Gino's East Of Chicago

08/26/11

Not that great

by RandDStair at Citysearch

My husband and I ate there recently because many people told my husband that we needed to try their fabulous pizza when we went to Chicago. The whole experience was a disappointment! People were made to stand in a line outside in the 96 degree heat when there was plenty of room in the lobby where there was air conditioning. Many, many tables were open, but there was quite a wait. The pizza Nazis-hostesses and hosts-finally allowed us to wait inside, but we were ordered to "Slide all the way to the left on the seat (in the lobby)" to wait our turn for a table. The whole process was weird and disrespectful. We were finally seated and we waited an hour for our $25 (4 slice) pizza that was not really that good. It was mushy. The sauce did have good flavor, however. To top off our experience, our waiter did not give us proper change. He kep the coin change before we even took out the tip. Apparently, the rule at this establishment is to round up and keep the difference-probably because the staff doesn't expect much of a tip because they know this restaurant sucks! This place is way over-rated.

05/15/10

Overated

by Namaste13 at Citysearch

I know that Gino's East is supposed to be a great spot for deep dish pizza, but I did not care for it. We waited 45 minutes for our deep dish pizza, and what we ate was a very unflavorful mush. The cheese just sat in a sticky clump, and the entire pizza was very bland. After speaking to other people who have had similar experiences, we learned that the best place to go for deep dish in Chicago is Luminati's.

• Cons: Long wait, bland food.

02/07/10

Unbelievable

by SurgeonRobinson at Citysearch

As a doctor, I can only recommend this treat once a month. It is one of Chicago's Best Pizza's.

• Pros: Fresh ingredients, Taste
• Cons: Not recommended everyday

11/21/09

"You can't go home again"- Thomas Wolfe

by Patty Farley at Citysearch

Hello?!?! The "original" Gino's East and all its ambience are gone, baby gone. Unfortunately, the one time winner has fallen under the same corporate rule that runs Eduardo's and Ed Debevics. The quality no loner goes in, but the name still goes on.

The long-time staff and owners were awesome. So here's to Sam, George, Fred, Fred Randazzo, Margie, Pete, Victor, Franca, Dottie, Carla, Irene, Patty, Charlie and all the wonderful kitchen staff that made the name what it is today.

• Pros: "Nicky" the busboy still works there! (over 35 years)
• Cons: No parking, few celebrities and no redhead in the window.

01/26/09

Deep dish pizza from Gino's and Unos is fantastic market scheme

by TheHotDogGuy at Citysearch

Gino's and Uno's, between the the two of them, have managed to convince the rest of the world that deep dish pizza is actually "Chicago Style pizza. It is one of the greatest marketing schemes I have ever seen. People will say they went to Chicago over the weekend and while there, they had a real "Chicago Style" pizza, and then proceed to tell me how thick it was. I tell them "I hate to tell you this but what you had was not really "Chicag Style" pizza at all. I explain to them that there are basically 3 types of pizza in Chicago. 1). The usual chain store variety, i.e., Pizza Hut, Domino's and Pappa John's; 2). The kind of pizza that they serve to tourists and the Yuppie crowd, i.e., deep dish pizza served at Ginos and Unos; and, 3). The kind of pizza that those who actually live in Chicago really eat. People who have lived in Chicago for generations laugh at anyone who refer to deep dish pizza as "Chicago Style" pizza. Somehow, Ginos and Unos have convininced the world that the stuff they serve up to the tourists is the real thing.

The Hot Dog Guy

• Pros: The ambience of the original place is great
• Cons: Parking is a major problem in the area; also the pizza gets an F-