Is He Having A Laugh?

[PostmanPat]

On Sunday evening I had my worst eating experience in almost six years in Chiang Mai. Now I know we re not allowed to "name names" on here, but its a Pizza and Fast Food takeaway joint run by an American guy, close by the Samoeng traffic lights on the Hangdong side of town.

Seeing how expensive his Pizzas are...I kid you not, almost double the price of Pizzas in Restaurants in town, so I ordered instead a takeaway Pork Burger and Fries. 179 Baht. Also way more than you would pay in town, but needs must last night.

Where can I start? The burger bun was not a burger bun, it was one of those hard crusty ones, except to add insult to injury it was well stale. Like a rock cake! They tried to spruce it up by toasting it, but that didnt work. If I d used it as a missile I could have broken a window with it!! The fries were the tiniest most miniscule portion you could imagine, there cant have been more than 20 individual fries in the tiny little bag, and they were the very thin stringy ones at that!!

The burger itself,,,well...disgusting flavour, hard, and old, thats the best I can say.

Oh, and despite the boss being there along with I think five staff, this tasty morsel took a full 45 minutes to be prepared!! And all the time I was there, there were no other customers and no phone calls for take aways so it wasnt as if they were under pressure!!

This joint is an over priced joke with terrible food, and even though some will say his Pizzas are OK, would any of you pay between 300 and 400 baht for an average sized Pizza, because thats what he charges, I kid you not!!

This was just AWFUL.!!!

[hhper]

He's having a laugh. I was in around 3 months ago and ordered a pizza with toppings of chicken and green pepper. I cound not believe how thin the the green pepper was cut. It must have taken hours to slice it that thin and really how it was done by hand I really have no idea. The chicken pieces sprinkled on the top were i kid you not about 10 and were no bigger than the size of a tooth filling. I forget how much it was extra for these extras but it was joke. The kitchen and the fittings would not be out of place in some high class joint in Manhattan but what a let down(must have cost a fortune to create). This is a place that just has to close as they really are cluless or he's having a joke as postmanpat writes. Sad but true..........why spend a fortune on shop/kitchen fitting and then produce rubbish?

[SausageKing]

He's having a laugh. I was in around 3 months ago and ordered a pizza with toppings of chicken and green pepper. I cound not believe how thin the the green pepper was cut. It must have taken hours to slice it that thin and really how it was done by hand I really have no idea. The chicken pieces sprinkled on the top were i kid you not about 10 and were no bigger than the size of a tooth filling. I forget how much it was extra for these extras but it was joke. The kitchen and the fittings would not be out of place in some high class joint in Manhattan but what a let down(must have cost a fortune to create). This is a place that just has to close as they really are cluless or he's having a joke as postmanpat writes. Sad but true..........why spend a fortune on shop/kitchen fitting and then produce rubbish?

My policy the customer is always right!

[Soulwy]

He's having a laugh. I was in around 3 months ago and ordered a pizza with toppings of chicken and green pepper. I cound not believe how thin the the green pepper was cut. It must have taken hours to slice it that thin and really how it was done by hand I really have no idea. The chicken pieces sprinkled on the top were i kid you not about 10 and were no bigger than the size of a tooth filling. I forget how much it was extra for these extras but it was joke. The kitchen and the fittings would not be out of place in some high class joint in Manhattan but what a let down(must have cost a fortune to create). This is a place that just has to close as they really are cluless or he's having a joke as postmanpat writes. Sad but true..........why spend a fortune on shop/kitchen fitting and then produce rubbish?

Food is holy, it makes me really sad (and mad) to see how much crap is sold. How hard is it to make good food you promise by setting the menu and price? 300-400 baht for pizza? That IS a promise!

I once ordered lasagna in the old city...I just couldn't eat it. It was depressing.

