On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: DePaulMon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Loading...
So I went here with a friend who had moved out of Chicago...I think I walked about 10 miles to get here...no joke. So after my crazy hike across freakin' Chicago, we arrived at Pequod's.
Service was so nice! and the famous crust was worthy of fame. So freakin' good! One of those eating experiences when you wish you weren't with a boy you liked so you could just go pig-crazy and chow down with abandon...stupid cute boys *angry face* ruining my meal!
I was very excited to try this place out. I have heard from many people that this was some of the best pizza in the city. I know people who are extremely loyal to this place and worship the pies that are removed from their ovens.
The pizza was good but I am not sure what all the hype is about. I liked the fact that they used massive chunks of toppings. You could tell that that they were fresh and it was a very hearty pizza. Other than that, the pizza was nothing all that wonderful. It was almost rather bland and the sauce did not have all that much flavor.
Will we be back here? Possibly if we are in the area or if we have a coupon. This place did nothing to overwhelm me. It was decent but I do not think that it lived up to the hype surrounding it.
The first time we went there was for lunch. We split a small pizza and it was pretty good. We sat by the window and it was fine.
The next time we went there it was a weekend. We had a party of eight. I made reservations in advance. We ended up at two tall round bar tables on bar stools upstairs under a television. It felt like a sports bar. We split three pizzas. The one I tried was a deep dish pizza with vegetables on it. I thought it was too bready. I liked the salad and the appetizers well enough though. Not so much the atmosphere or the pizza. The only versions of deep dish that have really left me wanting more have been from Bacino's and Calo's.
In my opinion, Pequod's pizza is completely overrated. While the outer crust is indeed very nicely done, the middle is a soggy mess. The sauce was super salty, and this is the only time in my life EVER that pizza was not better the day after. I mean really how does that happen? It is one of the foundational laws of all that is good and right in life, that pizza is always better the day after. Well not at this joint. I've tried their pizza several times now, and just don't get it. And not for nothing, it's not inexpensive either, two pies $50.00 with a couple of toppings? I know Pequod's is popular and all, but not with this girl.
If you want thin crust pizza with fresh basil, pine nuts, and a cheese you can't pronounce.. and you walk into Pequod's... you ought to be punched in the face. Pequod's isn't that kind of place. It's the kind of place for people that want to live fast and die young, who like to hear the sound of their arteries clog with every doughy, saucy, cheesy, and meaty bite. Yeah, MEAT on a THICK PIZZA, in CHIACGO. It's how we do, and if you don't appreciate it, you're a tourist.
Whatevs.. I'm not a pizza snob, I'm a pizza-phile... I'll eat that thin frou frou crap, wash it down with wine and love it... but this... this is the kind of pizza that you enjoy with BEER or POP. That you savor, bite by bite, slowly. Before you know it, you're already at the delicious cheesy, crispy crust thinking "who the f ate that entire slice?... oh me...."
The dough... the put real YEAST in it, it's a delight, really. It's not dense like all those other "Chicago Style OMG WE'RE THE ORIGINAL DEEP DISH" joints (you know the kind... you'd seen commercials during sporting events...). The sauce, just the right amount of sweet and tang, and a healthy amount of it, I mean, that crust is meant to be a workhorse and deliver the delicious toppings to your open and waiting mouth.
(Suddenly my pizza review has turned into a harlequin novel...)
So... why the food orgasm and only four stars? They don't deliver to west loop...
Great pizza. Had a pan pizza with green peppers and onions. Pretty good crust but the cheese was really great. Good ingredients and a really great atmosphere. Very chill place and the servers all seem to recognize "regulars".
Only draw back...made my girlfriend's stomach upset afterwards (but worth it haha)
I had higher expectations for authentic Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza! I was expecting more of a flaky soft deep crust... not crispy.
It was just ok for me...
I honestly like UNO's or BJ's way better!
Great beer tho! Thanks for cutting fresh orange slices for our Blue Moon.
Ok, so I'm not a fan of deep dish pizza. That's right, I said it.
Anyway, an old friend came in from out of town and naturally wanted to get some Chicago style eats. Pequod's was her choice, I was just there for the conversation.
