Hungry and grumpy and way past my suppertime, I didn’t even check with Dave before going online to see what the new Domino’s pizza was all about. He gets pizza cravings like I get chocolate cravings, so I knew that whatever I ordered would be fine with him.
The website is a great use of Ajax programming, according to Dave. It is bright, colorful and fun to use. I chose the “build your own pizza” option and had a blast. The writing is even funny at times, such as that which appears in the pop-up when you choose shredded Parmesan cheese and it doesn’t actually show up on the image of the pizza:
TRUST US. Sometimes believing is seeing. This is one of those times. Although you can’t see it on your pizza now, we’ll get it right.
I ordered two large pizzas, given that I had a coupon code for a free one (found it by googling it). There are four crust options, and I chose the Hand Tossed and the Crunchy Thin Crust. The others are a deep dish style and a “Brooklyn Style” – thin and foldable. I then created the toppings. Each time I chose a meat or “unmeat” option, it would show up on the image of the pizza. I also chose to put completely different toppings on the two halves of one of the pizzas.
I had indicated that I would pick up my pizzas at the nearest Domino’s – it’s a short drive away – but the confirming email that arrived said, “The following order is being delivered hot and fresh to your door:…” Good thing I didn’t believe it. Would have been a long wait for a grumpy customer. Once the order was placed, the website indicated that Jason was right now prepping my pizza. When it showed that the pizza was baking, I took off for the shop.
The order was ready on time and the young man behind the counter was very pleasant. Back home within minutes, I opened the first box and we tore into the crispy crust pizza:
1 Large(14″) Thin Pizza
Whole: Cheese, White Sauce, Italian Sausage, Onions, Shredded Provolone Cheese, Garlic Left: Roasted Red Peppers Right: Diced Tomatoes
It was absolutely delicious. The crust was a marvel of structure, really thin with just the right crispy crunch, a touch of oiliness and the slightly dark sweet flavor of properly browned bread dough. The onions were wonderfully sweet as well, nicely counterbalancing the savory spiciness of the sausage. It did not taste strongly of garlic. In fact, due to the fact that the red peppers and diced tomatoes weren’t on there at all, I can’t recall that there necessarily was any garlic. It would have been nice to taste the red veggies, but the simple onion-sausage treatment was so good, I’m likely to do it again.
The hand-tossed pizza was very good, as “corporate” pizzas go, but not quite the star that the crispy one was. Still, the crust was neither too thick nor too thin, it had moderately good flavor, with a dash of garlic salt on it, and it stayed well-formed in the hand, such that we could eat it without utensils, even the first often-sloppy bite of the tip.
1 Large(14″) Hand Tossed Pizza
Whole: Cheese, New Robust Tomato Sauce Left: Mushrooms, Bacon, Spinach, Feta Cheese Right: Pepperoni, Black Olives, Onions
The sauce was the disappointment on this one, as someone had stuck way too much sugar in it. What a difference between the natural sugars of the crispy pizza and the baby-food sweetness of the hand-tossed. I want my tomatoes, whether in sauce or not, to be strong, manly, and actually robust. Fortunately, this pizza was saved by the pronounced smokiness of the bacon. The feta was uninspired and the spinach flat and lifeless. The other side of the pizza fared about the same. The meat was the star but, oops! the black olives were nowhere to be seen. So it was a pretty good pepperoni-cheese pizza.
So can we trust Domino’s to get it right? Umm… not yet. As Dave noted, this is a huge shift for a very large company. Imagine the training nightmare. I’d like to talk to Jason to find out if that’s really his name ask him if he got the same order I placed. One never knows with new, complex websites. There are likely a few glitches to work out.
Next time I think I’ll phone in the order after I’ve created my optimal pizza using their website.
So the question becomes one of morals and values. We strongly support local businesses and generally abhor the products and ruthless business tactics of the large chains. We should just suck it up and go on over to Cosmo’s, where they make arguably the best pizza in Syracuse, despite the rude treatment we got there last time. On the other hand, Domino’s pizza was very good and it’s much closer to our home, so driving there is just a tad easier on the environment. And I was treated with courteous respect in their shop. I have this funny feeling that next time I’m hungry and grumpy, Domino’s is going to win out.
Your post inspired me to try the “new” Domino’s. While it was better than what I remember Domino’s to be like (years ago is the last time I’ve had it), I was generally underwhelmed. We got two medium pizzas with the marinara sauce. I agree that it was too sweet (I told them so on the survey that popped up on the website). It’s nice to see huge chains paying attention to quality however. I have to disagree on the best pizza in Syracuse though, to us at least that title belongs to Nick’s in Armory Square. They have a great Tuesday special, about 8 or 9 bucks for a large cheese. Mm, getting hungry thinking about it!
I was hoping this post would inspire some pizza shop suggestions! I really don’t feel like facing the nasty reception at Cosmo’s, so we will definitely be checking out Nick’s.
I have yet to find another pizza place in town that matches Cosmo’s or Johnny’s but am always open to suggestion. I have tried many places that people assured me woudl be as good as or similar to those two favorites but none made the grade.
That said – I’ve never had a problem at Cosmo’s but I only get pies to take out or go in and order to eat in after I arrive. The wait staff is typically indifferent and delivers perfunctory service but I dig the old jukebox consoles in the booths. Back in the day (my high school days) that was the go-to place for munchies driven consumption pizza, coffee and hot fudge sundaes after seeing movies at Film Forum for $1 (Wednesday and Friday nights on campus in Gifford auditorium). And you could really put quarters in the consoles and hear music at the booth.
I’m a big fan of Dorian’s myself, mostly because it was my pizza place of choice in college.
But yeah, Paul is right on with Nick’s. That place is fantastic (but holy crap, expensive).
I’ve never tried Cosmo’s. The University area is kind of outside my prowling grounds.
Hey Paul,
If you kept your receipt you could have gotten a refund!
I’ll have to try Nick’s.