Chicago has so many culinary delights that only the truly fabulous are worthy of more than a single visit. Giordano’s is such a Windy City classic that the Chelledun families pays a visit to the chain at least two or three times annually. Most recently, mr_chelledun and I brought the famous roheblius into the fold with a deep dish pie. I don’t care who you are, come hungry and you’re guaranteed to leave happy!

This fifty-year-old Italian-owned chain presently has around twenty locations in Chicago and its suburbs. Don’t worry, this hasn’t diluted the quality. We nearly always visit the Prudential Plaza branch (directly off Michigan) but have also stopped in for a pie at the Randolph Street location. To check for a location convenient for you, head to http://www.giordanos.com/locations.php.

Atmosphere and Service
Giordano’s looks like your neighborhood pizza joint, but huge! Multiple rooms are filled with wooden booths, red and white checkered tablecloths, and hungry diners. The restaurant is sectioned off, though, so diners have an experience that feels cozy and friendly. There are tables/booths for anywhere from two to a dozen, as this place receives a lot of large parties. A group of thirty-two (!) was easily seated before us on our last visit.

Service is always friendly, if a bit brisk. My impression is that these guys have a lot of tables at once. Still, they manage to refill my drink when necessary and bring the food, which is really what’s important. One thing to keep in mind – Chicago style pizza is not fast food, so expect to wait at least thirty to forty minutes from the time you order. Perfection takes time!

Giordano’s is open for both lunch and dinner. We typically go for lunch. I always expect a long wait but the restaurants can accommodate so many patrons that so far we’ve never experienced one. To be on the safe side, I recommend arriving on the early side of whatever meal you’re planning to enjoy.

Food
All the Italian standbys are here, including pastas, sandwiches, and, of course, pizza. As long as you can manage to save room for the main course, I strongly recommend ordering an appetizer or salad for the group. The combo platter comes with fried mushrooms, zucchini, and some of the tastiest mozzarella sticks I’ve ever had. The antipasto salad is the best and most sharable of the salad bunch as it comes with individual pieces of rolled meat, onions, and olives. You’ll pay between $7 and $10 for these pre-meal yummies.

When it comes to pizza, you can get thin or stuffed crust, but we never get anything but a 12” or 14” famous stuffed pizza with extra cheese. And…it’s a couple pounds of heaven on a plate. Those new to Chicago-style will be surprised to find the sauce layer on top of the cheese. The flaky crust runs about an inch and a half high, with ooey gooey cheese splurting out when diners cut into it. Seriously, it’s an amazing sight to see. Expect to pay anywhere between $15.00 and $30.00 for your pie, depending on size, crust style, and topping choices. It’s still a decent deal if you’re splitting it, which you should be.

One warning – Giordano’s pizza eats like a meal. Two pieces is usually a big plenty for anyone, and lighter eaters may only make it through one. Full disclosure - sometimes I skip the crust to have room for more cheesy, saucy yumminess. A 10” is probably the right size for two people, while three hungry individuals may be able to finish a 12”. On our last visit, the three of us fell a piece short of this goal. I have never, ever had room for dessert at Giordano’s. For brave souls who want to attempt it, they serve traditional items such as tiramisu, cheesecake, and chocolate cake at around $4.00 a pop.

Overall…
There are a lot of deep dish pizza joints in Chicago, but for me Giordano’s stands out above the rest. There’s a reason the chain has been so successful, and I suspect it’s that the pizza is simply fabulous. I’ve been dining there regularly for about ten years without ever having a bad meal, so it’s unlikely that you’ll have one if you choose to stop in for a slice.

*Heading to Chicago? Check out few of my favorite things!

Recommended: Yes