New Pizza place in Ames

[mplscyclone]

I don't really like comparing restaurants to retailers because they're a different animal. Retailers sell the exact same products for variable prices. Restraunts all provide different products for variable prices.

I agree that the size of the market right now for a place such as this isn't as large as it was a year or two ago but there are still people in that market who want some variety. I eat less pizza because I don't like having the same thing all the time. Something new may increase my pizza consumption if I like it.

If you want to compare restaurants, then look at the Subway $5 footlong promo they keep reinventing and extending. I like Subway, but I always felt like I overpaid for their footlong sandwiches. Def. not my favorite sandwich place, but it's "ok". Now I can get a sandwich that I like for less than what I paid before. Because of this, I have been eating Subway a little more often than I have in the past. Is Subway the best sandwich place? Heck no! But I will eat it more because I feel I get my money's worth and I like paying less than $6 for a meal that isn't going to be horrible for me.

The fact of the matter is that this is how the average family rolls. That's why fast food does well, and why things like a dollar menu or value menu at places has been so successful. This is a big reason why Hickory Park and King Buffet are so busy. Are they the best restaurants in town from a quality standpoint? No. Actually I hate King Buffet, but I can't deny it's popularity. In the end, they make the consumer feel like they are getting their money's worth and I guess that's what I am trying to say.

For you, Black Market made you feel like you got your money's worth. I just wonder if enough people in town will have that same mentality, or if some places will just it's spendy and will not go very often. I guess we will see. I am leaning towards the latter for most people though.

[Phaedrus]

Not once did I say that a 3-way partnership is a good idea. I was simply pointing out the obvious holes in this ridiculous claim.

While technically incorrect, (obviously ALL partnerships do not fail) It's not that ridiculous claim. It's accurate enough to be true for planning purposes. Which makes it a "good call".

Now you're just being snippy and picking at the edges of arguments.

[mplscyclone]

Ok so I ate there tonight. Here are my thoughts on the place:

Other than the main owner, most of the other workers are pretty rude. To say the least, not classy at all. I ordered a Chicago Style Deep Dish, and she was like "it's GOING to take 45 minutes". She said it in a way that came off as discouraging me from ordering it. I understand you want to make sure people will know it's going to take a while, but you can say it in a more pleasant way like "just so you know, the deep dish takes about 45 minutes or so. Do you want an appetizer like breadsticks or something while you wait?". Right there, she comes off as caring, plus she's upselling. Instead, she just was rude to me. You may say it's all in my head, but my wife is usually the first to call me out if I'm being rude or misinterpreting something and she complained about the lady as well.

Another thing: We ordered beer. A different lady handed me the beer with no big deal. Then we go to our table to wait, and she comes by and asks for our ID. Now, I don't mind getting carded, but having worked in the restaurant biz, this approach is pretty bad. If it were a police sting operation, the moment you hand the beer to the customer it's considered gone. You can't make up for it by coming by 5 minutes later after you've drank a little to check.

As far as the pizza goes, I will agree that it's better quality than many of the other options in town. It's pretty greasey, but there is a lot of cheese on it so it's expected. I do like the cornmeal crust but I didn't feel like it was deep enough. It seemed like kind of a shallow crust for deep dish. I actually was dissapointed with lack of crushed tomatoes on the top, as well. I get that it's a personal opinion, but the Chicago Pizzas I've had in Chicago are Giordanos and Gino's East. If you look at this picture: http://cmsof.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/gifts4.jpg, you see how there's all of the tomatoes on top that you can't even see the cheese? Also, do you see how the crust is like deep? At Black Market it just wasn't that deep of a crust. Also at Black Market all you see is mostly cheese and the tomatoes are just sprinkled on. I mean I had several bites where there were no tomatoes at all. Look at these pictures below for example. You will see what I am talking about. Again, I'm not an Chicago Deep Dish expert, but it just isn't what I am used to when I hear "Chicago Style".

Anyhow, I guess we will see if enough people like it and if they can get busy enough to stay open. I probably would eat there again, but I'd be more inclined to have someone else order, or take carryout, to avoid some of the awkward and rude workers.

In sum I tried it and agree that the pizza is pretty good. I also argued that it takes more than just a good product to stay open, so we will see what happens.

