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Great Lake
- Nearest Transit:
-
Berwyn (Red Line)
- Hours:
Wed-Sat 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
243 reviews for Great Lake
Review Highlights
"Fresh ingredients and delicious homemade crust and sauce."
(in 20 reviews)
"The crust was perfectly crispy, chewy, and flavorful."
(in 100 reviews)
"I'm sure they love Alan Richman."
(in 12 reviews)
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243 reviews in English
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Review from Erica J.
2/2/2012
Great Lake had a mention in Esquire some time ago claiming it to be the best pizza around. I had never ventured all the way up to Andersonville for dinner when I actually lived in Chicago, so while visiting over a weekday and it was suggested we drive up there; I was in.
You should call before you go because 1) they run out of things 2) it is small, nay, tiny, so if you plan on eating in you better figure that out beforehand. 3) it takes a while to get your pizza 5) the hours of operation can be odd 4) the menu changes frequently and you might not like what they are offering. That being said, we called ahead and ordered, and drove there about an hour and a half later, we were $55 poorer and had two armfuls of pizza. I would be more dismayed by the price, but honestly, that's what you pay for quality pies when you dine in anywhere, so I'm not sure what all the price shock is about. One of the pies was a garlicky spinach pie and the other was a caramelized onion and house made chorizo pie. I didn't try the chorizo, but the spinach pizza was very very good. The crust was perfect, not too crispy, not too soft, and very salty, which I thought was a nice compliment to usually lack-luster crusts.
Overall, I would go back. I think this a great place for people who appreciate fine food, not just convenience or value. -
Review from Danielle S.
Bensenville, IL
2/5/2012
I appreciated the locally- and naturally-focused menu and ingredients and even the packaging for leftovers (simple aluminum foil instead of bulky, environmentally hazardous styrofoam or plastic boxes).
I enjoyed the open kitchen.
I loved the hefty amount of toppings.
BUT.
As another reviewer said, the crust is much like good-quality bread.
The pizza does get quite floppy near the center (though stays intact).
It's good pizza, but it's easy to say I've had better.
The beet salad we had was a laughably paltry amount of thin beet slices. Altogether, it probably amounted to a single small beet with sprinkle of cheese and pile of wispy greens on top -- all for $11.
Overall, the pizza is good but not among the best and for the price and service, it's not worth a special trip. -
Review from Pascal M.
Naperville, IL
1/31/2012
Worth a go, but I doubt most would revisit.
I'm not one to ever complain about waiting for something good. So I wont. However, reviewers are right about the attitude of the staff. I typically don't pay any attention to bad attitudes, because it's easy to rise above. However, I can certainly see the vast majority of their customers being offended and upset as your treated like a nuisance and ignorant sheep.
The pizzas good, but that national review a few years back about it being "the best" was blasphemy. I do love their "Barefoot Contessa" style of ingredients. The small kitchen that's noticeable looks like something straight from Ina Garten's TV show. They use organic ingredients from a list of reputable farms.
The crust on the outside is out of this world. However it gets pretty flimsy towards the middle. Annnnnnnd, I kinda thought they were cheating. The crust reminds me of some good quality bread.
Good pizza, not best. -
Review from Eric B.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2012
Worth the trip to Andersonville.
The pizza was delicious. You could taste the fresh ingredients. The outside of the crust was crisp and the inside very soft.
BYOB aspect was great. This place is small. Like 14 people, 3 table small. We had to wait an hour to get a seat, but for a Saturday night with no reservations, what would you expect.
We got the #1 and the #4. delishhhhh -
Review from Tabitha J.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
Wow. My friend and I had been curious about this eatery in our 'hood ever since I read some gossip recently... That Jay-Z and Beyonce were turned away from Great Lake (which was recommended to them by Kanye in December '11). A restaurant not in the biz of celebrity endorsement and preferential treatment given to celebrities and high-rollers? Intriguing! And...suhwheet!
When we first went on search of the place, we had trouble seeing it even though it turned out it was right smack in front of our faces... A tiny, curtained storefront hidden away on Balmoral, just east of Clark in Andersonville. The place resembled -- from what we could envision amid the drawn curtains and knick knacks in the front window -- a down on its' luck antique store, closed for the time being. My friend noticed the restaurant's hours of operation on the door, however... Wed - Sat.We were out of luck.
Several weeks later we took another stab at it and, lo and behold, it was open (though we could barely tell as the curtains were still drawn and it was slightly difficult to find the front door (or perhaps my friend and i are somewhat clueless, who knows? ;-). Anyway, we entered to find two 2-person tiny tables and one 'community' table that could seat about 6 That's IT. We were greeted and told to take a seat at the community table (which currently was filled with a couple and their two young children).
The waitress was friendly, and the menu was small and succinct. I overheard another customer ask about substitutions ... He was answered with a swift yet firm response. As the chef puts a great deal of time, effort and experimentation into each and every menu item to make them just perfect, no substitions are permitted. I kind of liked that, in this day of "oh can i have this, but i'm allergic to that, and i really don't like THAT at all, can I substitute this other thing..." DUDE, you are not at your kitchen table. Order an item off the menu and be done with it!
We ordered what seemed to be the most popular pizza of the day (as we, a couple next to us, and the aforementioned couple with kids all ordered the same). Slightly pricey at $25 per pie, it was well worth the price AND hype. What was ordered:
#3. Spinach, Garlic, Goat Cheddar, Dante Aged Cheese growing power fresh spinach, nichols farm fresh garlic, nordic creamery grumpy goat cheddar cheese, wsdc dante aged sheep's milk cheese, cor arbequina ev olive oil, sel gris de guérande (grey sea salt).
