Popular pizza chain receives most complaints for overpriced pies, new study reveals

People are spending more dough on pizza than they would like.

With grocery prices rising, Americans are often looking for ways to save some money on food. And while one might assume that ordering a pizza pie from a major chain could be a solution, it could end up costing more than expected.

A new study from ACE.com looked at pizza restaurant prices and customer reviews to reveal how much Americans are spending on their slices and if they’re getting their money’s worth.

ACE.com analyzed almost 250,000 Google reviews across pizza restaurants in 30 large US cities to determine which major chains get the most complaints about pricing.

Round Table came out as the most overpriced. Though it only operates in nine states with just 380 locations and maintains an average rating of 4.0 out of 5, the chain saw 71 price complains per 1,000 customers.

Many reviewers actually praised the quality of ingredients at Round Table, but the charge was highly criticized, with customers calling it “mega overpriced.”

Domino’s, which operates across the country, came in second place with 14 price complains per 1,000 reviews. Pizza Hut ranked in third with 20 complaints per 1,000 — despite the companies’ reputations as value-focused brands.

Sbarro ranked fourth with 62 price complaints per 1,000 customers. It was also the chain with the lowest average rating with a 3.36 out of 5.

Rounding out the top five is Papa John’s with 19 price complaints per 1,000 customers.

The study also looked at where in the US consumers are paying the most for a standard cheese pizza by looking at menu prices across 30 major cities.

San Jose, California, topped the list as the most expensive city in the country to order pizza, with an average price of $26.39 — about $3.30 per slice — for a takeout pizza.

San Francisco came in a close second with an average price of $26.03, or about $3.25 per slice. Chicago, famous for its deep-dish style pizza, rounds out the top three with average prices of $24.40 for a full pie and $3.05 per slice.

Though Chicago has one of the highest prices, the study noted that the city ranked as the second-highest-rated pizza city overall, with an average restaurant rating of 4.12 out of 5, just narrowly trailing first-place New York at 4.13.

New York City came in seventh place for most expensive cities for pizza, with an average price of $20.68 for a pie, or $2.59 per slice.

The most overpriced pizza chains in the US:

1. Round Table
2. Domino’s Pizza
3. Pizza Hut
4. Sbarro
5. Papa John’s
6. Mountain Mike’s Pizza
7. Pizza Ranch
8. Little Caesars
9. Godfather’s Pizza
10. Jet’s Pizza

The most expensive cities to buy a takeout pizza in the US:

1. San Jose, California (averaging $26.39, or $3.30 per slice)
2. San Francisco, California ($26.03, or $3.25 per slice)
3. Chicago, Illinois ($24.40, or $3.05 per slice)
4. San Diego, California ($24.09, or $3.01 per slice)
5. Brookhaven, New York ($21.59, or $2.70 per slice)
6. Austin, Texas ($21.14, or $2.64 per slice)
7. New York, New York ($20.68, or $2.59 per slice)
8. Jacksonville, Florida ($19.35, or $2.42 per slice)
9. Washington, DC ($19.02, or $2.38 per slice)
10. Colorado Springs, Colorado ($19.02, or $2.38 per slice)