HPGlutster2 wrote:I and my most fanatic Barnabys comrades have noticed a decline in pizza quality here these last few months. Not the same Barnabys pizza. Crust and tomato sauce different. Seems like it could be different, cheaper ingredients, or something.

Did you talk to the manager about this? If you think it changed, I am confident in your report.

I recall a conversation when Coalfire made some substantive change to their recipes. I think it was RAM4 who called them out on this. They admitted the change and were willing to make him the style he recalled, but not change what was offered to the general public. I don't believe he went along with the plan for a custom pizza made to old specs. He emphasized driving from Highland Park to Coalfire just for their pizza. I don't believe they altered their recipe back to the original.

Long ago just after Candlelite Pizza received their Great Neighborhood Restaurant status, they changed their crust. After some commotion, they returned to the tried, true and loved pizza crust.

It is definitely worth asking Barnaby's about the changes you identified.

Regards,
Cathy2

boudreaulicious wrote:

HPGlutster2 wrote:I and my most fanatic Barnabys comrades have noticed a decline in pizza quality here these last few months. Not the same Barnabys pizza. Crust and tomato sauce different. Seems like it could be different, cheaper ingredients, or something.

Something is amiss. I know because for the first time in decades, we have been ordering non Barnabys pizza for take out. And enjoying it more than recent Barnabys visits.

Anyone notice this?

m

This is NOT ok. Need details.

Coincidental timing, as we were already planning a Barnaby's run today. Picked up a couple of pizzas in Northbrook (just to be entirely clear) today and honestly, if there's a difference, it was indiscernible to me. My car even smelled the same as it usually does after a Barnaby's run when I got home with them . . .


Pepperoni & Onion
Our #1 go-to at Barnaby's. Wonderful and happily, the same as always.


Edge - Pizza #2
Looked and tasted about the same as always to me. Fantastic.

We last had Barnaby's in December of 2022 -- when it was as good as ever -- and today's pizzas were right there with them. I'm not trying to be an apologist and maybe it's just my unrefined palate but from a quality perspective, nothing seems to have changed recently at Barnaby's Northbrook.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:We last had Barnaby's in December of 2022 -- when it was as good as ever -- and today's pizzas were right there with them. I'm not trying to be an apologist and maybe it's just my unrefined palate but from a quality perspective, nothing seems to have changed recently at Barnaby's Northbrook.

=R=

Thanks for taking one for the team, because that is the best news of the day.

Regards,
CAthy2

Cathy2 wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:We last had Barnaby's in December of 2022 -- when it was as good as ever -- and today's pizzas were right there with them. I'm not trying to be an apologist and maybe it's just my unrefined palate but from a quality perspective, nothing seems to have changed recently at Barnaby's Northbrook.

=R=

Thanks for taking one for the team, because that is the best news of the day.

Regards,
CAthy2

+1
You are my favorite person this morning. Seriously, I read the downhill alert post and almost called my ex-husband of 20+ years and the most ardent Barnaby’s aficionado I know (he intro’d me to it) to check but realized it was almost midnight and that probably would’ve been inappropriate :p

It’s a haul for me but seriously considering driving up there today. Just to be sure.

Barnaby’s, count me a super fan

i would be very happy if this warning turned out to be false

HPglutster wrote:i would be very happy if this warning turned out to be false

If there were differences, they were far too subtle for me to pick up on. That said, I've had some ups and downs there over the decades -- even some times when I thought some of the fundamentals might have changed -- but none that seem to have lasted for very long. From a purely speculative angle, I suppose the way things are these days, there may be times when items from their primary suppliers are not available. If so, that could possibly create some variability in their final product.

=R=

Glad you were able to check for yourself Ronnie. I've been out of town since the beginning of the year so I was about to send my people in for a closer look.

Cathy2 wrote:

HPGlutster2 wrote:I and my most fanatic Barnabys comrades have noticed a decline in pizza quality here these last few months. Not the same Barnabys pizza. Crust and tomato sauce different. Seems like it could be different, cheaper ingredients, or something.

Did you talk to the manager about this? If you think it changed, I am confident in your report.

I recall a conversation when Coalfire made some substantive change to their recipes. I think it was RAM4 who called them out on this. They admitted the change and were willing to make him the style he recalled, but not change what was offered to the general public. I don't believe he went along with the plan for a custom pizza made to old specs. He emphasized driving from Highland Park to Coalfire just for their pizza. I don't believe they altered their recipe back to the original.

Long ago just after Candlelite Pizza received their Great Neighborhood Restaurant status, they changed their crust. After some commotion, they returned to the tried, true and loved pizza crust.

It is definitely worth asking Barnaby's about the changes you identified.

Regards,
Cathy2

Yes, that was me with Coalfire. The one thing they couldn't do specifically for me was the old sauce (which I understood) so I declined the offer. Now that I am an East Coast pizza aficionado I can go back to Coalfire and try it for what it is today. As for Barnaby's if I felt there was a noticeable decline I would definitely have a talk with the management. After all, it was I who nominated them and presented (with ronnie_suburban and Steve Z in attendance) their 2012 GNR to them!

Ram4 wrote:Glad you were able to check for yourself Ronnie. I've been out of town since the beginning of the year so I was about to send my people in for a closer look.

As for Barnaby's if I felt there was a noticeable decline I would definitely have a talk with the management. After all, it was I who nominated them and presented (with ronnie_suburban and Steve Z in attendance) their 2012 GNR to them!

Yes, the late and better-than-great Steve Z. I do miss him and I remember that day very well.

When you do eventually get back over to Barnaby's, I'd be curious to know your thoughts. Not that I don't trust my own recent experience there but you're as familiar with the place as anyone. Additional notes certainly couldn't hurt. As much as I'd love to, I can't be monitoring Barnaby's on a weekly basis!

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Ram4 wrote:Glad you were able to check for yourself Ronnie. I've been out of town since the beginning of the year so I was about to send my people in for a closer look.

As for Barnaby's if I felt there was a noticeable decline I would definitely have a talk with the management. After all, it was I who nominated them and presented (with ronnie_suburban and Steve Z in attendance) their 2012 GNR to them!

Yes, the late and better-than-great Steve Z. I do miss him and I remember that day very well.

When you do eventually get back over to Barnaby's, I'd be curious to know your thoughts. Not that I don't trust my own recent experience there but you're as familiar with the place as anyone. Additional notes certainly couldn't hurt. As much as I'd love to, I can't be monitoring Barnaby's on a weekly basis!

=R=

I expect to be heading over there in April and will report my findings.