We also started with a deliciously fresh:Farmers Market Salad local and seasonal greens/vegetables, la nogalera walnuts, sel gris de guérande (grey sea salt) with homemade dressing: herb/buttermilk or mustard vinaigrette at $12.00.
In this age of portion overload, the portions were just right. And the pizza was amazing. The most delectably tender and buttery spinach I have ever tasted... Supported by a crust hearty enough to support it, yet flavorful and bubbly enough not to weigh the pizza down. Extremely rich and decadent, my friend and I both left with two hearty slices to take home ... And a vow to revisit Great Lake again... Often.
Two thumbs up; best pizza I've had in the city (Beating local faves Spacca Napoli, Antica, Apart Pizza Co. and Coalfire)!
Try it... You will leave satisfied and brimming with goodness. Byob! -
Review from Andrew M.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2012
Echo all the 'rude' comments. If you're not going to seat someone, that's fine - but don't treat them like they're complete idiots.
I won't come back to give it another shot. -
Review from Billy W.
Chicago, IL
1/20/2012
I would never ever go out of my way to eat this pizza again. Extremely overpriced, and their toppings are actually worse than okay. It took them entirely way too long to make three pizzas (an hour and 45 minutes). Extremely disappointing and I rarely get disappointed with anything in life, but when you're paying 25 dollars (at least) per pie, you expect something special. Don't believe the hype.
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Review from David F.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
Oh Great Lake how you have stolen the show, pizza was already good then you went ahead and just destroyed what we all thought we knew......thanks, you have made pizza more pizzaish, you have sauced the sause and you have made a chicagoan a cheese head......you are impossible to beat.
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Review from David C.
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Man, this place certainly inspires a lot of emotion. Just writing a review to give a data point. Came in here on a Saturday night in October. At 6:30 p.m., we did not have to wait at all for two people. Our server was pleasant and attentive. We brought booze from Andersonville Wine and Spirits, which is a great store and only two blocks away. The roasted cauliflower salad with fennel was excellent, as was the pizza with speck and onion. The salad and a pizza were more than enough for two people.
Is this the best pizza in the United States? It's pretty darn good, but a food writer making "best" lists is more about selling magazines. Let's just say it's worth a trip to Andersonville.
There are a lot of comments about the attitude of the owners (there is a guy making the pizzas and a woman managing; I think the server is an employee). To be honest, the owners just seemed busy and concentrating on their tasks. It's tough to be knocking out all of the back of house tasks, in addition to putting on the front of the house smiley face. Seriously, most chefs at work look like the world pooped on their doorstep. Plus the owners were polite in our limited interactions. No issue from my viewpoint.
The place is expensive, but you make it back with BYOB. Just bring in a $50 bottle of wine, which would sell for $150 in a restaurant, and it's like you are making money! -
Review from Megan J.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2011
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. The pizza is truly sublime. Believe me when I say - they really care about their product and work painstakingly to deliver the most delicious pizza possible. These are beautifully crafted pies. I've taken several out of towners - and while it is not the Chicago Pizza they've heard about it - they are never disappointed. Never.
And there are no more infamous waiting lines. When you arrive - they take your cell ph# and call you when seating is available. You can spend that time grabbing a drink or window shopping.
The service is always good and I love the "lady with the bandana".
One quirky thing - tips are cash only. So be sure to bring some.
and BYOB - which I love.
This is a MUST GO kind of place. Really. -
Review from Dan O.
Chicago, IL
10/21/2011
It was a cold rainy October day and I set out on a journey up north in search of the one thing that was going to ease my hunger... some freakin good pizza. I was a little thrown back when we first walked in and realized that this place is absolutely tiny. We immediately received a few stares as if we had walked into a movie party in which the record screeches to a halt and everyone looks at you as if you don't belong. The woman at the front desk put our name on the list, took our phone number, and mentioned she would call us when a table opened. We ventured back out in to the cold in search of a local watering hole. I started feeling as if maybe the reviews were right simply based upon our experience walking in. We eventually found a pub a little down Clark and before we could even order a beer we received the call. We quickly scurried back and claimed our table.
We popped our wine and started to peruse the small menu. My date and I started with the salad with the herb buttermilk dressing. It was, well, good. Nothing to write home about, but overall a solid starter. Then came the pizza, oh the pizza. Maybe it was because I was in the mood for pizza, was utterly starving, or that I had already put down a couple glasses of wine, but this pizza was exceptional. So good it makes you want to slap yo momma (sorry I always wanted to say that in a review). First, the pizza was perfectly cooked. The crust was nice and crispy, but not burnt. The cheese was slightly browned, but not over cooked. The fresh/delicious ingredients were not over done and perfectly spread out. I sure don't consider myself a pizza snob, but all in all it was scrumdiddlyumptious. I'm not saying that this was the best pie I've ever inhaled, but definitely slides into my top 3.
I guess the real reason I felt compelled to post a review was that the staff was extremely courteous. Our waitress was patient and happy to answer any questions we had. I walked in with visions of the soup Nazi. Thinking some guy from across the counter was going to yell "NO PIZZA FOR YOU!" after I asked for a recommendation. This could not have been further from the truth. We were the last customers in the place and all three employees even said thank you before we made our way out the door. Were they over the top polite? No, but by no means were they rude. Maybe we just picked a good night to go, maybe they've changed their ways, maybe it was that I was expecting horrible service, maybe the other yelpers just love to complain, but I could not have been more happy with my experience. -
Review from Daniel M.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2011
Ok, so this is my first negative review and let me tell you they earned it. If I could give negative stars I would.
