Papa John

[Blueworld_3.0]

I believe you're thinking of Snappy Tomato Pizza (which I personally have never tried - it honestly doesn't look all that great to me from the pics I've seen of it in some of the circulars). It used to be located at the old 24 hour donut shop close to the bowling alley.

Best in the Somerset area (Nancy/Eubank) is def. Mill Springs (although I have no eaten there since they moved from the old building off of West 80 to the new building just off of Zollicoffer. Since Eubank Pizza opened up, it's actually slightly closer (and a much quicker drive) for me to go there and it's 100% the same pizza (not the great atmosphere that the old Mill Springs had however w/the pool room in the back, etc. - I LOVED that place. I can not comment on what it's like in the new building they have been in for a pretty good # of yrs. now since I've never been. Maybe it's as great as it used to be? - I have so many memories from the old building with ex-GF's and an uncle who was also my best friend who was killed in 2007 in a car accident that the new building could really never be as "special" to me. The old Mill Springs was simply my "go to" place).

I have a cousin who is an asst. mgr. at Dominos, so I have eaten quite a bit of it (for free) the last couple of years. Some times it's actually VERY good - other times? Not so much (and I always have to take an antacid prior to eating it as something about the sauce they use ALWAYS gives me heartburn).

Both Pizza Huts here are very lacking in quality control IMO. Some times you get a "hit" - but most of the time? It's nothing compared to what it was in the 90's and certainly not the 80's. The Pizza Hut off of Exit 87 in Richmond is one of the best ones I have eaten at. It's privately owned and their cheese sticks there are to DIE FOR! I used to stop there almost every time I'd drive up to get beer (prior to use going wet in 2012).

Papa Johns, I haven't eaten there in a LONG time.

Donatos is actually REALLY good. LOVE their thing crust and their sausage and their pepperoni are FANTASTIC. Pretty good atmosphere as well. I enjoy going with a few friends and sitting in that smaller front room.

Never tried Mellow Mushroom. Little Ceasars? Believe it or not, I remember in the mid to late 90's (prior to them beginning their $5.00 "hot and ready" deal), when they were located sort of across from Hardees north (I think a KY Wildcats Outlet store is located there now, right)? Anyhow, their pizza was actually pretty damn decent back then.

I think Gatti's has become disgusting. Back in the late 80's and through the mid-90's? Believe it or not? They actually had GREAT pizza. It was COMPLETELY different in comparison to what it is today. Not even in the same REALM. I can not believe how the quality of so many pizza places has dipped so low over the past 20 yrs. Actually? That really could be said about a large majority of fast food outlets in general, which is why I NEVER eat the stuff (and when, if I go out for pizza? It's either Donatos or Eubank Pizza). If I'm going to go out and eat? I'm going to go somewhere that's worth going to.

I don't make it down to Burnside all that often, but I did try their "Pizza & Pub" (back prior to Somerset going wet) and it was "okay" - to doughy for me. I don't think they are in business anymore, but, I could be wrong. I know they either closed down or moved at one point.

I would agree with most of what you posted. Although, I've never eaten at Mill Springs.
Seems most are hit and miss these days. Occasionally you get a good one but, it's very random. Plus, the quality of people they have working in the pizza joints that have drive-thru at most places is pretty low.

Agree with you about Donato's, very good if you eat in but, there were some horror stories about that place only a few years ago. I personally knew some people who got very sick after eating there. Hopefully it's cleaned up now.

I ate some of the Snappy Tomato (forgot the name earlier) when they were located next to the Bowling Alley and it was very good. Not sure about now. Odd location for a store though...right next to Gatti's. You are dead on about Gatti's. I couldn't imagine a worse piece of pizza being served anywhere. Yet, you can't get near that place most days at lunch and especially on Wednesday (kids double-ticket day in the arcade).

Remember Little Caesar's when it was across from Hardee's north. They had awesome breadsticks back then. Now? Not so much.

Might put Mellow Mushroom on the menu sometime this week. Need to try it just to see if it's any good.

 

[MikDavRut]

I would agree with most of what you posted. Although, I've never eaten at Mill Springs.
Seems most are hit and miss these days. Occasionally you get a good one but, it's very random. Plus, the quality of people they have working in the pizza joints that have drive-thru at most places is pretty low.

Agree with you about Donato's, very good if you eat in but, there were some horror stories about that place only a few years ago. I personally knew some people who got very sick after eating there. Hopefully it's cleaned up now.

I'll have to try some Snappy's as well as, like you said, Mellow Mushroom as well.

WOW! I had absolutely NO IDEA about the Donatos deal you mention above from a few years ago. I went for YEARS and literally, the ONLY thing that I ever got (eating out wise) was biscuits & gravy from Dairy Queen (which I do love; I DID try McDonalds 24 hr. breakfast deal a couple of times and wow, was the quality ever down. The biscuits were "tough" and the gravy was decent at best. Dairy Queen's blows them away, I just wish that THEY would start serving it 24/7 too)!

