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Anyone Been To Ciro's Pizza Lately?


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#16 Steve Heard

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Posted 26 March 2014 - 08:26 AM

 

Chain restaurants succeed because people flocks to names they are familiar with.

 

Sad, but true. I was with a group in Japan years ago. 2 of us went to dinner at an izakaya and other restaurants to take in the real Japan, the rest of our group went to Denny's, Jack in the Box and Hard Rock Cafe.   

 

 

 

I gave Applebee's a couple of chances and they failed every time.  The last draw was when I took my family there one evening, the entire place was nearly empty and there was only one other couple besides us.  We sat down at our table and waited and waited and waited. I saw the staff standing by the bar chatting but they apparently didn't give a crap about their jobs nor the restaurant.  

 

I'm an optimist and believe in giving people a chance, so I set my iphone timer and gave them 5 minutes to respond.  If nobody acknowledges our presence within that time frame - good bye! (I do this at any restaurant where service seems too slow)

 

And so that's what happened, 5+ minutes went by and my timer went off - still nobody came by, so we all stood up and left.  I will never EVER set foot inside that crappy restaurant chain again - anywhere anytime - and I was glad to see them go out of business so that someone else could make better use of that building.  I despise Applebees so much that if I'm out with family and they want to go there I tell them to have a good time because I won't go there.

 

This happened years ago and since then I have (mostly) sworn off dining at chain restaurants - thanks for that Applebees!

 

Have you been to SF lately? 

 

A few years back the Sabellas, which had operated A. Sabella's, restaurant at the Wharf for almost 90 years, decided to sell. What took their place?

 

Why, Applebees of course. The Wharf is turning into a mall, with lots of chain restaurants and shops, and people love it. 

 

asabellas_zps2cb2e91c.jpg 

 

applebees_zps76c0652c.jpg


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#17 cw68

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Posted 26 March 2014 - 08:51 AM

Ugh. I detest chain restaurants. IMO, the food isn't ever really that good. It's pre-packaged and pre-made, not fresh. That's the only way to ensure it tastes the same no matter where you are. Blech. I don't get why people flock to them.

I especially don't get why people flock to them when traveling. Why bother to travel when you are experiencing the same thing as at home?

#18 Dave Burrell

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Posted 26 March 2014 - 09:37 AM

 

Sad, but true. I was with a group in Japan years ago. 2 of us went to dinner at an izakaya and other restaurants to take in the real Japan, the rest of our group went to Denny's, Jack in the Box and Hard Rock Cafe.   

 

 

Have you been to SF lately? 

 

A few years back the Sabellas, which had operated A. Sabella's, restaurant at the Wharf for almost 90 years, decided to sell. What took their place?

 

Why, Applebees of course. The Wharf is turning into a mall, with lots of chain restaurants and shops, and people love it. 

 

 

 

 

 

Was just there last month. Fully agree, way too much commercialization at the warf including McD's and many others. Whenever I go to SF, I don't eat anywhere near the tourist traps. There's so much GREAT food to be found in that town that it'd be a waste of life to go to a chain restaurant while there.

 

Ugh. I detest chain restaurants. IMO, the food isn't ever really that good. It's pre-packaged and pre-made, not fresh. That's the only way to ensure it tastes the same no matter where you are. Blech. I don't get why people flock to them.

I especially don't get why people flock to them when traveling. Why bother to travel when you are experiencing the same thing as at home?

 

Fully agree! I travel weekly and it's always my mission to avoid chains.  A couple weeks ago while working in Reno I found the coolest coffee shop ever, had to pass several Starbucks to get there but it was well worth it!  :eat:


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#19 mrdavex

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Posted 26 March 2014 - 09:45 AM

I agree with Steve and CW.  I rarely go to chain restaurants, whether staying in town or traveling.  Shame about the former A. Sabella's location.  That used to be a great restaurant, but they've been gone for about 8 years.  Looks like the Applebees was a recent addition in the last year.  However, the whole Fisherman's Wharf (in both SF and Monterrey) is turning into a big tourist trap.  Way too crowded with tacky souvenir shops and chain restaurants.  Even the non-brand name restaurants there seem to have the exact same offerings, and are bland and overpriced.  A much better seafood restaurant is found in the Financial District, the Tadich Grill.  While they don't accept reservations and the wait can be long at peak dining times, I've eaten there on a few Saturday nights and I don't recall waiting forever.  I've waited longer at a chain restaurant.  Even in our own backyard, I think Scott's Seafood is much better than Fisherman's Wharf places.

 

Apologize for contributing to the thread hijacking.  Going back to the original topic, I haven't been to Ciro's in several years.  Having been spoiled by the great pizza offerings from Chicago Fire, Classico, Dominic's, and Skippolini's, I rarely go anywhere else for pizza.  Other than these, it's either Costco or make my own.