I don't expect people at every restaurant I go to kiss my butt, but they can at least treat me like a person and not be a condescending d-bag. And those are the type of people that work here, so be ready for attitude if you walk through the doors here. If you can't be a decent person while interacting with people, the restaurant industry may not be the best place to work. - 2 stars for arrogance and bad attitude of employees.
Another point to make here is the restaurant set up itself. If you don't have a decent size dining area, you need to pick a new location that at least offers enough space for a few more tables. I think the owner's want to feel like their product is in high demand so they keep the dining area as small as possible making people wait long amounts of time before they can be seated. I call this the Flight of the Conchords approach. You know when they played the "sold out" elevator gig, or the "sold out" van gig. Big spaces are overrated, it's all about being "sold out." -1 star for bad set up.
One word to describe this pizza, salt! The other reviewers on here are correct. The people that make these pizzas love them some salt. [ Note to Mayor Emanuel, if the city is running low on salt for the streets this winter, come here and offer to buy their inventory of salt. You can probably clear a few neighborhoods with the amount of salt on the 2 pizzas we had alone!] I actually liked the well done crust, but that was the only thing I liked about this place. And then there is the price...... dios mio man! This better be some of the best pizza ever for what they are charging. The 2 pies we had, which weren't that big were a total of $55. I wonder how much of the $55 dollars I spent went towards their salt budget? I've had far better Neapolitan pizza in NYC(and I HATE giving NYC any props when it comes to any style of pizza) and Chicago than this place. I have no problem paying more money than I probably should, as long as the food is great. Definitely not the case here. - 3 stars for bad food, -1 additional star for pricing of said bad food.
So the 1 star rating is actually doing Great Lake a favor, it should be - 2 stars. This guy from GQ is entitled to his opinion, but I don't see how he can put this in the top 50 in America let alone #1. I wouldn't even put in the top 50 on the north side, let alone all of Chicago and the whole US of A. -
Review from Andrew D.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2011
This Pizza is decent, that being said it was $35 and some change. I would give it two stars because of the price and what you actually receive but the lady who took our carry out order was very helpful and pleasant to my girlfriend.
We ordered the Dante, with tomato sauce and added mortadella. It was just ok. It was very small it will only feed two, maybe three if you allot two slices. This pizza looked pretty loaded with toppings but the onions and crust just seemed to lack flavor. The cheese and meat were good, not good enough to warrant the cost. I just couldn't get over the cost of this pizza, It just isn't worth it. -
Review from Dora V.
6/15/2011 ROTD 6/22/2011
Tie my bandana, I have joined the cult.
All that stuff about Great Lake being the best pizza in Chicago? It's true. But it doesn't come easy.
The place feels like a kitchen on a communist cult compound. Be cool. Don't ask questions. Follow someone else's lead. Just...act...natural.
I admit it; I only skimmed the reviews, and all I registered was that the pizza was magnificent. My eyes fell upon such superlatives as, "perfect," "to die for", and "best in the city," and I was compelled. I really had no idea what I was in for.
The place is as small as the little end of nothin' sharpened. There are two two-tops and a picnic table. The two of us were seated in the center of the picnic table between two groups. It's the boobs' spot. Both groups ceased their conversations and turned to stare at us as we were seated. It was awkward. Great Lake is going for a communal feeling, but it doesn't really fly. If you're going to sit me on someone's lap, introduce me first. Perhaps they should provide name-tag stickers. That could help break the ice.
The posted list of local supplier farmers and producers is more than twice the length of the menu itself. As a member of the cult, you love this. You really, really care.
The menu is exclusive. Want an appetizer? You will have the salad. That's all there is. You have two dressings to choose between, and you will relish the choice.
There are precisely 3 pizzas. Each one is 14 inches and 23 or 24 dollars. Each pizza has its own choices for toppings, and each topping is 4 or 5 dollars. That's right. 4 dollars for spring onions, and somehow it's WORTH IT.
The pizza was truly magnificent. Good lord! It was superb. The crust is the proverbial Kool-Aid. Crispy, chewy, and beautifully bubbled, each bite is a singular indulgence. The slight tang of the sourdough tickles the tongue and takes the taste buds to heaven. I found myself chewing ultra-slowly and closing my eyes in delight as I did so. More on the pizza after this brief public service announcement.
The service is not really service at all. The bandana-clad pizza-chefs double as servers, and will visit your table exactly thrice. Once to take your order, once to bring your food, once to bring your check. They are not the "Hi! My name is ___" type of server that is there to "take care of you tonight!" They will write down your order. They will bring you your food. They have pizza to toss! They don't have time for jokes, so don't make any.
Thankfully, you can refill your own water from the nifty Scandinavian-designed pitchers on the table. These pitchers are for sale. They sit on a bookshelf full of sundry Scandinavian doodads, better suited to be sold somewhere else. Seriously, they could fit two more tables in that space!
Speaking of missed opportunities: the wasted window nook is a tragedy of monumental proportions. Instead of having one spacious two-top, two cramped two-tops, or a counter overlooking the quaint neighborhood street, the window space is filled with stuff that looks like junk. What is this, a yard sale? Why am I sitting on a stranger when I could be luxuriating in a view of Andersonville and the pleasures of personal space? Why? Because they're commies, that's why.
Use the loo before you show up. The position of the miniscule, unisex bathroom is patently absurd. Who planned this place, Punchinello? If the picnic table is a loud-talker's hell, the trip to the loo is a klutz's worst nightmare. You have to shimmy your way through the cramped kitchen (which is visible to the entire restaurant) past the pizza-making servers who have no choice but to stop what they are doing to let you through. Don't slip! Don't trip! Don't sneeze! Just pray you don't have to go twice.