[josh777]

Ok so I ate there tonight. Here are my thoughts on the place:

Other than the main owner, most of the other workers are pretty rude. To say the least, not classy at all. I ordered a Chicago Style Deep Dish, and she was like "it's GOING to take 45 minutes". She said it in a way that came off as discouraging me from ordering it. I understand you want to make sure people will know it's going to take a while, but you can say it in a more pleasant way like "just so you know, the deep dish takes about 45 minutes or so. Do you want an appetizer like breadsticks or something while you wait?". Right there, she comes off as caring, plus she's upselling. Instead, she just was rude to me. You may say it's all in my head, but my wife is usually the first to call me out if I'm being rude or misinterpreting something and she complained about the lady as well.

Another thing: We ordered beer. A different lady handed me the beer with no big deal. Then we go to our table to wait, and she comes by and asks for our ID. Now, I don't mind getting carded, but having worked in the restaurant biz, this approach is pretty bad. If it were a police sting operation, the moment you hand the beer to the customer it's considered gone. You can't make up for it by coming by 5 minutes later after you've drank a little to check.

As far as the pizza goes, I will agree that it's better quality than many of the other options in town. It's pretty greasey, but there is a lot of cheese on it so it's expected. I do like the cornmeal crust but I didn't feel like it was deep enough. It seemed like kind of a shallow crust for deep dish. I actually was dissapointed with lack of crushed tomatoes on the top, as well. I get that it's a personal opinion, but the Chicago Pizzas I've had in Chicago are Giordanos and Gino's East. If you look at this picture: http://cmsof.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/gifts4.jpg, you see how there's all of the tomatoes on top that you can't even see the cheese? Also, do you see how the crust is like deep? At Black Market it just wasn't that deep of a crust. Also at Black Market all you see is mostly cheese and the tomatoes are just sprinkled on. I mean I had several bites where there were no tomatoes at all. Look at these pictures below for example. You will see what I am talking about. Again, I'm not an Chicago Deep Dish expert, but it just isn't what I am used to when I hear "Chicago Style".

Anyhow, I guess we will see if enough people like it and if they can get busy enough to stay open. I probably would eat there again, but I'd be more inclined to have someone else order, or take carryout, to avoid some of the awkward and rude workers.

In sum I tried it and agree that the pizza is pretty good. I also argued that it takes more than just a good product to stay open, so we will see what happens.

I've eaten their pizza twice and enjoyed the pies both times...great crust, similar to what you find at George's. However, I concur with the customer service assessment. I have worked in many restaurants/bars over the years and couldn't help but make a few snapshot judgements of the place. Fortunately, both times I called ahead for a carry out order or I fear I would have waited a long time for a pie. Many people appear to be "working" at the time but several are standing around doing nothing. The people working the counter are slow and not very informative or knowledgeable. The guys that went in on this venture had no, or little, restaurant biz experience and it shows. I can tell they either did very little training or trial runs with their staff or did it poorly.

Hopfully, they get this part turned around because they have a good product to sell. In the meantime, for those that have not been there I recommend ordering ahead and if you plan on eating there be prepared to wait for a table as there is little seating options.

[mplscyclone]

I've eaten their pizza twice and enjoyed the pies both times...great crust, similar to what you find at George's. However, I concur with the customer service assessment. I have worked in many restaurants/bars over the years and couldn't help but make a few snapshot judgements of the place. Fortunately, both times I called ahead for a carry out order or I fear I would have waited a long time for a pie. Many people appear to be "working" at the time but several are standing around doing nothing. The people working the counter are slow and not very informative or knowledgeable. The guys that went in on this venture had no, or little, restaurant biz experience and it shows. I can tell they either did very little training or trial runs with their staff or did it poorly.

Hopfully, they get this part turned around because they have a good product to sell. In the meantime, for those that have not been there I recommend ordering ahead and if you plan on eating there be prepared to wait for a table as there is little seating options.

I'll also add, if the staff is rude and makes you feel like a piece of ****, don't take it personal: they do this to everyone!

I know someone who ordered from them and waited 2 hours to get a burnt pizza delivered, so I recommend dining in....