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Pizza (and other food destinations worth trying) off-season thread

BCfanatic2020

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Jan 5, 2020
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Upon my trip to New Jersey next month here are the rankings of the places I’ve tried around the nation so far:

John’s of Bleecker - (Manhattan) New York, NY
Prince Street - (Manhattan) New York, NY
Pizzeria Beddia - Philadelphia, PA
Wells Brothers - Racine, WI
Freddy’s - Cicero, IL
Alfie’s - (Queens) New York, NY
Spacca Napoli - (Ravenswood) Chicago, IL
Zaffiro’s - Milwaukee, WI
Giaocchino’s - Bellwood, IL
Panino’s - (Wrigleyville) Chicago, IL
Gigio’s - (Uptown) Chicago, IL
Bartolini’s - Midlothian, IL
Bije’s - (Belmont Park) Chicago, IL
Dino’s - (Oriole Park) Chicago, IL
Village Pizza and Pub - Carpentersville, IL
Salvatore’s Tomato Pies - Madison, WI
Cafe Luigi - (Lincoln Park) Chicago, IL
Villaggio - Salt Lake City, UT
Piece - (Logan Square) Chicago, IL
Paulie Gee’s - (Logan Square) Chicago, IL
Renaldi’s - (Lakeview) Chicago, IL
Michael’s - (Buena Park) Chicago, IL
Villa Napoli - Norridge, IL
Ballistreri’s - Milwaukee, WI
Milly’s Pizza in a Pan - Chicago, IL
The Stop Along - Chicago, IL
Villa Nova - Stickney, IL
Pistol Pete’s - Brookfield
Bazbeaux - Indianapolis, IN
Side street saloon - Chicago, IL
Little pops - Naperville, IL
Labriola (downtown)/La Barra, Oakbrook, IL
Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream -(Bridgeport) Chicago, IL
Marie’s Pizza and Liquors - (Albany Park) Chicago, IL
Pizza Boy - (Edison Park) Chicago, IL
Dante’s - (Logan square) Chicago, IL
Penguino’s - Buffalo Grove, IL
D’Agostino’s - (wrigleyville) Chicago, IL
Sicilia Bakery - Chicago, IL
Richie’s - Schiller Park, IL
Tortorice’s - Chicago

Still wanting to try Goodfellas in Indy.

I wonder where New Jersey’s best will ranks. Probably all between one and two on my list

@MilwaukeeBoilerFan Wisconsin getting their due respect on my list
 
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Upon my trip to New Jersey next month here are the rankings of the places I’ve tried around the nation so far:

John’s of Bleecker - (Manhattan) New York, NY
Prince Street - (Manhattan) New York, NY
Pizzeria Beddia - Philadelphia, PA
Wells Brothers - Racine, WI
Freddy’s - Cicero, IL
Alfie’s - (Queens) New York, NY
Spacca Napoli - (Ravenswood) Chicago, IL
Giaocchino’s - Bellwood, IL
Panino’s - (Wrigleyville) Chicago, IL
Gigio’s - (Uptown) Chicago, IL
Zaffiro’s - Milwaukee, WI
Bartolini’s - Midlothian, IL
Bije’s - (Belmont Park) Chicago, IL
Dino’s - (Oriole Park) Chicago, IL
Village Pizza and Pub - Carpentersville, IL
Cafe Luigi - (Lincoln Park) Chicago, IL
Villaggio - Salt Lake City, UT
Piece - (Logan Square) Chicago, IL
Paulie Gee’s - (Logan Square) Chicago, IL
Renaldi’s - (Lakeview) Chicago, IL
Michael’s - (Buena Park) Chicago, IL
Villa Napoli - Norridge, IL
Milly’s Pizza in a Pan - Chicago, IL
The Stop Along - Chicago, IL
Villa Nova - Stickney, IL
Bazbeaux - Indianapolis, IN
Side street saloon - Chicago, IL
Little pops - Naperville, IL
Labriola (downtown)/La Barra, Oakbrook, IL
Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream -(Bridgeport) Chicago, IL
Marie’s Pizza and Liquors - (Albany Park) Chicago, IL
Pizza Boy - (Edison Park) Chicago, IL
Dante’s - (Logan square) Chicago, IL
Penguino’s - Buffalo Grove, IL
D’Agostino’s - (wrigleyville) Chicago, IL
Sicilia Bakery - Chicago, IL
Richie’s - Schiller Park, IL
Tortorice’s - Chicago

Still wanting to try Goodfellas in Indy.

I wonder where New Jersey’s best will ranks. Probably all between one and two on my list
What about Pizanos in Chicago ?
 
