We all have a few restaurants from our childhoods that stick with us for life – whether it’s the food, the entertainment, fond memories, or a combination of it all. Cicis Pizza is one of those for me – specifically the Tulsa Cicis Pizza at 49th and Peoria.
I only remember going there a couple of times, always with our children’s church, but those few times were enough to imprint the restaurant in my memory banks for good. I hadn’t been to Cicis since I was probably 10 or 11 years old. Then a couple of free buffet vouchers from the Tulsa Library summer reading program put my family and I back in that dining room for the first time in over a decade, and we’ve been back three times since.
First Impressions and Atmosphere
The place was surprisingly clean and nice, which honestly caught me off guard. I had braced myself for the typical worn-down buffet restaurant experience, but Cicis clearly puts effort into maintaining their space. It looked exactly as I remembered it from two decades prior — vibrant, full of life, and fairly retro compared to the bland minimalist aesthetic that most restaurants maintain these days.
The game room was even bigger than I recalled from my childhood visits, giving kids plenty of entertainment options beyond just the food. My son Jordan was only a year old on that trip, so we skipped the games entirely and I filed it away as something to look forward to.
The staff impressed me immediately with their friendliness and attentiveness. Throughout our meal, employees consistently stayed on top of clearing away old plates while we were eating, which made the dining experience much more pleasant than the typical buffet chaos you might expect. That’s held true on every visit since.
The Pizza Experience
All of the pizza was hot, fresh, and delicious — exactly what you want from a buffet where food can sometimes sit under heat lamps too long. Cicis clearly manages their rotation well, keeping popular varieties stocked with fresh pies. And don’t even get me started about that garlicky, buttery crust.
I found myself gravitating toward my childhood favorites and discovering they still hit the mark. The Alfredo pizza remains a standout and the Spinach Alfredo takes it up a notch, adding just enough green to make you feel slightly healthier about eating pizza for dinner, despite the fact that I definitely ate at least 2000 calories.
The mac and cheese pizza might catch you off guard, but don’t overlook it — it’s fantastic. I think I ended up getting a slice of pretty much everything they had out, but those three kept drawing me back for seconds. They’re still the three I load up on every time we go. I’m also a big fan of the barbecue chicken.
I must’ve had at least 12 slices of pizza — still nowhere near what my best friend Virgil ate when he won a slice-for-slice contest against our children’s pastor, Brother James, back around 2004.
Desserts, Pasta, and the Rest of the Spread
Their dessert selection was excellent and honestly became the highlight of the meal. The cinnamon rolls in particular required a second trip to the buffet — they were that good, warm, sweet, and gooey. The brownies were rich and the apple pie pizza and Bavarian pizza are both exquisite, but I still have to give Mazzio’s the crown in the dessert pizza kingdom. Nothing compares to Mazzio’s Oreo pizza, though I haven’t been there in so long I don’t know if they even still make it.
The variety beyond pizza impressed me too. Cicis offers pasta options, salad bar selections, and other items that make it feel less like a one-trick pizza joint and more like a complete family dining experience.
Family-Friendly Value
Jordan had an absolute blast, which really matters when you’re trying to find places where a toddler can be entertained while parents actually enjoy their meal. The combination of good food, clean environment, and that expanded game room creates the perfect storm for family dining success.
We were there thanks to free buffet coupons that Cicis donated to the Tulsa City-County Library summer reading program, which shows their commitment to supporting local families and education. That kind of community involvement always earns points with me, especially when it encourages kids to read while providing families with affordable dining options.
The buffet is still affordable even without a coupon at only $9.99 per adult and $5.99 per kid.
Three More Trips Back to Cicis
We’ve been back three times since that first visit, and it was fantastic every time.
My wife and I completed a 75 Hard at the end of 2025 and when it came time to celebrate we skipped the steakhouse and went straight to Cicis for the New Year’s Eve buffet. After 75 days of locked-in eating, unlimited garlic crust was exactly the right reward.
Two more visits followed in 2026, including another round of free buffet coupons for finishing the Tulsa City-County Library summer reading program. Two years in a row has officially made it a family tradition around here, and this time Jordan was finally old enough to use his $10 game room coupon.
The Nostalgia Factor
There’s something special about returning to a place from your childhood and finding it not only intact but actually better than you remembered. Cicis delivered that rare experience where nostalgia meets current reality and both come out winners.
The memories of church youth group trips and pizza eating contests came flooding back, but they were enhanced rather than diminished by the current experience. Jordan got to experience the same kind of all-you-can-eat pizza joy that made those childhood visits so memorable.
Looking Forward
Cicis has earned its place in our regular rotation, and every trip back has confirmed it’s just as great as I remembered it being as a kid. For Tulsa families looking for affordable, filling meals where kids can be kids and parents can actually relax, Cicis hits all the right notes.
The Tulsa location at 49th and Peoria clearly takes pride in their operation, from the friendly staff to the fresh food to the clean facilities. Sometimes the simplest pleasures – unlimited pizza, friendly service, and a place where your toddler can play games after dinner – turn out to be exactly what you need. For more information about Cicis locations and current promotions, visit their website at cicis.com.
