Frankie’s Italian Grill in Beaumont, TX

Basic Information:

Pizza: Frankie’s Italian Grill

Number of Locations: 1

Location Reviewed: 105 I-10 South in Beaumont, TX (on the west side of the highway)

Website: https://frankiesgrill.net/

Date of Review Visit: December 2017

What I Ordered: Mini-pizza (10”) with pepperoni and sausage

Price: $10.81 (pizza only; includes tax)

Photos:

Summary Review: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

Detailed Review:

Crust: The pizza at Frankie’s Italian Grill features a hand-tossed crust of the not-too-thick-not-too-thin variety.  The crust has a nice chewy texture.  This is not my favorite type of crust, but this crust is nice for what it is.  Score: 8/10.

Sauce: The sauce has a nice tomatoey taste, and it appears in good quantity.  I like it.  Score: 10/10.

Cheese: This pizza is slightly undercheesed, and it still produces a decent amount of grease.  At least the cheese has some nice flavor, especially after you sprinkle on some parmesan.  Score: 6/10.

Toppings: The two toppings fall at the two extremes in terms of quality.  The pepperoni has nice thickness and just enough spiciness; it is excellent.  The sausage is of the horrid pellet-variety.  Both toppings appear in good quantity.  Score: 6/10.

Overall Taste: The overall taste comes together pretty well, but it would be a lot better without the sausage.  Score: 7.5/10.

Pizza Appearance: The big sausage pellets dominate the appearance, which is not a good thing.

Dining Atmosphere: I ordered take-out, but Frankie’s has a nice dining room atmosphere with big band music playing through the speakers.

Customer Service: The service was quick and attentive.

Monetary Value: Slightly above average quality plus slightly above average price equals average value.

The Final Judgment:

Frankie’s is a nice little pizza place that has other menu offerings as well.  If I lived in Beaumont, I would make it a part of my regular pizza rotation.  Score: 79/100.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Basic Information:

Pizza: Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Number of Locations: about 200 across 29 states

Location Reviewed: 1550 I-10 South in Beaumont, TX (on the west side of the highway)

Website: https://www.carrabbas.com/

Date of Review Visit: December 2017

What I Ordered: Wood-fired (10”) pepperoni pizza; Dr. Pepper to drink

Price: $17.62 (includes drink and tax but not tip)

Photo:

Summary Review: 3 stars (out of 5)

Detailed Review:

Crust: As you would expect for a wood-fired pizza, the crust at Carrabba’s is of the thin and crispy variety, but it is not too thin.  The crust has an excellent texture, and my pizza was baked just the right amount.  Score: 10/10.

Sauce: Carrabba’s puts very little sauce on its pizza, and what sauce does exist has an odd slightly spicy taste.  Score: 4/10.

Cheese: The 100% mozzarella cheese appears in decent quantity.  You can request some grated parmesan or romano to sprinkle on, which I did liberally, but you have to ask for it.  The cheese produces quite a bit of grease, which leads to a mandatory deduction.  Score: 7/10.

Toppings: The pepperoni appears in thin slices, but there are not that many of them.  The pepperoni has just the right amount of spiciness, but there is also a “topping” of spices sprinkled over the pizza that can overspice the taste relative to my preference.  Score: 5/10.

Overall Taste: The spiciness really dominates the taste palette, so this pizza’s taste does not rank too high in my book.  Score: 6.5/10.

Pizza Appearance: The pizza has a tidy appearance with every piece of pepperoni in its place.

Dining Atmosphere: The dining room atmosphere is fantastic with cloth napkins and some pleasant instrumental music playing through the speakers.

Customer Service: The service was prompt and attentive, which is excellent considering they were very busy when I came here on a Monday evening.

Monetary Value: You must be paying for the atmosphere and service.  Even considering the good quality, this pizza is very overpriced relative to what you put in your mouth.

The Final Judgment:

I could sanction coming here if you are trying to show someone or a group a good time, but Carrabba’s offers too little value for casual or solo dining.  In the wood-fired pizza space, I prefer Brixx over Carrabba’s.  Score: 70/100.

Frodo's Pizza in Greenville, SC

Basic Information:

Pizza: Frodo’s Pizza

Number of Locations: 1

Location Reviewed: 511 S. Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville, SC (across the street from Greenville Technical College)

Website: https://frodospizza.menufy.com/

Date of Review Visit: November 2017

What I Ordered: Small (11”) pizza with sausage and pepperoni; fountain drink

Price: $11.75 (includes drink and tax)

Photo:

Summary Review: 3 stars (out of 5)

Detailed Review:

Crust: Frodo’s standard crust is the nice thick crust I like, but they also have two thinner options.  The crust has a fresh bready taste, and it offers an appealing crispy on the outside chewy on the inside texture.  Excellent!  Score: 10/10.

Sauce: The sauce appears in decent quantity, but the pizza is somewhat undersauced considering the thick crust pizza style.  The bigger problem is that the sauce has too many herbs and spices for my taste.  Score: 4/10.