What about Pizanos in Chicago ?
Anything not on this list in the Chicago area is something I just haven’t tried since I decided to rerate pizza from scratch two years ago (which includes most south side/south suburban joints, since I’m doing those last) OR ever as is the case with Pizano’s OR they suck dog, I.e. places like Bob’s in Pilsen, Roots etc

I gotta make it to pizano’s though IIRC that’s mark malnatis brother
 
Was gonna mention Pequods just to see how you reacted. LOL.

Glad to see Villa Napoli on the list.

Ever had Armand’s in Elmwood Park?
Armands is on my list.. me and the tomato were just over there but we decided to have johnnies beef instead

I’ll never understand pequod but it seems like a pizza that could keep you alive in dangerously cold temps 😂😂😂

REALLY liked villa napoli. I probably underrated it’s. Love all the hot Russian chicks hanging out in front too
 
Only thing good in jersey is the bagels. Pops next to picatinny arsenal.
Dude some of the pizza looks ridiculous. Delucia’s, papa’s, de lorenzo’s, pizza by this guy named Craig out of his house looks like the best pizza I’ve ever seen.. dude is just a tv director making pizza for fun on fridays

anyway I’m going to all 50 states. Hit Utah in March. Other than villagio, well even foremost from villaggio the state has two things going for it food wise:

bam bam bbq in Orem - the guy did an apprenticeship in central texas

caputo’s meatball sandwiches in SLC

other than that the state is shit for food
 
Dude some of the pizza looks ridiculous. Delucia’s, papa’s, de lorenzo’s, pizza by this guy named Craig out of his house looks like the best pizza I’ve ever seen.. dude is just a tv director making pizza for fun on fridays

anyway I’m going to all 50 states. Hit Utah in March. Other than villagio, well even foremost from villaggio the state has two things going for it food wise:

bam bam bbq in Orem - the guy did an apprenticeship in central texas

caputo’s meatball sandwiches in SLC

other than that the state is shit for food
I'm being a bit facetious. I spend as little time in jersey as possible. Too much 95 corridor has made me a dull boy.
 
Upon my trip to New Jersey next month here are the rankings of the places I’ve tried around the nation so far:

John’s of Bleecker - (Manhattan) New York, NY
Prince Street - (Manhattan) New York, NY
Pizzeria Beddia - Philadelphia, PA
Wells Brothers - Racine, WI
Freddy’s - Cicero, IL
Alfie’s - (Queens) New York, NY
Spacca Napoli - (Ravenswood) Chicago, IL
Zaffiro’s - Milwaukee, WI
Giaocchino’s - Bellwood, IL
Panino’s - (Wrigleyville) Chicago, IL
Gigio’s - (Uptown) Chicago, IL
Bartolini’s - Midlothian, IL
Bije’s - (Belmont Park) Chicago, IL
Dino’s - (Oriole Park) Chicago, IL
Village Pizza and Pub - Carpentersville, IL
Salvatore’s Tomato Pies - Madison, WI
Cafe Luigi - (Lincoln Park) Chicago, IL
Villaggio - Salt Lake City, UT
Piece - (Logan Square) Chicago, IL
Paulie Gee’s - (Logan Square) Chicago, IL
Renaldi’s - (Lakeview) Chicago, IL
Michael’s - (Buena Park) Chicago, IL
Villa Napoli - Norridge, IL
Ballistreri’s - Milwaukee, WI
Milly’s Pizza in a Pan - Chicago, IL
The Stop Along - Chicago, IL
Villa Nova - Stickney, IL
Pistol Pete’s - Brookfield
Bazbeaux - Indianapolis, IN
Side street saloon - Chicago, IL
Little pops - Naperville, IL
Labriola (downtown)/La Barra, Oakbrook, IL
Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream -(Bridgeport) Chicago, IL
Marie’s Pizza and Liquors - (Albany Park) Chicago, IL
Pizza Boy - (Edison Park) Chicago, IL
Dante’s - (Logan square) Chicago, IL
Penguino’s - Buffalo Grove, IL
D’Agostino’s - (wrigleyville) Chicago, IL
Sicilia Bakery - Chicago, IL
Richie’s - Schiller Park, IL
Tortorice’s - Chicago

Still wanting to try Goodfellas in Indy.

I wonder where New Jersey’s best will ranks. Probably all between one and two on my list

@MilwaukeeBoilerFan Wisconsin getting their due respect on my list
For my taste, I can’t beat Bartolini’s in all my travels. Looks like you have sampled more different pizza joints than myself though.
 
