Papa Johns Pizza — Restaurant in Springfield

This review is NOT ABOUT THIS PIZZA as much as about the STORE AND STAFF.

First off, the service was excellent. You see, my drivers side door had been damaged by recent strong winds, and I needed to either go through a drive-up or someone to bring my food order to me.

As such, the conditions outside at the time were brutal with blowing snow and around zero.

I had been seeing these Papa John commercials recently and decided on trying the new Calzone pizza with pepperoni and started trying to determine which store offered a drive-up.

Tried the closest store. No answer. Tried the toll-free number and no help as they aren't even located in the USA, and we're simply reciting what they had in front of them, which said nothing about the stores availability.

Tried the other store again, twice, still no answer, and was on hold each time for more than five minutes.

I had called another store previously, and their staff said they did not have a drive-up but were not sure about the other two locations. So, I called them again to see if they could bring the pizza out to me, and they said yes.

Again, it's now below zero wind chill and even ambient, with strong winds blowing light snow, and they said yes. And when I arrived and the pizza was ready, I watched as the man inside threw on a sweater and brought it out to me.

NOW THATS SERVICE!

I then proceeded to start on the pizza right there in the parking lot. Damn, my bad as it was too hot. Waited a short while and had my first slice. Well, there's the pepperoni, but what the Hecks so speciat about this stuffed crust? I mean, they say it's their special blend and all, but I sure don't see a difference between it and regular cheese stuffed in there...

I kept trying another slice or two before resigning myself that I should have ordered my usual for the same price as, in my opinion, this pizza was nothing to write home about no matter what the commercials implied.

But kudos to the manager and staff at the Stephenson Drive location as they were being slammed by orders due to the weather and still went that extra mile...

It really baffles me when I call to let an establishment know that my pizza tasted poorly and they tell ME what my pizza was and was not. I didn’t call for a free pizza, I called because I just wanted to let them know that it just wasn’t that great. I loooooove papa johns I don’t like any other pizza really. I prefer everything from the garlic knots and cheese bread, to the pizza itself. And it’s just ridiculous that someone would be RUDE when I wasn’t BLAMING that particular person. If you have issues with my concerns about my pizza because you possibly made it, just take note. I wasn’t rude, my tone didn’t change and I didn’t ask for another delivery. I KNOW what good pizza is and I don’t appreciate her attitude. I can not remember her name, I’d like to say, maybe Lisa, but that might not be correct. You have genuine people who give feed back because they know quality. Do not speak to me as if I don’t know how MY pizza was when I ate it. “There’s no way your pizza could have been cold”, if you open your ears and decide to not challenge me, you’d know that I STATED THAT, my cheesy bread was GRITTY and my pizza was not hot. WARM IS NOT HOT. THATS WHY ITS CALLED WARM NOT HOT. There is a reason that many people have left comments that stated that the customer service is poor because of individuals like yourself who speak to others as if you are above them. I’m not from Springfield, but I’d rather not eat pizza for the duration of my stay, than to support a location with such PISS POOR customer service. I did nothing to you for you to speak to me as if I am in the wrong or as if I am lying...

I usually don't mind waiting. And today my patience weren't at all thinned out. This experience was upsetting. First, their store front has a "mask requirement for entry" posted and I abliged. The cashier, who was wearing no mask, said (something like) I'll be with me in a moment. I waited. As a driver returned and another worker came over to the cashier with their mask pulled down and they began to talk. The driver stood by the cashier and joined the conversation. The cashier eventually completed our transaction and I was out the door and on my way. It doesn't take 5 minutes time to get to my house and the family had the table ready. Our pie was soggy in the middle. Worst Papa John's experience ever. I'm going back to Domino's.

UPDATE (07/12/2022): It's been a year and I went back. Fooled me twice, shame on me. I left a note in driver instructions: "CA$H TIP" like always. I always use traditional delivery. The delivery person left my pizza on the concrete and ants decided to join the party. I'm done. 50$...