What makes Lou Malnati's better than Giordanos? It looks like it's a fast food place.
We had Giordanos and Geno's East the last time we were in Chicago and loved them both. I gave the slight edge to Giordanos. I get that Chicagoans don't eat those pizzas unless they have guests from out of town, but that pizza is the bomb and we just don't have anything even close to it where I live so I'm going there. I think you're making a mistake by wasting the opportunity you have right there in front of you. As of now, our first stop when we get in town on Saturday is Giordano's. We've been dreaming about that place for 3 years.
The only people we should try to get even with...
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
I have Pequod's as #2 in my deep dish pizza power rankings. A little too doughy for me. Lou's gets it just right! But you can't go wrong with either place.
I'm a beer fiend, just checking to see of Howells and Hood is as good as some of the reviews I have read. I wouldn't mind trying to hit up Half Acre at some point as well.
Howells and Hood? Meh. Definitely check out some of the local breweries, I highly recommend Revolution. As someone else mentioned, Hopleaf is a great place if you love beer. You might even see some of the local brew masters hanging out there.
Chicagoans don't eat deep dish pizza. It's more of a tourist thing. We eat it when friends come in from out of town.
Speak for yourself, buddy. It's definitely not something you can eat all the time though, so it becomes more of a special occasion thing, which I guess is often when friends come in.
Also who makes the best deep dish pizza in Chicago?
Lou malinatis and Pequod's are the consistent favorites.
But they're completely different, not the same style. Lou's is your more traditional deep dish pizza, along with Uno's and Gino's and others. Pequod's is a thick bready pan pizza with a caramelized cheese crust. Then there's stuffed pizza which is served at places like Giordano's and The Art of Pizza which has a flakier crust and a thin crust layer on top. My personal favorite is Gino's, followed closely by Lou's. I'm not a fan of the Pequod's style.
You really can't go wrong with any of the above pizza joints
Yeah, just don't go to Uno's. For one thing, you can find them all over the country and, quite honestly, their deep dish just doesn't stack up to the others.
Out-of-towner here who has visited Chicago about 7 times in the past 10 years. I'll throw a vote in for Piece as well as Big Star Diner (tacos, fun patio).
2003 - June 15 Fargo 2005 - Sept 1 George, Sept 8 Winnipeg 2006 - May 9/10 Toronto, June 26/27 St. Paul, July 22/23 George, Oct 21/22 Mountain View 2007 - Aug 2/5 Chicago 2008 - June 22 Washington, June 24/25 New York 2009 - Aug 21 Toronto, Aug 23/24 Chicago, Sept 21/22 Seattle, Oct 27/28/30/31 Philadelphia 2010 - May 15 Hartford, May 17 Boston, Oct 23/24 Mountain View 2011 - Sept 3/4 Alpine Valley, Sept 11/12 Toronto, Sept 17 Winnipeg, Sept 19 Saskatoon 2012 - Sept 30 Missoula 2013 - July 16 London, July 19 Chicago, Oct 12 Buffalo, Dec 2 Calgary, Dec 4 Vancouver, Dec 6 Seattle 2014 - Oct 16 Detroit, Oct 19 St. Paul, Oct 20 Milwaukee 2015 - Sept 23 (Colbert)/Sept 26, New York 2016 - Apr 28/29 Philadelphia, May 10/12 Toronto, Aug 20/22 Chicago
If you must – TRY Pat’s Pizza 2679 N Lincoln (773) 248-0168 or 628 S Clark St (312) 427-2320
Or Piece in Wicker Park, fantastic New Haven style pizzeria and brewery. Owned by Rick Nielsen and a favorite of Dave Grohl.
Piece is fantastic, great brewery on site as well. Pat's is the really thin and crispy cut in squares pie that's actually the most common Chicago pizza. Piece bills themselves as having New Haven style pizza, a little thicker and chewier. It's not exactly Frank Pepe's but Piece makes a damn fine pie. (It's also the last place you can get Hot Doug's Atomic Sausage.)
If you're doing Malnati's, keep it simple.Too many ingredients (especially wet veggies) can make for a subpar pie. Go with the Chicago classic, maybe add pepperoni.
Yeah, I've eaten a few too many pizzas in my day...
For those who mentioned Garrett's...Nuts on Clark (near Wrigley just north of Metro) has the same half-cheese/half-caramel popcorn, it's virtually indistinguishable from the stuff downtown.
I have Pequod's as #2 in my deep dish pizza power rankings. A little too doughy for me. Lou's gets it just right! But you can't go wrong with either place.
...food for thought...
WI 6/27/98 WI 10/8/00 MO 10/11/00 IL 4/23/03 MN 6/26/06 MN 6/27/06 WI 6/30/06 IL 8/5/07 IL 8/21/08 (EV) IL 8/22/08 (EV) IL 8/23/09 IL 8/24/09 IN 5/7/10 IL 6/28/11 (EV) IL 6/29/11 (EV) WI 9/3/11 WI 9/4/11 IL 7/19/13 NE 10/09/14 IL 10/17/14 MN 10/19/14 FL 4/11/16 IL 8/20/16 IL 8/22/16 IL 08/18/18 IL 08/20/18 IT 07/05/2020AT 07/07/2020
I've got this unofficial Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives app on my phone that finds the closest DDD restaurants in any city I'm in. I haven't completely exhausted all the DDD restaurants in Chicago, so I'll be hitting a few of 'em this week for sure!