Turns out that this is THE ONLY deep dish pizza that I've ever enjoyed. The caramelized cheese crust was awesome, but what I really liked was the fact that this wasn't just a pie crust filled with cheese, as I've had at many other places. The dough was fluffy and soft and the bottom of the pizza was super crispy.
All and all it was a damn good pizza. The service was great as well. Pricey beer, though.
And just to clear things up - their mushrooms are NOT canned, as one other reviewer had said (all of our toppings were super fresh and yummy.)
I may go back there someday if I'm ever wanting deep dish, but I don't really see that happening. Hey, at least now I know that I don't find all Chicago style pizza inedible! Kudos, Pequod's.
When it comes to *pan* pizza--a largely overlooked style of pie here in deep dish heaven--Pequod's is God.
Pan style, of course, is marked by its crust-centric presentation, and nobody does carbo-riffic, pan style pizza better than Pequod's. It's bread-tastic: light, crispy, and the caramelized crust is perfection. The sauce is just right: slightly sweet and not layered on too heavily. And their sausage is the Best. Ever. (And this is from an avowed pepperoni-only devotee.)
And if you end up with leftovers? They hold up better in the fridge than any pizza in the city.
I've been to most of the major "touristy" deep dish pizza players here in Chicago, so when my friends invited me to Pequods, I was definitely game. We arrived at 7:00 on Friday night and our party of 5 was seated in under 5 mins. I give MAJOR props for that.
I thought the food was a little underwhelming. We ordered a medium sausage and a large peperoni. They are famous for their pan (deep dish) pizza and the caramelized, burnt cheese crust. I was expecting it to be better than it sounded, but wasn't really digging the taste-- too much burnt, not enough caramelized. The crust goes on for DAYS too. Where a lot of pizza places fill the deep dish with cheese, Pequods uses a tremendous amount of bread. It did make one slice quite filling, which added to the bang for your buck prices-- as long as you like tons of crust. The sausage was my favorite part. Very satisfying-- just the right amount of sweet, salty and spicy.
Pequods didn't make my Top 5 on the Chicago Pizza list, but it delivers a solid pizza for a good price.
4 stars for value alone:
1 leines pitcher + 2 side salads + cheesy garlic bread + small pan pizza = $48 with tax and tip. great deal and a pleasant suprise!
we enjoyed the food, beverages, and service before seeing the worlds worst movie, paranormal activity on friday night. i wish i would have stayed at pequods and thrown myself down those super steep stairs for 1.5 hours rather than see that movie. lordy.
sidenote: does anyone know what is on the whale's head? it looks like underpants or a boomerang...
I'm usually a thin crust girl when it comes to pizzas, but I'd heard rave reviews about Pequod's and had to try the pan to see what all the fuss was about.
If the review were just for the pizza, I'd give it 3 stars. It was good, but nothing I'd run back for, though the "caramelized" cheese around the edge of the crust is my favorite part. It was definitely plentiful and a medium pizza lasted my boyfriend and I two meals. The crust doesn't reheat very well, though, so I'd recommend only ordering what you think you can finish. The sausage was good, crumbled and fresh with just the right amount of spice. It was a little bready for my taste, though.
The reason I'll be back is for the good service and good beer. We were seated right away on a busy, Saturday night, upstairs and in a back room I didn't know existed. Still, the atmosphere was lively and fun. There were lots of tvs showing various football games. The beer list was pretty good for what I was expecting. A few craft beers make the list, and we shared a reasonably priced pitcher of Great Lakes beer while waiting for our pizza.
We had a great night and a great dinner there, so if I'm with someone who has a hankering for thick, pan pizza, I'll point them in the direction of the neon whale with a thong on his head.
So many reviews... I'll get down to business here.
- 2 types of pizza on the menu = thin and pan.
- Their pan pizza is thick. (Think Pizza Hut pan style, only much thicker.)
- The popular carmelized crust is only available on the pan pizza.
- Carmelized crust means it's got blackend, crispy edges. I'd liken this to the way baked brownies have a more cooked , crispy edge near the side of the pan. It did not taste burnt.
- Contents (bottom to top order)= bread, cheese, sauce, then toppings
- I ordered a medium pan pizza with 1/2 sausage, 1/2 pepperoni.
- Ordering a medium pizza for one person was a huge mistake- way too much pizza!
- Meat toppings were generous.
- Sausage was quite good and had large chunks.
