- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Palermo's Italian Cuisine
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
4849 W 95th St(between 49th Ave & La Crosse Ave)
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(708) 425-6262
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu 11 am - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11:30 pm
Sun 1:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
66 reviews for Palermo's Italian Cuisine
Review Highlights
"Then I found out that Red Ivy serves and delivers Palermo's..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Over all a great find and one of the better pies I have had."
(in 3 reviews)
"While their carry-out menu is smaller, if you ask nicely..."
(in 7 reviews)
Loading...
65 reviews in English
-
Review from Laurie S.
Chicago, IL
10/1/2011
Palermo's is one of my favorite restaurants in Oak Lawn. I've always enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere, and the meals on the lunch menu are very reasonable (I've only had lunch there recently).
I was happy to go there for lunch today with a couple of family members. The service was excellent and the food was great. I had the spinach rollatini and they both had the chicken ravioli. The spinach rollatini and the warm bread served for the table were delicious, and my family members enjoyed the chicken ravioli. I recommend checking Palermo's out. -
Review from B L.
Burbank, IL
9/6/2011
The pizza at Palermo's is fantastic. I would say Palermo's and Beggars Pizza are two of the best places to get quality pizzas on the South Side.
Tiramisu from Palermo's is a delight! I always get it.
Everything else is kind of a big meh. I would rather order delivery here than dine in. The servers need to be more aware of the space they walk in, especially when there are small children. The last time I went there were a lot of almost-crashes. Please be careful!!! -
Review from Al R.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 12/10/2011
I ordered a stuffed a week ago and was greatly disappointed. Not necessarily because of quality, but because of content. They apparently use a different sauce from their thin crust pies. The stuffed sauce is more like a marinara--not sweet and with onions(tiny). WHY? The sauce is what they are known for. Either sauce won't affect the cook time, so I am left puzzled. I suppose I can ask for that "regular" sauce, but I have a feeling someone will mess it up in the chain of handlers. Rosangelo's also does this with their pizza bread. If a menu item is different than what one should logically expect, at least put the warning on the menu.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/1/2008
It's been a couple of years since I've had it. Maybe even 4 or 5. I got a large sausage pizza today.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jennifer C.
Midlothian, IL
12/12/2011
This is one of my favorite restaurants and one of the best places for pizza. The pizza sauce is savory and sweet. The pasta dishes are great too, they have the best meat sauce and the penne portabella is one of my favorite dishes. What I really like about Palermo's is the consistency in their dishes and the service. I have yet to have a bad experience. This is a popular place so it gets pretty busy on the weekend. I would recommend reservations. It is a nice place for a date or a family gathering. One thing worth mentioning; if you're bringing a date ask to be seated "away" from the hostess desk or you risk being subjected to a slew of people parading past your table.... (very distracting)
-
Review from Phil L.
Aurora, IL
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've always had great service here. Waitress is on top of refills and friendly. If you like a very sweet sauce this is the place. Points off for uncomfortable chairs and tight parking. Also, last time I was here the silverware wasn't that clean, the biggest reason I didn't rate at 4 stars.
-
Review from Renita M.
Updated - 5/18/2011
Dear Palermo's,
You remain a wonderful choice for a classic Italian meal. I've become a huge fan of the radiatore with vodka sauce -- simple, classic, fantastic sauce. The bread is warm and chewy, the salad simple and crisp, service warm and friendly.
But please, could you make sure your online menu jibes with the one in the restaurant? I saw cavatelli con rabe on your website, thought it sounded delicious, but when I went to order it it was nowhere to be found on the restaurant menu. The waitress didn't have a clue what I was talking about and said she'd been there for three years.
No hard feelings, but maybe update your site every now and then?
Vodka sauce flavored Italian dual-cheek kisses,
RenitaListed in: Pizza pizza, Out with the in-laws, Date night, Drown me in olive oil, Special occasions
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
3/28/2010
Delicious, classic Italian. I chose Palermo's for my birthday celebratory dinner, and I was pleased… Read more »
-
-
Review from Valerie M.
Lemont, IL
11/6/2011
Great pizza, family tradition - loud, big just like the south side. Come here for friends and family gatherings, enjoy the pasta and leave feeling full and with leftovers
-
Review from Ian M.
