I need to know the BEST pizza place in Chicago please

Don't know the name, but there's a small place at the bottom of the Sears Tower that I ate at when I was there a few years ago. It was excellent, and a good price. If you're looking to impress, don't go... but if you're looking for just a great pizza, it was awesome.
-Colin

 

orso's on wells. brick's on lincoln. mia franchesca on north clark, no just pizza here.

 

I actually prefer thin-crust pizza, and the best around is Pat's in the South Loop. I've only had it delivered so I can't attest for the dine-in experience, if they even have one. Personally I feel like the whole Chicago Pizza thing is a little overdone, but for thicker style I get Malnati's. Although these days you can get it almost anywhere.

 

Gotta go for the original Pizzeria Uno on Ohio.

 

I had a chicago style pizza at Uno. More crust than anything else...but i guess thats the chicago style.

 

I would pass on the Chop House. I think it is overrated in my opinion. I much prefer Joe's Seafood - Prime Steak & Stone Crab, Rosebud, or Lawry's for steak(I also absolutely love Capital Grill too but I don't think this or Lawry's is exclusive to Chicago if that matters).

Good pizza - I prefer La Gondola or Bacino's. If you want to "experience" the Chicago style pizza than you can literally go just about any pizza place for that - it is all really similar IMO.

 

Pequods on Clybourn 2200 block is very good for pizza, Malnattis is my personal favorite. Haven't been to Uno's in ages but I remember it being good. Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder at 2100 Block of Clark is GREAT! I highly recommend it.

 

Pizza - the original Geno's East at 162 East Superior. Uno's is great, but Geno's East crust is better IMHO. Lou Malnatti's seems to vary by location, although it's definitely one of the top three. No matter where you get it - you gotta get sausage. Geno's and Lou's have a sausage patty that covers the entire pizza and it's out if this world. Also, at Geno's East on Superior you can walk down the block and you're on the mag mile.

For Steaks - Skip the Chop House and head to Gene & Georgetti at 500 N. Franklin. No other city has an independent steak house like this - it's pure Chicago.

For Italian - head over the the Italian Village at 71 W. Monroe. They have three restaurants in the same building. "Vivere" is a little more contemporary, "La Cantina" is a little more like your typical Italian joint, and "The Village" upstairs is decorated like an little Italian Village and serves incredible Northern Italian food. I prefer "The Village" upstairs. The Italian Village also hosts an FCA event in September. They close the street and line up Ferraris in front of the restaurant - it's a beautiful thing.

I know there's a lot of folks who will tell you about all the great new places and what's considered "the best" now, but I've been going to these since I was in a high chair, and I think they're what Chicago is all about. They each have web sites you should check out too if you're interested. Ok, I'm going to duck now because I'm sure to get some flak - we take our Pizza and food pretty seriously around here! Have a great trip!

 

If you want thin crust, look for Ilforno's pizza in Highland Park. Number 1 pizza in my opinion. There used to be this great place called Johnny's but they sold to new owners and it's just not the same. Same deal with this place called Barnaby's pizza, which has like 3 or 4 locations. Also you can't go wrong with D'augustino's. My dad's a big pizza fan so we go pretty much everywhere If you want thick crust, Giordano's and Loy Melnatti's are good. Hows the situation with your Ferrari doing Peter? Did you get all your money back yet?

 

I cant believe no one mentioned Peace for Pizza on North or MY PIE in Lincoln Park.

Peace is a brewery too. Many of good nights there!

Good luck.

 

You're probably talking about Augustino's. Very good place, not just for pizza.

I'd second the obvious answers in this thread about Pizzeria Uno etc and the whole deep dish culture (which is good).

But, here is my all time favourite for a pizza place and it is really not known at all:

900 N. Michigan has a very sterile shopping center. Go up to the 5th (?) floor. There is an "outdoor" pizzeria. Outdoor as in the walking area of the shopping mall. They serve a very special pizza: Very thin, with prosciutto and Italian cheese sliced wafer thin. Totally unlike any pizza you ever had (unless you have been to Italy or that other cool place in Beverly Hills where I encountered them as well) and to die for delicious.

I'm normally not crazy about restaurant tips, but this one is unreal and I'm going there anytime I can squeeze it in.

 

I love Pats, giardinera and sausage is a great order for a thin crust pie. You could always do the touristy thing and go to Uno's or Due's. Go to the Burbs and hit up Phillies in Willowbrook(Rte. 83 and 63rd St.) great pizza in the burbs and right off 55 so you can scoot right back to Midway.

 

If you want to avoid the 'tourist' type places, and get some great local flavor, I would second either Bricks on Lincoln or Pequods on Clybourn.

 

I like two places. IMO the best pizza(thin crust) right out of the oven is Bacinos on Wacker just west of Michigan Avenue. If you dont mind headingi nto a busy southwest side hood, go to Home Run Inn.

 

My vote for pan pizza would be Geno's or Malnati's.
Forget the Chop house and visit Morton's, it is the quintessential Chicago steakhouse.

 

There are some decent Pizza places at the airport.