- Pepperoni was good quality; a thin layer covered the entire top side of the slice.
- What I did not like about the Pepperoni was that the sauce directly underneath it made it soggy. I like crispy pepperoni.
- Pizza was good, but too much bread for my taste. It was essentially as thick as a typical deep dish.
- The carmelized edges and sausage were my favorite parts of the pizza. The rest of the pizza bored me a bit after a few bites.
- Good quality pizza. Will order again, but will get thin crust with sausage.
- Delivery took an hour on a Saturday night, as scheduled.
The best pizza I've had in Chicago...yet.
Surprisingly inexpensive taboot. For $16 plus toppings you can get a large pizza. At 8 slices, this can feed 4 people. 4 PEOPLE. I can put away a lot of food for a skinny guy, but I had no desire to eat more after 2 slices.
Carmelized crust? F*cking forgettaboutit. Too good.
Having recently moved to Chicago, I was feeling the need to take a break from the chaos of combining two households into one. Not wanting to cook or go out, we decided to order some comfort food. For me, this was nothing fancy - just a plain cheese pizza, well-done.
When I opened the box, I saw a round pizza cut into squares, covered in a thick, impenetrable layer of grease. While I can't take points off for the cutting nonsense (save it for the Sicilian pies), I definitely can justify the low rating by saying it was the single most unappetizing pizza I have ever seen. Honestly, did someone pour french fry grease ONTO the pizza? It was nauseating. Because we had no food, after pulling off the cheese and using about a half a roll of paper towels to soak up the remaining grease, I did eat a couple of the squares. It was mediocre.
Perhaps it's something I need to get used to, but I like round pizza to come in slices, not squares. I like my pizza to be edible, not soggy and wet. I like my pizza to have a delicious crust, not blackened.
Maybe they were having an off night, maybe it was somebody new...but how can a pizza joint not know how to make a plain cheese? As a teenager I worked in a pizza place and during our down time we used to concoct some pretty wild creations, but this slimy pie beats our worst idea by a mile. Come on.
LOOOOVE me some pequod's !! Can't believe the first time I dined here I ordered the thin crust! What was I thinking!? "I guess I wasn't." :-|
Their pan pizza with the caramelized crust is of the most perfect thickness....you can eat it w/ your hands OR a knife and fork.
The service is always friendly and the atmosphere is always lively.
Pequod's offers a decent beer list and boasts a fully stocked bar.
I would have Pequod's at least twice a month if it were closer to my house.
In the city that perfected pizza - Pequod's is perfect pizza.
The service is always friendly and quick. The pizza is amazing.
We go about once a month and get a pitcher of Blue Moon and a large sausage pizza. (The pitcher is like 18 bucks so we are considering alternatives.)
The servers are always on the ball - they are very relaxed and just do their thing.
The pizza is thick - not really deep dish in the purest sense of the word. The sauce is sweet but not sugary - the sausage is fresh - not pre-cut or prepackaged.
The thing is - though - the crust. The crust is crunchy and light and flaky and delicious beyond Yelping. What my people would call a peasant crust - I can't get enough of it.
We are going tonight - get our table near the window - and get lost in the best pizza Chicago has to offer...
Being from the land of Papa John's....mmmmm...thin crust with mushroom.........I wasn't sure what to expect with Chicago Style Pizza. After I kept asking around what one of the best neighborhood places to get deep dish was, I was told Pequod's was a great place to go.
So I set out, excited....yay! Chicago deep dish! I went when I first moved here and again recently.
Boy, I'm really not a fan. It's decent, and the caramelized crust is good, but I found it a little greasy for my taste. Also, the thing that really bugged me the most...nit picky, I know, but I adore mushrooms, and Pequod's does not use fresh ones; their mushrooms are canned.
That ruined the pizza for me. Price is pretty average for what you'd pay...I wasn't shocked by the bill.
Service is good. Place has a sticky feel in the air. I'd eat here again if I was in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. And then I learned...this isn't Chicago deep dish pizza...so wtf did I come here for?
LOVE THIS PLACE!!!
By far my favorite Chicago deep dish pizza.
I didn't really feel like eating pizza but my out-of-town guest couldn't leave Chicago without trying the deep dish. We were gonna go to another more famous Chicago joint but Pequod's was highly recommended.
