Gino's East

3.5 star rating
162 reviews Rating Details

Category: Pizza  [Edit]

8725 W Higgins Rd
Chicago, IL 60686
(773) 444-2244
Nearest Transit:

Cumberland (Blue Line)

Hours:

Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10 pm

Fri 11:30 am - 12 am

Sat 12 pm - 11 pm

Sun 12 pm - 9 pm

Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Private Lot
Price Range:
$$
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Noise Level:
Average
Ambience:
Casual
Has TV:
Yes
Caters:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   

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"It's deep dish and just simply melts in your mouth." (in 89 reviews)
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"For pizza we had half meaty legend and half supreme." (in 7 reviews)
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"the crust was cooked to perfection." (in 58 reviews)
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162 reviews in English

  • Review from Nathaniel W.

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    • 27 friends
    • 21 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    9/30/2011

    I'm a fan of this place just because of it's significance. It's a great place to show new-comers to Chicago where they can have "authentic" deep dish pizza.

    The atmosphere is fun. Writing on the walls makes it a very interesting venue. If you are to partake in the activity, I suggest bringing a white out pen; as hardly anything in dark pen is even legible anymore.

    The pizza is good. Nothing crazy special, but definitely not something to be disappointed by. There is always something to get on that menu that you'll like.

    Also, remember that the pizza takes about 45 mins to an hour to make, so don't come starving, or if you do, get an appetizer.

  • Review from Tina P.

    Fort Worth, TX

    3.0 star rating
    1/22/2012

    Let me preface by saying I just don't think I'm a deep dish pizza kinda gal. My boyfriend and I ate dinner here on a Saturday night and easily got a table downstairs. When you walk in, you'll realize that the entire restaurant has writing on the walls... every last bit of it. I guess writing on the walls is a time killer since it takes about 45 minutes for a deep dish pizza to come to the table after it's ordered. The house salad is pretty typical with iceberg lettuce, onions, olives, and tomatoes. The house dressing is very good so make sure and get it!!! The pizza itself is thick, cheesy, and just over the top. The sausage here is done patty style and they put the red sauce on top of the cheese and toppings. I personally am not a fan but that's b/c I tend to like flatbreads myself. Our waiter was very sweet and surprised us with a brownie which was very large and tasted like any other brownie... which is to say it was good and chocolaty!

    I'm glad I tried this place out, but next time I'll probably stick to their regular thin pizzas. And I'll have to make sure and bring a pen to write on the walls with!

  • Review from Nellie K.

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    • 4 friends
    • 24 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    2.0 star rating
    1/18/2012

    Let me just say right up front that I've never been a huge fan of Gino's East, so take this review with a grain of salt.  When you order a deep dish pizza with sausage from Gino's East, you have the option of ordering your sausage "crumbled"  or "patty."  The "patty"  is essentially a sausage disk, which closely resembles a perfectly shaped circle of sausage, almost like a sausage frisbee placed on top of the cheese.  The end result is you get sausage in every bite, and while the sheer quantity of the sausage patty is impressive, the quality is really not that good.  It has a mild garlic flavor with black pepper, but it is no where near as good (or as fresh or as flavorful) as the garlic sausage used over at Pizzeria Uno/Due, Lou Malnati's, Pizano's, Louisa's, or Burt's Place.  

    In regard to the crust, Gino's East uses some sort of yellow food coloring to give its' signature crust that yellow cornmeal look, along with some corn oil, but the crust is often very dry and somewhat flavorless.  It should not be mentioned in the same sentence as the famous buttercrust used over at Lou Malnati's, due to the lack of butter/flavor of the Gino's East crust.  It's also not as good as the slightly buttery/very crunchy/corn oil and olive oil crust used at Pizzeria Uno/Due.  Ironically, the crust recipe from Gino's East came from Alice Mae Redmond, who was a cook at Pizzeria Uno/Due for 17 years before she was wooed over to Gino's East in 1966.  However, the crust she created for Gino's East is not as flavorful as the crust at her former employer because Pizzeria Uno/Due adds both corn oil AND olive oil for extra flavor, and it definitely shows.  

