- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Pantera's Pizza
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Buffets Pizza, Buffets [Edit]
1522 Troy RdEdwardsville, IL 62025
(618) 692-6000
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Has TV:
- No
11 reviews for Pantera's Pizza
11 reviews in English
-
Review from Rob B.
Mays Landing, NJ
10/24/2011
The pizza here is distinctive and awesome. The crust options are good (try the "New York Style" for a greasier, tastier option), the toppings are good, and the sauce is spicy. I literally ate the stuff since I was in the womb, and my love for it will never die. Some of my friends from Chicago and New York are very finicky about pizza and will complain about pretty much anything that isn't made in their hometown. Once they try Pantera's, it's always an exception. The worst thing I've ever heard said about it is, "This isn't [my hometown style], but it's still damned good pizza."
The buffet started sometime when I was a teenager, and it's madness. That's inevitably going to happen because there's so much good pizza available for such a low price, and it can only be cooked so quickly.
Pantera's is essentially an Edwardsville institution. It's *the* place to bring little league after-parties, birthday parties, and other events. Because of this, children are often running around, often unsupervised by their parents. That's not the restaurant's fault, though. Also note that Friday and Saturday nights tend to be very crowded. -
Review from philip r.
Los Angeles, CA
12/8/2010
THE GREATEST PIZZA. ON EARTH. EVER. HANDS DOWN. PERIOD.
all my friends, both in LA and elsewhere, know that, if i ever kill someone (and living in LA, we're all tempted) and, while on death row, am offered my "last meal"...it is to be Pantera's pizza. with a Sun Drop soda. no joke.
aw man, just thinking about that delicious combination is making my trigger finger itchy....
haha! ok, that's terrible. but seriously: i've had pizza in Chicago, STL, NYC, Seattle, LA, SD, FLA, TX - pretty much everywhere. they all have their charm: STL with its cardboard thin, provel cheesed creation, Chi-town with it's mile-high toppings and dough with the sauce on top, NYC...well, NY pizza isn't all THAT great, but you can get it ANYwhere, ANYtime of the day or night, and there's something to be said for that.
but Pantera's is IT. the living end. i dream about their magical, perfectly-spiced, tangy sauce when i haven't had it in too long - and living in LA, i'm lucky to have it once a year. but it's reason enough to swing through E'Ville, IL, no matter how flimsy the excuse.
hey, isn't Edwardsville the home of that famous baseball team from the 80s? hmm...i should swing through town and research that... -
Review from Brandon P.
Saint Louis, MO
1/13/2011
I grew up in Edwardsville, so Pantera's was a part of my childhood. Despite their recent "remodeling" a year or two ago, it looks almost exactly the same as it did in the early 90s. Apparently, painting the walls, ripping out ancient carpeting, and removing the creepy 19th century photos that used to hang by the tables is considered "remodeling" there.
Although I admit a slight favorable bias for one of my favorite childhood hangouts, I feel that Pantera's has delicious pizza by any objective standard. Their busiest times are during their Friday and Sunday lunch buffets, which draw big crowds. For $6.00 or so, you get a soda and unlimited pizza and salad, and that's a good deal in my book.
Even if you aren't there for their buffet, their full-sized pizza pies, which are of the hand-tossed variety, are exceptional and moderately priced. For those who like exotic toppings, they even have anchovies; if you're friends and family are horrified by the little salty monsters, ask for them on the side.
The dining area if very large, especially for a local pizza place, so it's a good place to get together with a large group of people (little league and softball teams are a frequent sight). They have a small arcade (actually very small - probably two or three machines) in the back that will keep the older kids busy; I personally have fond memories of pumping quarters into The Simpsons arcade game and the Skill Crane when I was a teenager.
Strangely enough, they serve beer (and wine, too, I believe). Even though I am now in my 30s and I don't shy away from alcohol, this has always seemed strange to me. It's a family place with a lot of children and teenagers (teenagers practically run the place), and I have never seen anyone drink an alcoholic beverage there. My guess is that a tapped keg there lasts a very long time.
I'm not sure why, but Pantera's is chronically understaffed, and this has been true as long as I can remember. They are always behind on cleaning up the tables, and they sometimes fall behind in making enough pizzas for the buffet, causing diners to swarm the new pies as they come in.
