Chicago trip

[The Texan]

Okay you Illinois boys...Texan is bring Mrs. Texan up the weekend of February 17th. We are for sure going to Gibsons and Nicks Fish Market....need a poll on the best deep dish pizza...you boys help me out now

By the way, Gowdy has always insisted on Geno's East, been there and know about that one, just want to blow my diet on the best possible deep dish...so have at it!!

Texan

[genegodawa]

I'll put my vote in for Lou Malnotti's deep dish in Elk Grove, not too far from Gowdy (where I suspect you will be staying?)

But what is this Mrs. stuff? Well, you probably need a DD anyway.

I say we try to have an FM get-together at Jim's Stoney Pt if you have time to squeeze us into your sightseeing. How about it all you Cass die-hards?

[The Texan]

Mrs. Texan will be pounding the pavement on Michigan Ave. I'm sure We are staying at the Drake and not planning on getting a car so need something close to Downtown...Isn't there a Malnotti's in the Downtown area?

Gowdy is supposed to join us on Saturday, going to Nicks Fishmarket Sat. night....they treat us really well everytime I've been there and Mrs. Texan loves the food as well..

[mudlaker]

Texan - Try the original Uno's. It's not a far cab ride from the Drake. I still say Geno's East is the best, but my wife likes Uno's better. Be interested in another opinion. I grew up in the Chicago area, but now live in MN. I miss the pizza!!!! Have a good trip.

[The Texan]

Yea Mud, think I've seen the original but have never tried UNO there...have in Dallas but I'm sure it's not the same. Mrs. Texan really likes Geno's...we've even ordered their frozen pizzas and had them shipped down, nowhere close to what you get at the restaurant though...but way better than anything down this way!

Thanks for the info...

Texan

[Col Ron guide]

I concur with Gowdy. Ron

[ffishman]

Hey Texan, nice to hear your coming up for a visit. Can't help you with deep dish, not one of my favorites. My choice of pizzas is a thin crispy crust. If I had to pick a deep dish, I would go with gene and Lou malnattis, in elk grove or schaumburg. Or for a middle of the road, not deep not too thin my choice would be Home Run Inn.

[Bob Thompson]

Texan, the wife and I grew up there also and enjoyed the original Uno's and Due's most of all. I might note that Rudy Malnati worked at Uno's in the early days and Lou and he started the Lou Malnati's chain after that. Both very close to the same kind of recipe as is Gino's east. We still order Malnati's delivered here to Utah. Enjoyed dinner at the Elk Grove Malnati's this summer while attending a school reunion. Same great taste as always. Being the gourmet cook when you guys are at Cass lake, be sure to try some fine dining in Greek town also on the near north side on State and Rush streets close to the Drake if you can put calorie counting aside. Great food also. And we can never count out the great Scala's beef sandwiches and Vienna hot dogs at many places all over Chicago. We're still trying to lose the twenty pounds we gained in the four days we were there. Anyways enjoy your stay and save some taste buds for fresh cooked Walleye this summer. May be seeing you at Pike Hole for open faced tacos or a mushroom/swiss burger and a couple of beers. Stay safe. Bob

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Texan,

If you want to try the real deal in the Windy, have to go to Uno's or Due's they are both about a block apart and a short cab ride from the Drake. Don't bother with Gino's East and why go to Malnati's when he started his career at Uno's. Go with the original, you can also hit 2nd City improv while you are down there if you want to go out to a show after the pizza. Good luck and enjoy the Windy!

Windy

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Texan,

I just thought about a place downtown you might want to try. It is called Fogo De Chow and it is a Brazilian Steak restaurant. They are called churrascaria's and they are flat fee ($43 per person, I think) and they have a huge salad bar (about 200 items) and then they have gaucho's who walk around with swords of MEAT! You get 14 different kinds of meat, steaks mostly, that are cooked over open flames. They give you tiny slivers of each meat and will keep giving you all you want to eat. You get this poker chip that is red on one side and green on the other. When your chip is red, they will not come to your table, when your chip is green, THEY WILL NOT STOP COMING! It is pretty wild. If you like meat, it is a spot to consider rather than Gibsons. Check them out on the web. Later, Windy.

[The Texan]

Thanks Windy, looks like Uno's is winning out, guess you guys must own stock or are on the board

Saw BB King was going to be at the House of Blues, we might try to check that out...get a good blast of the blues!

Texan

[gowdy]

Texan,

We order pizza every Friday here at work. Uno's is real good, but my favorite is still Geno's East. Both are darn good. Just a matter of taste. Heck, try them both!!!

Gowdy

[The Texan]

Welcome back to the boards there Gowdy, hope the whip marks won't leave permanent scars

You've got a lot of reading to do on here to catch up! We've nominated you for numerous activities on our June trip, unless you want to consider bringing the Jouster to help you out

Texan

[genegodawa]

The Jouster isn't any relation to Buster's ex-brother by any chance?

PS Both Uno's and Due are good choices along with Gino's.

Got this Top10 Chicago Pizza list off MSN today. Forgot about Oven Grinders.

Looks like we know our pizza!

1. Giordano's

730 N Rush St, Chicago, IL

Local favorite serves up stuffed and thin-crust pizzas within a stone's throw of the Mag Mile.

2. Home Run Inn

4254 W 31st St, Chicago, IL

Some of the best pizza in town is served up at this low-key South Side hangout.

