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The North Burbs
From evanston up to lake forest/lake bluff over to glenview, I grew up here and my…
Michael Salerno's Pizzeria
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Event Planning & Services Caterers Italian, Pizza, Caterers [Edit]
The Glen Town Center2085 Tower Dr
Glenview, IL 60026
(847) 724-0700
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:30 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 10:30 am - 12 am
Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
31 reviews for Michael Salerno's Pizzeria
Review Highlights
"The entrees and pasta were delicious."
(in 7 reviews)
"They serve both thick and thin crust."
(in 3 reviews)
"...Vodka sauce, Alfredo sauce, Meat sauce, and Pesto sauce and..."
(in 3 reviews)
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31 reviews in English
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Review from Michael F.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
First of all: Super-friendly. They are nice people, and generous. I have just ordered a 12" pizza with three toppings for carry-out. Today is Monday, which means pizza is half off. My cost including tax is $7.35.
I will buy some drinks to help them recover some margin... I know they don't make enough on this pizza. They do this to build long-term relationships, and to reach out those struggling with cash-flow difficulties, etc. It's good business. At lunch-time, they have the local high-school market with a bargain deal for a slice+beverage. They know how to stay busy. I suggest giving them a chance at least three times to notice the spectrum of strengths and weaknesses. After that, if nothing else, I predict you will give them A for effort, and going the extra mile when needed. -
Review from Catherine B.
Morton, PA
1/4/2012
Visiting from Philly. Love thin crust pizza, and this was one of the best I've had. Perfect amount of sauce and cheese. The chopped salad was fresh as could be, and the Italian dressing was great. Very friendly and accommodating staff.
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Review from Hawon J.
Glenview, IL
1/16/2012
What a surprise! I was craving for a slice of pizza all day and by the time I was able to go out for one, the time has past 9 pm already. Living in the suburbs, most of the places were closed and the options I had were not so great. I googled quickly and found out this place is right by me and were open.
I went there and found out they have half-price pizza on Mondays. The staff was friendly and offered to make me a fresh pizza slice instead of one that had been sitting out for awhile. It did not take long for my pizza to come to the table and its taste was above my expectations. I do not like pepperoni pizza but my friend got one and I loved the taste of pepperoni there. Most other place's pepperonis are salty or they taste like cardboard, but here it is fresh and clean tasting with full flavored spice.
I would recommend this place to anyone who is in the area looking for good pizza and great service. -
Review from Lawrence S.
Chicago, IL
12/27/2011
Great pizza. Nice casual atmosphere. Good for kids unless they are packed.
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Review from Sue M.
Chicago, IL
6/30/2011
This place reminds me of one of Chef Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. They need to decide what kind of restaurant they want to be, first of all.
When you walk in it looks like fast food Italian with a counter displaying a warming table containing nice-looking pizzas. An extensive menu is posted overhead. There was also a self-serve pop machine nearby. There are tables both inside and on the sidewalk outside. When we finally caught the eye of the man behind the counter and asked if we were supposed to order at the counter (a la Culver's) and then sit to await our order, he informed us that they have waitresses and that we could sit inside or outside. It was getting chilly out, so we chose inside. There were only 3 of us, but there weren't any suitable tables available, so he hastily slammed two two-person tables against the wall directly under the pop machine and left.
It took 25 minutes for a server to even approach us. We had a simple question about what was in the vegetable panini. She said, "Oh, I had that question earlier today, let me go check." She disappeared for at least 5 minutes before returning with the answer. It wasn't rocket science. There were only 3 ingredients!
At this point, we felt they must consider themselves to be a nicer casual restaurant, since they have an extensive menu with entrees like Chicken Marsala and pastas. Then our Cokes were served to us in kid-cup sized Styrofoam cups with covers and straws--and we were never offered a refill. Only staff used the self-serve pop machine.
After this, we were left to contemplate the restaurant's pitiful decor: Bare tables, a giant flat screen TV, turned off, and 2 unevenly hung paintings that looked like they were obviously done by a child. Outside, an elderly man in a baseball cap was offering up some music on a keyboard, but not for our benefit.
