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The One Thing You Should Never Do When Ordering Pizza At A Restaurant, According To Chefs

January 3, 2017 by Justine Schwartz
shefinds | Style
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You can't go wrong with pizza, right? It's classic and a crowd-pleaser. You know if you bring a pie to a party, everyone will want a slice. And ditto if you're out to eat--you can't go wrong with ordering it off the menu.

 

Now, wait a second--it turns out that food experts (aka, food snobs) disagree with that last part. Why? Because a lot of restaurants do it wrong, making it a big ripoff for restaurant goers. 

 

How so? Click to find out what they have to say. 

Delicious pizza with fresh toppings on a wooden table

Order it anywhere

It's a common misconception that pizza is easy to make and therefore you can get a decent slice anywhere. Don't order the pizza NOT at a pizza place. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make.

 

Executive chef Michael Armstrong explained to Delish that for any restaurant you should identify what they do well and order that. He warns of straying too far off their speciality.  "Stay away from pasta at the pizza place, fish at the steakhouse, chicken teriyaki at the sushi spot, and so on."

 

K, that makes sense. What else do food pros say about pizza? >>

 

Gourmet pizza slice with melted cheese and herbs

Spend more than a couple dollars.

Restaurant consultant Mark Ladisky explains that pizza is one of the biggest ripoffs for the restaurant customer. "I can’t recommend throwing money away on a slightly upgraded freezer-section pizza baked in a toaster oven."

 

Ladisky told Reader's Digest that the average pizzeria will charge $10 for a pizza that they spent $3 on the ingredients for. That's a 300% mark up, folks!

 

So, what should you do about it?

Colorful pizza with various toppings and a crispy crust

Not make it at home.

The editors at Bon Appetit point out that you can make the best pizza at home. The average person might feel intimidated (Do I need a pizza stone? Is my oven hot enough? My crust won't be crusty!), but that they shouldn't. Read their tips for making the most amazing pizza at home--and you'll never have to worry about getting ripped off or disappointed by crappy restaurant pizza again. 

Tacos filled with fresh ingredients and vibrant toppings

READ MORE: The One Thing You Should Never Do When Ordering Tacos At A Restaurant

Author:

Editorial Director

Justine Schwartz is a veteran women's lifestyle editor; she's written extensively about style & beauty tips, health advice and wedding planning. Her work has appeared in New York Magazine, Huffington Post and New York Weddings. Justine has been with SheFinds since 2010; you can reach her via email at Justine@shefinds.com.

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