Maybe I just have no taste, but when your as broke as I am sometimes chain restaurants are all you've got. Quality local restaurants are invariably more expensive than their chain counterparts. You need to consider all demographics when you bash chain retail. It exists because it fills a need.

And how can you not like Panera Bread? I mean come on...

I don't get what your apologizing for. Those seem like perfectly normal things to me...

Ahhh Bizzles...chain food...ugghhhhh!

Bizzles-

The friends that I have in other parts of the country, specifically the culinarily inclined, have made it very clear to me that the bleu cheese thing is pretty bad.

Generally, I wouldn't agree, regional food is a beautiful thing. Memphis has great deep fried pickles, and I'd like to ask bloggers to post other regional food oddities that they've enjoyed- from Buffalo and other areas.

Anyway, my apology for the cheese on cheese pizza is based mostly upon the fact that I was completely grossed out by it the first few years I lived here. Of course, I firmly believed that chicken wings and hot dogs were equally disgusting.

I converted to the Buffalo food thing after realizing that being a food snob was only limiting my enjoyment of the city and part of the American experience. Though there are regional favorites that I don't care for, my original line of thinking was way off base.

Happy Eating!

Christa you are right on point with your critique of this pizza establishment. Last week while visiting family in Buffalo I had the good fortune to order the Buffalo Chicken Pizza and it was one of the best pizza's I've have ever had. When I'm in Buffalo I stay with my sister and her family and she swears by this pizza. I live in Atlanta, and as any Buffalonian living in the ATL will tell you it's hard to find a good pizza here so whenever I'm in Buffalo I have to satisfy that pizza taste. From now on Buffalo Pizza Co. will be first on my list of pizza options.

I wish I could get one of those 'little boxed gifts' out this way. That looks soooo good! Add CA to the pizza-challenged states.

Regional food oddities? Please. Mostly chain restaurants Buffalo is lucky enough not to have. Though Lucilles BBQ (several locations in the west) has fried pickles that you mention. Yummy.

BFLORome-

I couldn't agree with you more. However, if you are ever trapped in a food-challenged part of the country, the local Chili's can be a lifesaver. Right before the W. Galleria's Cheesecake Factory opened, I was invited to dine during a free "test run" for the staff. I was shocked to find that while the meal left much to be desired, the tuna sashimi was quite good...

I would like a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse though...and a Panera Bread on every corner...

Great article! This was one of my favourite pizza places in college, a great stop before or after a night at the 'New Pink". I thought it had closed while I was living in Virginia, I am glad to know that it is still open and thriving. I will definitely make a point of stopping there on my way home one of these nights. Thanks!