Pilot/Flying J Pizza… What Happened to It?

[RoadRunnerRick]

Alright, maybe it’s just me… but Pilot/Flying J pizza used to be pretty solid.
Lately every slice I grab looks like it’s been sitting there since the previous shift. Dry, hard edges, barely any cheese — and still eight bucks like it’s gourmet.


Had one last week that was so stale I thought I was gonna break a tooth.
Doesn’t matter if it’s Pilot or Flying J — same company, same pizza, same disappointment.


Anybody else noticing the quality dropping off?
Or is it just the stores on my route lately?


I’m close to giving up and just making my own stuff again.

 

[gearjammer]

I’m close to giving up and just making my own stuff again

you would be a lot further ahead and live a lot longer if you did

 

[Duck]

I never really liked it ever.

It wasn't terrible or bad, I just thought it was mediocre.

What I really miss is before the Pilot buyout, when they had real restaurants in them. Friday & Saturday nights the buffets had the best steak and salmon, and the rest of the time they had this awesome Cajun chicken (or shrimp) and sausage Alfredo. That's probably what made me fat.

Now every "PFJ" is just McDonald's Subway kind of crap.

I've been off the road for a while.

Do Petro & TA still have restaurants?

The one near me does I think but it's only open during bankers hours, so f* that place.

 

[RoadRunnerRick]

I never really liked it ever.

It wasn't terrible or bad, I just thought it was mediocre.

What I really miss is before the Pilot buyout, when they had real restaurants in them. Friday & Saturday nights the buffets had the best steak and salmon, and the rest of the time they had this awesome Cajun chicken (or shrimp) and sausage Alfredo. That's probably what made me fat.

Now every "PFJ" is just McDonald's Subway kind of crap.

I've been off the road for a while.

Do Petro & TA still have restaurants?

The one near me does I think but it's only open during bankers hours, so f* that place.

Black Bear Diners are showing up at some of the TA/Petro locations. Most just have vacated restaurants though.

 

[Duck]

I don't even remember what the name was for the Flying J restaurants.

Petro had Iron Skillet
TA had Country Pride
Some Flying Js out west had "The Cookery" and "Thad's" or something but I don't remember the name of the restaurants in the majority of them.

 

[cabinover]

I don't even remember what the name was for the Flying J restaurants.

Petro had Iron Skillet
TA had Country Pride
Some Flying Js out west had "The Cookery" and "Thad's" or something but I don't remember the name of the restaurants in the majority of them.

All I remember calling it was the Flying J Buffet. Was there an actual name for the place? Flying J was great til deadbeat trucking companies fucked them into selling to that criminal operation known as Pilot.

 

[Rigjockey]

I never really liked it ever.

It wasn't terrible or bad, I just thought it was mediocre.

I thought the pizza was pretty good. Nice soft crust and lots of cheese, enough cheese to bung you up for days. Didn't need to stop for a poop.

What I really miss is before the Pilot buyout, when they had real restaurants in them. Friday & Saturday nights the buffets had the best steak and salmon, and the rest of the time they had this awesome Cajun chicken (or shrimp) and sausage Alfredo. That's probably what made me fat.

That was the only good thing about being out on the road on the weekend was the steaks and carving table with a nice roast beef.

 

[Duck]

That was the only good thing about being out on the road on the weekend was the steaks and carving table with a nice roast beef.

Yeah it was advertised & labeled as steak but it was actually slices off a roast. But it was the best.

 

[Electric Chicken]

All I remember calling it was the Flying J Buffet. Was there an actual name for the place? Flying J was great til deadbeat trucking companies fucked them into selling to that criminal operation known as Pilot.

Our local Flying J has or used to have a Denny's.

 

[389 Hood]

Denny's has been sold out too. I'll look for the news blurb that I saw on it.

 

[Electric Chicken]

Hard to read but according to this 2008 Google street view screen shot, before Denny's came in 2010 it was called Country Market Restaurant and Cafe.

 

[Duck]

Hard to read but according to this 2008 Google street view screen shot, before Denny's came in 2010 it was called Country Market Restaurant and Cafe.

View attachment 91303

Now I remember. I kept thinking it was Country Kitchen but I think that is/was a different chain, unaffiliated with truck stops.