Papa John’s Pizza

My roommates and I order from here often. They are always prompt with their deliveries (usually going under the timeframe sent in the email) and send us coupons all the time. Tonight (during a blizzard) I was supposed to get my food in 85 – 95 minutes. I got it within 38 minutes. A loyal customer!

Pizza was good BUT was promised a wait of 30 – 40 min until delivery… We waited an HOUR then got an unapologetic, red-​eyed delivery man.

Papa John’s «Better Ingredients» list” for thin crust pizza:
«PAPA JOHN’S BLEND OF MOZZARELLA CHEESE, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE AND SODIUM CITRATE: Part-​skim mozzarella cheese (pasteurized milk, cultures, salt, enzymes), modified food starch, powdered cellulose (added to prevent caking), whey protein concentrate, sodium citrate, sodium propionate (added as a preservative)
PAPA JOHN’S THIN CRUST: Unbleached flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour), water, soybean oil, yeast, salt, natural and artificial flavors (milk), dextrose, calcium propionate (preservative), soy lecithin
PAPA JOHN’S FULLY SEASONED PIZZA SAUCE: Vine-​ripened fresh tomatoes, sunflower seed oil, sugar, salt, dehydrated garlic, extra virgin olive oil, spices, citric acid
PAPA JOHN’S PEPPERONI: Pork and beef, salt, natural flavors, dextrose, lactic acid starter culture, oleoresin on paprika, natural hickory smoke flavor, sodium nitrite, BHA, BHT, citric acid CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK, SOY»
A few points:
— powdered cellulose is chemically treated wood pulp used by processed foods manufacturers as a cheap filler and to add «creaminess» to non creamy things, like for example, skim milk mozzarella and in the case of pre-​shredded cheese — to prevent clumping of the product
— note, they don’t have to tell you what chemicals are used to treat the wood pulp in order to isolate the insoluble cellulose.
— the preservatives found in their cheese signifies it’s a pre-​shredded product with a long shelf life, i.e. not fresh.
— why they add weigh protein concentrate back to the finished product is beyond me?
— the preservatives found in their dough indicates this is probably a pre mixed package of dry ingredients that they then add yeast and oil to.
— both «natural» and «artificial» flavors can include many different chemical compounds that you would not knowingly ingest if you knew what they were or how they were manufactured.
— soybean oil leaves a lot to be desired in terms of flavor and may be harmful to your health. (see
)
— virtually all dehydrated garlic, or garlic powder comes from China… enough said.
So «Better Ingredients» may mean better than pizza hut, but that doesn’t mean it’s good.

need one were i live

I’ll state right up front that I’ve never been a fan of this pizzeria chain. The crust is far too doughy and the sauce is dreadfully sweet. However, I had a coupon, and it’s been about a decade since I last visited, so I tried them again. First of all, you’ll need to be prepared to pay $ 14.98 for a one topping, large pizza. That’s criminal seeing that it’s not really a large but a slightly larger than medium pie.
Along side your pizza you’ll find tossed in a few pepperoncinis which are a nice touch. What isn’t a nice touch, inspite of another reviewer’s comment of «score» is a horrid container of garlic dipping sauce. When you read the ingredients of this «garlic» dipping sauce you’ll discover that it’s chock-​full of artery clogging saturated oils and about a dozen other mostly artificial ingredients. Why a chain that advertises on their boxes «the best ingredients» includes this Frankenstein’s monster conncoction is beyond me.
The pizza itself isn’t the worst I’ve had from a chain; but, it’s not that good either. It’s nothing you can’t pick up in any mall pizza shop. I went in to this shop on a Saturday night and it was dead. This isn’t surprising to me as the price they charge for their pizzas is not worth the money.
If you must visit a chain, I would go with Papa Gino’s. If you want real pizza find a local shop in your neighborhood. The Alley Cat in Manchester has decent pizza and you’ll get a lot more for your money.

Papa John’s Pizza is good and dependable. The pizza is hot and tasty and the crust has a slightly doughier texture than Domino’s. Each pizza comes with little surprises including pepperoncinis and garlic butter dipping sauce for the crust. Score! Money saving coupon offers are also published in the Spectrum and Entertainment Book (pickup only).
From time to time, my buddies and I ring up Papa John’s for fresh hot and fast delivery in Manchester. This location also delivers pizzas to the North Londonderry area, particularly to the Sleep Inn. Many times I’ve seen their delivery vehicles at night «haul ass» down 93 South to Exit 5 to Perkins Road. Papa John’s should really open up another shop in Derry/​Londonderry, but for now Manchester is close enough for me.