6/27/98 - East Troy, WI
6/29/06 - Milwaukee, WI
9/25/11 - Vancouver, BC
11/4/12 - (Eddie Vedder) Phoenix, AZ
11/1/13 - New Orleans, LA
11/19/13 - Phoenix, AZ
11/21/13 - San Diego, CA
10/12/14 - Austin, TX
10/22/14 - Denver, CO
8/22/16 - Chicago, IL (Wrigley 2)
You really can't go wrong with any of the above pizza joints
Yeah, just don't go to Uno's. For one thing, you can find them all over the country and, quite honestly, their deep dish just doesn't stack up to the others.
Uno's Chicago Grill is NOT the same as Pizzeria Uno, but I agree there are better options.
On my hit list is Arbor, Lou Malnati's, Frontera Grill, Au Cheval, Black Dog Gelato. Anyone have experience at any of these? Except Lou Malnati's - I know people have opinions about that one already!
'05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2
EV
Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
On my hit list is Arbor, Lou Malnati's, Frontera Grill, Au Cheval, Black Dog Gelato. Anyone have experience at any of these? Except Lou Malnati's - I know people have opinions about that one already!
WI 6/27/98 WI 10/8/00 MO 10/11/00 IL 4/23/03 MN 6/26/06 MN 6/27/06 WI 6/30/06 IL 8/5/07 IL 8/21/08 (EV) IL 8/22/08 (EV) IL 8/23/09 IL 8/24/09 IN 5/7/10 IL 6/28/11 (EV) IL 6/29/11 (EV) WI 9/3/11 WI 9/4/11 IL 7/19/13 NE 10/09/14 IL 10/17/14 MN 10/19/14 FL 4/11/16 IL 8/20/16 IL 8/22/16 IL 08/18/18 IL 08/20/18 IT 07/05/2020AT 07/07/2020
If you want the BEST dessert in Chicago, you MUST get a Chocolate Shake at the Wiener Circle (not too far from Wrigley, a little over a mile south of the stadium). It's only available at night and it's $20, but I guarantee it will be the thickest chocolate shake you've ever had.
On my hit list is Arbor, Lou Malnati's, Frontera Grill, Au Cheval, Black Dog Gelato. Anyone have experience at any of these? Except Lou Malnati's - I know people have opinions about that one already!
Au Cheval is awesome...one of the best burgers you'll ever have. Be prepared to wait for awhile to get a table. It's always packed.
08-18/20-18 Wrigley Field, 08-20/22-16 Wrigley Field, 10-20-14 Bradley Center, 07-22-13 Wrigley Field, 09-03/04-11 Alpine Valley PJ20, 06-28-11 Chicago Theater EV solo, 08-23/24-09 United Center, 08-21/22-08 Auditorium Theater EV solo, 08-04-07 Grant Park, 08-02-07 The Vic, 05-16/17-06 UC, 09-19-05 Air Canada Centre, 10-05-04 Fox Theatre VfC, 06-18-03 UC, 04-23-03 Assembly Hall, 09-05-00 Post-Gazette Pavilion, 06-26-98 Alpine Valley, 07-11-95 Soldier Field
On my hit list is Arbor, Lou Malnati's, Frontera Grill, Au Cheval, Black Dog Gelato. Anyone have experience at any of these? Except Lou Malnati's - I know people have opinions about that one already!
Coming in Friday and staying down in the Loop area, as the wife and I have never been to Chicago. I'm a beer fiend, just checking to see of Howells and Hood is as good as some of the reviews I have read. I wouldn't mind trying to hit up Half Acre at some point as well.
Half Acre is great. Try checking out Revolution Brewing too....great brewery with so many good beers.
Off color and Hopewell are great breweries as well.
Is Sheffield's the best place to go near Wrigley to find those breweries and maybe Three Floyds or Pipeworks?
PipeWorks and Three Floyds are probably the two that I will be looking most for when in Chicago. I am also a beer fiend and looking for spots that have predominately Midwest breweries on their tap list. I am coming from California and am not interested in places that are pushing mostly Cali and/or Colorado beers. From my research Local Option and Hop Leaf have the very strong tap lists. Local Option, 2 miles south of Wrigley has a nice looking tap list with 4-5 beer each from both Three Floyds and PipeWorks as well as some other good ones. I have not personally been there and can not speak on atmosphere but their tap list on line seems to be one the better ones I have found while looking up craft beer spots. Hop Leaf also has an impressive tap list which is 2 miles north of Wrigley
Coming in Friday and staying down in the Loop area, as the wife and I have never been to Chicago. I'm a beer fiend, just checking to see of Howells and Hood is as good as some of the reviews I have read. I wouldn't mind trying to hit up Half Acre at some point as well.
Half Acre is great. Try checking out Revolution Brewing too....great brewery with so many good beers.
Off color and Hopewell are great breweries as well.
