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Barnaby's
Rating Details »
Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Burgers [Edit]
636 E Touhy Aveat Wolf Rd
(between Higgins Rd & Illinois Route 72)
Des Plaines, IL 60018
(847) 297-8866
Winter Wednesday Special
All food is 50% off when you dine in on Wednesday,
December 2nd.
Not valid on beverages or carryouts
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
Sponsored Result
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"What is going on over here? Ten five star reviews in a row? For that sandwich place on Lincoln, you know the one by the Paulina brown line…" read more »
19 reviews for Barnaby's
Barnaby's has been around forever. Theres a reason for this. Either its a business front utilized by organized crime to launder money. Or in fact, it has the best thin crust pizza in Chicago. Decide for yourself.
be warned though, if you disagree, you will find a contract on your head.
Good cornmeal crust pizza.
Toppings tend to be generous.
Strange old fashioned place, which has been this way forever I believe.
We enjoyed our spinach, pineapple and jalapeno pizza, and yes, we are from California damnit! Take your sausage and shove it Chicago!
Oh Barnaby's, how I long for a good Cheese Pub Deluxe with a good pitcher of beer. The pizza is fantastic and I love the fact that you just don't know, nor care what time it is when you are dining in this place. The dark wood decor and the ambiance is as authentic as they come.
This place rocks !!! and it deserves its rightful place in Chicago History.
You can not find a better "Thin Crust Pizza" in Chicago. The end pieces are the ones that everybody wants to eat, and the price is un believable. They have Pub Burgers and Chicken Sandwiches and...WTF Salads? Healthy Food at Barnaby's? 2-3 kinds of beer on tap and house wine. We ended up there when they were celebrating their 40th Anniversary and EVERYTHING WAS 50% off. Deal!
Although I was *born* in Chicago, I'm not really from Chicago so maybe I don't get it. Maybe I just don't genetically love grease and sausage and more grease and Barnaby's but ew! And emphatic ew! I have never had greasier pizza in my life. My half of the pizza was even cheese and I have now had this pizza on several occasions. Every time I have found it to be a cardboardy mass of cheese and grease. I'll take Chicago deep dish any day over this.
The boss at this one gig I had used work at would order us pizza from here, and everybody would groan, and never quite understood why.
Depending on the pizza place, I've come to notice that if a pizza is outstanding, it usually possesses at least one of 3 qualities: great crust, great sauce or great toppings. I think what makes Barnaby's so good is their thin crust. I think it's made with corn meal and grease which really enhances the flavor of the pizza over any pizza places that make it with flour.
For me most importantly, this particular location always did a good job not screwing up my crazy pizza order: Small Vegi #2 with NO CHEESE plus tomato, pineapple & jalapenos (yes it was messy to eat). I don't know how many times a pizza place (especially in the suburbs)would be completely dumbfounded by the concept of no cheese.
If you're stuck in the nw suburbs and have to settle on a place for pizza, this place offers a good, greasy, satisfying thin crust. I would say the best I've had in the suburbs.
How in god's name has this place only been reviewed 10 times on yelp ?? I mean, it's been a family owned / operated chicagoland institution since the late 60's for crikey's sake!
Better yet, why in god's name had I not visited this place before today ???
Crazy, on both accounts.
After what seemed like years of talking about visiting Barnaby's, the Missus, little one and I went to the Des Plaines/Touhy location today. I've lived in Chicago over 11 years and had never been to a Barnaby's, though i'd passed the nw burb locations many times.
Pizza was a 4/5. Did a half sausage/g.p and half roni/shroom. The cornmeal crust v reminiscent of Malnati's but still v unique in its own right. Sauce and cheese were in.cred.i.ble !! truly amazing stuff and was piping hot upon arrival....when it came out I dare say it was probably the best "looking" (and smelling) pizza i've ever witnessed. In fact, when we first walked in we were smacked in the face w the amazing aroma of freshly baked pizza's....that and the look / feel of the place was an assault on the senses.
I loved the old school, bavarian style, (dark wood, stain-glassed windows, lighting..the nine) look, feel and vibe of the place...the whole seat/order/serve yourself just adds to the quirky charm of Barnaby's. It truly is a family style restaurant and it will now be on our short list for "going out for pizza" night.