Oak Lawn, IL
10/16/2011
Best pizza I've had in the state of Illinois... Comes at a premium though, there are less expensive spots but none as delicious! Wow! Outstanding pizza!
-
Review from Jenna S.
Chicago, IL
12/25/2010
We tried to book Palermo's for our rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding and we've had no luck. Literally, no one from Palermo's will return our calls or give us the time of day. They host banquets, as outlined on their website, and I know they have availability on our date because someone responded quickly to an info request on their site. However, once we ate here and decided we wanted to book, nothing.
The food is actually not bad. We enjoyed our meal here and would have come back if we ever had occasion to be in the area (which we don't, really, so I guess we'd never come back).
Honestly, I can't even continue this review. I'm too irritated that they run their business so poorly. We're willing to give you a ton of money to hose 50+ out-of-towners at your restaurant for a banquet and you won't even let us! Unbelievable. I'm kind of glad they didn't take our money for a deposit. If their pre-booking service is any indication of their regular customer service, they may take a deposit and never call you back again. How are you supposed to plan anything that way?
I'd pass on Palermo's if you're in the area, for whatever reason. Go to Louie's Chophouse. They have some Italian selections and a damn fine steak.Listed in: Getting Married in Chicago
-
Review from Yvette P.
Chicago, IL
12/30/2010
Didn't eat there, my rating is based on customer service.
I called and ordered a gluten-free pizza along with a regular pizza. I asked if they delivered to my address. They said yes. I placed the order and they said it would take 1 hour 20 minutes.
An hour after I placed the order they called and told me they don't deliver to my address. Really? An HOUR LATER!?!? I was furious and they were indifferent. After this poor customer service I have no desire to even try their gluten-free pizza.
The person who took our order was named Karen. -
Review from Ashley C.
I went to dinner tonight as one of the three of us wanted to go somewhere we hadn't been before and that also had a bar. The parking lot was packed, so it definitely had me thinking that the place was really good, as people were in there. There's only a limited amount of space you can park your car in, as the spots on the left side of the street are designated as belonging to someone else, and the cars that park there will be towed.
We found a space, and walked inside the restaurant, which was adorned with a lot of italian themed murals, paintings and pictures of the food. One of which who'd come into play later.
We sat at the bar while waiting the 10-15 minutes for our table and the third member of our party. While at the bar, which is small but had a television playing the Bulls game (yay), we decided to indulge in a drink (Grey Goose on the rocks with a lemon twist for my companion, a martini for me). The drinks were great. And with the two being 7.50 and $9, respectively, I will be back, if for anything but the drinks.
Our third companion showed up not too long after our table was ready, and ordered a pomegranate martini as we all caught up on events of the day. While we kept seeing people carry out pizzas, I opted to get the linguini with mussels tossed in garlic and oil, one companion got veal milanese with linguini and tomato sauce and the other got linguini with grilled chicken tossed in garlic and oil. As we waited for our entrees, we were offered plenty of bread and butter, and while the butter was in those terrible gold mini bucket like packets (I am not a fan), the bread was warm.
As the conversation continued, salads that came with our entrees arrived. They were not anything special, garden salads with carrots, lettuce, grape tomatoes and a big ol' hunk of cucumber, dressing on the side. The amount of dressing in the cup was great, as I usually can't get enough and end up with a dry salad and having to ask the server for more. Today, this was not the case.
Our dinners arrived after an appropriate amount of time, and we noticed that the restaurant probably was no longer taking tables, so we probably were one of the last to come in. My veal ordering companion was disappointed that the veal came with no sauce, but the skin on it was crispy. To me, it seemed to be breaded too much, as in the ratio of meat to breading, but my exposure to veal has been limited. My other companion seemed to pick at her plate, but she's always doing that. She didn't complain, so I take that as her being ok. Not good or bad, but OK.
Me, however...I loved the mussels dish. I was satisfied with the amount of mussels to pasta, and I was glad to see that the garlic and oil sauce wasn't gloopy or thick, but instead more like a white wine sauce. Honestly, after two martinis, there may have been white wine in there, who knows...I was a little tipsy, as I said "Eep chequipment" instead of "cheap equipment" in conversation.
