I'm a local - I live in Westport & work downtown, often lunch here (until recently), & know each location intimately:
Pizza:
Not really NY style (I agree w/ the other reviewers), but still in top 10 pizza shops in KC. Pizza would get 4 stars except for two things: Takes way too long to get a slice (again, in agreement w/ other reviews). 2nd, they hiked the prices on the party pizzas - $60 for a cheese only xlarge pizza? Get real.
Party Pizzas:
1-star...overpriced!
Sandwiches:
Probably your best bet. Nothing terribly unique about their ingredients (hot & cold, on a line, Subway-style), & often difficulties w/ special orders. Ingredients are fresh, decent overall - 3.5 - 4 stars.
Lasagna & Eggplant:
My favorite dish...HOWEVER, often undercooked. In fact, 2 out of 3 times it's FROZEN in the middle (yes, ice cube frozen), even when I specifically ask them to PAY ATTENTION! And, because they are from the freezer, these dishes take minimum 25 minutes, so it doesn't work for lunch hour. If it's cooked properly, 4 - 4.5 stars...but let's be fair & honest. If they are under-cooking nearly 70% of the time, this is a pretty severe problem. I hope there are no raw ingredients in there!
Management:
Here's another 1-star. The Metcalf location is chaotic, & nobody seems to care if the order is wrong. At Bell, the gray-haired woman, & at Crown Center (Rose?) are pretty rude & snotty most of the time, even to regulars. Recently @ Crown Center, the cashier was helping make sure I got the order exactly how I wanted, and the manager stepped in, interrupted me, & she started berating the poor guy. Major improvement needed.
Staff:
Pretty good most of the time, except (as I said) they often under-cook & get confused by special orders. 3 stars.
Bottom Line:
Used to be a special place. Pretty sad to watch these restaurants devolve. Now I tend to avoid.
Pros: cold sandwiches are fast, best bet. if ordering pizza, get a pre-made slice or wait forever
Cons: sometimes under-cooked, rude staff/management, sometimes long waits
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