Barnaby's is a family owned restaurant that has a very unique flavored thin crust pizza. The first time I tried it I was hooked. They make their own pizza dough and homemade tomato sauce daily. But not only do they have pizza but they have sandwich and side order galore. I love my fried foods and this place makes it happen for me. Fries, onion rings, veggie baskets, jalapeno poppers, and mozzarella sticks. Want soup? They got it. Want homemade chili? They got it (in sesason).
Not in the mood for pizza? Try their burgers (cheese extra) BBQ beef, beef/sausage sandwiches, homemade meatballs, or the parmesan, charbroiled, and BBQ chicken. Like fish (from the sea, people)? They have that too. I like the fish 'n' chips, but they also have fish sandwich, a catfish basket, a shrimp basket and a seafood basket. The seafood basket comes with fried catfish, filet of cod and shrimp with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce and your choice of hush puppies or fries. Order them with a pickle or for an extra buck or two get it with homemade coleslaw and fries. You want pizza but the kids don't? Whatever... They have a 12 and under menu. Not only do all of the items come with fries they are all under $3.00.
They have beer and soda on tap along with bottled Corona and Sharp's non-alcoholic beer. Like wine with your cheese (pizza) they have Chablis, White Zinfindel, and even Burgundy by the glass or carafe. My kids like the pink lemonade but they also have oj, apple juice, brewed iced tea for you non-carbonators.
My husband likes this place too but would always complain about the cash only policy. When he had no cash on hand I would stare out the window and wave as we passed by. Well now they accept credit/debit. So no more excuses spouse o' mine, let's go eat.
Looking at all the reviews I'm probably missing something. I'm not opposed to updating my review, either. A lot of people will probably disagree and think I don't know jack about pizza because I'm from MN. But I know when I like something and I didn't like this.
The pizza was bland. Bland, bland, bland. I couldn't even tell that I was eating a pizza with pepperoni because the meat had no zest. Everything simply melted together to form one ginormous round pizza of nothingness. Even the crumbled cheese and seasoning couldn't save it.
We had a thin (thinner?) crust pizza, so perhaps they have regular dough or create deep dishes that outshine our order. I don't know. All I know is that the crust tasted as if it were a couple sugar sprinkles away from becoming a sugar cookie. What's up with all the saw dust on the bottom of the pizza? I understand you want to keep it from sticking to the oven and the pans, but I found myself wiping off my hands every few moments simply from whatever fairy dust they deemed fit to coat the bottom of the pizza with.
This has got to be some of the best thin crust pizza in the area because just the simple mention of Barnaby's gets those that know a drooling and the atmosphere in the room changes to one of HELL YEAH BARNABYS!!!!
when the food is this good, sitting on a crate in an alley is all that you need and anything else better is gravy. Yes its dark, the decor hasn't changed since day one, but neither has the food and that's all that matters.
Consistent thin cracker crust, slamming thin cut fries and cheap pitchers of beer...Oh BABY!
This place shot right up on my list for good pizzas the second I smelled it.
The crust is corn meal, not flour. With my first bite I savored it. The crunch with the silky smooth cheese was a great combination. Hell, I didn't even mind the flakes of corn that it left on my pants and hoodies; I wore it like a badge of honor.
I couldn't get over the crust and was amazed how great it is.
I've gone back four times and it still impresses me, but moving on.
What really cemented this place was that on Valentine's Day they had a special. Take a guess....Heart Shaped Pizza. You get less pizza but you get pizzazz. So enjoy those two extra z's on Valentine's Day and feed that gluttonous attitude with an order of it.
I've had to take away a star because whenever my coworkers and I swing in, we get some stares and sub-par service- stuck on lipstick on the waters? Menus 10 minutes after our asses hit the chairs...when there's six tables between four waitresses? Smooth.
Come here if you dig a different crust on your pizza, abundant cheese and a 'we'll get ya when we get ya' attitude from the staff.
