Cheeseburger With Fries Cheeseburger With Fries

Juicy beef patty with melted cheese, served on a toasted bun with crispy fries on the side.

Empire Pizza House

Empire Pizza House

861 New Britain Ave, Hartford, Connecticut, 6106, United States

Pizza • Cheese • Italian • American


"If you're in the mood for pizza, you'll likely be satisfied with what they serve. The recipe hasn't changed much since my childhood, and honestly, it doesn't need to. I consistently find the pizza delightful, whether I'm enjoying it with my family on a Saturday night or ordering for a large gathering. They offer a good selection of toppings, and the pizza strikes the perfect balance of tomato and cheese, with a crust that's just right. That said, I will mention that there can be some inconsistency from time to time. I attribute this to new cooks or the rush during busy periods. Occasionally, you might find there’s more sauce than cheese, the crust might be overcooked and too hard, or the pepperoni might be sparse. While I’ve noticed these issues over the years, they’re not frequent enough for me to ask for a refund, and they don't seriously shake my confidence in the restaurant. On the flip side, I have two major complaints. First, the other menu items aren't very appealing. I’ve tried the wings, burgers, salads, hot dogs, tenders, and so on, and I can’t say I’ve ever been satisfied with them. They often lack flavor, aren’t cooked properly, or the portion sizes are far too small for the price. For instance, every time I’ve ordered wings, they've been overcooked with way too much flour and hardly any sauce. The side of sauce provided is insufficient for the quantity you receive. My advice? Stick to the pizza and drinks and get the other items from somewhere else. My second major issue has been with the delivery drivers. Take my comments with a grain of salt, as it's been years since I ordered delivery; it's now more economical for me to pick up the food myself. If you opt for delivery, be prepared to wait 2-3 hours for your food, especially during busy weekend evenings. I’ve also experienced aggressive drivers and received food in poor condition, or in some cases, the driver didn’t deliver despite having my complete address. I’m not sure if Empire still employs those drivers, but it’s been a problem for me and others in the past. Overall, I love Empire and their pizza, and I hope they can enhance their food quality and options over time."

Mamma's Kitchen

Mamma's Kitchen

7601 Fordson Road, Alexandria, United States

Pizza • Italian • Kitchen • Sandwiches


"Food: I got the lamb burger and Greek fries. The hamburger meat was bland, but the halloumi cheese was quite a bit too salty. It felt unbalanced and not something that I would order again. The fries were relatively cold (and I always eat my fries first. My order came out last in the group, so I would have expected that they were waiting for something to cook in order for mine to come out, but from eating it, that didn 't seem to be the case. However, I 've only tried Greek food in the last year, and only a handful of times. So, perhaps it is just my inexperienced pallet. Either way, it isn 't something that I would purchase again. Service: To give the restaurant credit, I came with a larger group, and our group did not call ahead to let them know we were coming, which is on us. However, it took at least 45 minutes for someone to come to our table to even take our orders, and then another hour for the food to come out. Yes, it was lunchtime, but there were only perhaps 10-15 individuals in the restaurant when we arrived, and half of those were already eating. The server checked in with us only one time once we got the food and asked if everything was OK. One member of the group expressed disappointment that their dish with chicken was extremely overcooked and dry, and the server responded with ok and walked away. There was no attempt at an apology or an attempt to be understanding. I know that not all restaurants would replace the food, but it would have been a more pleasant experience if the response had been more empathetic. I understand having to wait as a large group, but the excessive wait and the lack of serviceable mindset it what earned them a 2 star review here for my visit. Atmosphere: The building seems to be very aptly decorated. There are beautiful vines and a lovely balcony for outdoor dining. The art and the layout gave me a very distinct Greek feel. Overall: I would be willing to try again and see if the service was better without a large group, and perhaps a different food item would be more enjoyable for me. However, it 's going to be a while before I even want to try again."