| Gino's East |
| When people visit our great city, one of the first things they want to try is deep dish pizza. In 1966 two Chicago cab drivers, Sam Levine and Fred Bartoli were tired of the daily grind of rush hour and opened up the original “Gino’s East” on Superior. Soon news of their success spread, and cab drivers all over the city were trying their hand in the restaurant biz. With that much history, it’s no surprise that Gino’s is a must for people in search of deep dish.
The question is, how do people react when they step inside “Gino’s?” It’s not exactly the prettiest restaurant you’ll walk into. In fact, with the excess of graffiti covering every inch of this place, some might think they’ve stepped into a roadhouse. If you squint really hard, you might actually catch a glimpse of Patrick Swayze in the corner waiting to bounce any unruly patrons! Ah, but looks can be deceiving! Order up one of their signature deep dish pizzas and that Swayze guy will be the furthest thing from your mind. When the pizza arrives many folks first reaction is “Why’s the crust yellow?” That golden color is one of the secrets to this pizza’s success! Unlike traditional pizza dough, this dough is made from cornmeal, this ensures a crunch and flavor combination you won’t soon forget. A great crust takes you only so far, how about the toppings? Do you like sausage? Sausage lovers rejoice, because Gino’s offers a patty of sausage that blankets the entire pie! Oh yes, sausage in every glorious bite. And since we’re talking about deep dish, no sweet and runny sauce will do. The thick marinara has great texture and a nice little “twang” to it that compliments the other toppings perfectly. Now there is other food offered here if you really want it. Standard fried appetizers are offered, my choice would be the toasted ravioli. Filled with ricotta and lightly breaded, they’re a great way to wet your appetite. For the meat lover, choose the lasagna. Standing nearly six inches, the lasagna has more meat than most burgers and should handle most appetites. Overall Gino’s East offers excellent pizza and an atmosphere that might scare the average tourist. While it may look like a roadhouse, after one bite you may never want to leave. Rating *** out of ****. Locations 633 N. Wells St. (Ontario and Wells) Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 943-1124 162 E. Superior St Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312-266 DEEP (3337) 8725 West Higgins Road Chicago, IL 60631 (773) 444-2244 1445 Lake Cook Rd Deerfield, IL 60015 Tel: 847/945-4300 2801 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60657 (773) 327-3737 15840 South Harlem Orland Park, IL 60462 (708) 633-1300 1321 W. Golf Rd. Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 (847) 364-6644 1590 E. Main St. St. Charles, IL 60174 (630) 513-1311 1807 S. Washington St. Naperville, IL 60565 (630) 548-9555 561 W. Main Street Lake Zurich, IL 60047 847-438-4800 315 W. Front St. Wheaton, IL 60187 (630) 588-1010 820 S. Milwaukee Ave. Libertyville, IL 60048 (847) 362-1300 |
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