Written By: Lindsay Grohs
This past weekend, I enjoyed dining at one of Chicago’s finest Italian restaurants: Pizano’s. Pizano’s is known for its selection of handcrafted pizzas and pastas. From deep-dish to thin crust, Pizano’s can whip up an elegant Chicago pizza experience for guests.
Pizano’s opened in 1991 as a legacy to owner Rudy Malnati Jr.’s father. Rudy’s father had opened his restaurant in 1943, transforming Chicago-style deep-dish pizza into a meal instead of a snack, as it had been previously. This tradition of Chicago deep-dish pizza as a meal was carried into Pizano’s. The family’s secret recipe for their thin-crust pizza dough was also passed along. These recipes, in addition to the high-quality ingredients they use and the friendly atmosphere they provide their customers, make Pizano’s a staple restaurant in the Chicago area.
Upon walking into Pizano’s, we were immediately greeted with warmth from the hostess. She took our names and kindly escorted us to a table on the patio area. One thing I appreciated about this restaurant was the consistency in all its aspects from the food, atmosphere, service, decor, and presentation. While sitting on the patio, I felt as though I was sitting at a pizza parlor in Italy (aside from all the skyscrapers). The tables on the patio each had a little umbrella above them. I was greeted with an even more authentic Italian vibe when I stepped inside the restaurant. The tables inside were covered with red and white checkered tablecloths. The walls were painted with Italian foods and decorated with photos of important Italian historical figures. There were also red and green Christmas-like lights strung around the walls. The room was filled with sounds of peaceful Italian music and chatter from all the guests. I was immersed in a culture I was geographically far from, which amazed me. But what surprised me even more was the taste of their deep-dish pizza.
The pizza was phenomenal! We had ordered the Mark’s Special (tomatoes, basil, and fresh garlic) and a cheese and sausage pizza. Our waitress placed the pizzas in the middle of the table, along with two plates, making it easier for our group to share these wonderful pies.
We cut into them, did a little cheer, and took our first bite. I tried the Mark’s Special first. My mouth was met with bursting flavors of the light, milky mozzarella combined with rich tomato accents from the sauce, and a hint of garlic to top it off. The crust was perfect in that it was crunchy yet still soft and dough-like. It reminded me of pie crust----which Chicago-style pizza crust imitates.
As I continued to eat, I noticed the essence of the basil come into play and enhance the flavors of the slice even more. Next, I tried the cheese and sausage pizza. That one might have been better than the first (if that’s even possible)! The sausage was perfectly cooked and had a little Italian kick. The cheese topping and sauce ratio was also excellent. Nothing was too overpowering and it all worked together to form a very elegant meal.
Overall, I would recommend Pizano’s to anyone visiting or living in the Chicago area. The staff at Pizano's will surely provide you with not only a great meal but a beautiful fine dining experience. I look forward to going back!
Malnati Jr., R. (n.d.). About Pizano’s. Pizano's. https://www.pizanoschicago.com/about-pizanos/
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