    Finally, the biggest problem with Gino's East is their tomato sauce.  While Lou Malnati's, Pizzeria Uno/Due, and Louisa's use perfectly vine ripened, sweet and tangy tomatoes, which all leave pizza lovers with a wine-like aftertaste, Gino's East tomato sauce almost tastes like a zesty Ragu spaghetti sauce.  It's not sweet and tangy, and that wine-like aftertaste made famous at Lou Malnati's, Pizzeria Uno/Due, and Louisa's, simply does not exist at Gino's East because of the overabundance of oregano used in their tomato sauce, thereby giving it a very zesty flavor.  If you like this type of zesty flavor, then Gino's East is for you.  I, myself, prefer the sweet and tangy, wine-like flavor of all the tomato recipes that can be traced back to the original kitchen at Pizzeria Uno back in 1943, i.e.  Lou Malnati's ( Lou was at both Uno and Due for 22 years, before venturing out on his own in 1971 ), and the late Louisa De Genero who also spent much of her career in Pizzeria Due's kitchen.  

    BOTTOM LINE:  3 words to describe Gino's East compared to Lou Malnati's, Pizzeria Uno/Due, and Louisa's:  Not even close.

  • Review from Brandy W.

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    • 1 friend
    • 5 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    3.0 star rating
    2/8/2012

    I love deep dish pizza, so I did enjoy my meal, but I wish the pizza had more sauce.    I had the vegi deep dish with sausage added (does that make any sense?) and enjoyed the toppings very much.  I had delivery.  I will try it again.

  • Review from Scott F.

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    • 2 friends
    • 7 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    2/8/2012

    Come on, Gino's is one of the better pies in the city and from the looks of my tummy, i have tried them all.  I live on the west side, so this is my Gino's of choice, but all of them have always had good food.  If you havent had(whats wrong with you), give it a try.

  • Review from Ryan H.

    Prospect Heights, IL

    4.0 star rating
    2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here

    Had a great lunch here, we called ahead to get our pizza started (which is highly recommended) so our pizza came about 5 minutes after being seated. Gino's is tied with Giordano's for my favorite deep-dish. The service here is fast and friendly.

  • Review from Angelica E.

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    • 20 friends
    • 58 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    12/26/2011

    So recently I had a friend come in from out of town and it was her first time in Chicago.  So I was like....ding ding ding you have to try the deep dish pizza!  Gino's was right next to her hotel so we made that short walk right on over.  This was my first time trying Gino's because I'm such a fan to Giordano's!  I must say that it was very good and my friend was melting in her seat ha ha!  I think the next time shes in town we will mos def hit this place back up!

  • Review from Josh L.

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    • 3 friends
    • 35 reviews

    Philadelphia, PA

    4.0 star rating
    1/5/2012

    Can't say I like the pizza or not as im not a super meat lover, but if you ever visit Chicago you gotta try their unique meat-plate like kind of pizza thats only available in Chitown!

  • Review from Diane Z.

    Brooklyn, NY

    3.0 star rating
    11/22/2011

    Nice to visit, and the sauce is good.. But it really wasn't anything that special. It has a dive bar feel because of all the graffiti, but the size of the restaurant makes it feel more like a Friday's.

  • Review from Josh B.

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    • 0 friends
    • 56 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    Updated - 9/24/2011

    Actually, I was just going over my notes and I'm improving my rating for Gino's East.  The reason?  Great customer service.

    We ordered an appetizer that they ran out of, and without prompting they gave us a giant salad for free in its place.  Kudos to their manager/staff for this.

    Pizza Due is still better pizza, but Gino's is a good time for a large group.

    More extensive review here: http://www.fuzzychef.o...

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 3.0 star rating
      9/19/2011

      Pretty good.  I think if I ate meat, I would have enjoyed the pizza more.  The vegetarian pizza… Read more »

  • Review from Alan V.