3. Gino's East

633 N Wells St, Chicago, IL

Graffiti-covered walls and to-die-for deep dish draw crowds of families and tourists to this classic pizzeria.

4. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL

Whether you crave deep dish or thin crust, this comfortable, casual pizza joint serves up some of the best in town.

5. Pizzeria Uno

29 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL

Traditional deep-dish pizza is worth the wait.

6. Aurelio's Pizza

18162 Harwood Ave, Homewood, IL

This vintage pizza institution has been serving up sweet-sauced pies to South Suburban families since 1959.

7. Vito & Nick's

8435 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL

Pizza-craving families make tracks to this savory, quirky South Side bar.

8. Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder

2121 N Clark St, Chicago, IL

Dark, cozy Lincoln Park standby for pizza and sandwiches.

9. Pequod's Pizza

2207 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL

Lincoln Park pizza parlor offers flavorful pies and a casual atmosphere.

10. Pat's Pizzeria & Ristorante

2679 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL

Thin-crust pies attract a loyal following of local families and late-night Lakeview and Lincoln Park revelers.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Geno,

I grew up on Vito and Nicks, outstanding ultrathin crust pizza, great sauce good sausage and great cheese cooked to perfection. I was thinking of mentioning Grinders but I didn't want to confuse the out of town crew since it is not really pizza, kinda. I guess I would never turn down a "manhole cover" of sausage on a Gino's East (Chicagoans will know what I'm talking about). When you are in the Windy you really can't go wrong with any of the top pizza joints. You know what they say about pizza and sex. When it's good, it's really really good. When it's bad...it's still pretty good! Later, Windy!

[The Texan]

Geno,

You should be writing the dining section for the Chicago Newspaper

Thanks to all for the help!

Texan

[Otter]

Glad to see that there's some thin crust action in Chicago.

[genegodawa]

Otter, I only get the thin crust when I'm on a diet and sometimes I just put one piece on top of the other to turn it into a "deepdish"

Windy, being the SouthSider that you are, I'm surprised you didn't jump on the HomeRun Inn wagon. You're right that Oven Grinders is more than pizza. I love your comparison of pizza and sex, although I don't have much to go on myself so I'll take your word for it.

Texan, just a coinkydink that I saw the pizza list on MSN.

Any chance for a group meeting at Jim's when you are in town or are you all booked with the Mrs.?

[ffishman]

Out in Schaumburg there is one of those places that serve meat on a spit. Called SAL CARVOS, we were there a couple of weeks ago. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH I ATE. They keep coming and putting just small amounts of meat on your plate. I didn't eat for 24 hours after that meal!!!

[gowdy]

FF,

Send me those big girl pics when you have a chance.

Thanks.

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

Geno,

I do like Home Run Inn but there really is not too many of their restaurants out here. There is one in Downers Grove, but there are too many places within about a mile for me to make that trip on any regular basis. I do enjoy Home Run Inn when we go there.

Hands down, New York included, the Windy has the biggest and best selection when it comes to pizza. End of discussion and I don't even want to hear from anybody out East.

[CFD MEDIC]

Try a Beggars Pizza,I have always been happy with their PIES!

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

CFD,

I am friends with Larry and Peter who own Beggars, I didn't throw their place into the mix since the Texan was going to be downtown and not on the Southside. You are correct, Beggars is one of the best on the southside, along with Palermo's on 63rd Street or Orland Park. Not as crazy about 95th Street since they changed the sauce. Nice to hear from another southside afficianado! Windy

[CFD MEDIC]

Yeah that is my favorite place,my brother Buster likes it alot too.Whenever he comes in to Chicago I try to get a Pie from Beggars for him.There is no Pizza like Chi-Town pizza!!!!

[Ballbuster]

Yeah that Bro! we had a beggars before we leaft that night for Cass. That might just be the new routine before we head head out for Cass from now on!

[Commanche Jim]

Thin crust....Fox's Pub or Traverso's in Orland Park.

Deep Dish....Lou's and Giordano's.

Gibson's is overrated and overpriced, (although I was there last week and ended up sitting with Scott Podsednik) and Nick's could be one of the worst seafood places in the city.

I have a suggestion for steak/seafood.....Joe's Seafood, Prime Steaks and Stone Crab at 60 East Grand...it's pricey, but no more than Gibson's.......Stone crabs are in season.... one of the best filets I've had...just as good as Morton's.

Or you could try Keifer's.......one of the best cajun ribeyes I've had, and darn close to Morton's. Morton's is one of my favorites.....Shrimp Alexander as an appetizer or a meal is excellent. Not to mention the Godiva chocolate souffle' for a dessert

Too bad Stoney Point won't be re-opened yet. We'll have prime chops, and our chef is a seafood specialist.

[The Texan]

Sounds good there CJ and Mrs. Texan loves souffles!!!

Been on my Atkins diet for a few weeks and saw yesterday Lou's is offering a low carb version of their deep dish!!!Yea baby!!!

Texan

[Allbigfish]

Whats up everybody, just thought I'd toss my opinion in being from naperville. I'm up at college right now in Winona, Minnesota but we used to fish Cass every year, Great lake for JUMBO perch, I just thought I'd let you know that there's a vito and nicks in naperville now too, case you wanted a change of scenery. I always went to the one downtown, usually before a sox game, anyways vito and nicks thin crust has to be up there towards the top. Good luck on Cass this year, can't wait for the day that i'm out there again.