The air conditioning, on a 72 degree night, was set to frigid. A group of 4 ladies had moved in to sit, because it was too cool outside, then hastily left when they felt how cold it was inside.
Sitting near the pop machine, we got a nice view of a restaurant employee in an apron, who made regular pilgrimages to the pop machine to grab handfuls of ice. Didn't quite see if he was eating it, rubbing it on himself or what. I also wondered if he was the manager, the chef (horrors!), or the dishwasher.
Fast-forward another 30 minutes before our SANDWICHES were finally served (nothing spectacular--in fact, the veggie panini was just a tasteless glop of mozzarella and mushrooms with a zucchini spear--no seasonings, served between two buttered slices of Italian bread).
Our server seemed to be particularly out of it. We did see people that came in after us get a fairly prompt visit from their servers--and a basket of rolls--something we did not experience.
I would dine at any of the fine restaurants in the Glen before ever setting foot in this place--unless they get a well-deserved visit from some makeover show! -
Review from Melissa G.
Winnetka, IL
11/27/2011
I love their bean soup and my kids love their chicken tenders. Pizza is great too! You can order online and have your food delivered. Small dine in area and waitresses can be a little moody but they give good service. Fountain sodas are not name brand so if you want diet coke expect it in the can.
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Review from Steve P.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2011
Great pizza! Why the generous 5 star review? Because they have the freshest veggie ingredients on the veggie pizza I've ever had. Their thin sausage pizza can compete with the trendy tourist trap chains. Very easy to carry out and basically had a great first time experience. If you're comparing Michael Salerno's to other mom and pop pizzerias in the Glenview / Northbrook neighborhoods, you're talking apples and oranges.
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Review from Joelle S.
Niles, IL
6/6/2011 14 Check-ins Here
Really good Italian food! Pleasant overall experiences!
The pasta dinners, chopped salad, and gelato are so big they can be shared. But the price doesn't reflect the size.
Monday's are 1/2 price pizza
Wednesday's are 33% off any pasta
Wine and beer are available. -
Review from anita m.
3/24/2011
Rarely do I ever have left over pizza that's even tastier than I remembered the night before...if I ever have left over pizza that is!
This time around I happened to have some leftovers maybe because I was busy gorging myself with deliciousness that is their eggplant parmigiana and lasagna with meat sauce the night before! Thanks to Groupon I was able to try all of this with my family the other night at a steal of a price too.
With this being my second time there, I found that I prefer the thin crust over the thick but my family actually prefers the thick. Luckily on Mondays they offer their pizza at half off so it should be easy to satisfy all tastes! I will be back soon :) -
Review from C S.
Glenview, IL
1/20/2012
this is probably the best pizza in the glenview area for thin crust!!
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Review from Kyle B.
8/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome. Of everywhere in The Glen, it is probably the most authentic tasting food of the bunch. I've tried all sorts of different pasta here including the Vodka sauce, Alfredo sauce, Meat sauce, and Pesto sauce and all were tremendously good.
On Mondays they have 1/2 price pizza day and on Wednesdays they have 1/2 price pasta day. We usually go on Wednesday because you could honestly get at least two (possibly three) meals out of the portions. They are seriously bigger than Kanye West's ego. Burn! It is so good I always end up leaving with a spaghetti stain on my shirt because I can't control my excitement (or because I eat like a 6 year old.) -
Review from Christine S.
Chicago, IL
9/16/2010
Had Salerno's for a work lunch thing-a-ma-bob the other day.
They have lots of topping options, and the people are super duper nice.... But the pizza is greasy and I mean really greasy. The jullian salad was meh, the balsamic vinegarette wasn't great...
Probably won't eat here again but wouldn't not eat here if I was starving... -
Review from Richard O.
Northbrook, IL
9/15/2009
After careful consideration I can only praise Salerno's. What a diverse menu so many options you could stand in line with a daze.
One refreshing realization this is not just a pizza place and fills a much needed void in Glenview's hot bed. I dined inside late evening ordering a slice of pizza not knowing what I was in for.
I have not eaten since noon and it was after 9 p.m I figured to start with a slice. The pizza was under $5 and I love the apple juice bottles shaped like apples.