The atmosphere won't calm nor comfort you, but the pizza is a siren singing your name.
We opted for pizza #1, with tomato sauce, farmers cheese, dante cheese, fresh herbs and grey sea salt. There is a paragraph of description detailing each ingredient and its origin (it's not olive oil, it's California olive ranch arbequina extra virgin olive oil) which is informative, if a bit over the top.
Every bite was transcendent. I totally forgot about my capitalistic quibbles as I reveled in the wonders of flavor and consistency that are usually relegated to my dreams.
I was in bliss. I was beside myself. I'm still wrestling with disbelief. It was worth it! That marvelous, magical pizza was worth every moment of cramped, communist awkwardness and every penny of inflated price.
Do it. Drink the Kool-Aid.Listed in: My Reviews of the Day
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Review from Ramon C.
Chicago, IL
12/28/2011
decent. over priced. tiny.
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Review from Jen A.
New York, NY
9/25/2011
While Great Lake's pizza is tasty, what made this place wonderful was the ambiance. I loved the communal table seating, which lent to conversation with a few locals. I don't understand everyone else's reviews on poor/rude service- while they take no reservations, they were kind enough to take my name and number down on a list and called me when an opening was available. This was really nice and gave me time to grab a drink across the street. Also this a byob spot, which I wish I had known prior (a plus- there was no corking fee). While the service was a bit on the "french" side no one was rude at all.
As an avid GQ reader, I made it a foodie goal to check out every pizza on this list: http://www.gq.com/food...
After a failed attempt to go to great lake during last year's lollapalooza (it was closed for a private party), I finally got to experience Great Lake before labor day weekend. I would definitely return on a future trip to Chicago. -
Review from Aaron L.
Naperville, IL
7/17/2011
Third time here will be my last. This place is so over its not worth coming up with any more adjectives, all that needs to be said is DONE!
There is no line anymore because people are so past their crazy eyes and rude/aloofness that used to be and still exists in a toned down manner.
Far be it from me to give a poor star rating due to any factor other than the food, and the simple fact is THEIR PIZZA SUCKS. -
Review from Chris m.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2011
It's very good obviously. I was one of the first to start going there. The pizza is just the best. I also used to buy stuff from their little gourmet shelf on the right too, Italian tinned tuna, etc. I have just given up on trying to get food (pizza) there. I guess part of being a restaurant I like is actually being able to eat! If someone can tell me how to get pizza there I would appreciate any insight. It really has become a Seinfeld type episode scenario. Apart pizza, Antiqua, Pizza DOC, Fred's at Barney's (actually better in my opinion) and even Francesa's on Bryn M is pretty close and a more pleasant experience. Excellent pizza but just not worth the planning and drama. Takes the spontaneity out of pizza dining. Maybe I'm just not trying hard enough anymore, could be!
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Review from Peter D.
Philadelphia, PA
6/18/2011
Probably the best pizza I've ever had. Talk about perfection. The crust was absolutely phenomenal. The sauce was on point and the rest was just...well perfect.
We waited about 45 minutes to be seated and another 20-25 for our pie. I would highly recommend waiting that long. It's BYOB and the staff while perhaps slightly intimidating is actually pretty funny and just want to give you a great foodie experience.
We even were handed extra pizza after a couple decided to leave 3/4 worth of perfectly good pizza...wherever they are, they should be ashamed.
I can't wait to come back here. The experience was just unbelievable. The price is heavy and the wait is even worse....but the pizza is just SO good. -
Review from Daisy D.
Boston, MA
5/15/2011
3 stars for food
1 star for service/value
I'm sorry, but if I'm going to pay thirty bucks for a 14" pizza it better be the best friggin' pizza I've ever had. Not so at Great Lakes.
The pizza here is good, there is no doubt. The ingredients are fresh, local, and presumably organic.
However, two tries at this place have not impressed me enough for round two of overpriced pizza.
I would recommend ART OF PIZZA for a decent no frills pan style, or PIECE for thin crust. -
Review from Angelo P.
Park Ridge, IL
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food - The ingredients appeared fresh, though I've had better pizza before. I think it's a stretch to consider this as being the best pizza. You can essentially buy the same ingredients from Whole Foods and make an equivalent pizza at home for 1/3 of the price - and mind you Whole Foods isn't necessarily cheap either. We ordered the #1 with mortadella and #3 with bacon. Both pizzas tasted pretty good, but they weren't memorable. The #3 was way too salty.
Service - I went in to place the order around 8:40pm and it seemed there was a slight hesitation to take my order given they close at 9:30pm. Luckily there were no issues. They indicated the pizzas would be ready at 9:40pm; however, when I arrived they hadn't even put the pizzas into the oven. The pizzas were ready at 10pm. They weren't apologetic or recognized the delay, which is one of the reasons I'm giving one star. Given the price tag, you would expect to see more professional service.
Value - The quality of the pizza and service cannot justify the $25-$30 price tag. I recognize they use fresh local ingredients, but even the quality of the takeout pizza box is very cheap and flimsy.
In general if you are the type of person who only shops at whole foods and is obsessed with farmers markets, you may really like this place. Otherwise you can have a better experience shopping the fresh ingredients yourself and making an equivalent or better pizza at home. The only memory to takeaway from our experience is that it did not live up
to the hype and rave reviews. We won't be coming back. -
Review from P W.
