Papa John’s Pizza in Manila

Last Thursday, Richard, Irene, Bubba and I set out for lunch and decided to check out the newly opened Papa John’s Pizza located at Robinson’s Galleria recently opened Veranda section.

Papa John’s Pizza is a US-based pizza chain serving meals featuring mainly pizza, pasta and soup.  It supposedly owns or franchises approximately 3,200 restaurants worldwide that makes Papa John’s Pizza a well established International franchise restaurant chain from USA and the 3rd largest pizza company in the world.

Now it has come to Manila and is part of its 171 restaurants in Asia.  The first branch in Galleria can probably sit 40-50 people but the tables are too close to each other for comfort.  I would have preferred better spacing in terms of the chairs and tables so there’s more room to move around.

Papa John’s pizza chain believes that it’s better to make a pizza using fresh dough and superior quality ingredients than just focusing on cooking technique while in the kitchen.  Thus it’s tagline, “Better Ingredients.  Better Pizza.”

On the Table

Potato Wedges PHP 90

The Potato wedges were not seasoned well but Bubba and I finished it anyway while waiting for our food to arrive. 

Chicken and Mushroom Calzone PHP 160

Irene spotted this and it was pretty good.  Calzones are like Italian turnovers or pizzas folded together in a crescent-shape.  This hot-off-the-oven calzone is stuffed with mushroom and chicken and served with fresh marinara sauce on the side.  Its dough is soft and chewy and cooked evenly.

Chicken Wings PHP 169

The chicken wings were surprisingly and delightfully juicy.  I found the price expensive though for 4 actual pieces (total of 2 whole wings only) of plump wings.

Baked Italian Meatballs PHP 140

When the plate arrived on our table, our foursome gave each other a look.  The meatballs looked so tiny amidst its serving plate.  However, I really liked the bright colors of red from the tomatoes, yellow from the mozzarella cheese and brown from the meatballs displayed on the plate which produced an appetizing presentation of colors.

The meatballs, although small and can be eaten almost in one bite, are packed with flavor and I love the clean taste of the grounded meat against the refreshing sauce it is doused in.

Super Papa’s Pizza Medium 12” PHP 440

It was safe to order Super Papa’s since that was our first time and we wanted to try their “house specialty” (in other words, we were so hungry that menu was only quickly perused.)  Super Papa’s Pizza had pepperoni, Italian sausage, chicken, olives, and bell peppers.  They served whole Pepperoncini and garlic butter sauce on the side to add flavor.    

Pepperoncini (Italian pepper) tastes mild with a slight heat and a hint of sweetness since it is usually pickled.

What I particularly liked about Papa John’s pizza is the chewy dough.  The chewy dough was really soft and had this distinct flavor about them.  I wonder how the reheat quality of Papa John’s Pizza is once you have leftovers.  I hope it still stays as chewy as it is when it’s fresh out of the oven.  It wasn’t a big worry since we didn’t have any leftovers.

The story behind Papa John is that owner John H. Schmatter at age 22 tore down the broom closet in his father’s tavern, sold his car and bought $1,600 worth of used restaurant equipment, and began delivering pizzas out of the back of the bar. 

In 1984, Papa John officially opened its first pizza restaurant.  Fast forward to 2010, you can actually have a taste of the famous US pizza brand in the Philippines.  

Not that it has anything to do with the restaurant but I just want to say that I love the name.  “Papa John” just strikes a warm place in my heart.

Papa John’s Pizza

Robinsons Galleria Veranda

EDSA cor. Ortigas Ave.,

Quezon City 

Papa John’s Pizza Album

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