The slice was not a slice it was half a pizza. I was pretty startled by the size however I was starving and was going to give it my best attempt. I was pretty close technically I did it because crust doesn't count. The pizza could of been warmer it was under a heat bulb. It would of been great if the pizza took a ride in the oven for 3 minutes to reheat.
The outdoor seating is a plus in the summer time. The dinning area is not huge and is outfitted with two large plasma screens good for groups. It felt like I was over at a friends house for dinner. The staff treat you as if you are in their home. Service is pleasing and tables and counters are fresh.
They serve bottled beer some import and domestic. They have affordable wine available by the bottle and also have an extensive cappuccino selection. I will be back for sure and I'll keep you updated. -
Review from Alan R.
10/7/2008
Glenview is bursting at the seems with choices for Pizza. Salerno's serves $5 slices at the Summer Concerts at the Glen. Having seen them all summer we decided to give them a try. I had some friends over for my fantasy football draft. The Pizza itself was very good. They serve both thick and thin crust. The salad was pretty basic. For those that want something other than Pizza, Salerno's also has a Italian specialities and sandwiches.
The problem was that they made a mistake in our order. The staff is very nice and rectified it, so we received four Pizzas instead of two. Late night they also have slices available for those with craving a light night snack.Listed in: Pizza
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Review from Mick B.
5/27/2009
Recently I went with a large group to Michael Salerno's.
First of all- it is a shame that their dining room is so small; our group of 24 filled most of the place up. On the other hand- I found it nice that there were individual seats at the window; it gave the place a New York or New Jersey home town pizza place casual feel.
I ordered the baked mostaccioli with vodka sauce; the pasta was cooked al dente just the way that I like it, sauce was tasty and there was a good portion of Parmesan cheese baked on top. The serving was gigantic and I feel could have easily been split between two persons; as it was I took the remainder home and will enjoy it for lunch in a day or so.
I wanted to also comment on the fresh Italian rolls that were served while we were waiting for our entrees. They were piping hot mini-loaves with a side of butter and seemed to have just the right texture and taste for Italian bread. Bread is something I feel we Americans often take for granted; but bread and baked goods in Italy are an art form. It was apparent to me that someone in the Salerno's kitchen knows the secret to baking good bread.
Try the house Chianti- you will be pleasantly surprised. Salerno's doesn't trumpet this but it's BYOB with no corkage... grab your vino on the way out of the door.
Monday nights after 5PM all Pasta dishes are half price; a massive bargain when you consider that each one is a double portion for anyone with an appetite smaller than Tony Soprano.
All in all this is a good no-frills Italian eatery with an above-average menu. I had a GF named Lombardini that I dated in College who could cook nearly as well as her Mama. Salerno's food isn't made with her loving care, but it is nearly as tasty.
Michael Salerno's does catering too and the prices look like a bargain! -
Review from Kryste N.
Chicago, IL
4/24/2011
3.5 stars, but I can't dish out halves...went here for lunch with my husband, we are frequent Glen shoppers. My husband ordered a slice of sausage and a slice of pepperoni and the owner gave us 4 pieces and charged us for two - nice! Who doesn't like free stuff! I ordered the veggie pannini - which could go two ways, weird veggies, mushy, greasy, or delicious, this one was delicious. Mushrooms, zuchinni, and eggplant cooked just right, with mozerella cheese, and to my delight they offer a side of grilled spinach instead of fries...all that for under $20! I would totally lunch here again!
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Review from Patricia K.
Chicago, IL
2/2/2010
HOT TIP: Wednesdays are half price pasta day at Salernos. The possibilities stretch as far as the eye can see with six different types of pasta, over ten different sauces, and several meat options to make your own customer creation. They also have several outstanding pasta dishes in their specialty menu sure to strike your fancy. And the portions are ridiculously large, often feeding two or more people.
I threw this pizzeria in my lunch rotation this fall after seeing their half priced pasta sign. My $10 pasta creation is slashed down to $5 and provides two solid meals. You can't beat that kind of deal anywhere in town. I have also tried their pizza which was pretty good and their salads are decent but uninspired.