We did not stay for dessert, but that'll be something we get on the next go round. Speaking for self, I will be back. -
Review from Ron K.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2011
KEEP IT SIMPLE--You may want to think twice before ordering a large carry-out order!
Recently we ordered about 15 items for carry-out from this location. Most of them were dinners, with a few appetizers and salads thrown in. We were told it would talk about an hour to and hour and fifteen for the order to arrive.
Once the order arrived, and AFTER the delivery person left, we opened the bags only to discover that they delivered only half our order.
We immediately phoned the restaurant, who then had to track down the delivery person who...actually forgot to give us the one of the large bags they had sent him to deliver. Ten minutes later, delivery person arrives and says.... "here's the rest".
Well...as luck would have it our carry-out adventure wasn't over yet.
Unfortunately the delivery person left before we had a chance to open the bag to double check to make sure everything was there and wouldn't you know it... they left out an item!
We immediately called Palermo's back to inform them of their latest screw up. They put us on hold, and phoned the driver who informed them that he didn't have anything else in his car.
They admitted the error and and they said they'd have the item "right over to us".
So we're thinking that since we're less than 15 minutes away from the restaurant and it was only a sandwich that by the time the delivery guy got back to the restaurant, the sandwich would be ready and he could shoot back over, right?
We're thinking...at most the sandwich should be in our hands in about 30 minutes tops. 30 minutes go by. No sandwich. 45 minutes go by. Still no sandwich.
So again, we got on the phone with Palermo's to tell them to cancel the order. We were tired of waiting, had already finished eating, and quite frankly, had lost our appetite for their darn sandwich.
The first person we talked to barely apologized for their goof up and didn't even offer to take it off our bill.
We then escalated it to the manager on duty at the time who agreed to credit us towards another order.
That's not really what we wanted though as it's not our intention to order from Palermo's again.
The lesson here is If you decide to chance a large order for delivery, make sure you double check everything before the delivery person leaves your house. -
Review from Matthew M.
Lombard, IL
12/6/2010
I've spent a lot of time trying concoct the perfect review for Palermo's. In a city renowned for Italian food and especially its pizza, Palermo's on 95th is without a doubt the absolute best, no question.
But after all that time trying to come up with a review worthy of acknowledging the king of Chicagoland pizza, I eventually came to realize nothing I could write would do it justice.
So instead of worrying about perfection I'm just going to do my best.
Thin crust pizza is such a mixed bag. Far too often the stuff is either on one of the bad extremes (either too flimsy or too crackery) or it's just really unremarkable. Palermo's blows that status quo out of the water but combining several perfectly crafted thin crust pizza elements into a creation that is far more than the sum of its already delicious parts.
The crust is just the right consistency and texture. It's firm, but not at all dry, and does a great job of absorbing the pizza's flavor without becoming a soggy mess (I'm looking at you, New York, you wannabes). The sauce is thick with a bit of sweetness that isn't cloying or ketchupy. Just a great robust flavor. The cheese is always cooked to a perfect brown, loaded with seasonings and just generally delicious.
As for toppings? Take your pick, they're all great.
And yes, the pizza is the primary object of my affections, but that's hardly their only amazing dish. All the pasta is wonderful, especially the capellini Cristina which in a more savory, but equally delicious sauce or any of their gnocchi which are excellent.
The atmosphere is classy but completely unpretentious, just with a really nice neighborhood Italian kinda feel. It fits the general simple but sophisticated nature of Oak Lawn in general.
So do yourself a favor and give it a shot. It was such a mainstay of my childhood years I couldn't help but wonder if my opinions of it were tainted by nostalgia, but all of my adulthood experiences have confirmed it truly is the greatest pizza and all-around Italian cuisine in Chicagoland. -
Review from Mark G.
9/3/2010
Strictly a pizza review. I'm kinda thinking Oak Lawn is the capital of sweet pizza sauces. With Grassano's and Palermo's containing some of the sweetest pizza sauces I've ever had. And to be honest, I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.
I guess you have to have a taste for it. Don't get me wrong, it's good stuff. But from a personal standpoint, despite how the locals rave about this place, I've had much better pies within the area and outside of it.
So if you ask me, take your money to Durbin's, or even Barraco's Besides, trying to park or even pick-up a pizza in this joint is a pain.Listed in: Dirty Souf Chi & Burbs, ZA
-
Review from PJ J.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Shame on me for ever looking down on South side pizza... This pizza is great!
