# Help me plan 4 nights in Chicago **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2022, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193 "2022-12-08T07:58:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/221 "2024-04-10T20:59:50Z")
I thought Giordano’s just had way too much cheese on it, myself. My second trip to Chicago starts a week from Tuesday and I’ve decided on trying a thin crust pizza from Rosati’s this time. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/222 "2024-04-10T21:32:33Z")
Personally, I liked all the cheese on Giordano’s pizza, but that’s just my personal taste. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/223 "2024-04-10T21:55:46Z")
Let’s just say that when I heard about “stuffed pizza” I was expecting a more substantial top layer of crust. If there even was a top layer on that pizza it was completely subsumed by the inch-tall layer of cheese, and once that stuff starts to cool down it just becomes inedible. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/224 "2024-04-22T23:55:35Z")
My flight leaves in just a little over 12 hours from now. I’ll post updates over the next few days about how the trip is going and hopefully I won’t wind up in the hospital this time. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/225 "2024-04-23T00:17:08Z")
Rosati’s is a chain, and isn’t that good, imo. For thin crust you’d be better off opening the yellow pages in your hotel room and picking the nearest corner joint. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/226 "2024-04-23T00:45:13Z")
From my hotel, Rosati’s and Giordano’s are the two closest “corner joints”, and I wasn’t impressed with Giordano’s. If there’s a non-chain place in the Loop from which I could get a pizza back to my room by foot or bus/train without it getting cold, feel free to recommend it. As is, I was planning on just getting a small thin crust and a small deep dish so my mom can try both styles. (We’re going to the Italian Village on Wednesday night but probably won’t be getting the pizza there, and we’ll be going to Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Company on Friday, but not for the pizza - I want that giant Italian salad they’ve got.) [![](https://chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/FESTA.jpg) ](https://chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/FESTA.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/227 "2024-04-23T00:49:07Z")
When I used to take the train into the city (Rock Island line, it’s a mighty good road.) there was a place just east of LaSalle station that made a pie that was 10x better than Rosati’s. I don’t know the name of the place, but really, it was good stuff. Maybe just take a walk and roll the dice. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/228 "2024-04-23T00:49:31Z")
I’d vote for [Pequod’s Pizza](https://pequodspizza.com/chicago/menu/) (pan pizza…not really deep dish which is a good thing IMO) while in Chicago (named [best pizza in the US by Yelp](https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/pequods-has-a-message-after-being-named-best-pizza-in-us-by-yelp/3360914/)). It is not close to downtown but it can be delivered (although delivery times can be 2-3 hours…it is a very popular pizza place). I think it is very, very good. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/229 "2024-04-23T00:51:11Z")
Pequod’s is the kind with the burned cheese on the edge, right? It looks tasty in pictures, but I’m not sure either of us would be able to chew it (bad teeth). ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/230 "2024-04-23T00:51:45Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Pequod’s is the kind with the burned cheese on the edge, right? It is. That’s the best part. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/231 "2024-04-23T00:53:30Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > When I used to take the train into the city (Rock Island line, it’s a mighty good road.) there was a place just east of LaSalle station that made a pie that was 10x better than Rosati’s. On Google Maps I see a place called Boni Vino that meets that description, but the pizzas in their pictures look more like the typical New York-ish style you can find in any city. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/232 "2024-04-23T01:04:48Z")
I’ve been to Boni Vino many times (it is across the street from where I used to work). It’s not bad but I would not recommend it to people visiting either. I think it is the same decor as when it was opened over 55 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/233 "2024-04-23T01:15:09Z")
It was a fine pie, and it was certainly better than Rosati’s! (Local people fighting over pizza thread! We haven’t had one in weeks!) 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/234 "2024-04-23T01:15:28Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think it is the same decor as when it was opened over 55 years ago. If I were planning on dining in, I might consider that a selling point. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/235 "2024-04-23T20:22:00Z")
Well, we made it to Chicago despite my mother’s constant grumbling and struggling with her multiple overpacked bags. (Never travel with my mother - she’s a grouchy traveler.) Made it to JP Graziano only to discover they had closed over an hour early, so we’re grabbing some Italian beefs instead. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/236 "2024-04-23T20:30:45Z")
That sucks. JP Graziano is great. Italian beef is good but gotta say you were in culinary central\* for Chicago. Soooo many fabulous places within a five minute walk or less of JP Graziano. Hell…Lena Brava is across the street (although that is expensive). That said…it is not cheap eats in that neighborhood. A few blocks away is considered one of the [most expensive streets](https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-street-in-fulton-market-named-one-of-most-expensive-in-america/3413613/) in the US. \*Maybe River North neighborhood would disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/237 "2024-04-23T22:27:57Z")
My mother does not care for Italian beef. Her loss. She’s slightly happier about Garrett popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/238 "2024-04-23T22:33:00Z")
Where’d you end up for beef? (And I do agree with @Whack-a-Mole both on JP Graziano’s and Pequod’s, though if you have bad teeth and are worried about Pequod’s, I’m not sure JP Graziano’s would have been up your alley. They don’t use squishy Jimmy John’s or Subway bread there. I mean, it’s not rock hard or anything, but it has some chew to it. Still, my favorite sub. For a softer bread, I’d steer you to Alpine Bakery, but that’s western suburbs.) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/239 "2024-04-23T22:33:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > > I think it is the same decor as when it was opened over 55 years ago. > > If I were planning on dining in, I might consider that a selling point. Indeed, I absolutely love restaurants that are pretty much time capsules from the era they first opened. (I feel the same way about midcentury motels, as long as they are well maintained). ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193/240 "2024-04-23T22:34:14Z")
Luke’s. I thought it was good and the giardiniera had a nice kick to it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193.md?page=13)