Comments on Chicago Pizza Club: Papa Ray’s [Meeting #106]

In a city sorely lacking in the Pizza by the Slice...

2011-12-22T11:05:09.712-06:00

In a city sorely lacking in the Pizza by the Slice department (both in terms of quantity and quality) any place that specializes in slices-to-go is already in my good graces. Papa Ray's offers a good sized slice at a good price, and the taste was exactly what I expected- mediocre ingredients, mediocre pizza, full stomach, on with the night. This is not destination dining, nor is it even the best pizza within a 6 block radius, but the next time I'm hungry and pass by Papa Ray's, I'll probably stop in for a slice. I give Papa Ray's a 4.

The three comments posted to this point all make s...

2011-11-29T08:31:50.339-06:00

The three comments posted to this point all make sense and I generally agree. Having had various by-the-slice offerings, I do think Papa Ray's is better than most, but it has varied in quality between visits. We rate pizza on the scale of all pizzas, not just per genre, so I give Papa Ray's a 5.8 for our visit.

Papa Ray's jumbo slice of cheese pizza is aver...

2011-11-28T16:01:35.324-06:00

Papa Ray's jumbo slice of cheese pizza is average in taste but will no doubt fill your stomach without breaking your bank. I was initially impressed by their crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside crust. There seemed to be some sort of herb(s) in the crust, as I saw tiny green spots, but it wasn't obvious to me what herb(s) these might have been. The cheese is abundant while the sauce isn't in your face.

As I neared the final bites of my slice, the crust was no longer crispy, and I was sorry that I was so determined to leave my parchment paper clear of pizza. However, my unsettled stomach may just have been due to volume consumed and not actual quality, or perhaps the small plastic fork tips that went missing!

Papa Ray's gets a 5, and a word of advice: invest in sturdier plasticware.

I could be biased because I was hungry, but accord...

2011-11-28T11:46:27.507-06:00

I could be biased because I was hungry, but according to the scale, edible pizza when you're hungry gets a 4. Maybe they deserve a slightly higher rating since they were cheap had all the hot sauces, especially the Valentina one, but I'll try not to get ahead of myself.

4.0

I'm happy to adjust my expectations based on c...

2011-11-23T18:10:52.603-06:00

I'm happy to adjust my expectations based on cost and slice quality, but when a by-the-slice place charges about $5 for a slice and a fountain pop, I think it's reasonable to expect something better than Domino's or Pizza Hut. The factory-made crusts, lackluster sauce and three meats that offered little flavor other than salt were all disappointing. I will not eat here again. Papa Ray's gets a 2 from me.