Does he have a suggestion box? Or did it get you so turned off you don't want to come near that place again? (except for hitting the guy )

[hhper]

He's having a laugh. I was in around 3 months ago and ordered a pizza with toppings of chicken and green pepper. I cound not believe how thin the the green pepper was cut. It must have taken hours to slice it that thin and really how it was done by hand I really have no idea. The chicken pieces sprinkled on the top were i kid you not about 10 and were no bigger than the size of a tooth filling. I forget how much it was extra for these extras but it was joke. The kitchen and the fittings would not be out of place in some high class joint in Manhattan but what a let down(must have cost a fortune to create). This is a place that just has to close as they really are cluless or he's having a joke as postmanpat writes. Sad but true..........why spend a fortune on shop/kitchen fitting and then produce rubbish?

Food is holy, it makes me really sad (and mad) to see how much crap is sold. How hard is it to make good food you promise by setting the menu and price? 300-400 baht for pizza? That IS a promise!

I once ordered lasagna in the old city...I just couldn't eat it. It was depressing.

Does he have a suggestion box? Or did it get you so turned off you don't want to come near that place again? (except for hitting the guy )

I doubt anybody who goes there once would go back again, thats a suggestion box in itself. The location is wrong to start with and this place is surely doomed along with the jobs and all the money the looney has pumped into the place. But it's not my money, even so, so I'm just stupified that anybody/owner would would consider this place a viable business. must have more money than sense. sad

[PostmanPat]

In answer to the person who said the owner should be told, I m going to drop by sometime when hes closed (coward that I am) and leave a copy of my original post!!

I should have known better. A good friend went there for a takeaway about three months ago, ordered something simple, meatballs I think, and left after more than an hour of waiting, while the boss guy was flitting around talking to friends and drinking beer instead of progress chasing like all good restaraunters should.

Wonder what Gordon Ramsay would do? Burn it down, I think!!!

[uptheos]

He's having a laugh. I was in around 3 months ago and ordered a pizza with toppings of chicken and green pepper. I cound not believe how thin the the green pepper was cut. It must have taken hours to slice it that thin and really how it was done by hand I really have no idea. The chicken pieces sprinkled on the top were i kid you not about 10 and were no bigger than the size of a tooth filling. I forget how much it was extra for these extras but it was joke. The kitchen and the fittings would not be out of place in some high class joint in Manhattan but what a let down(must have cost a fortune to create). This is a place that just has to close as they really are cluless or he's having a joke as postmanpat writes. Sad but true..........why spend a fortune on shop/kitchen fitting and then produce rubbish?

Food is holy, it makes me really sad (and mad) to see how much crap is sold. How hard is it to make good food you promise by setting the menu and price? 300-400 baht for pizza? That IS a promise!

I once ordered lasagna in the old city...I just couldn't eat it. It was depressing.

Does he have a suggestion box? Or did it get you so turned off you don't want to come near that place again? (except for hitting the guy )

I doubt anybody who goes there once would go back again, thats a suggestion box in itself. The location is wrong to start with and this place is surely doomed along with the jobs and all the money the looney has pumped into the place. But it's not my money, even so, so I'm just stupified that anybody/owner would would consider this place a viable business. must have more money than sense. sad

Maybe he's seen the thousands of Pizza threads here and came to the conclusion farang's are desperate for Pizza?

[iainiain101]

Its a pizza place, why go and order burgers?!

His pizzas are good and no more expensive than Dukes. If you want quality you have to be prepared to pay for it. Good cheese is expensive.

[OriginalPoster]

Interesting. There have been threads before on ThaiVisa pouring praise on that place.

[hhper]

Its a pizza place, why go and order burgers?!

His pizzas are good and no more expensive than Dukes. If you want quality you have to be prepared to pay for it. Good cheese is expensive.

just pi**ed me pants laughing.

[PostmanPat]

Its a pizza place, why go and order burgers?!

His pizzas are good and no more expensive than Dukes. If you want quality you have to be prepared to pay for it. Good cheese is expensive.

Because I didnt want to pay 400 baht for a Pizza, Iain, I said that in my original thread if you read it in full!!

You cant compare this place with Dukes can you? Dukes is a Restaurant, where you sit, get waited on, and are provided with air con, cutlery and ambience!!