Everything was perfect including the atmosphere. There was no wait and the service was great. The pizza had the perfect ratio of bread, cheese, sauce and toppings.
Oh and the caramelized crust was soooo yummy!!!
I'm definatly coming back
The pan pizza is a must with caramelized crust!!!! One piece is plenty as well. Atmosphere is friendly and comfy.
There was an overwhelming pine sol scent in the restaurant, but at least the place is clean. Semi open kitchen and clean bathrooms a major +.
Street parking relatively easy and non metered. Pizza delivered doesn't lose any quality either.
****And there is a M-F 11-3pm special for a 7 inch pan with one topping+cheese and a pop or tap beer for $4.95!!!!! Crazy deal, missed it by an hour, oh well, hope you can make it!!****
Ordered a deep dish with pepperoni, sausage, and onions. This pie was OUTSTANDING. The big chunks of sausage and thick slices of pepperoni were really delicious. The gooey cheesey crust was great was well. Delivery was on-time. Price was a little stiff at $28 for a large three topping. I only wish they would have been as generous with the onions as they were with the pepperoni.
Don't EVER call this "Chicago Style" as it's not even close. It's as unique as it gets. The pan pizza is really the only way to fly. It has a nice crust, cheese is crusted on, you find yourself wanting to eat the crust first. I'm a minimal topping guy as too many tend to blend into a big ass slice. The sausage is great, that's all you really need.
Pequods has it figured out. sure the wait is really long for a pizza (45-1hr) but hey, have a beer and shut up because the pizza is so legit you will forget how long you waited.
I wouldn't bother with any apps from here, they are all your typical fried junk with a side of marinara. Don't waste $$$ on a salad either. For one, you are about to consume 1500 calories and roughly 30 grams of tasty fat so get over yourself with ordering a salad to try to justify to yourself that its good for you. 2nd, you are getting a load of iceberg with a tomato wedge that resembles the salads I used to get in the dorms.
This place is decently priced, the pizza travels well if you live in neighboring areas and they have cold beer. Just don't go here with plans to walk across the street and catch a movie, know where you're going and the pizza isn't by the slice. I also really hope nobody talks shit about the service. It a pizza joint, what are you expecting.
Twas not bad, but I had higher expectations. I prefer Lou's and Pizano's to this place by a landslide. I got this to go and that does make a difference compared to a za that is hot off the press. If there was one near by, I would order again as it was good, but I wouldnt go out of my way to eat here.
I prefered the thin crust to the pan. The carmelized cheese/crust was top notch, but the crust was also very think and spongy.
Not bad.
This is simply the best pizza anywhere.
Their pan pizza really defies classification--to call it "Chicago Style" pizza does it a disservice: It is no three-inch thick slab of overwhelming cheesyness topped with an anemic tomato paste. No. It is a superb bread to cheese to sauce ratio. And there has been though put into how everything tastes. The bread compliments the cheese taste which compliments the well-spiced sauce. Many people have mentioned the caramelized crust, and it's just about perfect.
I'm honestly less enamored with the thin crust pizza, but I'm not sure why anyone would come to Pequod's and get the thin crust pizza... I feel the same way about the appetizers, but, again, if you're ruining your appetite for pizza on the appetizers that's, like, your choice, man.
There is a pretty decent beer selection, and the service is fine. Pequod's is very busy on weekend nights, so expect to wait a little while if you don't have a reservation.
Best Pizza in town. Period.
Their caramelized crust is brilliant.
I like whales and I like pizza. I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that pizza makes me look like a whale, but that's beside the point. Doing some errands, I passed by Pequod's and decided the siren song of pizza was greater than my need to save money or lose weight. It happens. Besides, I needed a reward after having to put back a running skirt that I so desperately wanted that cost $60.
It seems like a few people are like WTF to the caramelized crust, but come on people, it's like the char on a marshmallow over a campfire. AMAZING. The sausage is delicious and you can taste all the herbs and the sauce is pretty great also. It's a little hard to cut, but what they hey? I like a challenge. We waited for less than 2 minutes, our server and the host were super friendly, and the prices were decent. I'm intrigued by the $5 personal pizza and beer lunch special. Who wants to skip work???