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For my taste, I can’t beat Bartolini’s in all my travels. Looks like you have sampled more different pizza joints than myself though.
The two brothers coming over and breaking your balls, the meatballs.. you sure would be hard pressed to beat that place
 
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In Utah, Centro Woodfired Pizzeria in Cedar City. Simply our favorite pizza. We like the fennel sausage ones, but all are excellent.
 
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Upon my trip to New Jersey next month here are the rankings of the places I’ve tried around the nation so far:

John’s of Bleecker - (Manhattan) New York, NY
Prince Street - (Manhattan) New York, NY
Pizzeria Beddia - Philadelphia, PA
Wells Brothers - Racine, WI
Freddy’s - Cicero, IL
Alfie’s - (Queens) New York, NY
Spacca Napoli - (Ravenswood) Chicago, IL
Zaffiro’s - Milwaukee, WI
Giaocchino’s - Bellwood, IL
Panino’s - (Wrigleyville) Chicago, IL
Gigio’s - (Uptown) Chicago, IL
Bartolini’s - Midlothian, IL
Bije’s - (Belmont Park) Chicago, IL
Dino’s - (Oriole Park) Chicago, IL
Village Pizza and Pub - Carpentersville, IL
Salvatore’s Tomato Pies - Madison, WI
Cafe Luigi - (Lincoln Park) Chicago, IL
Villaggio - Salt Lake City, UT
Piece - (Logan Square) Chicago, IL
Paulie Gee’s - (Logan Square) Chicago, IL
Renaldi’s - (Lakeview) Chicago, IL
Michael’s - (Buena Park) Chicago, IL
Villa Napoli - Norridge, IL
Ballistreri’s - Milwaukee, WI
Milly’s Pizza in a Pan - Chicago, IL
The Stop Along - Chicago, IL
Villa Nova - Stickney, IL
Pistol Pete’s - Brookfield
Bazbeaux - Indianapolis, IN
Side street saloon - Chicago, IL
Little pops - Naperville, IL
Labriola (downtown)/La Barra, Oakbrook, IL
Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream -(Bridgeport) Chicago, IL
Marie’s Pizza and Liquors - (Albany Park) Chicago, IL
Pizza Boy - (Edison Park) Chicago, IL
Dante’s - (Logan square) Chicago, IL
Penguino’s - Buffalo Grove, IL
D’Agostino’s - (wrigleyville) Chicago, IL
Sicilia Bakery - Chicago, IL
Richie’s - Schiller Park, IL
Tortorice’s - Chicago

Still wanting to try Goodfellas in Indy.

I wonder where New Jersey’s best will ranks. Probably all between one and two on my list

@MilwaukeeBoilerFan Wisconsin getting their due respect on my list
I see your list and respect both Zaffiro’s and Ballistreri’s.
Cedarburg is a good historic town North of Milwaukee 20-30 minutes and Tomaso’s serves very good pizzas. Secret is to order at the bar. They won’t come to your table. The town has a historic village/winery just 100 ft from Tomaso’s.
Like a lot of your Chicago locations as well. I like Lou Malnati’s on Gold Coast, Chicago.
Heard of Wells Brothers and will have to day trip there for some good pizza.
Hard to beat a damn good pizza!
“I’m neither Italian or Mexican, but life is better with those foods close by.” Milwaukeeboiler
 
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I’ll tell you guys what.. I used to think I knew it all about pizza.. Italian American from one of the few Italian neighborhoods still around when I was young.

I started working on the weekends here and there at one of the most reputable places in Chicago because I wanna have my own place when I’m old. Started making my own pizza. The more I did that and tried knew places the more I feel like.. these pizza owners have a hard job man
 
Best pizza in the natty according to nat??
Been almost 20 years since i lived there. It was Ramundo's in Mt. Lookout when i left. Not sure if it is even open anymore.

Cinci isnt a pizza town. Locals like La Rosas and Deweys.
 
What’s that?? I’m always looking for good places to hit. I was at the Denver airport and completely redid my colorado list just talking to the locals
Rib joint on the river in Cincinnati. It’s just OK, but as nat said, overrated.

They tried putting one next to a big retention pond on the NE side of Indy but it didn’t make it. Not the same waterfront dining experience.
 
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Rib joint on the river in Cincinnati. It’s just OK, but as nat said, overrated.

They tried putting one next to a big retention pond on the NE side of Indy but it didn’t make it. Not the same waterfront dining experience.
That said, BBQ in Chicago blows to me.. except for smoque. That rib tip stuff is ehhh
 
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