Cheese: Frodo’s uses 100% whole milk mozzarella applied in a nice thick layer.  Although it tastes yummy, the cheese produces quite a bit of grease, which leads to a mandatory deduction.  Score: 8/10.

Toppings: The toppings are pretty disappointing.  The sausage comes in small tasteless balls, while the pepperoni comes in thin flavorless slices.  There is a lot to work on here.  Score: 3/10.

Overall Taste: The crust and cheese are the most flavorful things on this pizza, which means the taste is rather uninspiring.  Score: 7/10.

Pizza Appearance: The pizza looks like a nice thick-crust pizza.

Dining Atmosphere: Frodo’s has a casual dining room with a small video game area featuring retro-games, where I learned that my Ms. Pac Man skills are very rusty.

Customer Service: The service is counter service, which saves on the tip.

Monetary Value: This pizza is of average quality, but the price is lower than average considering this is an 11” pizza, not the usual 8” or 10” most places consider a small.

The Final Judgment:

Frodo’s is a decent option for thick crust pizza but not much more.  Score: 73/100.

Summa Joe's Searing Pans in Anderson, SC

Basic Information:

Pizza: Summa Joe’s Searing Pans

Number of Locations: 1

Location Reviewed: 127 N. Main Street in Anderson, SC (beside TD Bank in downtown Anderson)

Website: https://www.facebook.com/SummaJoes/

Date of Review Visit: October 2017

What I Ordered: Build Your Own Pizza with pepperoni, spicy sausage, and ham; Dr. Pepper to drink

Price: $13.06 (includes drink and tax but not tip)

Photo:

Summary Review: 4.5 stars (out of 5)

Detailed Review:

Crust: True to its local-themed advertising, the crust at Summa Joe’s is the thin crust commonly seen on southern-style pizzas.  The crust has a nice crispy texture.  Thin crust is not my favorite style of pizza, but this crust is good for what it is.  Score: 9/10.

Sauce: As usual given the thin crust, there is very little sauce on this pizza.  What little sauce that does exist blends well with the rest of pizza.  Score: 6/10.

Cheese: The pizza is well-cheesed, and the cheese produces very little grease.  Sprinkling on some provided parmesan adds to the flavor.  Score: 10/10.

Toppings: Summa Joe’s spicy sausage is not that spicy; it comes in big gobs and has a nice fresh taste.  The pepperoni comes in small freshly cut chunks.  The ham is unremarkable.  All toppings appear in high quantity.  Score: 9/10.

Overall Taste: The toppings give a nice blend of flavors that few pizzas can match, and they are the main thing you taste on this pizza.  It would be nice to taste the cheese and sauce more.  Score: 9/10.

Pizza Appearance: The toppings take center stage on this pizza’s appearance: the pizza looks loaded with toppings.

Dining Atmosphere: The dining area was an overcrowded zoo when I came here on a Wednesday evening, partly because Wednesday is kids eat free cheese pizza night.  I sat outside, which also featured plenty of people and kids running around.

Customer Service: The service was excellent, friendly, and efficient.

Monetary Value: The quality is excellent, and the price is reasonable given the quality.  Summa Joe’s does not make cheap pizza, but the value is better than you would expect for this price.

The Final Judgment:

Summa Joe’s is an Anderson institution, and if you come here you will learn why.  Their menu offers a wide selection of food choices, and their pizza is a thin crust version of nearby Mellow Mushroom, both of which I like very much.  Score: 86/100.

Papa Romano's Pizza in Detroit, MI

Basic Information:

Pizza: Papa Romano’s Pizza

Number of Locations: about 25, mostly near Detroit, MI

Location Reviewed: 22310 Middlebelt Rd. in Farmington Hills, MI (corner of 9 Mile Road and Middlebelt)

Website: https://paparomanos.com/

Date of Review Visit: August 2017

What I Ordered: 4 Corners Pizza with pepperoni and sausage; 5 piece Bambino Bread

Price: $10.45

Photos:

Summary Review: 3 stars (out of 5)

Detailed Review:

Crust: Papa Romano’s Pizza comes with the thick pan crust typically associated with northern climates.  The crust is not as crispy as you might expect in terms of consistency.  It’s not the best crust I have ever eaten, but it does the job and does it well.  Score: 8/10.

Sauce: This pizza comes with lots of sauce, as you would expect for a thick crust pizza.  The garlic flavor is too strong for my taste, and hence the score is not that great.  Score: 6/10.

Cheese: The cheese appears in good quantity and does not produce too much grease.  Score: 8/10.

Toppings: Both toppings appear in good quantity, but they are lifeless in terms of flavor.  Score: 5/10.

Overall Taste: The 4 Corners pizza impresses with pure heartiness rather than finesse.  I can’t say the taste is anything impressive, but this pizza fills you up.  Score: 6.5/10.

Pizza Appearance: The pizza looks like the hearty robust pizza it is, while the Bambino Bread is akin to Little Caesar’s Crazy Bread.  

