Chgo Pizza & Oven Grinder Co
(773) 248-2570
2121 N Clark St
Chicago,
IL
60614
41.9207
-87.6374
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, North Side
Reviews & Ratings for Chgo Pizza & Oven Grinder Co
65 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 65 reviews
Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder
by dakotadad
September 12, 2006
I don't know how the maitre d remembers you by face only. He knows exactly how long it
will be for your table too! Order the Meditteranean Bread for an appetizer and try to
sit at the round table in the window.
The best "POTPIE" pizza in the universe. I first thought the waiter was spilling over a mushroom the first time I went there. What a delight to see the chhese and veggies when he flipped it. Order the wheat crust, just because it's different.
- Pros: Excellent food and service. Liked the maitre d
- Cons: The booths are kinda snug after you eat and drink
I've loved this place for 24 years!
by Cassia
March 28, 2009
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!
- Pros: cozy atmosphere and yummy bread and salad!
- Cons: cash only
Cash Only, Get Real
by RobertMcCoy
March 25, 2009
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.
- Pros: None
- Cons: Unsanitary ,no chargecards
BEST PIZZA IN CHICAGO!
by loneranger11148
February 18, 2009
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.
- Cons: parking
Best Pizza in Chicago
by megandavison1
October 28, 2008
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
- Pros: Food, Atmosphere
- Cons: Wait
Always a great experience, worth the wait!
by lincolnAC
September 26, 2008
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!!!
- Pros: Great food (never fail), great value, great atmosphere.
- Cons: Expect to wait a little! :)
Skip the Pizza thing, Grinders OK!
by carlolicchi
July 28, 2008
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!
- Pros: Located near lake front a walk from summer fun in the city.
- Cons: the pizzanot good, cramped, not worth any wait.
Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinders Insensitive to Customers... by Jayne O. at InsiderPages
Contributor
July 15, 2008
Your restaurant has been my favorite place to eat since it opened. After Imoved away from Chicago 4 years ago, I still come there at least 5 times ayear. I hate pizza, but yours is out of this world. I have always called itupside down pizza. I have been there through every recipe change and alwaysloved the very first original recipe. My husband and I were there on6/20/08, and we ordered the same order that we have gotten since the 1970's.Chef Salad, Mediterranean Bread, and 2 One lb. pizzas. For the very firsttime, we got sick. Are you under new management, or did you sell the restaurant? If you have, is there any way to buy the original recipe? Thankyou for your time, Jayne Ortiz
Thank you for visiting our web site and taking the time to email us. We appreciate your patronage. We have always had the same owner since weopened and for the past 36 years. We have always had the same basic recipefor our Pizza Pot Pie. Thank you again for your inquiry and hope to see soon.
Good food. Decent service
by chrism99
March 09, 2008
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!
Favorite Restaurant in Chicago!
by christierae
January 15, 2008
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!
- Pros: Food, Ambience, Price
- Cons: Long Wait to be seated due to popularity
very long wait
by dorkahonis
October 14, 2007
This place was referred to me by a friend so I was very excited to try it out. My boyfriend and I went there on a Friday night around 9:30pm thinking it would be a good time to go with out much of a wait. We got there and the place was PACKED. It is a very small building not very accommodating to the large amount of hungry people waiting to eat. Most people had to wait outside. We went there pretty hungry and disappointed to see that there was such a long wait. We got in to find out that they do not take names, their is one guy that is expected to remember all of the faces of everyone that comes in, and the order in which they came in. After waiting at the very crowed bar for an hour and a half we were finally seated. I guess the guy did remember us after all. The food was really good. We got a salad to start which came with three very tasty homemade dressings that you mix together that makes one delicious mix. With the salad we got their specialty bread. Which comes to you so large it is falling off of the sides of the plate. I have to say that due to this bread alone it was worth the wait. For our main course we each got a small pizza potpie. You can order the crust in either white or whole wheat. It comes stocked with meat and loaded with cheese. The only thing I think would really make the pizza potpie better would be if you could pick the toppings that come inside. Don't let the fact that you can't pick the toppings scare you though, because they are prepared fresh you can still subtract those items which you do not want. After all was said and done we both left very satisfied with very full belly's. =D
- Pros: Food
- Cons: long wait
