Dec 17, 2015 04:53 PM
5354 Views
I live a stone's throw away from PapaJohn's in Koramangala. Since 2011, PJ has been my favourite pizza joint, even though Domino's and Pizza Hut are equally near. There was something irresistible about PapaJohn pizzas - they had that lovely aroma, perfectly baked and loads of cheese - and all of it on the standard menu. These were reason enough for me to be a loyalist - atleast till 2014 when gradually things started changing for the worse.
Of late, things have started degrading to a completely unacceptable level. The changes started when they reduced the size of pizzas, keeping prices the same. Previously(2011-2012), a regular pizza was 8", medium pizza used to be 10" and large was 12". A medium pizza used to serve two people to a tummyfull without the need for any sides/starters. Sometime during 2013-2014, the sizes were reduced to 8" for the medium and 10" for the large. The regular size was shrunk to 6" which wouldn't satiate even one person.
Talking of taste, the taste of the pizzas has also degraded with time. Gone is the cheesy-buttery aroma which used to arrest your senses from the oven itself. he pizzas these days are extremely ordinary - that aroma, the texture is just not there anymore.
In addition, they had a signature garlic-butter sauce which was free withall items. It used to be served in a large bowl in unlimited quantities. Now, it comes for free only with Medium Pizzas or larger, and it's an add-on purchase in a tiny cup which won't suffice for even once slice of pizza.
If you are in for a take-away order, you would need to cross-check everything before leaving. The staff would often "forget" to include complimentary items like chili flakes/seasoning/dips. Same goes for home delivery.
Quality of service was also constantly degrading. The place was not maintained well, there would be no AC even in summer, lights would be unpleasantly dim and occasionally not working.
My final visit was this Saturday. I walked in - there was just one staff inside, taking orders on the phone. All tables were empty, there was only one other table occupied. We took a table and waited. 10 minutes passed, the person still didn't turn up with a menu card. I walked up to the staff - he was busy catering to phone orders from caterers like Swiggy and Delyver, and he was not at all bothered with the people waiting in the restaurant. Still, I called out my order and he noted it down - and handed me over my bill. He did not even bother to ask me whether it was a dine-in or a take away. When I asked for certain offers on their list, he told the offers were not applicable. I was really, really appalled with the disgusting, pathetic level of service and the indifferent attitude. Papa John's had once been in my good books but I swear my visit this weekend was my last visit ever, I am not visiting that joint again.