Crust. Sauce. Proportions.
I forgive all Southsiders for Home Run Inn now... Palermo's has just made my best of pizza's list. Word.
As far as overly sweet sauce? Hmm, I dont know -I think its perfect.
It beats sour sauce with too much oregano. -
Review from Steve K.
Chicago, IL
6/28/2010
Disclaimer: I worked here for three years in high school.
This is Chicago's best pizza. It may not be the most famous, but it is the best overall. Unless you dislike their sauce, which is very sweet. Since they make precooked pizzas you can take home and bake, I have often been tasked with taking their pizzas all over to other states for in-the-know pizza feigns. Aside from pizza, they have excellent dinner entrees. Try the Sicilian grilled shrimp or calamari. -
Review from Joy K.
Gary, IN
12/20/2010
I am in LOVE with Palermo's for the following reasons:
1) It has some of the best Calamari I've ever had.
2) The service was efficient. Our waitress Kinga was AMAZING!
3) It's a very versatile place, i.e. a romantic date for two, or large lively family meal.
4) The portions are large enough to share!
5) It is one of the few restaurants that my family and I have gone to that my mother said she would like return to. That's very rare. She is a tough critic when it comes to food and service.
So, why didn't Palermo's get 5 stars? Although there are several fantastic elements to this restaurant, there are some things left to be desired.
It began when I called to make my reservation for this past Saturday. The hostess who answered the phone was less than pleasant, and a bit impatient. I would have understood if I had called Friday night during peak hours but this was Thursday Afternoon...not to say the restaurant wasn't busy but they had just open not long before I called, so I doubt it. I overlooked this in hopes that she was having an off day and that the service there would not be as strained as the call was. The next day I called back and the man who answered the phone was very helpful and extremely nice. Even when Saturday came and I had to change the reservation at the last minute the host was very accommodating. So the hostess from Thursday afternoon seemed to be an anomaly.
When we arrived at Palermo's it was a slight wait. It was Saturday night and that's to be expected, within 10 minutes we were seated. Our water glasses were immediately filled and our waitress was there with a bread basket. Let me just say without Kinga I'm not sure I would have given Palermo's a 4. A 3 for sure but not a 4. She is very nice, helpful, and knowledgeable. She was cordial and attentive, but not overbearing. I really appreciated that. However a woman, I assumed was the restaurant manager, kept visibly scouting out the dining room checking to see when tables were finishing. It was off putting. Initially I felt pressured to leave, but as the dining room cleared out she seemed to take a chill pill and a seat.
Now to the main event...I wouldn't say all of the food was excellent but it was delectable. We started out with Deep Fried Ravioli. It was deep fried, you can't go wrong there. The Ravioli was tender and not greasy. I only wished there was a bit more cheese, other than that it was very good. My dad order veal chops, they came with a choice of soup or salad, a vegetable and cottage fries. My mom ordered the Calamari dinner. It came with a heaping plate of Calamari, choice of soup or salad, as well as pasta and sauce. It was delicious. My brother ordered a small "12-inch" thin crust pizza. (Note: Original seemed a bit too doughy.) It was a lot larger than 12 inches and was amazing! (I suggest these two dishes to anyone.)
I ordered the Veal Parmigiana, with my choice of minestrone soup. I have to admit the Veal Parmigiana left much to be desired. Although Palermo's tomato sauce can stand on it's own and is the star of it's pizza, it did little to hide the texture of the veal cutlets in the parmigiana. They were a bit coarser in texture than I expected. It wasn't a disaster. The meal was flavorful; just not what I expected. My dad enjoyed his veal chop, which appeared to be tender and a completely different cut of meat. I suspect the cutlets they use for the Parmigiana aren't necessarily the best, which would explain the texture. That's to be expected, I suppose. In the end, we decided to pass on dessert considering we all were slipping into a Food-Comma.
The bill wasn't outrageous and was well worth the amount of food and quality of service you receive. Beware of the 18% gratuity for large groups but considering the service you won't mind paying it. I think we actually paid Kinga 25% instead because she was fantastic.