Dining Atmosphere: (not applicable; the location I visited is carry-out only.)

Customer Service: The service was quick and attentive.

Monetary Value: This pizza is more expensive than it should be.  Papa Romano’s offerings are a cross between Jet’s and Little Caesars but more expensive than either one.

The Final Judgment:

Papa Romano’s is an odd cross between Jet’s and Little Caesars.  I would probably rather have Jet’s pure heartiness or Little Caesars’ pure value than the combination offered up here, which I find to be a rather average entry in the thick crust pizza category.  I would sanction coming here but not over other options.  Score: 71/100.

Bellacino’s Pizza and Grinders

Basic Information:

Pizza: Bellacino’s Pizza and Grinders

Number of Locations: about 45 across 12 states; based in Michigan

Location: 29101 Northwestern Highway in Southfield, MI (behind Valero at the corner of 12 Mile Road and SR 10)

Website: https://bellacinos.com/

Date of Review Visit: August 2017

What I Ordered: small (8”) pizza with pepperoni and sausage, fountain drink, and a white chocolate chunk cookie

Price: $9.47

Photo:

Summary Review: 4.5 stars (out of 5)

Detailed Review:

Crust: The crust at Bellacino’s comes in medium thickness with just enough body to make it a northern-style crust.  The crust has a nice crispy texture, but it is hard to cut with the dull case knife they provide you.  Score: 9/10.

Sauce: The sauce has a strong sweet taste that some may say is too sweet.  The sauce appears in high quantity.  I like sweet-tasting sauce, so this sauce ranks high in my book.  Score: 9/10.

Cheese: The cheese appears in excellent quantity and has some flavor, but it produces quite a bit of grease.  Therefore, there is the usual mandatory deduction.  Score: 8/10.

Toppings: Like the sauce, the sausage has a very sweet taste.  I could hardly taste the pepperoni.  Both toppings appear in good quantity.  Score: 7/10.

Overall Taste: The sweetness of the sausage and sauce really overpowers everything else.  Score: 8/10.

Pizza Appearance: The cut on my pizza was slightly asymmetrical, which affects the pizza’s appearance.

Dining Atmosphere: Bellacino’s has a nice casual dining atmosphere with 2 TV’s for your viewing pleasure.

Customer Service: My pizza took longer to cook than I would have thought. Otherwise, the service was fine.

Monetary Value: The pizza is small, but the quality is high.  Also, you get a pizza, drink, and dessert for less than $10.  Only pizza buffets offer more eats for your money than this, and their pizza quality is not as good.

The Final Judgment:

Just shy of the best pizza around, Bellacino’s is a very good budget-minded pizza option.  If I lived near one of their locations, I would come here regularly.  Score: 86/100.

Sammy’s Pizza and Restaurant in Minnesota

Basic Information:

Pizza: Sammy’s Pizza and Restaurant

Number of Locations: about 15 across MN, WI, and ND

Location Reviewed: 305 Sunnyside Drive in Cloquet, MN

Website: https://mysammys.com/

Date of Review Visit: July 2017

What I Ordered: small (10”) pizza with pepperoni and sausage

Price: $10.41 (pizza only; includes tax)

Photos:

Summary Review: 5 stars (out of 5)

Detailed Review:

Crust: Sammy’s Pizza and Restaurant puts their signature twists in the crust of their pizza.  The twists have a nice crispy texture.  The crust is thinner than you would expect for a regional chain this far north.  My pizza was perfectly baked, which is essential due to the twists.  This crust is unique, and I like it.  Score: 10/10.

Sauce: The sauce has a slightly sweet taste.  It appears in good quantity, and it blends well with rest of pizza.  What more could you want? Score: 10/10.

Cheese: The cheese comes in good quantity and has decent flavor, but it produces quite a bit of grease.  Therefore, a mandatory deduction applies.  Score: 8/10.

Toppings: The sausage really steals the show: it comes in big chunks and tastes like fresh, tasty pork.  Eating this sausage is almost like eating pork meatballs.  The pepperoni is less remarkable: it comes in thin slices without a lot of favor.  Both toppings appear in good quantity.  Score: 9/10.

Overall Taste: The sausage takes center stage, but everything works together rather well.  Score: 9/10.

Pizza Appearance: The toppings are neatly placed with exactly one slice of pepperoni and one chunk of sausage on every piece of pizza.  This symmetry is not easy to achieve with Sammy’s criss-cross cutting pattern.

Dining Atmosphere: I ordered to-go, but they have a nice casual dining area.

Customer Service:  The service was quick and attentive.

Monetary Value: The quality is excellent, but this pizza is expensive.  The price I list above does not even include a drink, and it is only a 10” pizza.  Therefore, value is not the strength of this pizza.

The Final Judgment:

Sammy’s Pizza and Restaurant started as a family-owned business with a single location.  They have since expanded, and the region’s pizza eaters are better for it.  Sammy’s is a good pizza option if you find yourself in the upper Midwest.  Score: 90/100.