As I get ready to make the trek cross country, I am planning to stop in Chicago to see a Cubs game and hopefully some deep dish pizza. I was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction............

Giordano's, Giordano's, Giordano's!!!

First off, good for you by going to a Cubs game. If you can get a Bleacher section seat, the bleachers are the best!!!

As for Pizza, go to Lou Malnati's, or Giordano's eother are great. Also if you get a chance while you are in the city try get an Italian Beef Sandwhich.

Thanks for the tips! Keep them coming.

Postie, I will be near the top of the ballpark in the bleachers (Right Field/First Base Line).

I am telling ya, the bleachers are by far my favorite spot, although left center is better in my opinion, but right field is nice as well, hell for that matter all of Wrigley is great!!!

Have a good time and by the way can I fit in your luggage????????????

I gotta say, there is no pizza so good, nor baseball team so entertaining, to make it worth going to Chicago. It's about time for the city fathers to go find the offspring from Mrs. O'Leary's cow.....

That is just not right Ex_CG_GM, just not RIGHT

My first really DEEP-dish pizza experience was Nancy's Stuffed Pizza at Grand Avenue and York Road in Elmhurst, IL. Absolutely AWESOME!

Lou Malnati's is good, so is Home Run Inn (original at 31st & Pulaski, now has branched out around the 'burbs) and Pizzeria Uno (now also has branched out around the country).

Ricobene's is great for pizza and their famous breaded steak sandwichs, smothered in cheese and sauce. Several locations around the city (26th Street west of Wentworth and Pulaski near 75th Street are the two that come to mind). The 26th Street Ricobene's is right next to Chinatown, if you are so inclined.

Try an Italian Beef sandwich with sweet and hot peppers, Mozarella cheese, and au jus on the side, or a Combo (Italian beef with an Italian sausage sandwich).

Lulu's Hotdogs at Taylor Street and Ogden Avenue (near the United Center) has some of the best dogs (Dave Berg Dogs) in the city. A Lulu's Special (two dogs with everything, with fries) should run you $2-something. Lots of other food items, if you're not into hot dogs.

Al's BBQ (on Taylor Street near Morgan Avenue in the University of Illinois - Chicago campus area) is a great place for pretty much everything mentioned above.

The UIC campus has Halsted Avenue running through it, and when it crosses Roosevelt Road (southbound), it then crosses Maxwell Street of the Maxwell Street Polish sausage sandwich fame. Even though the old open air flea market is gone, there is still a Maxwell Street Polish stand there, just east of Halsted along the west side of I-94/I-90 Dan Ryan Expressway.

However, when you go north on Halsted, cross over the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway and then Van Buren Street, your are in Greek Town. There is (or at least was) a 24-hour gyros place on the corner of Halsted and Jackson. Many wonderful Greek restaurants along that strip.

Sorry to get off the pizza thread, but there are many more wonderful food groups to try in Chicago when you get your fill of pizza.

Bon Appetit!

Thanks Jerry!! I'm going to print out your suggestions, keep it with me and try to hit as many of those places as I can in the short time I will be in Chi-town. I appreciate all the tips so far!!

Checked out Lou Malnati's in the old fire station in Naperville last night....it was awesome!(deep dish cheese pizza) Going to Giordano's for an italian beef sandwich before the Cubs game tonight, and will finish it up with a Jims Original polish sausage sandwich after the game on the way home.....I will post reviews later!

Thanks for all the tips!

Ok, here's my Chicago sumary and review:

Had a deep dish cheese pizza at Lou Malnati's and an Italian beef sandwich and a stuffed cheese pizza at Giordano's. Also has a polish sausage at Jims Original after seeing the Cubs spank Milwaukee.

Pizza: They were both really good, but I prefered Lou Malnat's because of the sauce and cheese quality.....it was excellent! I thought it was going to be greasy and salty but it wasn't; just great pizza. Giordano's pizza was good, but a little too much cheese and both the sauce and cheese, although good, was not of the same quality of Lou's....overall, I give the Chicago "deep dish" two thumbs up!!

Italian Beef Sandwich: Totally awesome!!!!!!!

Polish Sausage: The neighborhood was a little sketchy at 2300 but I still felt safe. The sausage (with everything) was really good, but I didn't really enjoy it because I was still stuffed from the pizza and beef sandwich.

Cubs Game: Priceless!!!!! Wrigley has to be the greatest show on earth! Plus got to watch Derrek Lee hit a granny and a three run homer!

Overall, Chicago was great!!!!!!!

The best deep dish pizza by far is Giordanos. If you are in the mood for great thin crust pizza give Phil's pizza a shot in Oak Lawn, IL. I grew up on the south suburbs of Chicago and love going home and eating that delicious pizza. Also, if you are far enough south give Guardis pizza a try in Tinley Park, IL.

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Originally posted by rgerman:
Checked out Lou Malnati's in the old fire station in Naperville last night....it was awesome!(deep dish cheese pizza) Going to Giordano's for an italian beef sandwich before the Cubs game tonight, and will finish it up with a Jims Original polish sausage sandwich after the game on the way home.....I will post reviews later!

Thanks for all the tips!

My house is just south of Naperville, so that one is closer than the Lou Malnati's near my in-laws (who live in Palatine), which I've been to more often.

Glad to hear you had a great time. When are you coming back? I'll work on another list for you...

quote:

When are you coming back?

On my way to Hawaii in four years

Jerry, NOT LuLu's.... At least not for a special trip. Maybe if you're already near.

For dogs in the midwest/chicago area, have to try Portillos! Yes, a small chain (family owned, but won't franchise out); very good vittles.

And for baseball, whether a northsider or southsider, the crosstown classic is Not to be missed!

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Glad to hear you had a great time. When are you coming back? I'll work on another list for you... Cool

I'll be making the x-country trip again in two weeks......keep the tips coming!

Don't listen to Drew. He's a breakfast guy. Breakfast for every meal. If he can't put syrup on it, he won't eat it.

His passion is neutra-rat!