Panago Pizza

[domesticgodess]

My hubby and I shared a pizza (half goat cheese/veggies...half pesto/veggies) form the Panago Pizza Restaurant on Bay.
We inhaled it.
The crust, the sauce, the flavors,...everything worked!!
Not to mention, the place was spotless.
Anyone else tried it?

[duckdown]

I wish more places used fresh mozzerella/bocconcini rather than the grated stuff

every time i have a pie made with fresh mozzerella (like pizzeria libretto) its always miles ahead of the grated "slop" you get everywhere else

perroni pizza in mississauga (the one featured on restaurant makeover) makes a nice margherita with real bocconcini as well; I just had one last week

[pinkskittles]

i liked it in whitby but it was a bit pricier so i couldn't justify getting it all the time as pizza pizza did it for me. now that i'm a little healthier and these people seem to be a little healthier, i think i'll give them another go.

they were good though.

[tp24]

Panago's is very good pizza. Pricey though. 2 smalls will cost you $30 :( - but it's tasty and fresh. Delivered in less than 45 min.

Definitely worth a try - I really enjoy the flavours and how fresh and home-made they look, taste. I'm not into the huge, greasy, pepperoni pizzas myself, so if you're into that, then you probably won't like Panago's.

I just reviewed it on my blog - take a look if you'd like.

Cheers!
Foodhogger

[domesticgodess]

I try not to eat a lot of pizza (i.e take out twice a year type of thing).
Today, I was really in the mood and shlepped half an hour to return to panago coz I had such a good experience there (a year ago..where does time fly).
Well..the place is STILL spotless. I mean, spotless.
As for the pizza....we inhaled it again.
I understand they are opening close to my neighborhood...(dufferin/steeles)..I might have to order pizza three times a year now that it will be closer. LOL

[Googs]

I TRIED to order Panago pizza. I was amused to find the call centre in BC somewhere. I had to explain where my major downtown Toronto intersection was. Sheesh. Then I find they won't deliver to my neighbourhood. Too far is defined as 7, that's right seven, city blocks away. I'll be sticking to the locally answered phones of Big Momma's Boy.

[domesticgodess]

The new location at Dufferin/Steeles opened on Friday. So I called them only to find out that they arent delivering to my neighborhood (i.e sheppard). I wasnt happy..but decided to go there myself and pick it up. The new owners are charming!! As for the pizza..we tried the multigrain crust this time and once again..it was a great pizza!!
Googs..I know that that the call centre is in BC, but the the service was delightful.

[MindGrinder]

Ya - best chain pizza out there right now.

Price is definately good as well for what you get.

Snotty Chow Ho's try and quash anything that many people start to agree with. Ignore them. Try Panago!

[magic]

So I guess you’ve agreed with every positive remark made regarding a restaurant? You better have – otherwise consider yourself snotty.

Since when did expressing a dissenting or differing opinion on Chowhound become a bad thing? You think everyone has agreed with my recommendations? Was my praise for Pizza Hut snotty too?

And finally, I don't recall ever saying Panago was bad. Just not the best. I think you need to read more carefully.

[Davwud]

While I agree with you Magic you do have to concede that there are far too many people out there who just can't wait to not like something. If a new place opens up, chain or not and gets good reviews, they just have to have a contrary opinion.

DT

[magic]

Very agreed. But it's not me.

[Davwud]

Fair enough.

Me personally, I like things that I like. I don't care what anyone else says. Heck, I like Taco Bell. How strange is that??

DT

[magic]

Hey, I like like Bell too. It’s all good! Like I said before, huge Pizza Hut fan. I even like Pizza Pizza, although I'm sure most will protest now that I mention that. So I'm no snob.

I don't have any (huge) problems with Panago, truly. It was a fairly good pizza the one time I had it, and I would get it again. Kinda reminded me of Pizza Hut’s pies, but less greasy. To me though, it just isn't a top contender for the best pizza or chain pizza, and I do wonder why so many people go so nuts for it. But like I said on my first post in this topic - that's just me. We all have our tastes and opinions and its fine to share them right. Go Taco Bell.

[Davwud]

Actually, I think with the makeover of the Pizza Pizza stores they've remade their pies too. The last couple of times I've had it (I usually don't eat pizza from there. But any port in a strorm you know) it's been better than I remembered.

DT

[magic]

Salut to that.

[Pincus]

Really? I'll have to try both Pizza Pizza and Panago out.

I am guessing the Pizza Pizza slices are as bad as ever, though.

