Chicago Style Pizza
Chicago style pizza is very unique. It consists of a very thick, usually doughy crust. Then in an unusual twist the cheese comes next. Yes, the cheese is at the bottom of the toppings instead of being on top. Next still working backwards comes the toppings. Sausage, pepperoni, vegetables, etc. Then on the very top comes the tomatoes. Not normally tomato sauce but crushed tomatoes with almost nothing added. None of these pizza places take reservations.
Pizzeria Uno and Due: Owned by the same company and a block apart there is no real difference between the 2. They are the original Chicago style pizza places, Uno was first of course. The most traditional of the pizza places. They are located in fun old buildings. The table are smashed in and the wait can be long so it is not a good date place. They take your order while you wait to move things along. The dough is very buttery and is almost more of a pie crust than a traditional pizza crust. 29 E. Ohio, 619 N. Wabash, 943-2400, Website
Giodano's Pizza: Our favorite pizza. Not as buttery of a crust and good tomato flavor. The sausage is especially good. The main location on N. Rush is a madhouse. We have been told the wait is 2 1/2 hours at one visit. We are not sure who was told the wait would be 2 1/4 hours and said okay. 730 N. Rush, a less busy outpost is at 130 E. Randolph, 951-0747, Website
Gino's East: Another good option. Good pizza, decent service. They have fairly good salads. There claim to fame is that you can write on the walls. There location on Wells in the old Planet Hollywood space often has the shortest wait of the downtown pizza places. I can see their Superior location from my window and there is always a long line just to get in the door on weekends. 633 N. Wells, 162 E. superior, 988-4200, Website
Lou Malnati's- Several locations downtown offering good pizzas. Lou's son Mark has made several appearances on national TV. Their new location on N. State is the nicest new pizza place in downtown Chicago. 439 N. Wells, 1120 N. State, 828-9400 Website
The best non Chicago style pizza places in Chicago
Osteria Via Stato: A great Italian restaurant that has a pizzeria in the bar area. They have the best thin crust Italian style pizza in the downtown, tourist area. The mushroom pizza is especially good. They often have good lunch deals. 620 N. State, 642-8450, Website
La Madia: A stylish somewhat trendy spot serving tasty and inventive thin crust pizzas. They have very good salads. The arugula salad with the roasted grapes is a favorite. There pizzas are all unusual and usualy enough for two. They have a great lunch special, a salad and pizza for 2 for $18. 59 W. Grand, 329-0400, Reservations accepted, Website
Quartino: Good pizza but not the best. They have a good variety of options. They main reason to go is the fun vibe and extensive wine by the glass list. Pizza is a small part of their menu which includes pastas, main courses and salads. 626 N. State, 698-5000, Website
Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders: More of a pot pie than a true pizza. They are very unique and very tasty. They come in a individual crock with the cheese on top and they dump it over on your plate. The salads are huge. Near the zoo. 2121 N. Clark, 773-248-2570 Website