The staff is uber friendly and you can tell that they all come from a big Italian family. I think it really adds to the experience. I have ordered very large, complex orders for our company (about 30 unique entrees, most with special instructions) and received the order flawlessly within one hour. And as someone that has placed a lot of large food orders for our staff, I can say with confidence that their service level was one of the best in the area. -
Review from Keith A.
Wilmette, IL
2/19/2010
I ordered this for delivery and decided to go with some sandwiches instead of pizza. I got a chicken pannini and some chicken fingers. The pannini was extremely good and juicy with a good bit of cheese as well. The chicken fingers were a bit dry and too bready unfortunetly. The fries were very good and fairly crisp.
This was the second time I've gotten from them and they've been good both times. There wasn't too much grease on either the fries or the pannini which is always nice -
Review from Nate G.
Jacksonville Beach, FL
8/15/2010
Not much to say other than that we were forgotten about. Our food took twice as long to arrive as we were told to expect. The kid who brought the pizza uttered an apology but our server offered none. The pizza, when it finally came, tasted like a frozen pizza. The crust was tough and the person I was eating with said the tomato sauce tasted like Chef Boyardee. Oh well. I don't live in the area so it's not like I was coming back any time soon anyway.
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Review from kavan s.
Northbrook, IL
6/26/2011
The pizza is horrid. The thin is not thin enough and the pan is way to big for one person (even the smallest size). But michael was nice and he made good fish once. Customer service is not bad just the pizza.
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Review from Jenny I.
Glenview, IL
7/15/2009
I have used Salernos to cater a party and was very satisfied with the food and customer service. They were extremely accommodating and so helpful. Anyways back to the food. I highly recommend the eggplant Parmesan and the gnocchi. You will not be disappointed!
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Review from hp b.
Naples, FL
6/11/2010
Just go. Don't ask. If you are in the Glenview area or shopping at THE GLEN. (maybe a movie) And you want a wonderful home cooked meal. Yes there is a place. OK its a storefront but the history behind Salerno's is legend. This is Michael's place. Coming from a famous restaurant family in Chicago (since the 1950s) Michael came to the suburbs. Ask for any of their specials. Have a stuffed artichoke invented by Inga! Delicioso. Any of the italian meals are superb and very large. You will be taking food home. If you want pizza -- don't miss having at least "a slice". The biggest slice anywhere. Enough for an entire meal. Save room for one of their homemade gelatos. Don't have to go to Italy. Stop by and say hello from the Burgermaven.
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Review from Stephanie S.
Park Ridge, IL
6/18/2010
Would've been better if it was fresh? Maybe . The crust was tough and it looked as if it had been sitting out for a while. The customer service was not so great.
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Review from Natasha J.
Chicago, IL
8/6/2009
mmmmmm mmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmmm GOOD!
Ok so as I have stated in the past, I'm extremely picky about my pizza, because its probably one of my favorite FOODS in the whole wide world. The pizza here is SICK. Its sooooooooooooooooo good. You could totally tell its a homemade buttery crust. I use to not even pay attention to crust and laugh at people who even considered it, i was a cheese and sauce gal, But i have since converted. Its a total package!
The Crust, like i said is home made, buttery, crispy, soft, chewy allllllll at the same time.
The sauce is tangy and sweet.
The cheese is REAL, Loaded and delicious. (did i mention REAL CHEESE???)
The toppings are fresh and the combinations are amazing.
Not to mention the size of the pizza slice is HUGE. I'm addicted to this place since we found it at The Glenn.
They have outdoor seating as well which makes it even more fab. Its not just the pizza, its everything on the menu! They have fresh pastas that are amazing and its always packed. That's when you know they are definitely doing something right:
Keep an eye on the DEAL DAYS they are that much better.
Monday - Half off Pizza
Weds-Half off Pasta and Wine. CANT GET ANY BETTER!!!!!!!
The only thing that shot their chances of five stars is the CUSTOMER SERVICE. I know they are fairly new and eventually will get it right in this location, but the CS needs a bit of sprucing up. They do take a bit longer when things are crazy, I don't think they have that down yet. And some of the servers don't look so happy. I will however continue going and add that extra star when things start to look up in that department. But as long as they continue producing that kinda food, they are Definitely a MUST HAVE FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Manja!