So if you come during the buffet, you'll get the best deal, but you will have to deal with the crowd. If you come during the off-peak times, it won't be crowded, but you'll have to pay full price.
3 out of 5 stars for Pantera's. -
Review from Matthew R.
Sacramento, CA
11/22/2007
Ok, so the pizza isn't the best in town.
But I still love this place like nobody's business.
I remember coming here with my little punk friends when I was little and dumping about $30 in quarters into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game. That was awesome.
This is the de facto place to take your little leauge team out for pizza after winning the championship or maybe even just getting your game cut short because of the "mercy rule" in my hometown.
Good times and decent pizza at a good price. -
Review from Karl B.
Glen Carbon, IL
3/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Just got home. 2 Medium Pizzas. Good quality but for mediums, very small. Glad I had coupon to cut cost. Buffet is still best deal
-
Review from Ash D.
East Alton, IL
4/18/2007
I enjoyed this place. It has the old family fun appeal to it.
There is a buffet of pizza, salad bar, or you can order your own pizza. Its pretty reasonable too. The place is large enough to bring the whole family. There is also video arcade games in its own separate room towards the back.
The food was good too! I'm a pizza and salad freak! -
Review from Stephen S.
Saint Louis, MO
10/15/2010
Swim team Halloween Meet psych up party was here this past Wednesday night. The kids had a lot of fun as this has been their tradition for this meet and Districts for as long as any of them can remember. Its a nice big space where the whole (or most) of the team can get together. I feel bad for the people that were not a part of our group.
I have to say I feel stupid for not knowing this place existed before know. The pizza was pretty good and they kept the buffet stocked even with so many people. They even did a good job keeping the cinnamon sticks on the buffet with the little kids grabbing as many as they could at a time, I got invited by one of the10 year olds to have some of theirs. The pizza all around was good. I think it was the original thick crust that I liked the best. It was a little crispy. Next time I will get some of the spaghetti sauce to dip the crust in. The apple dessert pizza was not as good as Pizza Hut's, but I would have another piece and try the cherry. The cinnamon sticks are definitely where it is at. Didn't eat any of the salad, but if going with Jacki and brothers I would definitley make time for some, pretty limited, but it has the obligatory salad bar chocolate pudding that I would for sure hit up.
In short I am looking forward to Districts and debating a trip with brothers when they are practicing with the team during their xmas break. -
Review from Paul D.
Lebanon, IL
11/8/2010
Beer selection is dismal, the pizza is decent, but the staff is friendly. It's a good hangout for college students, but if you work and can afford it I would go elsewhere.
-
Review from Bill C.
Edwardsville, IL
2/26/2010
The buffet pizza is not their best; but it is acceptable and you won't leave hungry. Tip: If you don't see a pizza you like on the buffet, ask! They will make it for you! If you are ordering one to go, they make them a little bit better. Salad bar is decent. Very kid friendly. This place has "history" in Edwardsville...and St. Louis! At one time (1980s) they were a big chain in the area then they went bust. We are lucky to have only one of two left.
-
Review from Joe W.
Saint Louis, MO
4/3/2011
Not the absolute worse pizza I've ever had, but it's close. My wife and I went there since we had a groupon. The quality is what you would expect to get for $4 out of the freezer isle of the grocery store. The waitress explained they had thin crust, new york style, and hand tossed which was the thickest. We got the hand tossed and out came a 1cm thick crust that looked like it came frozen from a distributor. It was strangely crunchy at first then rubbery after the second slice. Cheese and sauce were unremarkable. We powered through it just so we wouldn't have to eat left-overs. Beer selection was Budweiser, Bud-Light, Coors and Shock-Top. I don't think I would pay $6 for the buffet. I might throw a birthday party here, it has the bland, meek, somewhat cardboard taste that might appeal to children. If you're an adult on your own, pass this place up.
-
Review from Clint S.
Glen Carbon, IL
5/7/2010
With a small video arcade and large spaces between the tables for small kids to run, this place is family central. I'm new to the area so I decide to try it out. The pizza sauce was on the spicy side which was refreshing. The crust was thin, typical of what is used to make pizza's in the St Louis region but not to my liking. Great place for a cheap night out with the family.