A takeaway is not the same as a restaurant, surely anyone knows that!!

[Soulwy]

In answer to the person who said the owner should be told, I m going to drop by sometime when hes closed (coward that I am) and leave a copy of my original post!!

I should have known better. A good friend went there for a takeaway about three months ago, ordered something simple, meatballs I think, and left after more than an hour of waiting, while the boss guy was flitting around talking to friends and drinking beer instead of progress chasing like all good restaraunters should.

Wonder what Gordon Ramsay would do? Burn it down, I think!!!

At least you're doing something about it. But why not write a note just to let him know how disappointed you are? A neutral, business-like message? If I were a serious business person I would:

A) not sell what he is selling

and B ) appreciate serious sounds of customers

Edited September 27, 2010 by Soulwy

[hhper]

Interesting. There have been threads before on ThaiVisa pouring praise on that place.

I can only say IMO they are wrong. I went lunch time ordered coffee and they eventually came back and said they had run out of coffee!!?? I then waited something like 20 odd minutes to be confronted by a pizza which i was about to say was not mine, they had made a mistake it seemingly had no green peppers or chicken, but no with a much much closer look there were some items which could be identified as extras I'd ordered at extra cost. My exact thoughts were this a joke they cannot be serious... but they were.

Price around 350-400 baht, that's expensive cheese, as any extras which i paid for were micoscopic, as i said I just don't know how they were able to get the bits and pieces sooooooooooo small . No big deal just will not go back. Any right mined person could never return based on this effort of a meal. He spent a fortune on the kitchen and I think were are paying this guy back for the investment. I would also say the staff looked embarassed and that has to be saying something to you.

Please everyone make a living here but don't take the piss. That was my first thought for sure just like the original poster.

[rakchaingmai]

I also have eaten at this place and i waited 45 minutes for a burger and chips and It was way overpriced and the chips were fried 4 times over i think but if it's good i don't mind paying for it etc Dukes.

I wanted to eat pizza but i only had 300 baht on me at the time which i thought would be enough right.

[iainiain101]

Its a pizza place, why go and order burgers?!

His pizzas are good and no more expensive than Dukes. If you want quality you have to be prepared to pay for it. Good cheese is expensive.

Because I didnt want to pay 400 baht for a Pizza, Iain, I said that in my original thread if you read it in full!!

You cant compare this place with Dukes can you? Dukes is a Restaurant, where you sit, get waited on, and are provided with air con, cutlery and ambience!!

A takeaway is not the same as a restaurant, surely anyone knows that!!

We often order pizza take aways/deliveries from Dukes yet pay the same price as if we had eaten in. Are you suggesting I claim some of my electricity for home air con back from them?

[ianf]

He's having a laugh. I was in around 3 months ago and ordered a pizza with toppings of chicken and green pepper. I cound not believe how thin the the green pepper was cut. It must have taken hours to slice it that thin and really how it was done by hand I really have no idea. The chicken pieces sprinkled on the top were i kid you not about 10 and were no bigger than the size of a tooth filling. I forget how much it was extra for these extras but it was joke. The kitchen and the fittings would not be out of place in some high class joint in Manhattan but what a let down(must have cost a fortune to create). This is a place that just has to close as they really are cluless or he's having a joke as postmanpat writes. Sad but true..........why spend a fortune on shop/kitchen fitting and then produce rubbish?

Food is holy, it makes me really sad (and mad) to see how much crap is sold. How hard is it to make good food you promise by setting the menu and price? 300-400 baht for pizza? That IS a promise!

I once ordered lasagna in the old city...I just couldn't eat it. It was depressing.

