Yummy food, good service - hard to beat. (Pizza Hut)

Member Name: Devonbunny

Product:	Pizza Hut
Date:	23/06/09 (114 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Suitable for all ages and food likes, nice pizzas, often has good deals,

Disadvantages: can't book in advance

As a family (2 adults, 4 children) we have visited Pizza Hut a fair bit. We find that it is a nice way of everyone able to get what that want to eat - whether it is pizza, pasta, salad, chips - the menu, depite the misleading name of "Pizza Hut" is pretty varied, with new selections and deals being offered all the time.

We mainly go to one of the Exeter or Torquay huts. So far, the service in Exeter has been superior. That's not to say we have received bad service in Torquay, we haven't. The staff there just don't seem to be quite so enthusiastic or willing to please than in Exeter, being more the "just get the job done" type of staff. In contrast the staff in Exeter go out of their way to make you feel welcome and nothing is too much trouble.

On our visits to Pizza Hut, we have always commented on how clean the place looks. Shining tables, clean underfoot, spotless windows. Obviously, this could be down to luck and our timing, but I wanted to be honest about our own experience in my writing. The only area ever to appear a little messy is that of the "Ice Cream Factory" where children can help themselves to ice cream and toppings. Often (and unsurprisingly) that area looks as if a mini-explosion has just occured with sweet treats and sauce all over the place, where overly enthusiastic little fingers have tried to help themselves.

The food has always been cooked to perfection. Two of my children often have the macaroni cheese as both are pasta addicts. They always clear their plates quickly. Now whether this is down to the delicious grub they are enjoying eating, or the promise of ice-cream awaiting for them, I don't know. Either way, nothing is wasted so I'm a happy mum.

My other children usually have a small pizza each, choosing to add a few toppings such as pepperoni, ham or pineapple depending on their taste. Again these are always gobbled quickly. So quickly in fact that they will often eat a piece of the "adult pizza" that mum and dad are sharing. Our favourite is the vegetable supreme - as although we are both meat eaters, we find the veggie pizza light enough to eat and enjoy the lot. We often found with one of the meat versions, a slice or two was left (although it has to be mentioned, the waiter/waitress always asked if we wanted a box to take the remainder home).

We always order the largest sized pizza on offer, one because it is yummy and we want lots of it, and two because small hands often decide to help themselves. We always have the stuffed crust variety too - it is the most gorgeous melt in your mouth stuffed crust that I have ever tasted, and a type that somehow none of the frozen eat at home pizzas seem to be able to replicate (and trust me, I've tried many in the hope of finding a cheaper but still as tasty variety).

The soft drinks are a pretty good deal - in that they will refill your cups. In fact, during one of our visits my partners cup was refilled so many times (without him asking) we thought he would be going to the toilet all night. Every time the lovely waitress saw his empty cup, off it would go for a refill.

The ice-cream factory is, of course, a big hit with the children. Basically they are given a bowl, and then free-rein (depending on their parents view of freedom...) of the ice-cream machine, sauces, and sweety toppings. At our last visit there were dolly mixtures, sprinkles, and jelly sweets, along with strawberry, chocolate and blueberry sauces. Although it may sound wonderful in theory - in practice it often ends up with children just overloading their ice-cream and making it too sweet and sickly to enjoy eating.

The only slight downside we have found is that you can't book a table. This is ok if you are just popping by for a quick lunch or dinner one day as if it is full and you don't want to wait you can choose to go elsewhere. But, we have often gone to Pizza Hut for an extra little birthday treat for the children (their choice on where to go), and I've always worried that we wouldn't get a table. So far we have been lucky though, and I think the longest we have had to wait to be seated has been about 10 minutes.

To summarise, we all love the place. Love the food, and at just over £30 a time for a family of 6, eating out here won't break the bank.

Summary: Our favourite "non posh" eating place. Great for all the family.