Pizza-

[jimmymack99]

I am looking for a local place that serves great pizza. I have been to Giordano's, on Rush, which is too busy and too touristy for me. We liked the pizza at Edwardo's but not much of an atmosphere there. Don't really want to wait in line with all of the tourists, although that is what we are. Something close to the "El" would be great, anywhere between Evanston and the loop.

[jkap910]

Two great places that I love.

1. Pequad's which has been mentioned before
2. Ming Choy- I know it sounds funny, but they make some great zah- There is no place to sit, it is more of a take out place, but man do they make a good pie. Incedentally, they also have some very good chinese food as well.

http://mingchoy.com/

[pegleggedheart]

does Home Run Inn really not count as a local place anymore? Sad.

[gleam]

Maybe it doesn't count as a place that serves "great pizza".

[paulispumonti]

A "cult" favorite which rarely gets mentioned is Renaldi's on Broadway ( not to be confused with Ranalli's) , just north of Diversey in Lakeview
They've been serving great NY style pizza for 30 plus years- It's a cheesy pie, with a flavorful, somewhat sweet sauce- They also serve a thicker, sicilian style pie which they call spingione, which is quite good as well. They have a full italian menu, but in 15 years I've lived here, I've never tried anything but the pizza.
I usually order the sausage- ocassionally the 1/2 sausage 1/2 spinach- Sausage is homemade and quite flavorful

[abf005]

Sorry folks, I had the wrong Gino's East!! And it does make a big difference.

The one that "re-opened" on Superior is not nearly as good as the one on Wells, which technically is now the "Original" since it moved from the original Superior location in the 90's and kept the tradition going since, must be the original ovens...I don't know.

I think Gino's East is going through the same experience as we've all discovered with Unos vs Unos Chicago Grill when it come to chain growth, in this catagory nobody has done it better than Lou Malnatti's.

Also added in the other Pizano's Erik M made mention of.

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Gino's East
633 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Pizano's Pizza & Pasta
864 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

[Erik M]

Thanks for the correction/clarification, abf005, but there's just one more thing that needs to be said about Pizano's: as far as the pizza goes, it's hardly the "clone" of Lou Malnati's that you suggest. Yes, I realize that there is some connection when it comes to the founder, a Malnati himself, but the pizza creation which he made famous is really quite distinct. To be fair, the crust *does* include alot of cornmeal like the Lou Malnati's pie but its resultant character and flavour is very different. Additionally, unlike Lou Malnati's famous pie, Pizano's famous pie is not a true "deep dish" pizza but instead a hybrid of sorts, with its low profile and robust sauce.

Anyway, as contentious as it might be, remember that Jeff Ruby and Penny Pollack gave Pizano's a spot on their top-ten list of American pies in their book, Everybody Loves Pizza!

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2006-10-12-pizza-places_x.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Everybody-Loves...

Regards,
E.M.

[abf005]

I guess we may have to agree to disagree on this one, I've had both Lou's & Pizanno's back to back (maybe not side by side) but within a week, and I stand by my opinion that they are almost identical, from the bland grey disk sausage to the sweet tomato sauce, and right down to the butter crust. In fact, if there is any difference it's a very subtle one.

Oh how I hate those lists from the USA Today and especially the Travel Channel!! I always feels they over sensationalize the silliest things and then try to be "fair" to all US regions, so as to not offend anyone or leave them out altogether.

I will say this though, the fact that they found Wells Brothers (one of my all time favorite thin crust places) in Racine, WI says to me they really did do some research!

But to not have more Chicago places? C'mon! It's obvious that they just love the NY/East coast styles...

BTW: they got the established date wrong on Wells Brothers, it's 1921 and not 1940; http://www.journaltimes.com/nucleus/i... And the big Wells Bros. sign outside says so.

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Wells Brothers Restaurant
2148 Mead St, Racine, WI 53403

[Erik M]

I have been eating sausage pies at the original Pizano's shop on State Street for years and I have NEVER been served the crap sausage disk you describe. And, FWIW, I've never even heard it mentioned about Pizano's before now either. The sausage I've been eating is dense and chunky with great flavour. Trust me, I know that crap you speak of from Gino's, etc., and I give it *very* wide berth.

E.M.