All-in-All, I am happy that yelp lead me to Palermo's and I will definitely be back. -
Review from Kim D.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2011
This used to be one of my fav restaurants, but the food and service have gotten really bad. Food: I remember pretty decent side salads, but now they are boring misty-iceberg, and the salad dressing comes in a little disposable plastic cup wedged along the side of the bowl. My dressing tasted like Kraft Italian. Bleh.
Entrees: my friend orders a pasta dish that, according to the menu, has fresh Parmesan cheese on top. She imagines delicious shavings of fresh parm. Out it comes, no cheese. She asks the waitress. Waitress points to the jar of shaker parm on the table. My friend says, uncomfortably, "but the menu said fresh Parmesan...like...shavings." Waitress looks at her like she's sprouted another head. She says "ya want me to take it back to the kitchen and have them put cheese on it?" sounding a bit abrupt. We understand why when she returns with the dish, topped with the same cheese-of-unknown-freshness that lurks in the jars on the table. My food was also disappointing. It was a chicken and mushroom pesto pasta. The chicken and sauce did not taste fresh...kinda freezer-burnt.
Even my $8 glass of wine tasted really cheap--like I had been given some Charles shaw instead--but maybe I just had trust issues at that point.
Service: not personable or friendly. Didn't ask us if we wanted dessert. -
Review from maurice s.
Chicago, IL
12/21/2008
The pizza is good but the service is terrible during peak times. Go at an off-hour or get takeout . . . or just go to a better restaurant, like Vito & Nick's or the Palermo's on 63rd St.
Example of bad service:
You'll note that Yelp says they take reservations. They'll tell you that too, if you call and ask to make a reservation. Last time we did this, we arrived on time to a crowded restaurant. The 300 lb. hostess told us to take a seat in the waiting area, where there were no available seats. I asked how long we should expect to wait, as there are a few other perfectly good alternatives nearby. She said 30-40 minutes. I reminded her that we were on time for our reservation. She confirmed this fact and even admitted that she was the person who took the call, but then "explained" that they don't really honor reservations. The reservation just gives you a spot in the queue AFTER you show up. She called it "a reservation to wait" or something equally stupid. -
Review from Linh L.
Chicago, IL
5/23/2011
The pizza here was delicious! It was my first time ordering it. My friend and I ordered a small pizza with green peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Wow was it good. It stuffed us both and we had leftovers.
-
Review from Michael B.
Oak Lawn, IL
6/23/2011
I've been eating at Palermo's for almost 20 years now and have never been disappointed. It's the best pizza I've ever eaten, and I've lived and dined at pizza places all around Chicago my whole life. But, it's not only their pizza that's fantastic, anything else I've ever gotten of their menu has been fantastic!
They offer so much great food, you'll never be satisfied going there just once. You'll need to make many more trips back to satisfy your crave.
Good neighborhood/location, friendly service, clean and above all GREAT FOOD! -
Review from Erin B.
8/28/2006
I really like getting food from here. I've never eaten in here, but have always received carry out from here. While their carry-out menu is smaller, if you ask nicely, they'll pack up your favorite entree for you! I really love their stuffed peppers here. MMM!!! Check this place out if you make it out this way!
PS--the sister restaurant Red Ivy, was sadly disappointing. See my previous review... -
Review from Judith M.
Chicago, IL
1/14/2008
I love the pizza here,the chicken and broccoli Alfredo was tasty.The LaSagna was very good. Sometimes ,there's a significant wait.
Once,we ordered carry out and when we got home we had someone elses order..We called them and whoever answered the phone said ,they would credit us another pizza
However,when we went there , a few weeks later , they had amnesia..
My ex-boyfriend did too.He didn't remember who he had spoken too...
Hope he forgets me too. Dummy -
Review from kim n.
7/25/2006
Mental note: If I'm ever going to get married in Chicago I will not do it during the summer. It was hot and humid when I got off the plane and that was around 10pm. I did not realize how nasty it was going to be until I left the hotel at high noon to get a pizza at Palermo's. I was going to be wearing a tux and cumberband later. Yikes.
As my friends and I brought our huge pizza back to the air conditioned hotel, all that heat and humidity was forgotten. Great sauce, great crust, a magnificent sausage and mushroom pie. The restaurant seemed pretty old school and from what I've been told it's an institution. Unfortunately a takeout order doesn't make a great review. Next time I'm in the area and have more time I'll definintely make it out here for a proper dinner. -
Review from Kyung P.
