Edited 17 May 2022 (edit at the end)

Let's start with the primary purpose of a review of a restaurant...its food. As part of the Papa Murphy's chain, this restaurant's food products are completely in line with other Papa Murphy's franchise operations. The dough is made fresh during the day, ingredients sliced and diced, and baking sheets readied for use, all per franchise instructions. It meets the standard. Take out home, bake it, and eat it. It's yummy.

The problem at this location is that I found it difficult to get a pizza to take home. Speed, or the lack thereof, is a serious problem. In not one, not two, but three visits, the staff just can't get anything done in a timely manner. While they are polite, they are a model of inefficiency. They'd place 4th in the race between themselves, the hare, and the turtle.

In my most recent visit, about a week ago, I placed the order over the internet at about 5:20 for a 6:15 pickup. I walked in about 6:22 and it wasn't ready. I stood and waited. They didn't talk to me until 7:10, when they called my name. I finally had my pizza and two salads...and one of the salads was a substitute because they didn't have my preferred choice ready; oddly enough, I didn't feel like waiting 10 more minutes for it.

Yes, two hours... And all I got for my patience was a rather cursory, if polite, "Sorry about the delay. As you see, we were swamped tonight." I might have accepted that if there was a long line, but there wasn't. At its peak, there were 6 people in the store. There wasn't even an offer of a free drink or a coupon, just an, "I'm sorry."

I won't fall into the trap of blaming poor work performance on the employee market in Sierra Vista. If franchises like Culver's can find and hire the kind of outstanding young adults they have from this pool of employees, then I don't accept the labor pool as a valid argument for poor performance. This owner should take a lesson from the owner of that other restaurant and use tough love: You, my dear employee, will treat this business as if your livelihood depends on building a strong core of repeat customers who recommend us to their friends, through the finest food and service, as though I am standing over your shoulder, or you will find yourself unemployed. Do well, and there will be rewards.

Since there is only one of these stores in town, odds are that I'll go back there when the craving for their admittedly good pizza strikes, but I might also start looking for a frozen substitute. At least I won't have to wait almost 2 hours to get it home and into the oven.

17 May 2022 edit: I have, in fact, gone back to this restaurant several times since my original post. I'm pleased to report that service has markedly improved, trading the rating from 1 to 4 stars. Next, they can work on having those salads ready when I'm looking for them...