The Dish On Chicago Deep Dish

When Gennaro of Enduring Wanderlust invited me to write about the best Chicago local eats, Chicago pizza popped up immediately in my mind. We've got hot dogs and brats and steak but there's no food more quintessentially Chicago than deep dish pizza. My post inspired a lot of hungry comments on his blog so here it is again and please eat before reading!

For Chicago visitors, a taste of Chicago style pizza is a must. Noted for its thick crust and gut-busting piles of cheese and toppings, Chicago style pizza reflects the city's brash attitude and heavy Midwestern palate. There are hundreds of eateries in Chicago and out, that claim the best Chicago -style pizza but my recommendations for tourists are:

Pizzeria Due, (http://www.unos.com/) an iconic Chicago restaurant credited with being one of the first restaurants serving Chicago style, it's decor is basic and it's always crowded because the pizza is authentic. Due is the second restaurant that was opened because the popular Uno was constantly over-crowded. Unos has expanded into a restaurant group across the U.S. but Due is still one-of a-kind.

Giordanos (http://www.giordanos.com/) is another famous eatery that's favored by locals. There are over a half dozen city-wide locations but the one at 730 N. Rush offers lots of energy and people watching, in addition to excellent stuffed pizza.



Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co. (http://www.chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/) Less well known but equally as memorable, Oven Grinder creates a signature pizza pot pie that's not to be missed. Located in a charming brownstone in Lincoln Park, this restaurant, like it's neighborhood, supplies an understated stylish vibe.