Chicago, IL
12/31/2011
Maybe all the hype and publicity have built up a level of expectation that is unrealistic? This was an ok pizza (we had #4, with chorizo, onion, creme fraiche) and the primary taste was salty. It was verrrrry salty. If not slightly offset by the sweet of the onion, it would have been unpleasant, actually. The crust was very very good, chewey inside but slightly crunchy outside. We sat in the middle of two sets of strangers in the small storefront, looking across at each other, wishing we were somewhere else. Tight quarters and a tense atmosphere last night. We tried to order two pizzas and were told we could only have one: they ran out of dough by 7:45pm on a Friday night? We waited over an hour to get in and were then unable to order what we wanted, so that didn't thrill me. Perhaps it would be a better experience had we ordered the piza to go. Oh, but for a 14-15" pizza that cost exactly $27.45 and was just okay, I feel a bit torn. Don't get me wrong, it was not a BAD pizza, but neither was it the best I have had, or the best I have had in Chicago. I would go back and try another pizza, maybe get it to to go next time, and then be a more informed and experienced critic.
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Review from Emma M.
Chicago, IL
6/8/2011
BEST PIZZA, EVER. Worth the price and wait!
You've been warned.
Get the "white" pizza with onions and bacon. Freakin' amazing! -
Review from Steve W.
Chicago, IL
5/12/2011 1 photo
After a pleasant afternoon at the Field Museum, I had a craving for pizza, so I convinced my friend to drop by this cozy spot. If you don't know what to look for, you'd walk straight past this joint.
We came in around 6:00 PM on a saturday, but we only had about a 15 minute wait, which we spent wandering Clark.
But the pizza. Oh the pizza. We had the first item, which was a traditional cheese number with spring onions and young garlic.
The crust is oh so good. It's sturdy enough to hold up without flopping over, and it has a pleasant crunch on the first bite. But it's chewy, just like good thin crust should be. I'd buy a loaf of this stuff. The cheese was perfect and substantial. The garlic was pleasant but not overpowering.
We didn't get anything else, but saw that our neighbors' salads were huge - more than enough for two.
Truly amazing pizza. The service is very hands-off - the place is a step or two removed from being a counter place, but the two front of the house folks were friendly and helpful. Get to it. -
Review from Ben O.
Chicago, IL
3/24/2011
This place had a lot of expectations to live up to. For start my friend calls me to ask if I "wanted to go to this pizza place that was just voted the best pizza in the country" and he'd buy. "Y-E-F*n'-YES" I told him.
THEN he tells me that we had to schedule an APPOINTMENT to pick up our pizza. They could only make our pizza at 7pm apparently, no sooner and no later, and we had to be there at 7pm to pick it up. OK, whatever, I don't make dentist appointments, but I'll make an appointment to eat the best pizza in the country.
THEN I get there promptly for our appointment for "take-out pizza" and the lady tells me it'll be a few minutes. So I wait on a bench while I watch and listen to everyone else eat. I happen to overhear the lady next to me, who was with her 12 year old daughter, tell the woman behind the counter that she drove all the way from Aurora to eat here tonight. Au-fuckin'-rora, can you believe that? Now I'm getting really excited.
THEN, about 15 minutes later (i'm still waiting), they bring out this lady's pizza and set it in front of her. Then the Aurora-lady takes ONE BITE of her pizza and loudly exclaims to the counter lady "OH MY GOD! THIS IS THE BEST PIZZA I'VE *EVER* HAD". That's right .... ONE BITE. And afterwards her eyes rolled back in her head and she made some weird noises that were actually really hot. ALL IN FRONT OF HER 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, she just couldn't hold those feelings inside, I guess. When she regains composure she tells them to bake her another one for the way home ... I'M NOT MAKING ANY OF THIS UP.
THEN, about 15 minutes later (half an hour of waiting), my pizza came, and it was the exact same one the lady-from-Aurora-whose-eyes-rolled-back-in-her-hea d-when-she-took-one-bite-and-moaned-as-she-chewed. So I brought this pizza home with my friend to tag team it.
As soon as the box opened and that pizza displayed all of its goodies, I ate the shit out of it. Not literally, of course. There wasn't any shit in it. But there were WHOLE STRIPS OF BACON baked right into that thing. I don't even like mushrooms but I guarantee that when I took my first bite I moaned a little. Ok, a lot. -
Review from Laura W.
Chicago, IL
3/24/2011
I'm not one to shy from culinary controversy and after finally trying Great Lake, I'm so pleased to add my own enthusiastic five cents and stars to this charming little shop that manages to inspire such impassioned dialogue in this community.
Thanks to yelpers' advice, I showed up to place an order at what is likely the best possible time to avoid the infamous waiting: right when they open on a rainy Wednesday. My companion and I showed up about five minutes before 5 pm and there was only one pair waiting before us.
We ordered #1 (tomato, homemade mozz, aged mona cheese, and fresh herbs) plus requested both possible add-ons: cremini mushrooms and salami. Ours was a take-out order but we would have been able to sit immediately if we'd planned to stay there. We were told there would be a 15-20 minute wait, totally reasonable for any pizza shop and, true to their word, our hot piping pie was ready to go shortly after we returned from a stroll with our dogs around the hood. We got back in time to see that they add the super-thin salami slices to the pizza after they remove it from the oven, so that the salami basically melts onto the surface.
