When you say "plain pie" you've told them everything. They may ask if you want to order anything else, but it's not a corporate chain so they aren't mandated to try to upsell you on everything and tell you about the 2 special sides that corporate marketing wants to push that month.
What is on a plain cheese pizza? Not only cheese I hope? In the pictures it looks like there is tomato sauce but I have never particularly ordered a 'plain cheese pizza' in the US; I only ordered with toppings.
I know there are regional differences in “pizza expectations”, but typically a cheese pizza is crust->tomato sauce->cheese. A margherita pizza would add sliced or diced fresh tomatoes and chopped fresh basil leaves on top of that stack.
You order toppings for all pizzas? We usually just order by number/names (via menu). Toppings are very rarely adjusted, and NEVER "built" from scratch. At least I've never seen anyone do that.
Probably depends on country. For reference I am talking about Sweden, where I'd say 90% of the pizza eaten is from smaller independent joints, something in-between fast food and a restaurant.
The menus usually has 50~80 different pizzas listed, so there's usually something for everyone without major changes.
>decent pizza place, it’s spinach, Stilton, bacon, and red potato. Possibly with broccoli or a vodka base, if I’m in the mood.
This sounds like the type of pizza common on the west coast, maybe California in particular? Possibly other parts of the world, but I'm less familiar with regional pizza varieties outside the US. In a traditional Italian pizzeria on the east coast those are simply not part of the regional variety. "Stilton" would get you a strange look. "red potato" would probably be met with "we can put fries on it". Bacon is very common. Broccoli and vodka sauce are a lot less common, but I see the options sometimes. A plain pie (crust, mozzarella, red tomato sauce) is the most common though maybe about tied with the most common topping, pepperoni. "Detroit" pizza is seen as an abomination by many pizza afficionados on the east coast, west coast, and Chicago, but I'm no pizza snob, and have been looking for the opportunity to try it, but have only seen the option from one of the big 3 chains and they're.never the same as the authentic regional varieties.
Yes, pretty much standard for anyone serving pizza here. Have a list of ready made options and then 2, 3 or 4 choices. Allows me to order pizza just like I want.
