I just saw this latest "laowai" post about the BEST PIZZA in Suzhou and it just irked me. Read it here if you want.
I know Expats are cool and all that, but I'm really sick of all the "reviews" of places where it feels more like you're saying "oh I'm cool because I can spend more at dinner than you". How is this a complete list of pizza alternatives in Suzhou?
Sure I've had Mamma Mia's and its ok, but I have a family of 5 to feed here. I may go there for an anniversary but it isn't my go to restaurant, I just can't be dropping 1,000 RMB for dinner to feed my kids. 50 RMB for italian imported water? Forget that, I'd rather go drink out of Jin Ji Hu than fork over 250 RMB so we can all wet our lips. For those of you who aren't all hoity toity, here is my run down:
Pizza Hut: Consistent and very similar to the USA, only not as much sauce. They have frequent specials if you know how to look for them, over the summer they had a special where you could get the meat lasagna for just 16 RMB on Fridays. What a deal! They also deliver and are a great go-to pizza when you have mouths to feed and wanna splurge a bit. Be sure to get the Parmesan cheese and red pepper packets too... they are free! Order ONLINE HERE.
Papa John's: Our Monday nights revolve around Papa Johns. If you order online you get any medium pizza for about 50 RMB. 2 of them delivered to my door the way I like it is 107 RMB and feeds my family of 5 pretty well. I don't ever order there except via their website on Monday nights, but we don't miss many of those! Order ONLINE HERE.
There is also a "so-so" "Italian" restaurant in InCity Mall on the top floor that is a chain, also one of them at Xing Hai Square. Starts with an "S" and it's like "Savaiaria" or something. Ok, I can't remember the name, but you can get 10 RMB spaghetti with meat sauce and a decent ham/pineapple pizza for 30 RMB. The tuna salad for 10-11 RMB is way good and garlic bread sticks are 1 RMB each. Don't forget the all you can eat drink bar for about 5 RMB and be sure and try that "mystery Chinese pop" that tastes exactly like carbonated BBQ sauce! What is that about? I have no idea but it is fun as heck to watch my kids go challenge one another to drink it and to watch guests who we take there try to identify the taste before we tell them it tastes exactly like BBQ flavored soda. They have a decent little ravioli too and the clams are good to. We can feed our family of 5 there for 100-120 RMB if we're careful and get food that sort of tastes like Italian if you squint at it.
Lastly, don't forget Melrose Pizza on XingGang Jie, they have a Tuesday night deal, buy one get one free on their large pepperoni pizza. They speak English and deliver but you have to be really careful when you order to be sure they understand "THICK" vs. "Thin" crust. We only like the thick and have to fight them each week about getting that 2nd free pizza as a "Thick" crust. Not GREAT pizza, but 2 for 100 RMB delivered on Tuesday? Yeah.. I'd hit that!
Sure it ain't the Ritz, but those are the places I think of when you say Pizza. Try and feed a family of 5 on that Mamma Mia's menu, sure if you have 1,000 RMB to blow. Now 2 a Meat Lover & a Founders Favorite with garlic butter dipping sauce for 100 RMB? I'll take Papa John's on Monday night every time.
Sorry for those of you NOT living on a budget, but maybe this will be helpful to some of the rest of Suzhou.
I know Expats are cool and all that, but I'm really sick of all the "reviews" of places where it feels more like you're saying "oh I'm cool because I can spend more at dinner than you". How is this a complete list of pizza alternatives in Suzhou?
Sure I've had Mamma Mia's and its ok, but I have a family of 5 to feed here. I may go there for an anniversary but it isn't my go to restaurant, I just can't be dropping 1,000 RMB for dinner to feed my kids. 50 RMB for italian imported water? Forget that, I'd rather go drink out of Jin Ji Hu than fork over 250 RMB so we can all wet our lips. For those of you who aren't all hoity toity, here is my run down:
Pizza Hut: Consistent and very similar to the USA, only not as much sauce. They have frequent specials if you know how to look for them, over the summer they had a special where you could get the meat lasagna for just 16 RMB on Fridays. What a deal! They also deliver and are a great go-to pizza when you have mouths to feed and wanna splurge a bit. Be sure to get the Parmesan cheese and red pepper packets too... they are free! Order ONLINE HERE.
Papa John's: Our Monday nights revolve around Papa Johns. If you order online you get any medium pizza for about 50 RMB. 2 of them delivered to my door the way I like it is 107 RMB and feeds my family of 5 pretty well. I don't ever order there except via their website on Monday nights, but we don't miss many of those! Order ONLINE HERE.
There is also a "so-so" "Italian" restaurant in InCity Mall on the top floor that is a chain, also one of them at Xing Hai Square. Starts with an "S" and it's like "Savaiaria" or something. Ok, I can't remember the name, but you can get 10 RMB spaghetti with meat sauce and a decent ham/pineapple pizza for 30 RMB. The tuna salad for 10-11 RMB is way good and garlic bread sticks are 1 RMB each. Don't forget the all you can eat drink bar for about 5 RMB and be sure and try that "mystery Chinese pop" that tastes exactly like carbonated BBQ sauce! What is that about? I have no idea but it is fun as heck to watch my kids go challenge one another to drink it and to watch guests who we take there try to identify the taste before we tell them it tastes exactly like BBQ flavored soda. They have a decent little ravioli too and the clams are good to. We can feed our family of 5 there for 100-120 RMB if we're careful and get food that sort of tastes like Italian if you squint at it.
Lastly, don't forget Melrose Pizza on XingGang Jie, they have a Tuesday night deal, buy one get one free on their large pepperoni pizza. They speak English and deliver but you have to be really careful when you order to be sure they understand "THICK" vs. "Thin" crust. We only like the thick and have to fight them each week about getting that 2nd free pizza as a "Thick" crust. Not GREAT pizza, but 2 for 100 RMB delivered on Tuesday? Yeah.. I'd hit that!
Sure it ain't the Ritz, but those are the places I think of when you say Pizza. Try and feed a family of 5 on that Mamma Mia's menu, sure if you have 1,000 RMB to blow. Now 2 a Meat Lover & a Founders Favorite with garlic butter dipping sauce for 100 RMB? I'll take Papa John's on Monday night every time.
Sorry for those of you NOT living on a budget, but maybe this will be helpful to some of the rest of Suzhou.