10/05/06

One in a Million Experience

by eaglecove1

Have not been there lately, but I am overjoyed that the greeter is still there. He makes those who demand personal service cringe! He has a mind that snaps you face to your name and puts a unique number to you. You are never slighted! Some consider this bad service...but he is unique at best.

The Mediterranean Bread is over the top! The Grinders are unique at best. Such Ingredients!

The history of the neighborhood is awesome....across from the St. Valentines Massacre! Love this town! Why buy a plane ticket with so many great Chicago places.....Try Half Shell just North and West on Diversy and you will be ready for a HAT TRICK even if you try White Castle's next!

• Pros: Outstanding Dining Experience
• Cons: Service that will Fool you

03/28/09

I've loved this place for 24 years!

by Cassia

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

03/25/09

Cash Only, Get Real

by RobertMcCoy

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

02/18/09

BEST PIZZA IN CHICAGO!

by loneranger11148

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

10/28/08

Best Pizza in Chicago

by megandavison1

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

09/26/08

Always a great experience, worth the wait!

by lincolnAC

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! :)

07/28/08

Skip the Pizza thing, Grinders OK!

by carlolicchi

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.

03/09/08

Good food. Decent service

by chrism99

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!

01/15/08

Favorite Restaurant in Chicago!

by christierae

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

10/14/07

very long wait

by dorkahonis

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

04/25/07

Come hungry! Come often!

by mbmiddendorf

Yum! Great food. I'm hungry just thinking about it. Just remember to come hungry and bring cash as they do not take credit cards

• Pros: flat bread, salads and pizza are out of this world!
• Cons: credit cards only