Pizzeria Due
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Pizzeria Due is the real deal- the original Chicago-style pizza! The atmosphere is authentically beautiful and the patio is also nice on a day with good weather. For me, the pizza is not my preferred style, it's too heavy with too much bread and sausage and not enough cheese and sauce. But that's just me. If you like deep-dish, or think you would like to try it, then this is definitely the place. Try the deep dish pizza.
Atmosphere
Housed in an amazing building that looks like the original haunted mansion, Pizzeria Due, owned by and located just down the street from the original Pizzeria Uno, has the authentic Old-World charm that is often copied but rarely achieved. The main dining rooms are located downstairs and are a beautiful mix of dark wood, old-style octagonal tiles, and black and white photos. Tables are covered in tan and white checked tablecloths, giving it that real pizzeria air, and overall feel is cozy, warm, and friendly. It must be a great refuge in Winter but, for nice Summer days, Pizzeria Due also has an outside patio, equipped with several tables and overhead umbrellas.
Service
Service was very friendly, accommodating, and efficient.
Food
Although Pizzeria Due has an assortment of Italian dishes, such as pasta, salads, and sandwiches, the real draw, of course, is the deep dish pizza, the one thing they are famous for. So, it seemed ridiculous to try anything else.
We decided on a medium 'Numero Uno' ($22.99), with chunky tomato sauce, extra cheese, pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, onions, and mushrooms. The pizza came in a huge cast-iron pan and was at least 3 inches deep. For those of you who may not be familiar with this type of pizza, it's basically a very thick, buttery, and heavy dough that goes all the way up the sides of a deep pan. Then, it is filled with huge amounts of toppings or, if you will, fillings, such as cheese, sausage, and tomato sauce. The result is a very thick, very heavy pizza that is essentially more like a casserole. Deep dish pizza is usually eaten with a knife and fork, and one piece can be meal in itself.
Our pizza had a very nice crunchy crust, which was excellent when it was hot, but became more doughy and chewy as the pizza cooled. The toppings were plentiful, a little too much sausage for my taste. And, there wasn't much cheese, even though it was described as having 'extra'. The whole dish is extremely heavy. I could only eat one piece. Even after only a medium, we took a good portion of the pizza to go. The bag weighed a ton! But, I have to say, it made a great midnight snack. (It would also make a good doorstop!)
We decided on a medium 'Numero Uno' ($22.99), with chunky tomato sauce, extra cheese, pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, onions, and mushrooms. The pizza came in a huge cast-iron pan and was at least 3 inches deep. For those of you who may not be familiar with this type of pizza, it's basically a very thick, buttery, and heavy dough that goes all the way up the sides of a deep pan. Then, it is filled with huge amounts of toppings or, if you will, fillings, such as cheese, sausage, and tomato sauce. The result is a very thick, very heavy pizza that is essentially more like a casserole. Deep dish pizza is usually eaten with a knife and fork, and one piece can be meal in itself.
Our pizza had a very nice crunchy crust, which was excellent when it was hot, but became more doughy and chewy as the pizza cooled. The toppings were plentiful, a little too much sausage for my taste. And, there wasn't much cheese, even though it was described as having 'extra'. The whole dish is extremely heavy. I could only eat one piece. Even after only a medium, we took a good portion of the pizza to go. The bag weighed a ton! But, I have to say, it made a great midnight snack. (It would also make a good doorstop!)
Cleanliness
Everything was very clean, although the bathrooms were incredibly tiny for this size restaurant. 2 people could barely fit.
Pros
Great authentic atmosphere that is cozy and friendly. Excellent Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.
Cons
Very heavy fare. You must like this style of pizza to enjoy it.
