Pizzeria Due
Chicago, IL 60611-2713
Phone: (312) 280-5110
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Ontario Street
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am
Editorial Review for Pizzeria Due – by Fred Schlatter
The Scene
Open since 1955, the three-story brownstone wears its patina with pride. Two sunken dining rooms seat 140 combined, making it more accommodating than sister restaurant Uno, but no less cozy; exposed brick and Chicago-centric bric-a-brac make for an inviting setting. Tourists, conventioneers and knowing locals account for the often unbearable wait.
The Food
If deep dish is king in Chicago, Due is a chief ambassador. The inch-and-a-half deep flaky pies arrive piping hot, appropriately gooey and minimally sauced, no matter the ingredients. Any of the five specialty pizzas are a good idea, especially the trademarked Numero Uno, a hearty combination of cheese, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and green peppers. The Spinoccoli, (spinach, broccoli, garlic) is a good meatless option. Florence's soup, a thick minestrone in a cheese-topped crock, stand out among standard appetizers and forgettable non-pizza options. If a sweet tooth persists, fluffy spumoni ice cream satisfies.
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Insider Tips
When to GoAvoid weekends at all costs; typical waits can approach two hours. The express lunch is a great way to get the goods on the go.
Where to SitThe dining room to the left is larger, more attractive and a little livelier with the bar.
What to DrinkA full bar has some basic wine and beer options to help wash down the pie.
User Reviews for Pizzeria Due
11/05/2007 Posted by chicagobobby44
This is a wonderful place to find good pizza, and I take my friends there when they come to town. But I have a big beef about the noise level at the restaurant, and it's not due to the patrons, it's due to the big speakers that constantly blast waiting customers' names. "SMITH PARTY OF 5!!!!" It's continuous, and it's incredibly loud, and my conversation with my friend must have been interrupted 200 times during our meal. It was very frustrating and ruined the meal. People should be able to chat during a meal. There must be better ways to summon the customers who are waiting for tables...perhaps pagers. However they do it, it's really crucial for Due's to figure out how to create a quiet, welcoming atmosphere where people can be comfortable. Tasty food is only one element of successs.
Pros: Wonderfully good deep dish pizza
Cons: The loud PA system that's unrelented, and the sometimes long waits
03/19/2007 Posted by iheartpizza
Until they did completely sell out. This pizza used to overflow over the edges of the pan, now that's deepdish! When you took out a piece the cheese would spill out into the pan and one piece was enough to make you sick because you'd be so full. The sauce was chunky and full of zing. Now the crust is like stale old crackers that you can pick up and eat like some abomination from pizza hut and what scarce cheese there is is burnt to a crisp. Before you truly needed a knife and fork or else the greasy cheese (yum) would burn your hands. My parents have been going to Due's since they were in their 20's and me since I was 3. I go to college here now and the last time my mom visited I took her there for old times. She almost cried! They ruined a place where she had such fond memories and there is no way me or my family will be going back. Neither will we recommend tourists to go there. If you want what Due's used to be, go to Lou Malnatti's and oder deep dish with extra cheese and extra sauce. It really is sad that greed wins out over keeping a Chicago institution alive. I wonder if Daley knows what happened.....
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