[magic]

They can go both ways. Like any slice, they NEED to be fresh. If they are fresh, I'm in! When they have been sitting around, like ANY slice, it’s going to suck. But I don't think it's fair to hold Pizza Pizza as a sole culprit for bad slices. Most slices usually sit around, and when they do, I don't care if its Pizza Pizza or a Wolfgang Puck 80s creation at Spago - it's going to be bad.

They also vary from franchise to franchise. My local Pizza Pizza is great! Never had a bad pizza. Sauce is plentiful, toppings are yummy and nicely assembled. Good times. I don’t even need to ask for extra cheese (which admittedly sometimes you need to do with Pizza Pizza). Some other locations - blah.

I don't know, I think it's very easy and predictable to dismiss Pizza Pizza. I think for what it is though, it's a damn fine pizza. You just gotta stay way from the old slices, and sometimes ordering extra cheese isn't a bad idea with them. Otherwise, more than serviceable I think. Tasty.

[Pincus]

The main thing that makes pizza bad for me is the crust. I have never enjoyed a Pizza Pizza crust, no matter which franchise I got it from. Yeah, slices get old really quickly, no matter where, you're correct. That's why you have to order a fresh pie if you're going to do comparisons.

[magic]

Agreed, fresh pies are (generally speaking) the only way to go.

I like the crust there though, I must say. Probably because I have great childhood memories of it and that has biased me. But hey, to each our own right.

[mrbozo]

Best crust/sauce (I like it tangy not sweet) and toppings I've thus far had have been at the Big Slice just east of Dufferin on St Clair. I''ve also heard good things about Marcello's across the street.

[magic]

I've heard good things about both. Never been to either but will get there for sure.

[mrbozo]

May not rank up with your ideal but both serve tasty pies (and other dishes).

[duckdown]

Panago is "OK"

Not worth the price, IMO.

I'd stick to oldschool non-chain mom & pop operations like Marconi's in Mississauga for example (and many more like it)

[Manybears]

Just to add in a note about service... I once got a personal sized pizza there that they accidentally made with steak instead of ground beef, and not only did they give it to me for free (after I declined an offer to re-make) but they also gave me a $5 gift certificate for next time. I thought that was pretty above + beyond.... especially for a mistake on a <$5 pizza that was in my favour to begin with!

[magic]

Ya I really can't understand the love affair so many people have with Panago. The best pizza or chain pizza?? Not even close. Listen, it's a good pizza, but certainly not the best. I've only had it once, and the one time I had it it was certainly pretty good, but not great. Not without its problems. I got pepperoni and mushrooms. The sauce was very nice, the pepperoni was nice, the crust was good (I kinda thought it was a poor man's Pizza Hut crust, but less greasy - I prefer Pizza Hut's by a mile). The mushrooms though tasted really really odd. Definitely wouldn't get them on my pizza again. I'd go back (but not rush back), but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the best chain pizza I've had. Nowhere close. But hey, that’s just me.

[deelicious]

So which one is the best, magic?

[magic]

I guess it depends on your tastes and opinion. I just am in awe of so many people’s worship of Panago. It’s a pretty good pizza, I just don’t think it’s worthy of widespread reverence. What do you think is the best?

[aleksandral]

Absolutely the best pizza in Toronto. We ate the one at Bay/Gerrard. Fresh, best crust in town, toppings are super fresh, you can see your pizza being made in the cleanest environment, service is great, and if you are into this type of thing: the dips are original and yummy.

[thought_for_food]

Approximately how much do the pizzas cost? I looked at their website, but saw no prices.

[Dimbulb]

Welcome to Chowhound!

[deelicious]

what other pizza would you compare it to Alek?

[pixelchef]

They have a location in Whitby, Ontario that I've been frequenting since it opened 2 years ago. For this area at least, it is our best pizza option. The pizza is good, but I do think you can find far better in the city. If you live out in the boonies like me though, it's "amazing"! :)

[bogie]

FYI Panago is a chain out of BC, with many locations in Western Canada. My wife and I were regular customers in Edmonton. Definitely the best chain pizza I've ever had. We loved the chicken taco pizza and the pie with Yves' veggie pepperoni. I'm watching with interest to see how the already-crowded Toronto pizza market welcomes (?) them. Very smart of them to locate their first location on Bay to capture upscale delivery market, don't you think?

[phoenikia]

Panago also recently opened a location in London, Ontario. It's located at the corner of Fanshawe Park Road and Wonderland Rd, in case any hounds are in the neighbourhood.

[gregclow]

I work fairly close by there, so I've had a few of their personal pizzas for lunch. They've been hit and miss, with the multigrain crust being especially bland. But for a quick, cheap lunch, they're better than many other options in the area.