How's the new Dominos pizza? A brief personal history/taste test
I know what you're thinking. A huge pizza chain completely redoing its pizza is pretty ballsy, if not certifiably insane. Do you believe the hype?
Desair and I had been weighing the call in the back of an auditorium presentation a few weeks ago, and we both decided it was worth the risk. I didn't think too well of the pizza chain. I grew up in a Dominos house, but that was during a difficult pizza time in my life. Coming out of that period, all I remembered of the taste was the cardboard. The taste was likely better than cardboard, but that's all I remembered.
College brought Giordano's majesty down the street — the half-price Mondays — and a pretty girl and late-nite newsroom staff that loved Papa John's. Later in Virginia, I fell for my area/mini-chains: the decent-disappointing Flaming Radish, the decent Listrani's until it opened the abusive comedy club and the pricey-but-kept-my-orders-on-file Piola.
This fall, I went back to the bigger chains. Ledo's had square pies and no delivery but was stumbling distance in the snow. Papa John's was exactly as I remembered it, and a coupon code somehow got the best deal and triggered a nonprofit donation. To say nothing of Web orders.
So, when Dominos came out with the new recipe, I was ready. Friend Jen and I ordered it last week — I introduced her to Fletch, Oscars be damned, the greatest investigative journalism movie of all time — and the new Dominos pizza… drumroll… was a winner. It was multiple times better than the previous recipe. How to describe the new taste?
I hate to describe one chain in another's terms, as that's unjust, but new Dominos simply can't be described by the old Dominos. The new Dominos is Papa John's pizza meets Papa John's garlic breadsticks.
The garlic friendliness and the cheese upgrade are the most prominent parts of the new taste, and the pizza is more substantial, messy and satisfying as a result. I knocked off most of a medium without effort. By the end, my paper-towel napkin was drenched with garlic butter. With one pie, Dominos redeemed itself and rejoined the possible-order list. Was it better than Papa John's? Ah, further comparison was needed.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Thanks, Patrick. Practical journalism at its best.
Papa Fins enjoyed the new Domino's, but he also enjoyed the old Domino's, so I was skeptical. Domino's is now on the possible order list… especially if I can order online.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:36 AM
We tried the new pizza. We got a large, with carry out, and for a dollar more got a 2nd one. A compleat waste of money.
Our whole household hated it. Way too much spice. Told the local store,they sent out a coupon for another one.
We like the old ones, give us a choice, old and spice.
From now one it's Pizza Hut in this house!
[COOPER EDIT: REDACTING ADDRESS]
February 4th, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Hey, Phil from Domino's social media here. Just wanted to say thanks for the write up, and special tip of the cap for introducing Fletch to your friend. A cinematic masterpiece.
Sugar Mr. Poone?
No, never.
Have a great day.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Listrani's put in a comedy club?! WTF? I know things have changed in DC in the last 10 years, but U Street turning into yuppieville seems more likely in retrospect than a comedy club in Listrani's.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Are you just too snooty for Pizza Hut? Yeesh!
Actually, you should try Vocelli's some time for slightly expensive but worthwhile pizza. I also like Pizza Boli's and their spicier sauce.
But the best in the area in Church Street Pizza in Vienna, and I don't just say that because I can walk to it. It's New York style.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:24 AM
Except for a two-week reporting stint in Citrus County, Florida, Pizza Hut has oddly never been part of my life. The closest one growing up, iirc, was in Bethesda, but Shakey's Pizza was king of Bethesda.
You're the second person recently to recommend Church Street to me! Need to try it.
And Beau Finley, thanks, glad to serve. That would be another good head-to-head, comparing online ordering systems. Both have beaten my expectations. Jeff, Phil, thanks for visiting!
February 5th, 2010 at 7:29 AM
Oh, and yes, the Courthouse Listrani's put in a comedy club to attract more in-restaurant customers. A number of the early reviews came from people angry to have shown up for dinner but sat down to find a comedian insulting them. I pretty much stopped ordering delivery because I didn't like my pizza being near bad vibes. The comedy club moved to a Crystal City restaurant a month or so ago, but I don't know if I'll resume ordering.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:27 AM
@ Jeff Guernsey
Do some work with Domino's and wanted to give you a heads up…if you find the new recipes sauce to be too spicy, you can still order the old sauce. Just ask for "hearty marinara" next time you place an order and you will be good to go.