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    • 2 friends
    • 19 reviews

    Fontana, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/14/2011

    Usually my first stop after checking into my hotel in Chicago.  I love their pizza and the atmosphere.  Service is pretty good but like all deep dish pizza, order it first as it takes a while to cook (typical of all deep dish pizza places).  My wife and I are on the walls along with the countless others.

  • Review from Lauren O.

    Van Nuys, CA

    4.0 star rating
    7/30/2011

    Before I begin this review, I have to explain that I went to Gino's on a weekend getaway a while ago and I am unsure about which location I went to while I was in Chicago.

    So anyways..... I had been dying to try some real Chicago-style pizza forever. I live in Los Angeles and the closest I have had to Chicago style pizza is Numero Uno. *Hang head in shame*

    So my Purdue Friends and I went to a Gino's location and had a pizza that was half supreme and half cheese deep dish style and calamari. The calamari was great and accompanied with hot marinara sauce; I love a good plate of calamari *drool*

    The pizza was an experience. The crust was sweet and kinda tasted like it had a corn bread based crust. The pizza was so thick and it had the toppings on the bottom, cheese in the middle, more toppings and then sauce. You literally had to use a knife and folk to partake in the deliciousness of this pizza. I really liked the pizza and I am now a fan of Chicago-style pizza.

    No tips or hints about this place, just enjoy :-)

  • Review from Milana L.

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    • 8 friends
    • 1 review

    Chicago, IL

    1.0 star rating
    12/10/2011

    This is definitely the worst pizza I have ever ate in my life...ordered the thin crust pesto basil pizza and it was inedible, literally...the pizza tasted like it was made two days ago and the crust wasnt even good either.

    Cheese bread - dont bother, just melted cheese w/ragu marinara sauce on a baguette.

    Garlic sticks werent bad though.

  • Review from Renita M.

    Lombard, IL

    4.0 star rating
    6/18/2011

    Amused to find this is technically Chicago, as it's basically Rosemont. In the shadow of O'Hare, between hotels and office buildings, this Gino's is tucked back from the road a little, but keep going, you'll find it.

    We were picking up a friend at the airport, he was famished, so straight off for some deep dish we went. It was early, so we were seated promptly, but it took the wait staff a while to get to us.

    We ordered toasted ravioli, mozzarella sticks and a large deep dish pepperoni -- standard fare. All were precisely what you expect, piping hot, lots of cheese.

    Our waiter was pretty good but not great, and we waited a while at times for plates to be cleared, drinks to be refilled, etc. So a star off for that.

    Otherwise, this is exactly what we were looking for, and we left full and happy.

  • Review from Nina I.

    Park Ridge, IL

    3.0 star rating
    8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Unlike many people I know I'm not really a Gino's East girl. The pizza is super stringy, hot and deep dish but once it goes cold good luck getting back to taste normal. It also doesn't really taste as fresh as I think homemade pizza should. It has a very popular name and tourists would surely stop by just because of the name but unfortunately that's all there is to it. If this place had better ingredients for their pizza and maybe waitresses that could actually speak english it would be more appealing to me.

    One thing I did like however, is the outdoor seating.

  • Review from Katy e.

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    • 0 friends
    • 6 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    5.0 star rating
    1/10/2012

    The pizza is the best! its worth the wait and one piece is like a slice of heaven!

  • Review from Jason B.

    Scottsdale, AZ

    3.0 star rating
    7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here

    A friend of mine had a large party here a few weeks ago.  There were probably 50 people there and the spread was pretty good.  Plenty of appetizers, salads and pizzas.  Although I cannot comment on the price or the process of organizing such a thing, everything went off perfectly to my eyes anyway.  All the waiters and waitresses were very helpful and friendly and I had zero complaints except for one....

    I didn't really like the pizza.  While they were chock-full of great stuff; the flavor was pretty bland.  Just tasted like a ton of sauce and mozzarella....blah.  The crust was also not very good at all.  It was very flaky and dry...like apple pie or something.

  • Review from Rasheda H.