Chicago, IL
10/19/2007
If you're ever in the area, you must go to Palermo's.
I'd definitely recommend making a reservation, even though it seems like you have to wait anyway (but not as long). That's the one complaint I have about Palermo's: they are not efficient in seating people at all (hence 4 stars). We always stare into the dining room, and there are always a bunch of open tables. Not fun when you're hungry. I think they like making people wait.
I had the chicken scaloppini during my last trip, and it was absolutely delicious! Mushrooms, cream sauce, mmm...
Their thin crust pizza (which is what I order every other time) is the best in the Chicagoland area. We love pizza and have tried a lot of pizza, but their pizza is absolutely the best. The pizza comes out elevated on a rack, so it stays crispy the entire time. Their sauce is sweet and delicious! Perfect amount of cheese and toppings!
Don't take any substitutes, the Red Ivy in Wrigleyville does not serve the same pizza. I believe the two owners are relatives, but the Palermo's pizza can't be duplicated, no matter how hard they try. Red Ivy pizza is OK for north side thin crust, but it has more sauce and cheese than the original perfect Palermo's. -
Review from Sarah C.
Chicago, IL
8/20/2006 4 photos
My Boyfriend swears the food at Palermo's is the best Italian and pizza he has ever had and talks about it constantly. I finally had a chance to try it yesterday. Go early as that it gets very crowded for dinner.
The portions are huge here. We got a thin crust pizza as an appetizer. It was big enough to be our meal. It was very very good and it had a very sweet, unique sauce. I had the pasta Cappalinni Christina for my meal, it was also HUGE. Didn't eat a forth of eat before I was stuffed. I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to eating my left overs the rest of the week.
Palmermo's gives an authentic, Italian family dinner experience. It's definitely worth the trip to Oak Lawn. While you are there make sure you stop by Premos for Ice Cream. -
Review from Dennis L.
Frankfort, IL
1/1/2011
Poor service. Food over cooked!
-
Review from Natalie M.
Chicago, IL
8/21/2008
AH Palermo's.......How I used to adore this place in highschool. Ah the bread, Ah the tortellini, Ah the wonderful pitchers of water they bring to your table.
Its been almost 6yrs since I started going to Palermo's, and although my taste buds have changed since I was 16 I still enjoy Palermo's for good ole fashioned (and inexpensive) pasta and pizza in a casual atmosphere.
*Dont go on Saturday night- its filled with Oak Lawn teenagers going on first dates, who can be adorable, but also a tad annoying. -
Review from emma z.
Alsip, IL
9/29/2011
Used to be good pizza, until i found hair on the pizza on 2 different occasions. LOOK at it real good, the chefs need to wear hair nets thats the bottom line, and if they have arm hair they should wax it or be fired and im really being honest. delivery time sucks, they always lie and take forever, and top it off hair. The first time i threw all the pizza away because I found the hair about 3 inches long just sitting on a slice, and then gave it another shot a few months to a year later and same thing, huge hair. GROSS
-
Review from Robin W.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2008
My boyfriend and I had a southside pizza war and I won with Palermo's thin crust cheese.
His family grew up with Vito & Nick's pizza, which is fantastic and greasy, but doesnt have that same sharp cheese and tangy sauce as Palermo's.
I wish they would deliver all the way uptown. -
Review from Ginger D.
Chicago, IL
2/25/2009
If you're near Oak Lawn or on the south side of Chicago and are craving Italian food, make a stop at Palermo's. I've been going to Palermo's for about 7 years and I'm sad I don't go to school on the south side anymore because I don't go here as often as I would like. The decor is very classic Italian and simple. Paper line each table for convenience and efficiency for cleaning. Palermo's is a restaurant for the young, the old and the in between and that's exactly who you see when you dine here. It's definitely a family restaurant, as well as a place you can feel comfortable taking a date. The waitresses are pleasant and high school bus boys (from Brother Rice?) work very hard cleaning tables.
I enjoy the pitcher of water that is placed on the table when you first sit down. The restaurant can get quite busy and with a pitcher of water, you don't have to hail down a waitress or bus boy. The complimentary bread is some of the best I have had at an Italian restaurant. It's WARM first of all, and they give you an entire jar of Parmesan and a bottle of olive oil for dipping. I always like a lot of Parmesan and olive oil and at Palermo's I can use as much as I want without a waiter looking at me like I have been deprived of Parmesan and olive oil my whole life.