It was a torturous drive home for me, as the passenger with the coveted meal sitting on my lap. I should add that I was acutely hungry- one step away from having the shakes, I was so hungry. That may not have been the ideal state in which to anticipate fine cuisine, since a fast food burger may have tasted gourmet to me in that moment. Nevertheless, I'd say that my senses were actually most discerning and engaged because of the level of my hunger. There's a great quote by the writer H.T. Hamann which feels relevant here: "The awfulest hunger is the type quenched too soon, before it becomes protracted and superior, makes you graceful and clever." My hunger was turning me into something like a super-hero, so trust me, okay?
Let me start with the smells emanating from the box... there was something vaguely sweet about the scent, as if I could just as easily be carrying a box of warm, fresh cinnamon rolls. It was an irresistible aroma- three dogs going crazy in the backseat confirmed this. But, it was not just an appetite-inducing scent. There was something else inspired in me- something amatory and sensual, something like nostalgia.
When it finally came time to eat the pizza, we paired it with a Petite Sirah. And yes, I believe that the tastiness of this food is absolutely worth its hype. I'm not into assigning superlatives, but I cannot readily remember enjoying pizza this much, except for maybe once at a tiny bakery in Aix-en-Provence. My partner-in-consumption ranked it #2 in her own life's span, coming in second after a pizza she ate in New York. It was unadulterated fresh ingredients, without the commonplace element that makes so many pizzas taste essentially the same. The flavors and texture were unique to this pie alone.
I love love love that they keep the menu small, based exclusively on what ingredients are available. This is how food was meant to be prepared and enjoyed. -
Review from Chet M.
Chicago, IL
5/31/2011
Quirky little business that marches to it's own drummer. Yes - the place is super small, you eat at a communal table, there is a charge to throw out your bottles, the bandana lady can kill with a stare, you get service without a smile, no lunch hours, open only 4 days a week, etc.
BUT THE PIZZA IS TO DIE FOR. MOST FLAVORFUL AND UNUSUALLY GREAT ZAA IN THE CITY IF NOT IN THE MIDWEST!
I understand and can feel all the critic's pain. But Great Lake is not about us, the customer. Its about Great Lake the end product and how Great Lake wants to run their business, which is none of our business. Believe me, they are not losing loyal customers or missing the boat on expansion. They are laughing all the way to the bank! -
Review from Daniel H.
Schaumburg, IL
4/23/2011
Truly the BEST pizza I've have ever eaten. I'm a pizza aficionado and have tasted pizza from 3 of the top 25 pizzerias (rated by GQ) in America and I have to agree that this is definitely the best pizza. The ingredients are top notch and he taste is absolutely exquisite.
The pizza is worth the 2 hour wait. -
Review from Kim T.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2011
First of all, I tasted this pizza pre-Alan Richman, so I like to think I'm not biased. However, when I visited, there were no meat toppings offered for my pizza. I repeat, no meat for my pizza. I'm sorry but that is a serious, grievous, minus-two-star offense in my book. I'm a girl who likes her meat, and I don't wanna hear any excuses like I often do in the bedroom. Just kidding about the bedroom, not kidding about Great Lake.
And what's with the limited hours? It's like this place seriously doesn't want my business. Too bad for them. -
Review from amy m.
Highland Park, IL
11/30/2011
The pizza is very good, and we're willing to pay $20+ for a simple pizza. What keeps us from returning is the unwelcoming customer service. Even appreciating the quaint setting and individualized pizza making, when you have to sit in your car to eat the pizza while tables are open (and there is no wait) inside - that is totally unreasonable. No reservations allowed and the inflexibility of service is a deal breaker in a market with other very good options.
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Review from Don F.
Chicago, IL
11/26/2010
Have eaten here once and have attempted to eat there a few more times, but i don't think i am going to try again. When i did go in, I wasn't sure if they wanted me to eat there.
The vibe was almost such that i was imposing on them for coming to inquire about getting a table. Seemed like i was supposed to know a set of unknown rules about how you get a table and when. The times when i tried to eat there, i was scolded because it was too late to get a table.
And, i have to tell you, the pizza was good, but it ain't all that. Go around the corner to Calo as they have delicious pizza without the strange dynamics. -
Review from Diana P.
2/11/2011
Delicious, fresh ingredients and makes you feel like you're in Italy. I give it a 4 instead of a 5 because I wasn't blown away. Perhaps that was due to the fact I've had authentic Italian pizza in Italy and know what its like to be blown away by excellent pizza.
We did carry out and the pizza tasted very fresh and was still warm. I thought the pizza with pepper had a bit too much pepper flavoring but some might enjoy that. Mushrooms are fantastic though, not overpowering.
Each pizza is handmade, esp the crust and you can taste that with every bite.
We called at 7:45 and our pizza was ready to pick up at 8:30 so not much of a wait considering what we expected after reading reviews on YELP. Dining here would be challenging since there are only several tables at the restaurant.
Downside: EXPENSIVE for pizza. $22 plus add ons for mushrooms, bacon, etc. One pizza is good enough for 2 ppl if you're not starving. Otherwise, stick with 2. -
Review from brian a.
Palatine, IL
8/9/2011
went here after reading alan richman's piece on GQ. Ordered the number 1 and the Pizza was good but definitely not the best pizza in the nation, also the price was really high for a 14 inch. staff and owners definitely need customer service training. i get the whole concept of small business owner that wanna work the hours they want and make the food they like but the aloofness has no place in business especially in this economy. i get it but hopefully the owners will and take corrective action before it's too late. u can stay true to your values and still be a well run business, just look at hot doug's or paradise pup
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Review from Carl B.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2010
I had it once for takeout, and it was a combo that had chorizo and a cream sauce. Everything about it was perfectly nice...the crust had that no-knead look to it, and some of the other details like the beautiful, thinly slivered onions show the care you hear about.
