THE VIBE

Cici's Pizza is a laid-back eatery for anyone, as long you're craving pizza. Their eat-in area is packed with booths and tables for parties of 10, two or one. They even have picnic tables for the adventurous types. It's a family-friendly restaurant that's well lit, clean and busy on a weekday at 6 p.m., but not overly crowded. Don't plan on having a serious talk with your kids here - the television, country music and video games are definite distractions.

THE MENU

If you dine in, get the $3.99 all-you-can-eat buffet. It includes a fresh salad bar, pasta with a couple of sauces, garlic bread and dessert. Oh - and about 16 types of hot pizza topped with cheese, pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, mushrooms, green peppers, pineapple, onions, spinach, olives, jalapenos and more. If the pizza of your choice isn't available, they'll make it fresh for you. Add a drink from the soda fountain for a dollar, which makes it a $5 meal for an adult. The buffet is only $1.99 for kids, and ages 3 and younger eat free. For carryout, they offer one-topping pizzas - $6.99 for the giant, $5.99 for large, $4.99 for medium and $3.99 for small.

THE SERVICE

The staff was busy replacing empty trays on the buffet with hot pizzas fresh from the oven. They were attentive to clearing empty plates from tables without making you feel rushed.

THE GOOD

What's not good about so much pizza for so little? The sauce and cheese on the pizza are flavorful, especially when topped with fresh veggies. The slices are small, which means you can enjoy two or 20.

As if 16 kinds of pizza weren't enough, there's always the brownies and the salad bar. Overall, the salad bar was pretty basic. It was no Ruby Tuesday, but I was impressed it was part of a pizza buffet.

THE BAD

The pizzas weren't labeled, so it was a guessing game for some selections. And it's easy to get lost to and from the buffet with so many booths and tables everywhere. Here's a tip: Avoid sitting in the wrong seat.

BOTTOM LINE

Cici's Pizza is easygoing, easy on the wallet and easy to enjoy.

CICI'S PIZZA
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., seven days a week
Two locations:
• 1413 Towne Square Blvd. (behind Crossroads Mall), Roanoke. Call 563-8181.
• Towers Shopping Center, 2037 Colonial Ave., Roanoke. Call 344-7711.