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    • 12 friends
    • 33 reviews

    Kansas City, MO

    4.0 star rating
    10/3/2011

    Now THIS is how you do pizza! Came here last 4th of july with my family. I love the atmosphere here. Customer service was great. Wasnt too annoying or spending too much time away from us. We no longer have an Uno's in KC =( so this is the deep dish pizza that I miss!! Can't wait to come back!

  • Review from Karen B.

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    • 77 friends
    • 82 reviews

    Cincinnati, OH

    5.0 star rating
    4/24/2011

    I was so thoroughly excited and impressed to have gotten to eat here! There were so many good vibes out there from my friends, the Food Network and online reviews to try their Deep Dish Pizza!! After coming in from the snow, sitting down in their graffiti covered booths, I was thrilled to taste the famous pizza.

    It was perfection. Us three girls shared a large and I can honestly say I was full after one slice. They were so big. The crust was perfectly crunchy and buttery, the cheese was just melted perfectly that it stretched when we separated pieces. The service was fabulous and the atmosphere was so "Chicago."

    I enjoyed every minute of my experience here and can't wait to go back. You Chicago-ans are so lucky you get to have this whenever you want!

  • Review from Matt W.

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    • 1 friend
    • 15 reviews

    Manhattan Beach, CA

    3.0 star rating
    8/18/2011

    I was recently in Chicago 8/10/11 for a BIDNESS trip and was told to eat at Gino's East, it's almost an institution, I was told.

    I will give it a 2nd try next time I am in Chi-town but really, I dont get what all the fuss is about.
    I had the thin crust sausage, the crust was really hard, is that normal?
    That said, I was very pleased with the place, the service, and the quality of the food.
    The bartender Mariola was either having a rough day or jsut not nto it but thats ok, we all have our days.

    The experience certainly didn't change my preference of type of pizza, but regardless, I would go back here should I find myself in the area once again.
    I go 3 1/2 stars

  • Review from Michael F.

    Brooklyn, NY

    4.0 star rating
    9/13/2011

    This was way better than Giordano's. More buttery crust, fillings were about the same quality, but Giordano's were assembled in a more pie-like fashion. Gino's fillings were more like pizza casserole. This was better, and delicious, and I regret not eating more.

  • Review from Dina G.

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    • 31 friends
    • 86 reviews

    Eastbourne, East Sussex

    UK
    5.0 star rating
    6/14/2011

    Walking along the magnificent mile (Michigan avenue), you try to mind your own business...who am I kidding...You become nosey as anything. Well anyway we noticed a queue  extending from a board, proudly highlighted Gino's East, down the block easily 20ft long. Curiosity didnt kill this cat, in fact this cat got fed! :) The mother-load of all pizzas. Chicago's infamous deep dish pizzas are sensational. I dont think any pizza in the world can possibly stand up to the almighty cheesorino. Not to go completely Ned Flanders (from the simpsons) but this pizza will do things to you! amazing tasteful things. The service is ace and location key! The interior strange yet unique and wonderful. Actors and Actresses badged to the walls. The perfect American experience.

    AMERICA IS AWESOME!!!!!!

    The one place I bow to and accept the need to queue for food.

  • Review from Rick C.

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    • 2 friends
    • 23 reviews

    Decatur, GA

    4.0 star rating
    9/15/2011

    I was told to visit here by buddies who swear by deep dish pizza. I went in and ordered the standard sausage and cheese pizza. I must say while it wasn't a life changing, it definitely was delicious.

    The sausage in/on the pizza was the best I've ever tasted on pizza. The crust was very crispy. Its so rich and good  you can only eat 2 pieces at the most (well most people).

    Definitely going back when I come back to Chicago....

  • Review from Shirl C.

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    • 10 friends
    • 69 reviews

    Moorpark, CA

    1.0 star rating
    5/29/2011

    So I'm not a big deep dish pizza fan, and have to admit Uno's frozen deep dish was a lot better than Gino's East and Giordano's..
    My friends (4) and I got the medium vegetarian pizza, which ended up being waaay too much for four girls, who also ordered an appetizer.  I know its the waiters job to sell whatever and anything they can to the customers, but was still annoyed he lied about how filling the pizza really is.  Definitely will not be going back..not just because of the 45 min. wait for the pizza, the crap-tastic filled pizza, but also the crappy service.