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#20 Steve Heard

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Posted 26 March 2014 - 10:04 AM

Fully agree! I travel weekly and it's always my mission to avoid chains.  A couple weeks ago while working in Reno I found the coolest coffee shop ever, had to pass several Starbucks to get there but it was well worth it!  :eat:

 

I was in Reno recently and a few friends insisted I try another chain, 'Hash House A-Go-Go'. Great food, huge portions, artistically presented, they said.

 

My wife and I gave it a try. Server suggested we split items. 

 

Spinach salad was small, ribs were boiled not grilled, sour taste in the German potato salad (came with the ribs), and the club soda was flat.

 

I sent them a note. The manager called me and said that I happened to order the smallest salad on the menu, and the server should have warned me. 

 

He also said that the ribs were his least favorite thing on the menu, and that they were trying to get them removed.

 

Said that some people love the German potato salad, some hate it.   

 

He offered me a comp dinner, but I told him I'm not likely to use it. 


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#21 cw68

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Posted 26 March 2014 - 10:37 AM

 
I was in Reno recently and a few friends insisted I try another chain, 'Hash House A-Go-Go'. Great food, huge portions, artistically presented, they said.
 
My wife and I gave it a try. Server suggested we split items. 
 
Spinach salad was small, ribs were boiled not grilled, sour taste in the German potato salad (came with the ribs), and the club soda was flat.
 
I sent them a note. The manager called me and said that I happened to order the smallest salad on the menu, and the server should have warned me. 
 
He also said that the ribs were his least favorite thing on the menu, and that they were trying to get them removed.
 
Said that some people love the German potato salad, some hate it.   
 
He offered me a comp dinner, but I told him I'm not likely to use it. 


Authentic German Potato Salad IS sour, with vinegar and bacon. American Potato Salad is creamy.

#22 Steve Heard

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Posted 26 March 2014 - 02:00 PM

Authentic German Potato Salad IS sour, with vinegar and bacon. American Potato Salad is creamy.

 

It was also crappy. Is it supposed to be crappy? They also put pesto in it. The  manager told me that the combination of pesto and vinegar isn't for everyone. 


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#23 cw68

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Posted 26 March 2014 - 06:25 PM

 

It was also crappy. Is it supposed to be crappy? They also put pesto in it. The  manager told me that the combination of pesto and vinegar isn't for everyone. 

Ewww. Pesto and vinegar?

 

No, it's tasty. Vinegar, bacon, onion, a little sugar to cut the sour a bit, salt, pepper, and that's about it.



#24 Deb aka Resume Lady

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Posted 27 March 2014 - 06:03 AM

 

They also put pesto in it. The  manager told me that the combination of pesto and vinegar isn't for everyone. 

 

That's disgusting. Pesto has no place in German potato salad and that combination of ingredients doesn't even sound like it would go together well.

 

As CW said, German potato salad has vinegar in it - but perhaps they are using too much. It isn't supposed to taste crappy; adding pesto would certainly make it taste crappy.


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#25 chris v

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Posted 27 March 2014 - 09:13 AM

I don't know that I would go to Hash House for anything other than breakfast. I've been to the one in Vegas a couple of times and the breakfast has always been great... And ridiculous all at the same time.

#26 Deanna H

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Posted 27 March 2014 - 10:53 AM

 

I was in Reno recently and a few friends insisted I try another chain, 'Hash House A-Go-Go'. Great food, huge portions, artistically presented, they said.

 

My wife and I gave it a try. Server suggested we split items. 

 

Spinach salad was small, ribs were boiled not grilled, sour taste in the German potato salad (came with the ribs), and the club soda was flat.

 

I sent them a note. The manager called me and said that I happened to order the smallest salad on the menu, and the server should have warned me. 

 

He also said that the ribs were his least favorite thing on the menu, and that they were trying to get them removed.

 

Said that some people love the German potato salad, some hate it.   

 

He offered me a comp dinner, but I told him I'm not likely to use it. 

 

Sacrilege!



#27 supermom

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Posted 27 March 2014 - 04:51 PM

Funny, a few of us were just talking about Ciros. Wondering if they had closed. I used to like their garlic white sauce. 

 

On the otherhand, I have never eaten in- but always had great - and timely service from them. 

 

And every time I went the store was very clean. There may be plates on a table but they were picked up quickly while I waited for my pizza. 

 

I wonder how many people who are complaining have ever worked for a SMALL mom and pop--- much more laid back and their idea of timely is quite a bit different than the non-family employees working for an hourly wage...

 

Just saying-- I always give mom and pops more patience because the taste is always just ohhh, so much better.



#28 tessieca

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Posted 31 March 2014 - 02:26 PM

We used to go more often when they had Lockdown beer.  I like their salad bar, and the pizza is good enough for a dinner every now and then.  It's in the 'hood.


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#29 Redone

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 11:48 AM

LOL   Lockdown doesn't even have Lockdown brew anymore.



#30 Steve Heard

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Posted 01 April 2014 - 02:32 PM

LOL   Lockdown doesn't even have Lockdown brew anymore.

 

What does that mean?


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