-pie-in-athens-ga/)of the Mom & Pop mini-chain I mentioned earlier. I'm kinda surprised he was so gracious, I mean, I like it and all but it's what my wife & I call "college pizza".

[JonInMiddleGA]

Oh, just cause I hate to be dead wrong, I did find at least one other M&P place here. I'd forgotten about it entirely because, well, it's awful. The price of awful is $12.99 + about $2 per topping. Ends up right around $18-$20

[ISiddiqui]

There are some Mellow Mushrooms around here, but Id bet from experience , those pies are 22-26 bucks for a large and they also don't deliver.

Well, if you get their special pies, yeah. My local Mellow Mushroom costs $13.50 for a large cheese pie. Toppings are, IIRC, $1-2 per.

[cuervo72]

Ok, maybe $20 was a bit high - ours is $10.50 for the pie (though I wonder if that has actually come down), $2 per topping. $18 for "Mediterranean", $18 for meat lovers, $17 for veggie. $15 for white or pesto though.

Menu - Pizza Blitz - Frederick, MD (http://www.pizzablitzfrederick.com/menu/)

[Ragone]

Oddly enough... best pizza in kc is probably Casey's Pizza..(gas station)

[stevew]

There's this gas station place we hit up in Youngstown NY every summer that is the bomb. I don't see a comparable pizza to that in any of our mom and pops so I don't mind spending 45$ for a couple sheets.

[Izulde]

Good pizza in Las Vegas is a complete mirage.

[RainMaker]

M&P is more expensive but worth it. I understand in some parts of the country you don't have a ton of options, but how anyone can regularly eat Dominos, Pizza Hut and other chains is beyond me. It's just bad pizza.

Now there are bad M&P places, but at some point you'll find a good one. And they care much more about their product than the big chains.

[PilotMan]

I've yet to really find a M&P that I liked better than a chain, especially considering the price.

Cici's is great with kids. They love it.

[Matthean]

I've yet to really find a M&P that I liked better than a chain, especially considering the price.

This. I did look up the price of the local place that keeps winning the best pizza in the area and yeah, their prices can go into $20-$26 range. Other people like my parents or work were always the ones paying so I guess I ignored it. It's just chains can cost half that and are a shorter drive. I accept Domino's isn't the greatest, but I can get twice the amount of food for the cost in 1/3 of the drive. If I'm willing to spend high end money for a pizza, I'll just make it myself.

[JetsIn06]

Threads like this make this Jersey boy twitch ;).

This

[PilotMan]

There are 3 M&P pizza places within walking distance of my crash pad in Jersey. They all suck.

[Izulde]

Since my original post in this thread, I've eaten at CiCi's a few times. It's perfectly acceptable for pizza buffet pizza and at a decent price. A good filler-up when you're an impoverished graduate student and/or adjunct and just want bang for your buck.

[ISiddiqui]

There are 3 M&P pizza places within walking distance of my crash pad in Jersey. They all suck.

Shrug, dunno what to tell you. Everytime I visit Jersey the FIRST thing I want is pizza. My Montana-raised girlfriend tried some for the first time last summer and nearly feel on the floor due to how amazing it was. Most of time I don't get toppings on it, because they take away from the perfection of the cheese pizza.

No chain can touch it and I'd even pay $30 for a large pizza (even though its more like $15 in real cost) for that stuff over any $10 pie from Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Little Caesar, Papa John's, etc.

[CU Tiger]

Shrug, dunno what to tell you. Everytime I visit Jersey the FIRST thing I want is pizza. My Montana-raised girlfriend tried some for the first time last summer and nearly feel on the floor due to how amazing it was. Most of time I don't get toppings on it, because they take away from the perfection of the cheese pizza.

No chain can touch it and I'd even pay $30 for a large pizza (even though its more like $15 in real cost) for that stuff over any $10 pie from Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Little Caesar, Papa John's, etc.

We lived in south Jersey for about a year right out of college.

Absolutely the only thing I miss are the amazing Italian Pizza/Sub joints that were EVERYwhere...

We literally had 6-7 within walking distance of our apartment. They were all different but all tasty as heck. Pizza or meatball subs that would make you fight someone over.

Coming from someone who spent much of his youth with a grandma who was born in Sicily and LOVED to cook...it was as close to Grams cooking as Ive found.

[stevew]

Since my original post in this thread, I've eaten at CiCi's a few times. It's perfectly acceptable for pizza buffet pizza and at a decent price. A good filler-up when you're an impoverished graduate student and/or adjunct and just want bang for your buck.

I agree and I don't think anyone was arguing its better than higher end handmade pizza.