  • Review from Ca C.

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    • 0 friends
    • 62 reviews

    Kailua-Kona, HI

    3.0 star rating
    7/16/2011

    I have had better Chicago pizza in other cities. sorry. Maybe it was bad day in the kitchen but my supreme pizza was

    1. watery
    2. soggy

    However, sausage patty on pizza was tasty.

  • Review from Myron M.

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    • 0 friends
    • 7 reviews

    Cherry Hill, NJ

    4.0 star rating
    8/9/2011

    I was recently in Chicago for a personal trip and was told to eat at Gino's East, it's almost an institution, I was told.

    Now, I'm a New York pizza kind of guy. I prefer my pies thin enough that I can fold a slice without breaking it. This does not affect my review in any way, shape or form though. I just wanted to say that in terms of pizza, I don't go for deep-dish.

    That said, I was very pleased with the place, the service, and the quality of the food. Being able to write on the walls is a nice kitsch-y touch. The server I had, though she was a little forgetful (and it wasn't a packed hour), was very accommodating and pleasant.

    She told us that it would take about 45 minutes to make our pie, which me and my friend didn't mind, because the pizza was worth it. The sauce wasn't overspiced, the cheese didn't taste like it's from a cardboard box, and the crust certainly lived up to expectations. I like the contrast of the sweet crust with the salty sausages and the sour-sweet tomato sauce.

    The experience certainly didn't change my preference of type of pizza, but regardless, I would go back here should I find myself in the area once again.

  • Review from Chad J.

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    • 209 friends
    • 213 reviews

    Garden City, NY

    5.0 star rating
    9/9/2011

    meat lovers deep dish

    highly recommend must try when visiting Chicago!!

  • Review from Hope L.

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    • 5 friends
    • 8 reviews

    Hyattsville, MD

    4.0 star rating
    7/26/2011

    My buddy LOVES THIS PLACE!! He swears by Gino's and finally got me there. I must admit this is a one of a kind pizza place. You can write on the walls (except for the few places it isn't allowed) and it is such an original personality like no other. The pizza is layered in sauce, meat (they make there own "sausage patty") and crust. It's deep dish and just simply melts in your mouth. The waiter was great! Very knowledgeable of the history of the place and details of everything on the menu. He was kind enough to take time to break everything down for me. Nice family spot. The toasted ravioli was good.

    Overall it was a pleasant experience and I am looking forward to going back.

  • Review from Charles J.

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    • 10 friends
    • 14 reviews

    Slidell, LA

    5.0 star rating
    6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here

    I was weary of eating pizza at a place that was so close to O'Hare in a commercialized area.  After all being from Chicago, you know where you can find good pizza.  The plus to this place is that there was no accompanying 1-2 hour wait to sit down and eat like at other locations around the city.  The pizza turned out to be quite delicious and just as good as my downtown favorite.  I wasn't too impressed with the appetizer, but it was more for tiding over until the pizza arrived.  All in all, if I'm ever near O'Hare and have a hankering for pizza, Gino's will be the top of my list.  Not an absolute must if you live in Chicago, but if you're in the area, definitely check this place out.  A personal pizza lasted me three meals, so while it may have cost $15, it made up for it's price over the long run.

    Those who gave it low ratings obviously had no clue about Chicago pizza.  If you want pasta, don't go to a pizza place.  And if you're on a diet, don't go to a pizza place.  Deep dish pizza is not for the calorie conscientious...

  • Review from Alison H.

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    • 6 friends
    • 64 reviews

    Rochester, MN

    2.0 star rating
    4/17/2011

    OMG, I can't believe I ate here. It had something to do with it being right across the parking lot from the Marriott O'Hare, in a drab hotel wasteland.