There's no such thing as the best, though. Personally, there are a lot of these pretentious pizza joints in Chicago, with Italian sounding or those one-word, look-at-me names, but I don't believe they stand up to the best of the local, simple, workman's places that cook with gas. I'm talking about thin crust squares with abundant sausage and a layer of mozzarella that slides on the sauce in one solid piece...and tastes better the next morning, cold, with Tabasco thrown on it. Connie's and Lou Malnati's for the occasional deep dish; big floppy slices of New York style served under a heat lamp, with red pepper and "parmesan" (not parm reg).
And it's not "all about the crust." It's all about every part being in harmony with the others. Bread is not that hard to make, and I don't want to taste "bread" when I order a pizza; I want a pizza. -
Review from Rajiv H.
Chicago, IL
8/29/2010
I think I have like one other one star review on here. I hate giving a place one star, especially a place as highly touted as Great Lake. I ask myself: am I rating it so low based on my lofty expectations? That's not fair to the business, but, man, the pizza sucked.
Am I rating it low because I want to be the cool kid that hates the place everyone else loves? I wish that were it, because then there would be a chance that I took the slightest bit of enjoyment out of this pizza.
But, I digress. Let's start from the beginning. Don't worry, we'll go fast. Everything people say about the service is true. It'd be better if it was nonexistant. They were extremely rude to my wife and not helpful at all. Whatever, it's "the best pizza in the world" and we were prepared for this assholishness due to you, my fellow Yelpers.
We went at 5:30 on a Wednesday and were told our pizza would be ready for pick up by about 7. That seems a bit extreme, but, okay, we were prepared for that. There were six of us eating, so that meant we got one of each of their not-so-wide assortment of, well, three pizzas. I don't care if it really was the best pizza in the world, $85 for three pizzas is ridonkulous.
Still, not mad. Seriously, not mad at all. On the ride home, the pizza smelled great and eased away all my worries. Maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but, it was close.
Then we ate the pizza. The first slice in my mouth was the Tomato, Homemade Fresh Mozzarella, blah blah blah. It was salt. I thought I was going insane. I took another bite. Salt. And I'm talking salt lick levels of salt. I thought I was crazy so I looked around the table. No, everyone had the same look of disgust on their faces that I did.
On the inside, I told myself to be cool in the way that only people in movies seem to do so. I went for a slice of the Spinach, Fresh Cream, you get the point. Better. Not good, hardly edible, and with sodium levels just barely above the level of a salt lick. Still, I could taste the ingredients this time. They were fresh, but they sure weren't flavorful. My depression grew to levels not seen since I didn't have a date to the high school prom (it's cool, I had a date eventually).
Slice three. Zucchini, Aged Goat Cheese, Smoked Paprika. There's hope here. I like zucchini, goat cheese could rule the world, and paprika is everyone's best friend. But, damn it, French sea salt dominates all of them. I never did like the French. Not as salty as the first pizza, and much tastier than either of the first two, this was probably my favorite. But, that's like saying Batman and Robin is the best worst movie of all time because it's just so ridiculous you can't help but laugh.
We had three pizzas. There were six of us. The verdict was unanimous. We won't ever be going back to back to Great Lake, not even if they paid us. Seriously. This is the worst restaurant pizza I've ever had. Well, that I've ever had sober. What? It's a very important qualifier.
Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go unclog my arteries with the hope I can live beyond the age of 30. -
Review from Cheryl R.
Chicago, IL
11/8/2011
I've been here twice now. The first time was 2 years ago and the pizza was delicious. I went back just recently to be very disappointed. I ordered the same pizza and it was not nearly as good as it was before. The underside of the pizza was burned. And not just 'crispy', it was burned. The delicious taste of the cheese and other ingredients on top did not even help get the taste of burnt out of my mouth. With each slice I ate I was hoping the burntness would diminish, but it didn't. I wasted $25 on a crappy pizza when a $5.99 domino's cheese pizza or a tombstone pizza would have been tremendously better. And since I took the pizza to go its not like I could've went back to complain (not that I would have anyways because the waitstaff is scary).
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Review from Chris S.
Chicago, IL
10/23/2010
Allow me a little Q&A, as there is much said about this place. Note that I had some multi-cheese pizza with fresh garlic (I forget the specifics):
Q. Is it good pizza?
A. Yes. The crust is well done. Skilled baker style. However, it's chewy and dominates the pie so that's gotta be your thing. The ingredients are fresh, and remarkably you can taste each individual one with every bite.
Q. Is this the the best pizza in town, let alone the nation?
A. No my friends. This is Chicago. Go to Lou Malnati's for that.
Q. Is it worth waiting for a table in this place?
A. A resounding NO! Now I do believe your best GL experience will be had if you dig into it immediately after it's put in your face. However, we placed an order at 6pm on a Saturday evening and they couldn't seat us until 8:30! Luckily my girl's place is close by, and they could give us take out in 20 minutes. I would've been super disappointed if I waited 2.5 hours for a table in this joint.
Q. Is the service here bad?
A. Not in my experience, but the staff moved slow as molasses.
Q. Would I return here?
A. $26 for a 14" pie? Um, no. It was worth a try, but honestly I make just as good 'za on my grill or in oven at home (yes I said that. And my lady agrees!)
I'd give 3.5 stars if I could, but this is Yelp--you can't. -
Review from Jenny S.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2010
I came here this past winter and am finally getting around to writing my review now that I recently created a yelp account.