The pizza was pretty good but I like to be waited on when I venture out to a restaurant. You have to order at one area, pick up your food at another, and get your drinks at still another - and carry them back to your table while dodging little kids let loose to run around and scream. This place gave me a new appreciation for waitresses! Every time my kids needed ketchup, forks, another drink or more fries, I had to go get them. The whole reason I go to a restaurant is so I don't have to do all that. The pizza was good in a bland sort of way, but I doubt I would go back. Even my kids thought it was just OK.
On our way to a weekend trip to Minnesota my fiance insisted we pick up a pizza from here for our road trip. And boy am I Glad we did!!! This pizza is one of the best I've had, and I'm a pizza-holic!
Their thin crust is to die for. It's crispy and their sauce is just right. Too bad we live in south side of Chicago or else we would order from here all the time. I guess we'll be making a trip down to Des Plaines more often.
Best pizza, period. It's a lofty statement. Only disappointment is that they don't deliver but that's a minor complaint for such deliciousness.
As stated below, the cornmeal crust is unique and what sets the pizza apart from other places.
I think they finally started accepting credit cards?
Growing up near O'Hare taught me one thing, you can still find good pizza without the Gold Coast prices. So if you're staying nearby, flying out of O'Hare or lost in the Northwest Suburbs go to Barnaby's.
This place has been voted #1 thin crust pizza two years in a row... homemade tomato sauce, corn meal bottom dough....AFFORDABLE! I can't give you a recommendation on anything else their serve but their fries. Oh their FRIES! Thin and delicious!
You can go on their website and print out a $2 off coupon if you dine in Monday - Thursday. They have four other locations in the Chicagoland area. Whoever thought having one windows and one exit door was a smart idea for a pizza restaurant building was certainly stupid, but who cares. Eat and get out. Or if you're feeling a tad paranoid, carry out.
Long ago, when I was still a freshman in college, I went to a New Years party on the north side of Chicago. Needless to say I got hammered and woke up the next day nursing a major hangover.
We got up sometime in the early afternoon and we were not ready to face cleaning up the mess, my friend suggested we go to Barnaby's to line the old stomach. We got some kind of deluxe and that pizza tasted so good to this wasted young man.
20 years later, I noticed a Barnaby's near my place of work in Des Plaines, and it brought back memories of that hazy New Years day so long ago. I decided to stop in and see if the pizza was really all that good or was I just messed up from cheap rot gut and evil herbs.
I'm glad to say that the pizza is still top flight, I ordered what was called a "belt buster". The pizza was a top notch thin crust pizza, unusual in that it is not only thin, but also crunchy as well, kind of reminded me of Home Run Inn crust. Sauce was pleasant and added to the flavor of the pizza. Toppings were a bit on the skimpy side but not terribly so.
The restaurant still has that 70's look. Thick dark wood picnic tables with solid chairs. Place gave the impression of being dirty but it really wasn't. But it was dark and probably would have been smokey if it hadn't been for a smoking ban. As you can guess, the darkness comes from weak lighting and the fact that the place has no windows. Just one big screen TV on one side of the wall to watch the games on. Cooking area is wide open and you can watch them make your food. Pizza area is on one side, grill in the middle and the bar on the other side. No service, just order what you want and pick it up when your name is called. Nice friendly staff, fat middle-aged people who seem to like where they work and eat their own cooking.
The dark atmosphere may make the place seem hostile but I highly recommend it for their thin crust pizza. Sandwiches and things look good too although I have not had the privilage of trying them.
I love Barnaby's Pizza! It's probably some of the best in the area. Carryout and Dine in only-no delivery which is sometimes a drawback because I will have such a taste for it but I dont feel like going out. Anyway, the pizza is great!
I will preface this review with the fact that I prefer thick chewy crusted pizza to thin crust style. That being said , I was intrigued by their thin crust pizza , almost like pizza on a homemade matza, I got the sausage and it was pretty good . My son on the other hand said it was ok , and my wife wasn't thrilled with the pizza. My son also got the Chicken soup , which was pretty good as well. I can't say I loved the food here , but everything tasted hand made , and I give this place points for being an old school family place. On the off chance I ever feel like thin crust , I'd probably go here again.
This is the best pizza in Chicago. I know that is saying a lot. Their crust is super thin and crunchy. Their sauce is just right and they don't skimp on the toppings. Also, they have great salads. I love their greek salad.
