Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder

Recommends

Kathryn K.

Joined 2 years ago

My Favorite Pizza. Thanks to my Aunt way back when CPOG first opened in 1972, I was 11 years of age and now 50 and still is my favorite place.

I have brought many family members and lots of friends to try something new. Back in time they sold 1 & 2 pound pizza's. Now it's 1/2 and 1 pound pizza's. Order the Chef salad, drizzle some poppy seed dressing and a spoonful of garlic dressing, mix and eat. Can't beat it. 1/2 pound meat sauce with mushrooms, and wheat crust is the best. Cut in smalll pieces and savor the taste.

It is a great place to spend time together. I have been here for pizza before leaving town to go on vacation, celebrate birthday's, exchange christmas presents, and yes sign many birthday cards to get in the mail for your friends who still have birthdays. Not always in the same year. Thank goodness this means I will be back again and again.

Don't forget to bring home some dressings and a few frozen pizza's.

Thank you for the friends I have made and continue to make while waiting in line or at the bar. Thanks to the staff who have made me feel welcome.

Recommends

alyv20

Joined 4 years ago

LOVE pizza and oven grinder. I have been coming here since I began visiting Chicago. It is such a fun place to go with friends. The twist on traditional Chicago pizza is what I love - the actual pizza pie. SO good. The antipasta salad is also a must.

Recommends

Cassia

Joined 4 years ago

I've loved this place for 24 years!. I have been going to this place with my family for my whole life. everyone I bring there loves it too!

You MUST try the mediterranean bread WITH the antipasta salad. The key is the two homemade dressings (yes they sell bottles for you to take home)

creamy garlic and sweet poppyseed.

mix them together and it's perfection!

Out of the dozens of visits,, I've only ordered the grinders once.

We go for the pizza

please try it and remember it is cash only!

Doesn't Recommend

RobertMcCoy

Joined 4 years ago

Cash Only, Get Real. The filthy mitt to remove the pizza was disgusting. We tried to overlook that and ate it. Not taking charge cards limited our spending and that was a good thing.

Never again. So many better places.

Recommends

loneranger11148

Joined 6 years ago

BEST PIZZA IN CHICAGO!. Chicago Pizza Pie and Oven Grinder Company is one of the most unique places in Chicago to eat. It's cozy and the food is wonderful and affordable. The pizza is unbelieveable, and the salad is great too. When I lived there, I tried to go at least once every few months. I am writing this, because value is so miportant these days, and this place really offers just that. So does the other fave. mentioned in a previous review, The Half Shell at Diversey and Orchard. That also falls under the "don't blink or you'll miss it" category of "small, sweet, worth-the-wait" treats hidden in this surprising city! Enjoy. Oh, and just park in the first spot you find...otherwise, it's a hunt for a space.

Recommends

megandavison1

Joined 7 years ago

Best Pizza in Chicago. My husband and I were at Oven Grinder last Saturday night and had great food. We were there early, but really didn't have to wait too long. The Mediterranean Bread and Pizza were to die for! The pizza is simple, but has such good flavor. It is something in the cheese. I think the atmosphere is great. We cant wait until our next trip to Chicago and Oven Grinder

Recommends

lincolnAC

Joined 5 years ago

Always a great experience, worth the wait!. This restaurant is one of my favorites! Yes, we always have to wait about 15-30 minutes for a table, but it's always worth it; and, doesn't consistently waiting for a reasonable amount of time prove that the place it popular/well liked by patrons and efficiently run by its staff? The food is unique and always delicious-I LOVE the bread!! And as for some people saying that this place is too crowed and cramped, lighten up. This place gains its great atmosphere and character from the great historic building in which it resides. :) People enjoying their evening surrounded by great food in a great place is hard to beat!!!

Doesn't Recommend

carlolicchi

Joined 5 years ago

Skip the Pizza thing, Grinders OK!. Pizza part gets 1 star 2 stars for originality. The Grinders get 2-3 stars. Ambiance gets 2 stars. We went to this self named pizza place because of the raving reviews on this website and others. I am familiar with the city and it's many and varied restaurants. Now to all the raving reviews I have to wonder A. What are these people smoking or B. These people wouldn't know good food if it fell out of the sky and did a little dance on their nose or C. Every employee of the place is required to write a 5 star review. The place could be called claustrophobic the womens bathroom was "disgusting". The pine benches are tight and small and little comfort, but high enough to keep your booth isolated.

The Mediterranean Bread is nothing but a flat thin crust with some herbs on it. Comes draped over a small plate and laying on the table top. I hope this table has been professionally cleaned our food is laying all over it! How bout a bigger platter?

You can only order a half pound $11 or a full pound portion $22. The pizza pie 1/2lb is nothing more than a very small crust of dough shaped into a small bowl, and filled with a gobby mess of melted cheese red sauce a little meat and a couple of mushy mushrooms The red sauce is blah. I could think of 25 other places to get a better pizza experience. SKIP the pizza thing! The Grinder part should go in FRONT of the Pizza part of this restaurant. Vegie Grinder was good not great. 3 stars at best. It's big but $13 for a sub it better be big. No refills for the kids pop so be prepared to pop out some more cash for the thirsty ones. No plastic just cash? For a party of 4 or more adults who intend to drink pack some Jacksons or even Grants in your pocket if you're picking up the bill, because you'll need it. If the stars are being awarded for the Lincoln Park location it's a shame. The real rating is supposed to be for the food, service, ambiance, etc. PS Citysearch get more storage for these reviews. Go Sox, Go Cubs!

Recommends

chrism99

Joined 5 years ago

Good food. Decent service. I love the greek salad at this place and the mushroom pizza's which are turned over on your plate! Great place for first date! My fiance cathy loves it too!

Recommends

christierae

Joined 5 years ago

Favorite Restaurant in Chicago!. I have recently moved to Chicago and was recommended this restaurant from a friend and it is FANTASTIC!! The ambiance is wonderful. You feel as if you are in a mountain town in Aspen...very cozy and cottage like. The food is absolutely delicious...from the salads to the Pizza Pies (what they are known for)...it is a must visit. I have already been 3 times in the past month! Also, the price points are extremely affordable with a great wine selection. Yes the wait is very long, however, I feel it is more then worth it! This is a must visit in Chicago!