Pizza with Pizzazz? A Pizza Hut Analysis

by Chris Congeni
For The Post

Finally, it is time to answer or at least discuss a question that has plagued past and present Ohio University students for years. Which Pizza Hut buffet in Athens is truly better?

At the East State Pizza Hut buffet, 903 E. State St., it took about three minutes to be seated, but that grew to seven minutes at the Richland Pizza Hut buffet location, 394 Richland Ave. This is hardly a victory for East State considering there was a wait of five minutes until a waitress arrived at the crumb-covered table to take drink orders. The Richland Avenue location had our waters waiting on the table and a friendly server ready to tell us to help ourselves to the buffet.

The first critical component of this comparison is the pizza variety. Richland Avenue's buffet grabbed this category hands down. Customers can choose from three different thin-crust pizzas and two deep-dish pies. Six different salad dressings comprise part of the salad portion of the buffet, but one should not condone eating salad at this **pizza** feast.

"Does your pizza taste all right?"

This was a common question asked between cheesy bites at both buffets. If one likes room-temperature pizza, then the answer would be "yes" to this question at the East State buffet. Richland Avenue's pizza required "the blow." If one has to blow on a piece of pizza between bites, then he or she is either staring at a fresh slice or just too intoxicated from the previous night.

An overlooked aspect of the ultimate Pizza Hut all-you-can-eat buffet is the service. Though the service at both establishments was good, the East State overall service takes this category. For instance, a Dr. Pepper at the East State Pizza Hut never even made it to the ice.

After realizing there was no mozzarella sauce available on the Richland buffet, it took a table of four hungry, breadstick-eating men 10 minutes to get a side of this cherished sauce. That sauce is essential with any breadstick.

Whether choosing the Richland Avenue Pizza Hut buffet or the East State buffet, the experience is bound to be a positive one. The winner of this little comparison was the Richland Avenue Pizza Hut buffet. The large selection of fresh pizza and good service make for a great lunch experience at the Richland location.

Remember to set alarms for noon; this feeding frenzy ends every weekday promptly at 1 p.m. for both area Pizza Huts.

Richland Avenue: 8.5 out of 10

East State Street: 7.5 out of 10