I live in WEST Columbus (I grew up far east), which matters, location-wise. The stars are for pizza only (not subs, salads, or delivery so read on for more on that).
I once read that there are more pizza joints in Columbus than any other city in the U.S.. I believe it. I've always said if you can't find good pizza in this town you haven't tried - not considering how many options you have here. Anyway... ALL pizza in Columbus is "expensive" if it is any good. And Donato's, Massey's and Tommy's Upper Arlington are among the very best. So, if it's a bargain you're looking for you can forget the top tier joints FOR PIZZA which, for me, are these three. Each produces a pie with a very distinct flavor. If I'm in the mood for a pep & mush nobody does it better than Tommy's (ummm... ALWAYS ask for CANNED mushrooms which work better with the sauce than fresh... salty, heavy on the oregano). If I want banana peppers or pineapple I go for the distinct flavor of Donato's. If it's a pie with pep and crumbled sausage nothing has the taste of Massey's. And Massey's doesn't reduce the amount of pepperoni when you add a second topping to "improve the taste profile" (that's the bs reason Donato's gave me for pulling that stunt. Pay more/get less... wth?).
I'd recommend any of those three places for pizza, depending on which flavor/toppings you're in the mood for. I know nothing about delivery because I always pick mine up, except that Tommy's doesn't offer delivery. Why? They don't have to. Their phone rings off the hook and they're always hopping so they're not hurting for business. And dining in is something I never do.
When it comes to Italian subs Tommy's is a sub destination. They're legendary for good reason. Donato's and Massey's are not sub destinations. Tommy's subs are substantial and the toasted bread is crispy. Donato's subs taste fine but they're tiny and the meat is sparse. Massey's subs... The onions always seem raw and the bread is doughy and never even remotely toasted. I go to Tommy's just for their subs a lot, and they're quite a bit out of my way; I'll get a Donato's sub, maybe, if I'm going there anyway, for pizza; but meaty though they are I never get Massey's subs because of the uncooked onions and strangely doughy bread.
Chef salads: Tommy's wins again. With Donato's and Massey's you get a little substance (meat/salad veggie's) atop a big bowl of lettuce. And all that lettuce costs a lot. At Tommy's you get so much more. Also, Tommy's mixes their own Italian vinaigrette that, though probably fairly basic, I have never been able to duplicate in my kitchen.
Bottom line: If I'm just getting pizza and I'm in the mood for a specific taste, any of these three are MY top tier. But if YOU want a big, meaty salad or the best Italian sub in the city you have to try Tommy's in Upper Arlington. They get EVERYTHING right. But if there's a ball game happening you may want to ask about the wait time before ordering. Typical wait times are 15-20 minutes but if there's a big game on (Tommy's doesn't have Buckeye games on in their dining room, which I find ridiculous, especially since the stadium is literally a few blocks up the road. Spend some of that money on a big tv and cable, Tommy's!!!), the wait may be more like an hour. And, like I said, they don't deliver. read more