Is Sheffield's the best place to go near Wrigley to find those breweries and maybe Three Floyds or Pipeworks?
PipeWorks and Three Floyds are probably the two that I will be looking most for when in Chicago. I am also a beer fiend and looking for spots that have predominately Midwest breweries on their tap list. I am coming from California and am not interested in places that are pushing mostly Cali and/or Colorado beers. From my research Local Option and Hop Leaf have the very strong tap lists. Local Option, 2 miles south of Wrigley has a nice looking tap list with 4-5 beer each from both Three Floyds and PipeWorks as well as some other good ones. I have not personally been there and can not speak on atmosphere but their tap list on line seems to be one the better ones I have found while looking up craft beer spots. Hop Leaf also has an impressive tap list which is 2 miles north of Wrigley
Local Option even has their own beers, and they are super great people. Great place. Don't ask for anything on special.
08-18/20-18 Wrigley Field, 08-20/22-16 Wrigley Field, 10-20-14 Bradley Center, 07-22-13 Wrigley Field, 09-03/04-11 Alpine Valley PJ20, 06-28-11 Chicago Theater EV solo, 08-23/24-09 United Center, 08-21/22-08 Auditorium Theater EV solo, 08-04-07 Grant Park, 08-02-07 The Vic, 05-16/17-06 UC, 09-19-05 Air Canada Centre, 10-05-04 Fox Theatre VfC, 06-18-03 UC, 04-23-03 Assembly Hall, 09-05-00 Post-Gazette Pavilion, 06-26-98 Alpine Valley, 07-11-95 Soldier Field
Comments
We had Giordanos and Geno's East the last time we were in Chicago and loved them both. I gave the slight edge to Giordanos. I get that Chicagoans don't eat those pizzas unless they have guests from out of town, but that pizza is the bomb and we just don't have anything even close to it where I live so I'm going there. I think you're making a mistake by wasting the opportunity you have right there in front of you. As of now, our first stop when we get in town on Saturday is Giordano's. We've been dreaming about that place for 3 years.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
2005 - Sept 1 George, Sept 8 Winnipeg
2006 - May 9/10 Toronto, June 26/27 St. Paul, July 22/23 George, Oct 21/22 Mountain View
2007 - Aug 2/5 Chicago
2008 - June 22 Washington, June 24/25 New York
2009 - Aug 21 Toronto, Aug 23/24 Chicago, Sept 21/22 Seattle, Oct 27/28/30/31 Philadelphia
2010 - May 15 Hartford, May 17 Boston, Oct 23/24 Mountain View
2011 - Sept 3/4 Alpine Valley, Sept 11/12 Toronto, Sept 17 Winnipeg, Sept 19 Saskatoon
2012 - Sept 30 Missoula
2013 - July 16 London, July 19 Chicago, Oct 12 Buffalo, Dec 2 Calgary, Dec 4 Vancouver, Dec 6 Seattle
2014 - Oct 16 Detroit, Oct 19 St. Paul, Oct 20 Milwaukee
2015 - Sept 23 (Colbert)/Sept 26, New York
2016 - Apr 28/29 Philadelphia, May 10/12 Toronto, Aug 20/22 Chicago
If you're doing Malnati's, keep it simple.Too many ingredients (especially wet veggies) can make for a subpar pie. Go with the Chicago classic, maybe add pepperoni.
Yeah, I've eaten a few too many pizzas in my day...
For those who mentioned Garrett's...Nuts on Clark (near Wrigley just north of Metro) has the same half-cheese/half-caramel popcorn, it's virtually indistinguishable from the stuff downtown.
11-26-91 / 8-2-92 / 3-15-94 / 7-9-95 / 7-11-95 / 8-29-98 / 9-1-00 / 10-25-03
10-23-04 / 10-22-06 / 10-9-09 / 10-23-10 / 10-3-12 / 7-9-13 / 10-21-13
11-24-13 / 11-26-13 / 10-17-14 / 10-20-14 / 10-25-14 / 4-8-16 / 4-9-16
4-28-16 / 4-29-16 / 8-20-16 / 8-22-16 / 8-10-18 / 8-18-18 / 8-20-18
6/29/06 - Milwaukee, WI
9/25/11 - Vancouver, BC
11/4/12 - (Eddie Vedder) Phoenix, AZ
11/1/13 - New Orleans, LA
11/19/13 - Phoenix, AZ
11/21/13 - San Diego, CA
10/12/14 - Austin, TX
10/22/14 - Denver, CO
8/22/16 - Chicago, IL (Wrigley 2)
EV
Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
Not sure I saw where anyone recommended this yet: http://www.savedbythemax.com/
https://www.beermenus.com/places/1083-sheffield-s-beer-wine-garden
Local Option, 2 miles south of Wrigley has a nice looking tap list with 4-5 beer each from both Three Floyds and PipeWorks as well as some other good ones. I have not personally been there and can not speak on atmosphere but their tap list on line seems to be one the better ones I have found while looking up craft beer spots. Hop Leaf also has an impressive tap list which is 2 miles north of Wrigley
Check out Local Option Current Tap list:
https://www.beermenus.com/places/1255-local-option