The Reason Cicis Pizza Is So Cheap
If there is one food that everyone seems to have an opinion on, it's pizza. Next up is probably a universal truth that buffets are not the greatest pick for a nice meal out. So naturally, Cicis Pizza attracts a wide range of reviews and opinions across the internet from Reddit to TripAdvisor — and everywhere in between.
Whether you find the food to be a great value or simply gross, it's still one of the cheapest options for pizza available, with the all-you-can-eat buffet roughly priced at around $5.50 for adults (via MouseSavers). It is worth noting, however, that Cicis locations are individually owned, so the pricing can and does vary between locations (via Cicis Pizza). Even with the "3 for $5 each" deal, the chain's take-out prices are competitive with those of other major competitors, like Little Caesars (via Cicis Pizza).
Cost of quality is a factor in Cicis Pizza's cost
Before you eat at your local Cicis, it's worth knowing that the true cost of cheap pizza is its quality. Cicis Pizza is so cheap for a few reasons — but first and foremost, though, is that its ingredients just aren't as good as what you'll find at other restaurants. The cheese is not all-natural and has added flavors, colors, and preservatives among other added ingredients, according to Food Babe.
A former cook on Quora also explains that Cicis can keep its costs so low by serving pizza, pasta, and salad, all of which are filling foods that keep most customers from eating more than is profitable for the store. Serving pizza in a buffet style also helps the store cut down on food waste, which would otherwise be money lost on those ingredients, as well as the time and labor spent preparing the pizzas.
While the response on Quora also suggests that the store can cut costs by cooking for quantity rather than customized pizzas, and therefore can use a smaller staff, this is not completely true of Cicis Pizza. The store's initiative to introduce more kinds of pizzas also allows guests to create their own personal pizza if they do not see what they want on the buffet, which includes traditional pizzas, Cicis Signature pizzas, and stuffed crust pizzas (via QSR Magazine).