Pizzapapolis and Parking

Its because there was a game. On a normal day, you'd have typically been able to find a free spot nearby. (No charge at the meters at dinner time.)

I rarely if ever pay to park downtown. The exception being if we're going to a ball game.

You will rarely have a hard time finding parking Downtown unless there is a game. Good luck next time. I like their pizza. Do not order thin crust though. Not sure why anyone would in the first place but have heard it sucks. Go for the chicago style. Yum.

The thin crust seafood pizza is pretty good

I have only been ate lunchtime and never had to park too far. Cant beat the salad and personal pie for 6 bucks.

mom2's right. We get spoiled in Toledo. other cities that's the norm, not just on game day

Exactly, typical parking in any downtown of a city is between $5-$10. Real big cities like Chicago are much higher

INeedCoffee, next time do a little more driving around before you park. There is a lot of street parking available (free) that's only a couple blocks away from the huron / monroe street intersection. Even on game days, it's not impossible to find a free spot with a little bit of effort.

To me, part of the fun of being downtown, is walking around a little bit and checking out all of the funky buildings.

Park at a meter and walk.

Agreed on the parking. I can usually find a free spot on S. St. Clair and if not, I'll drive over to Erie near Jefferson. It's two and a half blocks but it seems that Toledoans would rather pay the $8 so there's always open spots over there.

On a sidenote, I thought Pizza Papalis was decent but not great. A change of pace from the local pizza but expect to wait nearly an hour for your pizza and pay between $20 and $25. For my money I'd rather do Homeslice for downtown pizza...

idinspired, as for the wait, that kinda comes with the territory for real deep dish. Go to Pizzeria Uno in Chicago and they'll tell you upfront that it's about 45 minutes for the pie.

And I'm happy to see these remarks about the parking. I get so irritated when I hear people talking about how bad the parking is in Toledo, and how you have to walk so far to get anywhere. It just makes me wonder if they've ever been to another city.

But I should also add that I've never been to Pizzapapolis, so I don't know what their deep dish is like. Some places "say" they have a deep dish, but really it's just a really thick crusted pizza. A true deep dish is like... well, a pie! All those layers of ingredients baked under the cheese add up, which is why they're usually more than a NY style pizza.

I get so irritated when I hear people talking about how bad the parking is in Toledo, and how you have to walk so far to get anywhere. It just makes me wonder if they've ever been to another city.

Parking is easy here. What's not easy is walking an extra 100 feet when you're 150 pounds overweight, trying to get to the pizza joint. Hence, the bitching about parking a block away.

Mens Health-Toledo in Top 10 Unhealthiest Cities for Men and Women Detroit makes the Top 10 for both too.

Don't dig Pizzapopolis, but more power to you if you go and support it. As for deep dish, nothing beats actually going to Chicago to get it. Can't stand the imitators.

They let you know up front that the pizza will take 45 minutes to an hour, so that was no surprise.

I've had several different deep dish pizzas while in Chicago and I can say that Pizza Papolis is close to the mark but doesn't quite recreate it. It is a chain, after all. I never expect authentic food from a chain restaurant.

I guess I don't consider Pizza Papalis to be a true "chain." (At least, not in the same way as an Applebee's, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden type chain.)

They only have 9 locations, and the Toledo location is the only one not in Metro Detroit.

What is the official distinction between a "chain" vs. a "local place with multiple locations"? I honestly don't know.

I suppose having one out of state location here in Toledo probably rules out Pizza Papalis from being a "local place with multiple locations." But I would be curious about the definition in general.

^^Interesting question. I would think that there are "local" places (within a defined city or county area) which can have multiple locations. Next, "regional" chains (looks like Pizza Papalis falls into this one) with an expanding reach of locations. Then finally, there are the big-box Applebees, TGI Friday's, Cracker Barrel, etc.

If it's a local place, I always prefer to go to the original, not the additional locations.

mom2, I work in the restaurant industry, and we don't even know how to classify those kinds of things!

That is an interesting question. To me, I guess anything outside of a metropolitan area would be considered a chain. The "Mainstreet Ventures" comes to mind - Ciao, Zia's, Real Seafood. Above average regional chain but a chain nonetheless.

I still think of the Mancy's group restaurants as local,non-chain; even though they've got 4 different restaurants in the area.

To me personally I feel like some of the quality is lost as the business grows in locations. I agree with OHT about going to the original.

Semantics, I guess.

Oh man, did you have to mention Ciao. Now I'm daydreaming about their fettuccine Alfredo!

I would agree with you on the Mancy's restaurants not being a chain, because each location is a distinctly different type of restaurant.

It would seem like a chain (regional or national) would have similarities in menu and decor across all the locations.

BTW - I didn't mean to hijack INC's original question, but it appears that I'm not the only one with some confusion about the chain issue!

Thanks for all the input. Did find several places to park, just they had "game night rates" :) so just the way it is.

I drove past it tonight and found a good bit of parking even though there was another game. So will give it a go again.

As for "chain" I think oldhometown nailed it :)

I don't mind walking several blocks, as others have said it's a beautiful town and there is some rich history in the architecture which I really enjoy.

Though that night aside from a questionable ally, I drove about 2-3 blocks in every direction and didn't see any (non $8) parking. It's not the distance but amount that seemed troublesome.