[abf005]

Yep, Gino's East & Lou's for sure have the same darn crap sausage, and unless I'm really off, when I got my pizza from the Pizano's (on Madison) it was the same as a pizza from Lou's.

Now if your telling me that the State St Pizano'sis different and better, I may swing by there for lunch this week just to see. Wanna split a pizza?

[Erik M]

Ask me again, like, say, in the dead of winter, and I'll gladly take you up on your offer, but pizza is a no-go for me in the heat of summer. LOL!!

Anyway, I'm not saying State Street is different and better that the Madison shop you describe. Heck, since the Wrigleyville outpost closed, I didn't even know that there was more than one place by that name. So, my point, I guess, is that you've got some sampling to do!

BTW, my real favourite style is the tavern square-cut thin pie you find at places like Marie's, Traverso's and Vito&Nick's, and I don't even crave that stuff so much in the summertime. No, when I still need a homemade sausage fix in the summertime, I sidle up to the bar at Vito&Nick's and order "Da Big Nicky." If you often crave the distinctive style of sausage which many of the better Chicago pizza emporiums make as much as I do, you've got to try one of these things. The character of the sausage in this sandwich is entirely *enhanced* by the time it spends on the grill!

Vito&Nick's
8433 S. Pulaski
773.735.2050

Regards,
E.M.

[abf005]

That "Da Big Nicky" sounds amazing! I am a huge fan of good sausage, and IMO the Southside has some of the greatest blue collar food in the US.

I agree though, 7 out of 10 times that I get a pizza it's thin crust. And being born a Northsider I lean more towards Barnaby's and Father & Son, or if I feel like a ride the above mentioned Wells Bros is great, talk about a tasty sausage too, those guys have it.

So come fall when we all start building up those "winter coats" of ours, drop me a note and we can check out the Pizano's on State.

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Barnaby's of Northbrook
960 Skokie Blvd, Northbrook, IL 60062

Father & Son Restaurant
2475 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

[Erik M]

Oh, good, I hope that you try "Da Nicky." The 8oz. puck of grilled sausage is served on an open-faced roll with plenty of sauce and cheese broiled right on. So, in addition to tasting great, it's quite something to look at too. LOL!!

"So come fall when we all start building up those "winter coats" of ours, drop me a note and we can check out the Pizano's on State."

Oh, most definitely. But, I might also be asking you to go to Wells Bros and Barnaby's too! I've heard people swearing by them both for a long time.

E.M.

[abf005]

Yes definitely!! I'm up for either place any time.

[delk]

I like both styles depending on my mood. I also like thin crust... lol
Anyway, the Madison Avenue Pizano's does not serve the disc type of sausage.

Wish they delivered to me though!

[abf005]

Being over by Rush Street your inevitably going to be surrounded by tourists and the Viagra triangle types. Not sure I get the "atmosphere" thing, after all its just pizza!! Not usually a 5 star experience.

But for an experience or atmosphere go to Uno's, Duo or better yet go to Ginos East and graffiti on the walls. IMO; Uno's & Dou are still very good, Gino's is a shadow of it's former self.

Now if you want a real Chicago experience then try Riccobene's on Lake & Wells, be sure to get the deep dish and not the "pan" pizza. If your up for experimenting, then try the breaded steak sandwich as well, it's true Chicago.

On the north side and also in various locations downtown is Bachino's, an excellent version of the Chicago style "stuffed" pizza.

Lastly, Pizanos which is really a Lou Malnatti's clone, has a very nice almost upscale for pizza place atmosphere, it's over by the Art Institute. It's not one of my favorite pizzas, but its still good and many on this board will swear by it.

[Erik M]

I'm one of the people on this board that "swears by" Pizano's, but the only shop that I will vouch for is the original shop on State Street, just north of Chicago Ave. Anyway, in the OP's interest, it's just a few steps from the Red Line Stop.

http://www.pizanoschicago.com/state.html

E.M.

[gleam]

Pequod's at Clybourn and Webster. Not very touristy, lots of local character, very good Pizza. Not *terribly* far from the brown and red lines.

[abf005]

Just few links on the places recommended so far!

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Pizzeria Due
619 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Bacino's On Clinton
118 S Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661

Pizano's Pizza & Pasta
61 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60603

Pizzeria Uno
29 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Ricobene's
60 E Lake St, Chicago, IL 60601

Pequod's Pizzeria
2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614