    My only advice to you is that even if you are on a diet, ditch it and don't order anything but the pizza if you go here. I tried to eat something 'lighter' by getting the mostaccioli with marinara sauce, and it was overcooked to the point of falling apart, and the sauce was nothing to write home about either. The caesar salad and the garlic bread were reasonable and could have warranted an A-OK, but I don't care how good the pizza is, an Italian restaurant should be ashamed to be serving pasta like that.

  • Review from Guiseppe D.

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    • 28 friends
    • 116 reviews

    Schiller Park, IL

    4.0 star rating
    3/7/2011

    The pizza here is pretty good. I don't give it five stars because it's not anything out of the world, or not anything you could find at a dozen other places in Chicago.

    Most notably, people tend to comment on the pizza crust at Gino's East. It's nice and thick, a great crusty flake to it, but not hard enough that it'll hurt to try and chew. The crust's dough is very similar to a cornbread crust, if you can imagine that on your pizza.

    I've ordered probably 8 different types of pizza from here and have been satisfied with each one. The two we order most are the Meaty Legend, which is an assortment of different meats baked into your pizza (sausage, bacon, canadian bacon, pepperoni, etc.), and will easily keep the next meat fanatic content. And the other we most commonly order is the sausage patty. They actually bake a large sausage patty into it's own layer into your pizza.

    With a great menu, flavorful crust, and overall incredible ingredients to go with the typical Chicago deep dish pizza, who can complain?

  • Review from Sunny Q.

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    • 2 friends
    • 14 reviews

    Houston, TX

    2.0 star rating
    3/26/2011

    I took a group of 12 to Gino's East for a pizza party on a Sunday. If I had it to do over again, I'd pick another place.

    When we first got there, we were seated in the wrong area so we had to relocate. Not a big deal normally but I had a 67 & 73 year old in the group.

    We had preordered our food so salads were waiting on the tables.  They were tasty and generous.  The pizzas were good - no complaints. The last items was the cookies which were disgusting.

    Service was lackluster. Despite the fact that I had ordered our pizzas a couple of months on advance, it still took almost an hour to get them once we were seated.  We requested pitchers of root beer which were also long in coming and never replenished despite a request.

    I know this is supposed to be a Chicago staple but I was incredibly unimpressed.

  • Review from Brian W.

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    • 15 friends
    • 68 reviews

    Prospect Heights, IL

    5.0 star rating
    2/23/2011 1 Check-in Here

    How can you beat cornbread crust? Gino's East pizza is heaven on a plate. I don't really think it coincidence that halos and Gino's East pizza are both round. The crust is crispy, slightly sweet, and delicious. The toppings are buried like hidden treasure under their amazing fresh sauce.

    While the pie is the main attraction, its not the only thing worth going here for. The beer selection is pretty descent and goes well beyond macro brew swill. They have a full bar as well if that's your thing. Gino's also serves up sandwiches and Italian favorites.

  • Review from Jamie W.

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    • 1 friend
    • 4 reviews

    Scottsdale, AZ

    4.0 star rating
    12/3/2011

    Outstanding deep dish. Was at RSNA this week. My buddy and I went to Gino's East downtown. Started off with calamari. It was fresh and hand battered. Really good. Next was authentic chicago deep dish pizza. By far the best I've had. Prices are reasonable and the service is solid. Watched the owner or manager (don't know which) give a sandwich and drink to a homeless man. Classy move. Great food, decent prices. Go if you get the chance.

  • Review from Mike L.

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    • 5 friends
    • 90 reviews

    Forest Park, IL

    1.0 star rating
    9/7/2011

    Che scifosso! This place is the WORST! Doesn't hold a candle to Gino's East on Superior or even at Diversey and Lincoln! They should be stripped of the Gino's East name!!! The sauce, the doh, everything is different and LOUSY!!! I ordered twice for pick up and BOTH times I felt nauseous.  Either FOLLOW the original recipe or CLOSE YOUR DOORS!!!

  • Review from mikie b.

    Manchester

    UK
    3.0 star rating
    7/19/2011

    To caveat, I am not a fan of deep dish. But that being said, Gino's East does it right, and is the place I recommend for out of town guests looking to have an authentic deep dish experience. Thick, doughy crust, great sauce and toppings galore. It's a great place to try your first deep dish.

