Fatte Albert's Pizza Company Visalia

Went at 6pm on a Thursday.  I saw that they had Firestone Walker Union Jack on tap so I ordered one.  Bartender went and got an unfrosted mug from the back which I thought was both thoughtful and showed some beer knowledge. I was shocked when she handed me the massive mug (27.5 oz) and asked for $3.  It turns out their Happy Hour goes all the way to 7pm!

We ordered a garlic chicken pizza, cheese bread, and personal pizzas for the kids.  The kids each got to pick up to 3 ingredients.  After a little while, the staff brought out the raw crust with their ingredients (and some hats) and the kids got to put their pizza together.  Great Kodak moment.

The garlic chicken pizza was really good, but unusual.  Nobody is going to think this pizza came from Pizza Hut.  You could really taste the freshness.  the crust was thinner than I usually like but still had some nice body to it.  

The cheese bread was just amazing but simple - probably 4 cheeses melted on a pizza crust. My wife claimed it to be the best she has ever had. I couldn't disagree, no matter how much I enjoy doing so, as I couldn't remember a better cheese bread.  That might just be my memory failing though.

I dinged them 1 star for the decor.  It has all the charm of a school cafeteria.  I don't go to a restaurant for decor though.  It also had an NBA finals game on multiple TV's which made it hard to talk.

This place is S-C-A-R-Y! Went during lunch and the cashier was BEYOND slow, although very friendly. It feels as though you're walking into a dungeon. The wait time was nearly 30 minutes for a pizza, which I am OK with--IF it is worth it. This pizza was NOT worth it. The pizza had a thin crust and it looked like Ninja Turtle Pizza, all droopy. We also ordered the garlic fries: disaster! The fries came out very cold, and it was obvious that they were straight from the freezer and warmed up. I don't know if they actually fried them, but they were very starchy, oily, gimpy, and COLD. The garlic sort of killed the flavor, thankfully.

What is very sad is that I would NEVER take young children in my family here. This place is very shady. While I was there, it seemed as though this place serves as a public restroom facility for people on the street and those using the water fountains to play in. While I was there, I counted 6 people come in and out to use the facilities. Also, a shady looking guy kept walking back and forth in front of the window with a friend and a box of strawberries. They walked inside, lurked around for a bit, then walked out. I would love to have a place where I can take my niece and nephew to play, but with shady characters like this roaming around the establishment, me thinks NOT.

I am being nice with 3 stars.  This is a cavernous restaurant with a disconnected bar, salad bar, and dining area.  the seating is in long tables with "No" personality or ambiance in mind.  There are so many great pizza places with great atmosphere locally.  Why choose to sit in this cave and deal with spotty service?  

The pizza was good.  And the salad bar was just acceptable.  But this place was made for guys who want to watch sports TV while they eat.  That seems to be the whole theme.  If you're good with that, then this is your place.

I was looking for an enjoyable dining experience.  And this fell far short.  DO NOT take a date here unless you are both big screen sports fanatics and don't care about the dining experience at all.  Sorry.  That is my opinion.