RANTING & CRAVING
Allow me to set down the Papa John's pizza box so I can step onto my soapbox.
Whenever we order a pizza nowadays, it's usually from the Bolingbrook Papa John's. It's right across from Bolingbrook High School on Lily Cache Ln in a strip mall that's seen better days (the general sketchiness of the area is made worse by the pawn shop next door).
Cheesy sticks ($10) are solid - I think it's silly to snack on what amounts to a plain 10" cheese pizza before eating the actual pizza. To me, that's like ordering mini sliders as an appetizer, and then getting a burger as your entrée. More power to you I suppose, but it's all a bit....I don't know, redundant?
The cool ranch Papadia ($8) was fine but not a life-changing experience Iike the Doritos locos taco. A flatbread gets stuffed with your choice of meat, cheese, onions and tomatoes, then dusted with Doritos flavor. I wished it came as a calzone option instead of flatbread. The cup of cool ranch dipping sauce was legit, though.
Those damn pepperoncini they toss in with each pizza box are getting worse and worse. Last time they gave us the tiniest pepper I've ever seen and we couldn't help but laugh ("what is this, a garnish for ants?") No juice in them, either. These shriveled things wind up in the trash most of the time, sadly.
* TL;DR *
My wife likes Papa John's a lot more than me (I'll go to bat for Dominos any day of the week).
Their garlic cup is clutch, but man oh man I'm convinced they let the pepperoncini sunbathe on the roof for a few days. How else to explain the fact that they've gotten smaller, dryer, and sadder looking with every order? Someone check on the produce guy, see if he's still breathing.
And what exactly is the difference between cheesy sticks and a plain pizza? One's cut in vertical strips, the other in triangular slices. One has dough, cheese, and tomato sauce (marinara for dipping). The other has dough, cheese, and tomato sauce. Am I missing something here?? This "cheesy stix" ruse is a Parmesanzi-scheme I want no part of! *exhales* read more