House of Pizza in Belton, SC

The Facts:

Pizza: House of Pizza
Business Category: Single Store
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Pizza-Place/House-of-Pizza-126689060719973/
Location: 205 N. Main Street in Belton, SC (2 blocks north of the intersection of US 76 and SR 20)
Date of Review Visit: December 22, 2020
What I Ordered: Small (10") pizza with pepperoni and sausage; Dr. Pepper to drink
Price: $10.85 (includes drink and tax but not tip)

 

The Micro:

Crust: The crust at House of Pizza is somewhat thin but not super thin.  It has a crisp and crunchy texture, and my pizza was baked to a perfect golden brown.  This crust is not distinctive enough to earn a super high score, but it is pretty good.  Score: 8/10.

Sauce: The sauce is slightly overspiced: I tasted more spices than tomatoes.  It does appear in high quantity.  Score: 7/10.

Cheese: The cheese has no remarkable taste, but it does appear in medium to high quantity.  The cheese also produces a decent amount of grease.  Score: 6/10.

Toppings: The sausage has a fresh taste even though I am pretty sure it had been frozen.  The pepperoni is unremarkable.  Both toppings appear in high quantity.  Score: 8/10.

 

The Macro:

Appearance/Atmosphere/Service:  The pizza has a nice tidy appearance dominated by the abundant toppings.  House of Pizza offers a casual dining atmosphere with a TV and a jukebox.  I was the only customer in the dining area, but the service was quick and attentive. Score: 10/10.

Value: For pizza this good, the price is down right cheap.  You can get an even better deal if you order 2 pizzas and take advantage of their quantity discount. Score: 10/10.

Taste: The fresh taste of the sausage stands out, but overall the taste is still a little bland.  Score: 15/20.

 

The Final Judgment:

Better than the average small town pizza, House of Pizza in Belton is a nice inexpensive pizza option.  I go to Belton every few months, and I will come here again.  Score: 64/80.

Red Elephant Pizza and Grill in Dothan, AL

The Facts:

Pizza: Red Elephant Pizza and Grill
Business Category: Regional Chain (2 locations, one in Tallahassee and one in Dothan)
Website: https://redelephantpizza.com/index.php
Location: 3108 Ross Clark Circle in Dothan, AL (on the west side of Dothan near US 84)
Date of Review Visit: December 10, 2020
What I Ordered: Individual (8") pizza with Italian sausage and pepperoni, Dr. Pepper to drink
Price: $11.96 (includes drink and tax but not tip)

 

The Micro:

Crust: The crust at Red Elephant is a true southern thin crust.  It has a nice crispy texture, and my pizza was baked just the right amount.  I like it.  Score: 9/10.

Sauce: There is not a lot of sauce on this pizza.  What sauce there is has a pasty texture and does not offer much flavor.  Score: 5/10.

Cheese: This pizza has a moderate amount of cheese, and it does not produce much grease.  Therefore, I like this cheese more than moderately much.  Score: 8/10.

Toppings: The sausage appears in tiny crumbles; it is spicy but provides no real flavor.  Likewise the pepperoni adds little flavor.  Both toppings appear in high quantity.  Score: 5/10.

 

The Macro:

Appearance/Atmosphere/Service: The pizza looks like the nice thin crust pizza it is.  Red Elephant has a nice dining area with some video games for younger patrons.  The service was quick and attentive.  Score: 10/10.

Value: The quality is decent, and the price is relatively low.  Therefore, the value is pretty high. Score: 7/10.

Taste: This pizza leaves spiciness but not much else on the taste palette, so this score leaves somewhat to be desired.  Score: 12/20.

 

The Final Judgment:

There are some things to like about Red Elephant (even if you are not a Crimson Tide fan), but in Dothan I like nearby Mama Rosa's a little more.  Score: 56/80.