Does he have a suggestion box? Or did it get you so turned off you don't want to come near that place again? (except for hitting the guy )

I doubt anybody who goes there once would go back again, thats a suggestion box in itself. The location is wrong to start with and this place is surely doomed along with the jobs and all the money the looney has pumped into the place. But it's not my money, even so, so I'm just stupified that anybody/owner would would consider this place a viable business. must have more money than sense. sad

Mmmm. I went there with my young son because he really wanted a Pizza. I don't eat Pizza but this one seemed OK and was served in 20 minutes (it was twice the size of my son). I ordered burgers and fries. After an hour of waiting I kept asking and was told that the bar-b-que was taking a long time. Another ten minutes or so and lo and behold I got a plateful of ribs. I don't eat pork under any circumstances. So I paid for the pizza and upped and went. First time, last time. I agree with all the comments above.

Interesting to note another pizza place has opened nearby. That's at least three in this small area. Called Coaches or Coachs' or Coach's Pizzas it looks as inviting and as charismatic as a cockroach nest. But it may be nice so when my young son comes back from school in the UK, we'll have a bash.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

I would be interested to see how the ingredients break down in cost for a Pizza made in Thailand. 400 baht seem ridiculous given the low rents and low labor costs.

In the US the Pizza industry is popular for its low cost and low skill needed to produce a given sales revenue.

It would seem that Soy/rice products etc could be substituted for the imported dairy and wheat. I have had some really good facsimile vegan products.

It may not be quite as good as the real thing but if the price can be whacked by 50% with local ingredients then why not enjoy a Asian interpretation.

Perhaps the owner is aligned with the powerful cheese laundering cartels.

[Ulysses G.]

... pizzas are good and no more expensive than Dukes. If you want quality you have to be prepared to pay for it. Good cheese is expensive.

I just had half of a 200 baht Duke's pizza with 3 extra ingredients. It was most delish, but I still could not finish the whole thing. The Duke's pizza rules!

Edited September 27, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[keo]

went there twice (in the old location), sore stomach twice. never again.

[Gladiator]

Wow!

Talk about 'The way That You see it.... The Way That I See it.... and The Way That It Really is'. But I guess thats what makes the world go around.

Just had a look at some of the comments on previous threads on this place, and although I concede that it could have gone downhill - hard to believe that everyone is talking about the sme place.

In my own experience, I have only eaten the New York Style Pizzas, (so can't comment on anything else on the menu), both from the current and previous locations. No complaints, in fact quite good, and from where I live close by, beats the drive into town to go to The Dukes.

Regarding price, and I suppose there may have been a price hike. My own view, refects a comment from a poster on a prevous thread - The 16 inch pizza represents a lot of pizza for the money. The 20 inch pizza - even more so.

[uptheos]

Its a pizza place, why go and order burgers?!

His pizzas are good and no more expensive than Dukes. If you want quality you have to be prepared to pay for it. Good cheese is expensive.

Because I didnt want to pay 400 baht for a Pizza, Iain, I said that in my original thread if you read it in full!!

You cant compare this place with Dukes can you? Dukes is a Restaurant, where you sit, get waited on, and are provided with air con, cutlery and ambience!!

A takeaway is not the same as a restaurant, surely anyone knows that!!

We often order pizza take aways/deliveries from Dukes yet pay the same price as if we had eaten in. Are you suggesting I claim some of my electricity for home air con back from them?

This is a good point.

As stated previously; "Dukes is a Restaurant, where you sit, get waited on, and are provided with air con, cutlery and ambience!!"

These services (and the food) are how a restaurant prices its menu accordingly. Therefore, why DO restaurants charge the same price for takeaway food and perhaps they should consider a takeaway price?

[DavidOxon]

In the UK, takeaway food is cheaper, as there is no sales tax on takeaway food.

David

[goforit]

I take it this is the place that used to be on the ring road between Hang Dong and Canal road. If it is, my wife and there stopped in at the old location shortly after it first opened. My wife thought the pizza was pretty good and I thought it was only fair.

Then a few weeks later we decided to another order one and have it delivered. The entire bottom was burnt and barely edible. I should have taken it back but with the mood I was in and the fact it started pouring I decided not to. The wife wanted to get on the phone and let them know they screwed up but I said it was too late for that and we'll just settle this by never going back.

