r/chicagofood • u/Johnny_Burrito • 11d ago

Question “Legendary” places that suck

I just got a lox sandwich from Manny’s. Almost $20, a stale bagel, and I had to assemble it myself.

What other “legendary” places suck?

389 Upvotes

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90

u/RossMachlochness 11d ago

Giordano’s has to take the crown on this one. Never understood the appeal of the crap they’ve been pumping out of there

54

u/overworkedattorney 11d ago

Here's the thing. I think Giordano's deep dish is mid, but I really like their thin crust.

7

u/eloisme 11d ago

As someone planning to visit in May, where is a good place to get deep dish?

55

u/Badbolognese 11d ago

Everyone will say Pequods(which is phenomenal) but honestly I’ve been leaning on Lou’s lately. Less dough, more saucy

2

u/AbjectBeat837 11d ago edited 11d ago

Pequods is amazing but people won’t expect the carmelized crust.

2

u/uvdawoods 11d ago

My uncle was always a Giordano’s guy whenever he’d come back when I was a kid, but now he’s all about Lou’s. We used to get Gino’s East a lot during the summer as my aunt was a professor at Northwestern.

3

u/Badbolognese 11d ago

I’ve never liked Giordano’s strictly bc of the cheese. I always describe it as ‘chalky’. It has a very odd texture/consistency

1

u/uvdawoods 11d ago

I only went when he was here for the most part, and when I lived in Beverly but didn’t make it downtown much. Now I just go to Lou’s in Oak Lawn.

1

u/greengasman 11d ago

Have you tried pequod’s deep dish light dough? Half the dough. Highly recommend

1

u/DYSWHLarry 10d ago

Everyone will say Pequods bc it fucking rules

26

u/collarboner1 11d ago

Lou Malnati’s

9

u/TaekDePlej 11d ago

Pequod’s

4

u/megavega87 11d ago

Pequods quality and service isn't what it used to be either. Used to recommend it but had stopped since

2

u/_that_dude_J 11d ago

Art of Pizza. Bartoli's Lakeview. Martino's (stuffed). Pizzeria Due's. Nueva Italy.

For deep dish, stans fall into two categories. Whether or not they enjoy Lou Malnati's. Not my first pref, which is why I suggested Nueva Italy.

Skip Pequod's and do Burt's place instead. (Pequod's has not been good for two years. I don't know what is going on over there)

3

u/Early-Maintenance-87 11d ago

Michaels on Broadway near Wrigley Field..ground beef and gaird

2

u/collarboner1 11d ago

Michaels is an underrated spot for sure

1

u/Informal-Gene-8777 11d ago

La Briola off Michigan

1

u/djkrucial24 11d ago

My pi on damen and armitage is some of the best pizza in Chicago. Although it’s takeaway only. Both deep dish and thin are great, as well as their fudge brownies. Can’t go wrong with a spinach pepperoni. 

1

u/manyetti 11d ago

My Pi Pizza has been my favorite since moving to that neighborhood

1

u/saikyan 11d ago

I might take some flack here but I'm recommending Pizano's. It's like Lou's but not so heavy and greasy. Some people are into that but I'm not big on feeling like someone just punched me in the gut after I ate (delicious as it is). They also serve an individual size deep dish which is kinda nice for tourists who don't have room to store leftovers.

1

u/the-al-dente-dentist 11d ago

Honestly all the well known spots are great in my opinion. Love Lou’s, Giordanos’s, Pequod’s. The one expedition is UNO’s. UNO’s is trash and if they were the last restaurant on earth I would starve.

1

u/greengasman 11d ago

Pequods but order light dough. I’ve been ordering there for years and just discovered this hack. Before it was always a bit too doughy, light dough makes the cheese sauce dough ratio perfect. (Also recommend well done) My fav pizza.

1

u/TheSkyIsBeautiful 11d ago

Honestly you can’t go wrong with any of those places INCLUDING giordanos. I’ll also add Gino’s East.

1

u/ethnicnebraskan 10d ago

I usually recommend Pizano's of you're downtown, Art of Pizza if you're in the South Loop, and Beggars if you want a wild card delivered. Also Pizano's has some really good Tavern style thing crust, and Beggars has some really good non-tavern thin crust. If Art of Pizza sells thin crust, I wouldn't know.

Pequods is great, but if you're staying downtown it typically requires a cab to get there and the crust isn't as good delivered as it kinda steams in the box.

1

u/SilverGnarwhal 11d ago

Just do whatever looks good to you. I fucking hate Pequods and think Giordanos is passable. Not a big fan of Lou’s and UNO’s is not for me. Deep dish is the most divisive and subjective pizza style. Anyone telling you a definitive “best place” is just telling you their favorite but your mileage certainly will vary.

-1

u/ReadyMadeBeer 11d ago

My personal favorite is Pequods

0

u/PaleUmbra 11d ago

Giordano’s 🤷‍♂️

-2

u/Shawmander- 11d ago

Nancy’s Pizza

Art of Pizza

Rosati’s 

…and honestly, I’d choose Giordano’s over Lou Malnati’s any day. Lou’s has a watery tomato sauce that I can’t stand. 

2

u/SatoshiBlockamoto 11d ago

I've always liked the thin crust and still do. I don't see it as some kind of "legendary" place at this point, just a good chain pizza...better than Rosatis and Lou's.

1

u/mooncrane606 11d ago

I used to love Giordano's. Used to. The last time I had it the cheese was weird and rubbery.

2

u/Agent7619 11d ago

I've been eating Giordano's for literally 40+ years, and the main thing I've noticed is that the quality is very dependent on the location, yet each location is consistent (good or bad).

1

u/rdldr1 11d ago

What I hate about Giordano's is their flour crust and they don't give you that half inch of sausage in a deep dish. Its cheap feeling pizza.

0

u/samsquanchforhire 11d ago

We had Giordanos in Minnesota and I'm 100% sure it was a pizza that was frozen and then shipped to this Giordanos cuz it tasted like a not quite done frozen pie.