As a break from studying for one of those standardized tests with a three or four letter abbreviation for a name, I decided to order a pizza for take away from La Grande Orange. After perusing the restaurant's simple and easy to navigate Web site, I decided on a margherita pizza with sausage. Upon ordering, I declined the what I will describe as "carhop service." Why should I perpetuate the social alienation that automobiles and the urban design of Phoenix promote by taking advantage of such a service (and likely having to tip for it)?
Thirty minutes later, I arrived at the miniature stripmall. I'm sure many a yuppie have become enraged upon having their oversized SUV dented in the restaurant/grocer's small parking lot. I felt out of place in my 1999 Toyota Corolla (even with it being the "luxury edition"). I pondered if only individuals with a carbon footprint the size of Godzilla eat at La Grande Orange. I also wondered how pleasant it was for those "dining in" to sit with a view of SUVs and suburban sprawl in a building of little architectural merit.
First entering through the "restaurant" portion of the grocery, I stood for nearly five minutes with a look of confusion on my face as I watched high school-aged girls construct pizza boxes. I was assuming one of them would welcome me and ask me why I was here and how they could help me. That did not happen and I had to ask where I should pick up my pizza of my own initiative. I was directed to the nearby "grocery," which was full of equal parts delicious looking breads and Halloween crap. In the "grocery," I stood for another five minutes in one of three lines before I was finally directed to the right place to request my pizza. The girl I paid with was definitely unfriendly and borderline rude. Upon discovering she had no pen for me to sign my credit card slip, she went to retrieve one and then thrust it towards me with a "Here!" At this point, my frustration with the unfriendly staff combined with the realization that I had just paid more for my pizza at La Grande Orange (over $17) than I would have paid for a similar pie at Pizzeria Bianco to generate intense displeasure with the whole operation.
While I enjoyed my pizza and its unique sourdough crust upon consuming it at home (the ingredients were very fresh and I think I would like to try their avocado or roasted corn pies in the future), my general distaste for everything else about La Grande Orange (from price to staff to fellow patrons) will probably keep me from returning anytime soon.