I put Domino's in a completely different category than a typical Mom and Pop pizza joint. I categorize Domino's as more fast food than pizza. Under that viewpoint, I have been very impressed with this new Domino's so far. I've ordered here 21 times since they opened about 2 months ago and have tried much of the menu at this point.
Delivery has been mostly Excellent. Most orders arrive at my door before 30 minutes of placing the order. On average, I would say 25-35 minutes. The fastest delivery time I recorded is 17 minutes, which is insane! I had one time where delivery took exceedingly long - over an hour due to the driver grabbing the incorrect order and having to drive back to the store. My only gripe about delivery is the $4 delivery charge on top of whatever tip you give. It's enough that it occasionally deters me from ordering delivery.
Carryout has always been a breeze for me. I walk in, tell them my name, and they hand me my pizza and I walk out. I'm usually in there for less than 30 seconds. My only wish is that they had a drive-through window as some Domino's do (see New London).
The food itself is exactly what you would expect from Domino's. Fast food. This is closer to grabbing one of those personal pizzas at a Target cafe than typical pizza in the area. I can't deny that most of what I buy at Domino's tastes excellent, but it's designed to. However, I wouldn't put it in the same league as say Frank Pepe's in New Haven or any authentic parlor in the area. There are nights that I crave real pizza and there are nights that I crave Domino's. Just set your expectations appropriately.
So far, my favorite thing on the menu has been their Pan Pizza. I believe this is because it is very different from anything else you can get in the area. They are typically very generous with the toppings on the pan pizzas - more than their typical hand-tossed crust. Because of the pan, they can load up the toppings to the very edge of the pie and not have to worry about it yucking up their ovens. The dough is "doughier" than the other crusts and the special black box it comes in adds to the premium feel of this item. I'm also a huge Cheesy Bread fan. I would suggest staying away from the chicken options such as the Wings and boneless Wings. As others have said, they are fairly tasteless and a bit spongy. They also don't hold their heat very well.
I strongly recommend getting familiar with their coupon structure. I have had the most success with their 2+ items for $5.99 each deal which is always available - carryout or delivery. With this I'm able to get the pan Pizza for $7.50 and a Cheesy Bread for $5.99. They up-charge a bit on the Pan but it's still a great deal. That's a lot of food for $13.50. When I buy a large pizza at other places, I usually pay around $18-$20.
My biggest overall issue with this Domino's is their inconsistency. There are times when the Cheesy Bread is dried out and most of the cheese appears to have been lost along the cooking process. I typically order my pizzas with "double cheese" and it's a bit of a roulette game on whether I get a normal amount of cheese, a mother load, or somewhere in between. I actually hold my breath as I open the pizza box to see what my pizza is going to look like this time. It's fun to an extent, but I hope they start to become more consistent so I can have a higher chance of getting an awesome pie.
I think the reason a Domino's has never come to area of the shoreline is due to the abundance of "real" pizza places. Why would someone get chain junk-food pizza when they can choose from any of the other amazing pizza joints in the area? I think times have changed in a way where Domino's can coexist with the others. I'm a typical millennial in some ways. I prefer to not talk to anyone on the phone and deal with them entering my order incorrectly. I prefer to order from the app. I am blown away by the convenience of having food delivered when I'm too lazy to go out. Overall I've been happier since Domino's came to town. In the end, that's what matters most to me. I truly hope this Domino's will continue to improve so they can stick around for as long as possible. read more