I've noticed a lot of people are commenting on the fresh ingredients. I'm sure they use fresh local ingredients as their menu boasts, but the amount of salt on every one of the three pizzas we ordered made the taste of any of the quality product disappear -- it was that overpowering.
We ordered the bread and butter to start. The butter was very good. But I'd rather buy some butter at whole foods or the farmer's market from a local vendor because then at least I might be able to get some decent bread to go with it.
Like I said above, we ordered three pizzas, spinach, a mushroom one and something else. They all sucked. The crust was inedible and waayyy to salty. When we walked in all of the tables had mounds of crust left over, which shocked us to see at such a highly reviewed restaurant. But once we tried the crust, we knew exactly why and did the same thing.
I'd rather spend my money at Piece, La Madia, Nella and Art of Pizza -- at least at those places I get great pizza and for half the cost.
I wouldn't recommend anyone to go here, not even just to try and form their own opinion. It honestly was THAT bad. -
Review from jasmin v.
Waited for a table with my bf Friday night for 1 hour.
Sat at the community table in the middle of two different groups. Very uncomfortable having to listen to people.
Waited 1 hour for one pizza to come out.
Waited another 30 mins for our other pizza to come out.
Seemed like other groups were getting their pizza before us. Lots of to go pizzas came and left while we waited.
We had #2 and #3.
Both pizzas were amazing!! Reminded me of pizza I've had in Italy.
5 stars for the pizza!!
Minus 1 star for the wait.
Minus 1 star for the environment.
Sorry Great Lake, you have amazing food but is it worth the wait and trouble to sit there? I'm not sure.
Maybe next time just carry out.Listed in: pizza!
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Review from Michael U.
Dublin, OH
11/13/2010 11 photos
Dinner on Friday was to've been Bonsoiree but that all changed when Schwa called me and changed things up on Thursday. Frustrating as it was at first, what resulted was not only a swapping of dates between Schwa and Bonsoiree, but a later seating at Schwa that opened up an opportunity I could not pass up - the opportunity for an early pre-dinner featuring what many (including Alan Richman who took the place global on his GQ list) consider to be the best Pizza in America - Great Lake. Traveling with my sister and her friend we called ahead to find out Great Lake would open at 5:00pm and we arrived in Andersonville around 4:30, grabbed a cup of coffee at Kopi, and proceeded to wait in the line already sporting two other couples.
Standing in front of the large window with curtain drawn we could see the vague outlines of Nick Lessins and crew working inside and I explained to my colleagues the controversial Pizza-Nazi-esque reputation that has been spread across the net. Undeterred by the stories and rather intrigued by the ethics of a husband/wife team that have stayed true to their roots - cooking each pie individually, sourcing everything they can locally or from well trusted providers, and honing their craft in the image of the restaurant that inspired them (Pizzeria Bianco) - instead of selling out and compromising an operation they clearly love, I rather figured the trip would be worth the effort. As we stood and a few snowflakes fell a car pulled up and out hopped Lydia Esparza with a large bag of groceries - making her way past the now 14 person line she opened the door and ushered us in.
Making our way in the door we simply followed the line up to the counter where Lessins could be seen preparing crusts and a young man was quickly chopping the ingredients Lydia had brought. Browsing the menu on the wall there were three pizzas, three addable ingredients, and two salads available for the evening - we quickly came to a consensus and placed our order. Handed a cork with two aces it was suggested we sit at an end at the communal table.
Seated for a few moments a young man brought us water and three cups - we were left to pour our own, as were all persons providing their own wine. As we sat and chatted we watched Nick slowly prepare each pizza step by step - throwing the dough, adding olive oil, placing each ingredient by hand, and manning the oven all on his own. We also chuckled as Lydia shot down a special request (from a particularly annoying mother with two young girls who unfortunately sat right next to us) to order Pizza #2 without black pepper.
With the gas oven capable of making only two pizzas at a time we sat for approximately 20 minutes before the first two came out of the oven and watched with baited breath as our neighbors indulged. With a short line slowly forming outside we additionally started to realize the non-stop calls coming in for carryout orders - by the time we left the pickup time was nearly 2 hours. Thankfully our wait was much less considerable and the pizza was delivered to our table a mere 35 minutes after sitting down.
Delivered piping hot with cheese still bubbling our #1 with Tomato, Homemade Fresh Mozzarella, Mona Aged Cheese, Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, and 1/2 with thick cut Gunthorp Farms Bacon was every bit as good as the rumors. Ten slices in total and featuring what I can only describe as the "perfect" crust I actually burned the roof of my mouth in taking my first bite - the supple charred crust proving astoundingly chewy beneath the creamy house mozzarella and cow/sheep blend. With the spice blend nicely complimenting the exquisitely sweet and mildly acidic tomatoes and the smoky bacon adding its characteristic savoriness the totality of the pizza was exactly what you expect when you think of "pizza" and given the quality of ingredients and preparation it was that "pizza" in its ideal form.
Settling the admittedly hefty $30 (w/tax+tip) tab after three slices each we thanked Lydia and Nick (I think Nick may have even looked up from the pizza station and smiled) and made our way to the street. Having eaten a number of other top notch pizzas from ovens of wood, coal, and gas I can say without a doubt that while I often prefer esoteric ingredients there is no doubt in my mind that the crust and ingredients at Great Lake are amongst the best I've ever tasted. Is it the best in the USA - I don't know, I really liked Osteria, Tacconelli's, and Supinos as well. While some people may not like the "attitude," I'm okay with a man (or woman) truly dedicated to his/her craft and if they want to be perfect six hours a day and four days a week I'm okay with that - perfection is worth waiting for.Listed in: Best Pizza