Maybe you order a steak medium rare and it's either a little under done or a little over done. There's no excuse, however, for not knowing you burnt the hel_l out of a pizza and then serving it to a customer, especially when they paid around 450 baht for it. With me and I think most others, you won't be getting a second chance.

[november222]

Its a pizza place, why go and order burgers?!

because they sell them, or maybe because its convenient. whatever his reason, if they sells burgers they should be good. he says it was disgusting. if he cant do good burgers he should take em off the menu. at least he should warn his customers - we specialise in pizza, order anything else at your own risk.

[uptheos]

Nearly 10 quid for a Pizza, that's outrageous!!

[PlaShadow]

... pizzas are good and no more expensive than Dukes. If you want quality you have to be prepared to pay for it. Good cheese is expensive.

I just had half of a 200 baht Duke's pizza with 3 extra ingredients. It was most delish, but I still could not finish the whole thing. The Duke's pizza rules!

Agreed. 200 baths Duke Pizza is enough for an individual, great taste and NO games!

200 b. at SAMOANG-WANABE-PIZZA gets you enough to feed your Chihuahua. I used to visit that place in the beginning; great tasting pizzas but went down hill fast. 3 price hikes in 3 months...... sorry but no amount of cheese is worth raising your prices 100% ! Plus the service is on par with a Soviet Deli in Moscow during the 80's.

[Greenside]

Nearly 10 quid for a Pizza, that's outrageous!!

To give them their due, the pizza, although a bit pricey for around here was good and, despite other posters' experience, mine always had plenty of toppings. However, things seem to be going astray for whatever reason and after a dire service experience earlier this month I won't be returning in a hurry either.

Uptheos, I don't know why you think that 4-500 for a large pizza is so outrageous. Dukes large with a couple of regular toppings works out a bit over 420 for a take out, add another or some extra cheese and you're well into "nearly ten quid" territory and with the way the exchange rate is moving you can be prepared to drop the "nearly"

[uptheos]

Nearly 10 quid for a Pizza, that's outrageous!!

To give them their due, the pizza, although a bit pricey for around here was good and, despite other posters' experience, mine always had plenty of toppings. However, things seem to be going astray for whatever reason and after a dire service experience earlier this month I won't be returning in a hurry either.

Uptheos, I don't know why you think that 4-500 for a large pizza is so outrageous. Dukes large with a couple of regular toppings works out a bit over 420 for a take out, add another or some extra cheese and you're well into "nearly ten quid" territory and with the way the exchange rate is moving you can be prepared to drop the "nearly"

Oh,don't mind me Greenside I've been here too long.

When I eat out, I eat mostly Thai anyway and 500 Baht represents about 10 good meals, I'm a bit out of touch on the high value of Pizza.

For farang food I prefer to shop fresh and cook my own.

Edit: Appx 10 good meals including a coca cola

Edited September 27, 2010 by uptheos

[anonymouse]

Nearly 10 quid for a Pizza, that's outrageous!!

To give them their due, the pizza, although a bit pricey for around here was good and, despite other posters' experience, mine always had plenty of toppings. However, things seem to be going astray for whatever reason and after a dire service experience earlier this month I won't be returning in a hurry either.

Uptheos, I don't know why you think that 4-500 for a large pizza is so outrageous. Dukes large with a couple of regular toppings works out a bit over 420 for a take out, add another or some extra cheese and you're well into "nearly ten quid" territory and with the way the exchange rate is moving you can be prepared to drop the "nearly"

Oh,don't mind me Greenside I've been here too long.

When I eat out, I eat mostly Thai anyway and 500 Baht represents about 10 good meals, I'm a bit out of touch on the high value of Pizza.

For farang food I prefer to shop fresh and cook my own.

Edit: Appx 10 good meals including a coca cola

I'm a bit selective like that, when I'm in the UK - it's 'Pad Thai I'm not paying 300 baht for that'! C Mai - a tenner for a pizza - no way!

[Gonzo the Face]

10 Quid - fo - Pro Pizza ain't that bad......

Sorry to throw that pun in......the devil made me do it....