Now, there is something about the pizza at Palermo's and I think it's the sauce. The sauce is unlike any other. It's both sweet and savory; it's a perfect balance. I believe that it is the sauce that makes the pizzas here DELICIOUS! The pastas are great as well. The tortellini is scrumptious; all pastas come in big portions and you also get a choice of soup or salad with entrees. The minestrone is great; although I have never experienced a bad minestrone.
For dessert, the Pizelle al Gelato is a must try. A generous portion of wafer cookies, fresh cut strawberries, vanilla gelato drizzled with berry liqueur is to die for. Honestly, I am not a dessert person and normally don't order dessert, but I usually order this.
The only downsides are that it can be very busy and noisy on the weekends with large families/groups and lots of teenagers. They are also closed on Tuesdays, but any other day, give Palermo's a try. -
Review from logan j.
Lyons, IL
2/9/2011
I have given this place a couple tries because of all the good reviews. My honest take is the food leaves a lot to be desired. I am not a food snob by any means but I really don't understand why the food here gets the reviews it does. The calamari was rubbery and tasted fishy, the pasta sauce tasted like it came from a can and the pizza was nothing to talk about. The staff was nice and service was fine my review is just based on the food.
-
Review from CJ K.
Phoenix, AZ
1/24/2008
There are a lot of things lacking on the South Side, and it is difficult to "defend" it against the North Side because, as of this writing, they are two very different places. That said, in the battle for thin crust pizza superiority, the decision goes to the South Side. No contest. It's not even close, and Palermo's is a major reason for SS dominance.
Order the "thin and crispy" crust and find that it is crispy all the way through, covered with a noticeably sweet sauce and toppings that are all equally impressive in their own right. For example, the sausage is homemade and a spinach topping is not just spinach leaves but a delicious combination of spinach and ricotta cheese (I think). Long story short, the quality of the toppings is excellent, and the pizza comes to you looking the way it should: loaded with stuff, hot, and properly browned on top. Portion size is overly generous. We usually get it delivered, but I have been to the restaurant and had a recommendable experience. You won't be blown away by special ambiance, but you will feel like exactly where you are: In an Italian restaurant, on the South Side, eating some of the best authentic thin crust pizza in (OK, near) the city. -
Review from Laura M.
2/19/2008
This place is good and it gets packed! The pizza is delicious (thin crust), calamari was fresh and not overly breaded, and they have a fun and tasty martini list. My husband tried the hazelnut chocolate one and it was delicous (be careful).
They serve you with fresh made rustic loafs of warm bread that is delicous. You know the one...a bit crunchy on the outside when you break it and soft within with a bit of steam coming out. Aaaaah.
I haven't tried the pasta yet, but it looks very good from the other tables. We had the tiramisu which was good but it needed a bit more espresso in it. Very nice service and reasonable prices. -
Review from amina p.
Kailua, HI
3/17/2010
They dont get the 5th star, because of the unattentive server we had. She was friendly, but it was after 2:30 and I think her brain was busy digesting her lunch so she wasnt moving that fast. The deep dish pizza was better than most places I have ever had it (scept luminatis)
The calamari was melt in your mouth fresh and delicious. Nice setting. Tacky fancy. I love it! -
Review from Deborah E.
Chicago, IL
11/21/2008
According to my friend Lori - lover of all things Italian - I can make this exclamation about my feelings about Palermo's food in two ways:
Scopilo alla morte! (as a sophisticated Italian from the north) OR
Fotto alla morte! (as a skanky Italian from the south)
Either way, let it be known that this is some of THE best Italian food I have ever had. My friend Rhonda - diehard "Soutsider" and break-your-balls Sox fan - has been badgering this Northsider to go to Palermo's for the five years I have known her. I finally made it there with her last night and now I am kicking myself in the ass for not going sooner.
It is a good sign that when you get there on a Thursday night at 7:30 pm in 10 degree weather it MUST be good. And, oh man, was it ever!