But back to my point; during the early to mid 2000's? The ONLY place me/my friends ever went were either to Donatos or to Mill Springs (back in the old building). I moved to Birmingham, AL in the early to mid 00's for an engineering job and then transferred back here in 2007 (well, transferred to Danville...unfortunately, Danville was made pretty much extinct by Norfolk Southern beginning in 2008 and I refused to move back south again....LONG story)....

When I came back home, Eubank Pizza had opened by that point and me and my uncle would always go and wade-fish the creeks up in the Mt. Zion and Eubank areas and on weekdays, we would often stop at Eubank Pizza and eat (before he was killed in Oct. 2007).

I had not been to Donatos since 2004 prior to Dec. 2014 when me and an old friend I had not seen in probably a decade re-connected (he has since moved to Louisville, unable to bear this town and I totally understand why). Me and him started going there every Sat. for about a 2 month period prior to attending AA (and some times NA) meetings together (when the RR left me high n' dry, I already had a healthy alcohol habit, but, after that, I developed a very healthy opiate habit. The friend I speak of was such a hardcore alcoholic that at 41/42? He was told that if he drank for 6 more months? He would be put in the ground). I wish he had not moved away, it makes this place feel lonely for me in some ways.

But, back to topic? I had NO IDEA about people getting ill from Donatos. Glad I was not eating there during that period of time. Phil, who has been there since they first opened here in the 90's, is a really nice guy. I actually worked for a short time for Mr. Coldiron, the local owner, back when Don Franklin was known as Karnes. That was way back in summer 2001. I can not believe that that has now been nearly 15 years ago (and was actually prior to the 9-11 attacks). I remember watching from the lounge there, that summer, Timothy McVeigh's execution.

If you try Mellow Mushroom, let me know how it is!

 

[KyCatFan]

BTW, I think Gatti's is the best of the non-local places.

I'm a big fan of the Gatti's thin crust sausage pizza. I get their buffet every now and then for that. I like Papa John's, but I could see why some don't. I think the sauce has a slightly to sweet taste to it. Pizza Hut is ok now with the garlic seasoning on the crust. I can't eat their pan though. Almost always upsets my stomach. We get Little Caesers mostly because my son and I really like their breadsticks. Their pizza is alright if you get a fresh one, but if your stuck with one of the "hot and ready" pizzas that has been in the warmer for a while it ends up looking and tasting overdone. Domino's is probably the worst of the chains.

Most of the small pizza restaurants always seem to go out of business. I use to enjoy a place called Guy's Pizza when I was younger, but it is gone.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

I'll have to try some Snappy's as well as, like you said, Mellow Mushroom as well.

WOW! I had absolutely NO IDEA about the Donatos deal you mention above from a few years ago.
Glad I was not eating there during that period of time.
If you try Mellow Mushroom, let me know how it is!

The incident in question was a kids birthday party held in the restaurant. Several kids and adults ended up sick and I think a couple may have been pretty bad. That was probably 3-4 years ago. Haven't heard of anything since then though. You usually don't hear about stuff like that unless you actually know the people affected.

Hate to hear about the issues you've had to deal with. The recession really hit this area pretty hard and as you know, it still hasn't really recovered. It cost me my job as well. I can totally understand why people move to bigger cities from towns like Somerset. Job market is still pretty tight and unless you know someone in local government you're probably going to have to settle for a $15 per hour 'factory job' with no hope of ever advancing.

Don't know what you're into in the way of a career right now but, I heard from a friend here locally that RJ Corman was looking for paint crew workers with RR experience.

I'll let you know in this thread how MM is if I can swing by there this week.

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

I have read none of this thread. Only the title. But if I can contribute I will. I know the guy personally. He's as classless as it gets. Same goes for his son. You'll never meet a more snobby family than the papa johns. Very successful. But it really doesn't get douchier than him. So to hell with him and his wannabe UK fandom!

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

As far as best Kentucky pizza goes now that I've read some of the thread. Pies and pints you all. Pies and pints. Saulgood (though they are not renown for there pizza) can whip up a pretty mean pizza. But pies and pints you all, pies and pints. If you ain't tried it. Try it. Then thank Andre later. Honorable mention. Goodfellas.

 

[cantstandthecards]

I'm a big fan of the Gatti's thin crust sausage pizza. I get their buffet every now and then for that. I like Papa John's, but I could see why some don't. I think the sauce has a slightly to sweet taste to it. Pizza Hut is ok now with the garlic seasoning on the crust. I can't eat their pan though. Almost always upsets my stomach. We get Little Caesers mostly because my son and I really like their breadsticks. Their pizza is alright if you get a fresh one, but if your stuck with one of the "hot and ready" pizzas that has been in the warmer for a while it ends up looking and tasting overdone. Domino's is probably the worst of the chains.

Most of the small pizza restaurants always seem to go out of business. I use to enjoy a place called Guy's Pizza when I was younger, but it is gone.

Guys pizza popular level road after sofball games