  • Review from Megan M.

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    • 6 friends
    • 22 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    5.0 star rating
    9/2/2011

    LOVE! Another place in Chicago that reminds me of my Dad...but seriously the best pizza in the whole wide world!

  • Review from Emily W.

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    11/28/2010

    Some great 'za to start my visit!  The crust was buttery and crisp enough but not so sharp where it cuts your mouth up.    

    I was excited to try the chopped salad but was sorta disappointed in the iceberg lettuce w macaroni noodles.  It was interesting but sort of blah.  The garlic breadsticks were fab tho!

  • Review from Hion L.

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    • 187 friends
    • 318 reviews

    Fullerton, CA

    4.0 star rating
    8/2/2010

    I keep hearing the hype about NY pizza vs Chicago Deep Dish and which one is better.  It has embroiled two mega-cities in a competition that has mostly ended in stalemates by many of the food shows.  Very few dare to tread into this emotional arena.  I will attempt to put an end to the debate and make the mother of all judgements - which is better?  And who better than to officiate such a contest than someone like me, a Californian with no emotional roots to the whole thing.

    All of my research indicated that my best Chi-Town contender to start with was Gino's East.  It was also the closest one to my hotel.  I had to wait in horrifically cold weather for an hour before I even got in to the restaurant.  Ok, I admit this is relative in terms.  To a Californian, horrifically cold means anything below 60 degrees.  Then it took another hour to get the sausage patty pizza.  I got my first slice and was delighted, horrified, and shocked at the same time.  Look at the girth of this thing!!! This is one slice?!?!?  The only comparison I can think of was when I saw John Holmes for the first time on film in junior high. Freeeeakish! This is not a pizza that is to be picked up - no hand job here.  It is a task best conquered with the fork and knife.

    I quickly took a bite and was immediately burned by the still bubbling melty cheese on the bottom. Yup, this is gonna hurt tomorrow, when I eat Garret's popcorn!  The flavors were amazing - extreme garlicky tomato sauce with herbs that is rivaled only by  the private collection of Mama Celeste.  And there was sausage in every bite cuz it was layered on the entire bottom of the pizza.  Oh how I love Chicago!  The crust was a buttery cornmeal type, a bit bland but a sturdy vehicle for all of the topping.  After one slice, I was good.  I ate one more for good measure, but had to end it there.

    So, the final decision - NY vs Chicago....please give it up! In the words of Rodney King, "can't we all just get along?"  You cannot compare the two and it is a disservice to both cities to try.  Of course each person has a personal preference, but to make a generalization, it's like trying to compare which mode of transportation is better, the motorcycle or the car? One gets you the girls, the other prevents you from being spread on the asphalt like peanut butter.

    What the real question everyone should be asking is how is it that in either city, valet parking is cheaper than paid public parking????

    Best Thing - sausage pizza

  • Review from Carl T.

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    • 46 friends
    • 93 reviews

    Hayward, CA

    5.0 star rating
    9/8/2010 1 photo 1 Check-in Here

    First time here. Visiting from California and I know had to try some deep dish pizza.

       Service is great very fast and a very calm atmosphere.

    Location: it's a bummer it's in the back of a plaza. But it's like a hidden gem type of thing.

    Food: had the bruschetta for appetizer and it was great but I just wish it was the fresh kind of bruschetta. It was almost like one of those breakfast pizzas you buy at Costco but more flavorful. Another way to describe it would be that it's like a deep dish bruschetta haha. For pizza we had half meaty legend and half supreme. It was really flavorful although the meaty legend felt like a heart attack it was really well prepared. The meat was Juicy and tasty. The supreme was also well prepared the vegetables were crunchy and not all mush like some pizzas. I love how the sauce was a little more wet than usual. Really really well prepared 100% 5 stars for food alone

    Experience: the pizza was worth the wait. Only bad was the location and it's not even that big of a deal that its in the back of some business buildings.

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