We started with a HUGE portion of fried calamari that was fresh, lightly battered and so tasty - not one bit chewy. Though I really wanted pasta, I also was dying to try the thin crust pizza that R loves so much. Why, what the hell - let's order BOTH! We ordered a small Canadian Bacon, mushroom and onion pizza and, per R, "with extra sauce & well done."
This pizza was the freaking best pizza since, well, since the pizza I had at I Monelli's last week. But keep in mind here - I am not a pizza lover. I like it - once in a blue moon I crave one - but it is NOT on my Death Row Food list as it is my mom's. I mean, if she couldn't have pizza again, she would want to be shot, even though she really should NOT be having pizza as her heart surgeon told her after her quad-bypass ("Jean, the two worst things for your heart that you can possibly eat are pizza and hot dogs.")
But I am here to proclaim loudly that this pizza was just orgasmic - the crust was perfection - not too thin, not too thick. And the sauce, with its hint of sweetness....again, fotto alla morte!
For me to like a pizza sauce this much is a big deal because I am not a huge red sauce fan - of any kind. I prefer artery clogging creamy sauces, or pesto or oil and garlic, etc. I think I am going to dream about this pizza for days.........
On to pasta. We ordered:
Cappalinni Christina - juicy diced tomatoes and fresh-picked basil, Sauteed in olive oil and fresh garlic, tossed with angel hair pasta and laced with fresh mozzarella cheese; and
Macaroni Carina- curly tubed macaroni pasta, strips of sauteed chicken, peas, mushrooms and broccoli, served in a rich pink tomato sauce.
Both of these were huge fabulous scrumptious dishes! Dinners also come with a salad or soup - we both ordered the Pasta e Fagioli soup which was thick and hearty.
After pigging out on the calamari, the dense wonderful bread and two pieces each of the Death Row pizza, we had to take home nearly all of the rest of the aforementioned dishes. I will now have Italian food for days......
But were we done? "HELL NO!" as R would say. We had coffee and split a cannoli, but not just any cannoli - a near perfect cannoli - a cannoli that was minus the stupid tacky green pistachio crap you find elsewhere. A crunchy cannoli that had just the right amount of chocolate chips in it - a cannoli that featured a few cherries on it and whose cream would make even Catherine de' Medici weep. HOOOORAH!
But were we done? Hell, yes - whaddaya think we are - porkers? I can't wait to take my Michigander mom here next time she visits. For the pizza of her life. -
Review from Heather P.
Schaumburg, IL
8/16/2010
Food was ok. Service was terrible. I understand large groups are hard for some places...but it seems that a group of 18 was way too much for the waitress or the kitchen. We sat down at 1pm and we finally gave our food order at 1:50 pm. Then the food slowly came out, didn't seem like there was any order to it, and the waitress kept having to ask what was left to come out. There were 5 of us left waiting for our food, in fact, my husband was finished before I even received my food-I ordered the chicken pesto panini -it came out without the pesto...seemed a little strange. I tasted some other dishes, and it just didn't seem great compared to their prices. In my opinion too expensive for the quality of food and the service did not make up for it.
-
Review from Kkona K.
Anaheim Hills, CA
1/23/2011
Best pizza I ever had! Love the sausage on the pizza.
-
Review from Derek G.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2011
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this south side Italian restaurant, but the stream of people coming & going led me to believe this a popular place. After eating there, I can see why. The prices are fair, the food is very good and it has a relaxed atmosphere. The host seems to think he works at the 95th Floor and not a place on the south side, but other than that, it's a pleasant place to be.
-
Review from John S.
7/26/2010
Went here on Saturday with a friend. Ok so First off a disclaimer, I'm normally a North side guy so a visit to the south side is rare :) I must say i was quite pleasantly surprised with Palermao's. My friend and I decided to go here for lunch and have the thin crust pizza. First off the service here is excellent. You can tell this is a family owned business because the staff is very friendly and actually cares about there customers. The pizza was fresh and served piping hot just the way I like it. The sauce is a bit on the sweet side for me but was still very tasty. I felt the prices were a bit on the high side $20 for a 16inch thin crust was a bit high but the food was of good quality and worth it. Over all a great find and one of the better pies I have had. One other tip is to come for lunch because it wasn't very crowded here. I understand dinner gets to be a bit on the crazy side.
Read more reviews for this business:
French (1)
