Buddy's Pizza — Restaurant in Auburn Hills

Not one to usually write a restaurant review, so begins my boomer-like quest. Being a customer of the Rochester Hills location for a few years and having worked in a pizza restaurant in the past, I think my opinion might be worth something for someone when deciding whether or not to try this place.

In my opinion the most important thing to remember based off my experiences is that this restaurant just isn't consistent with delivering quality food. Too many times have I seen the gluten free crust be sent back to be cooked to a point that's edible, and too many times have I seen overcooked or inedible burnt crusts as the pictures from my last experience here shows. So for these reasons I deduct 2 stars; this is a pretty big factor in my opinion that they have not redeemed themselves on and instead have fallen past a one star loss in this "category". In any case, so remember that Buddies still does have good pizza "worth" trying -there's just no guarantee that each visit will be on point. About 2/3 of our visits here there is something unsatisfactory, and we're pretty tolerable people..

The next star comes off somewhat out of my own anger and somewhat out of sincerity. I myself am not able to eat cheese -Although I have from here, my stomach just didn't like it...- therefore I order pizza without cheese often. Many restaurants are willing to substitute the cost of cheese -which, other than some finer luxuries, is usually the most expensive ingredient in the pizza business- with the topping of my choice, however after discussing it with the buddies employees, they failed to see the logic that cheese has a price, I'm not getting cheese, therefore I shouldn't have to pay for cheese. To help understand the situation, two buddies employees told me the same thing, "The price of cheese is included in ordering any pizza". Now I know how the Pizza business' information system is usually set up, so I know that there is no button to omit the price of cheese. However back in my pizza spinning days, I was willing to deduct the price of cheese for customers who did not want cheese. Or at the least, the cost of extra cheese for the size pizza the customer is ordering, which is a price the. If someone higher up who knows the costs of the store isn't around, then I at least expect employee to offer an ingredient replacement or deduction for the cost of "extra cheese", but none of these options were given to me and I paid for cheese on a cheese-less pizza for the last time at Buddies.

I hope the Buddies management will see this post so that these situations are taken care of and they can improve their establishment, however for now I close with saying that buddies isn't always worth the cost and that there is other pizza -that will be more consistent- that can make you just as if not happier.

Picture Description: These are photos of my last experience with Buddies, the crusts were obviously burnt... I like super well done pizza (which i didn't ask for this time) but I had to spit out the outsides of my pizza because of the burnt taste :( Also you can see that on my pizza with no cheese, there is a huge gap of sauce... Now listen... this is okay if there is cheese on the pizza to cove the area, in fact I like blotted sauce better if I do ever eat cheese, however if someone is not ordering cheese, please cover their pizza with sauce so I'm not literally just eating your dough.

These 4 squares were fancy fancy with basil sauce and multi-grain crusts, of which I both would recommend the upgrade if you do decide to try this place out. HOWEVER for a pizza with no cheese and 1 topping and another with cheese and 1 topping, that being 8 slices total, the total came out to just over $23... not worth it... I ordered an $11.50+ 1 topping pizza without cheese and they can't even put a fair amount of sauce of the pizza or make sure the bottom of the corners doesn't come out black? I expect more from a pizza restaurant with these prices.

Cheers! -That Guy Who Ordered Pizza and Was Unsatisfied #:'(

Edit* Plus 1 star bc I'm craving...

It had been awhile since we had been to Buddy's so we decided to go there last fall after we felt comfortable going to a restaurant after Covid. The young girl who was the hostess was one of the most ill-mannered people I have ever encountered. She tried to seat us at a table, I told her we needed a booth. She whipped around and said in a very snotty voice, 'Why?' Excuse me? WHO has the audacity to ask a customer at a restaurant why they would like a booth. For a few seconds I was absolutely speechless. I then said, in a very clipped tone, 'Because we both have bad backs and can't sit in the chairs, which really isn't any of your business'. She set the menus down on a booth, mumbled sorry under her breath, and walked away. We just went there again a few nights ago, and that same young girl went to seat us again. There were three empty booths in a row, she wanted to seat us right in the middle next to a family with three kids. I asked could we please sit in a different one that's not next to them. Just like last time, the snottiness was unbelievable. ANY other hostess, whether there or any restaurant, would have said certainly and sat us at another booth. Period. Not her. She said she couldn't because of some silly reason that sounded made up. I said again, very quietly so the family didn't over-hear, that we didn't want to sit next to three kids. 'She then says - if you can believe this - she then says 'Just scoot all the way over in the booth so you're not that close'. Seriously?? I'm standing there looking at this young girl just dumbfounded. My husband finally said 'just put us somewhere else, we're not sitting here'. She stood there glaring at us, and after a few seconds, walks over to the other booth, slaps the menus down on the table in front of us - are you kidding me? we're senior citizens and this is how she treats us? - and then in a snotty voice says 'they should just fire the hostess', and stomps away. Wow. The only reason I didn't complain to the manager is because we all know help is scarce right now, so we knew he wouldn't do anything, anyway. If this ill-mannered, rude young lady treats seniors like us that way, how in the world is she treating others? She has no manners whatsoever and shouldn't be working where she has to deal with the public. I can guarantee we will not be going back there. There are way too many restaurants we can go to where we're treated with respect and...

Buddy's Pizza

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Buddy's Pizza, a renowned establishment known for its Detroit-style pizza. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and a genuinely friendly atmosphere from the staff, setting the tone for a delightful dining experience.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the pizza. Buddy's Pizza undoubtedly lives up to its well-deserved reputation. The Detroit-style pizza they serve is simply fantastic. The crust, with its signature thick and airy texture, was a perfect balance of chewiness and crispiness. The edges were golden and caramelized, giving each slice a delightful crunch. The unique rectangular shape, a trademark of Detroit-style pizza, ensured that every corner was filled with a delectable blend of flavors.

Topping-wise, Buddy's Pizza offers a variety of options, and I opted for the classic pepperoni. The generous amount of high-quality pepperoni was evenly distributed, creating a harmonious combination of savory flavors with just the right amount of spice. The sauce had a robust tomato taste that complemented the cheese and toppings perfectly. Speaking of cheese, it was gooey and delicious, melting into the toppings and providing a delightful blanket of flavor.

What impressed me the most, aside from the mouthwatering pizza, was the exceptional service provided by the staff. They were attentive, knowledgeable, and incredibly friendly throughout my visit. Their genuine enthusiasm for the food and the overall experience was infectious, making me feel welcome and valued as a customer.

The ambiance of Buddy's Pizza further enhanced my dining experience. The restaurant had a cozy and inviting atmosphere, with tasteful décor that reflected the Detroit heritage. It was bustling with energy, yet still managed to maintain a comfortable and relaxed environment.

In conclusion, Buddy's Pizza is an absolute gem for anyone seeking an authentic and unforgettable Detroit-style pizza experience. The pizza itself was a true delight, with a crust that was the perfect balance of textures and a harmonious blend of flavors. The staff's warmth and friendliness added an extra touch of charm to the overall experience. Whether you're a local or a visitor, make sure to add Buddy's Pizza to your list of must-try restaurants—it's a culinary experience you won't...