Oh Oh and they have gelato! HULLO! -
Review from Judy L.
Glenview, IL
6/16/2009
It seems Salerno is a very popular name for an Italian restaurant and I assumed it was another boring chain or pizzeria. I was completely wrong with my assumption because Salerno's serves scrumptious food! I've never had their pizza but their pasta is very impressive. All their sauces is what makes their pasta so spectacular. Very flavorful with the right consistency, not too watery or too thick. Salerno's used to by BYOB but I believe they started selling beer on-site. Great for kids due to its small and very casual environment. I think Salerno's does better with it's carryout department versus its sit down dinner. The owners are great and always comes around personally to chat with customers and check in with them.
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Review from Fran D.
Skokie, IL
12/22/2009
I did some serious research to find a good local Italian spot. My requirements were mainly in the negative: NOT a chain, NOT fancy, NOT $15+ for a plate of spaghetti. Believe it or NOT there aren't so many places like this. I also wanted a place that had both good pizza and good Italian entrees.
Salerno's fit the bill and then some. The thin-crust pizza was excellent. We were there on Monday night and they have a half-price deal so we ordered a large with enough to take home for leftovers. Although my son likes a more medium crust, I adore the very think cracker-like crust. Cheese and sauce were well-balanced, and the sauce tasted freshly made.
The entrees and pasta were delicious. This is an old-school place that serves up a big "side" of pasta along with entrees. The pasta was done perfectly al dente and the marinara sauce was fresh and delicious. I loved the generously portioned eggplant parmigiana, and my husband polished off his veal parmigiana with not a morsel left.
The atmosphere is casual and family-run. There aren't a lot of seats or space to eat - I could see this being nicer in warm weather when there's room to spread outside. Service was congenial if not overly attentive. We did get up to refill sodas and no one seemed to mind. I also enjoyed the homemade rolls they served at the beginning of the meal - they tasted like pizza dough and came to the table warm. -
Review from Doug B.
Glenview, IL
8/26/2009
Stay away. We had pizza and lasagna. Both were bad, you can go anywhere and get better.
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Review from James L.
Chicago, IL
8/31/2009
The owner, Mike Salerno, is an awesome guy!! I stop by once in a while whenever I'm in the area and Michael Salerno is the place to go for pizza and pasta. Original dishes and very tasty to say the least.
Service is always top-notch and sometimes he would just give you a deal on a dish. Last time I was there, he threw in an extra slice of pizza. Basically Buy 1 get 1 free. Sweet! -
Review from Melanie P.
Glenview, IL
11/15/2009
First off, the pizza is great, we have no complaints about the food, but good luck in getting what you order. Last week we ordered a pizza, and asked it be "pie cut" instead of squares. We repeated it several times, and they repeated it back, and of course it came in squares.
This afternoon, we ordered a small, and they delivered a large, so after going back to the car which for some reason was parked in the street far from our house, and lengthy phone calls, he charged us a price between a small and a large..We had a semi cold pizza, but hey they got the pie cut right this time. We will probably not order from them again, which is too bad because it is good pizza, but it is too frustrating not to get what you ordered. -
Review from M G.
Mount Prospect, IL
1/16/2009
This place slid downhill in a hurry. First time I went there I took out some pizza , spaghetti and eggplant parmesan which was ok. Second time, I took out cheese ravioli with meat sauce (for an extra dollar), only to realize later they gave me marinara. When I called to complain the kid who answered the phone did nothing to rectify it. The last time I went back I ordered Spaghetti with meat sauce. Guess what's on the sauce? Half of the meat was ground beef but the other half was sliced HOT DOGS!!! Seriously, for $10 dollars? Too bad the owner is such a nice guy, I hope it gets back to how it was before!
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Review from Jake K.
Glenview, IL
6/20/2009
I went there for pizza with the family and will not return. The service was rude and we were completely ignored by the waitress. Plus the pizza was among the worst I've eaten. Even if the pizza was better, we would not go due to the poor service. Amazing, considering all of the other places to eat in the Glen, you would think they'd try harder. They've lost our business for good.