Also- this whole whale tail thong thing makes my head spin... a thong on a whale on a thong, which will inevitably be a whale tail when you try to cram your pizza laden ass into your skinny jeans. Crazy.
I've heard over & over that this is a Sox bar. Not sure why to the point that I'm wondering if that term, "Sox bar" is a pejorative.
The beer was cold enough but the food was just OK and oddly expensive, as if I didn't know any better. Sorry, I wasn't drunk enough not to notice I was being ripped off. It's bad enough my White Sox are pretending to be the Cubs this year (aka "sucking") at least break off a deal or help me drowned my sorrows without going broke.
If you love deep dish and loads of toppings this is your place! I usually go for the lunch special. How can you caomplain abot $5 for a pizza and a beer ( or soda if your scared). Try it for lunch then once you are hooked go there before a movie and go to sleep in the seats!
I still contend that this is a poor man's Burt's, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially since I am a pizza snob. The key differences between this location and the Morton Grove original are that the inside has been renovated in the last 20 years, the location is in a pretty happening part of town, and it is not located on block from Burt, who is the non Malnati godfather of Chicago Pizza. A combination of these three factors makes this location much more crowded than the original, and the burnt crust great pizza might have something to do with it as well.
It was Friday night and we had a party of 6, so it took about 40 mins to get a table, which is fine, since it gets super crowded. I think they do reservations but require a credit card or something, which makes sense. Dinner is always interesting eating with some people you don't know too well, especially when a couple of them want to order for the whole table. I was fine with it since my dietary needs were taken care of, but when one of them tried to order thin crust, we had to quietly explain what city we were in and things got back to normal. An added plus was one of the people does not eat crust, meaning I got double the burnt goodness!
Normally I wouldn't review a place that has so many reviews already (especially when everyone basically agrees that Pequod's has the best pizza in chicago), but I'm posting and giving 5 stars anyways just to counteract the two reviews (Michael W and Tina) who gave it 2 and 3 stars, respectively, for being a crummy white sox bar.
Um, how do I say this gently,
IT'S A PIZZA RESTAURANT, NOT A BAR!
Seriously, how stupid do you have to be to think this is a bar? How could you be confused, did you notice that everyone was eating pizza? That every table had pizza menus, shakers, and napkims and forks? That the actual bar has like 5 seats which people only sit at if they're waiting for a table? That the overwhelming smell that hits you when you walk in is PIZZA- not beer?
If you're looking for a bar, go to a bar- there's one two doors down. If you want to eat pizza, then go to Pequod's, you'll be happy.
Oh, and they happen to have a great, albeit small, beer list too//
Quite simply, I really don't care for Chicago's deep dish (being a NYC transplant and all), but - gasp - I actually enjoyed it at Pequod's tonight. It mainly came down to the following: 1) not as doughy as all those "famous" chains, 2) no disgusting amount of cheese like those "famous" chains, 3) excellent sauce with a hint of smokey flavor, 4) caramelized edge (which I hadn't seen at those "famous" chains).
A sub-par beer list, however. My avid beer enthusiast friend was rather disappointed with his choices of beers throughout the meal.
Next time, I shall try the thin crust and see how it compares to my beloved NY pie.
I rarely give 1 star - maybe I am a little bitter because I was expecting so much from everyone's review of this place. Ok maybe it should be more like a 2 if they actually cooked our pizza thoroughly.
We ordered a large deep dish with sausage, bell peppers and mushrooms.
it came out with the famous caramelized crust, the bread dough was rawish in the center, and bellpeppers and mushroom topping was not cooked and the pizza sauce was cold!
We took most of it home, my poor husband got diarrhea later that night, so we just ended up tossing this out entirely.
Pequod's Pizza is simply good as hell. (provided you think hell is awesome, like I do. I am Ronnie James Dio, after all)
The pan style saaaasage, (Ditka), Peperoni, and Peperoncini pizza truly kicks ass. I highly recommend that you purchase this foodstuff. This place definitely competes as a top choice when ordering Chicago style pizza. I stand behind this good review, and hope that Pequod's will supply me with a free pizza for my efforts.
Given the 400+ other reviews on Yelp, I don't think i have anything to add about Pequod's.
I'll just say that the pizza is delicious, the crust is great, and the sausage is my favorite topping. If you like deep dish, try Pequod's, you won't disappointed.
My friend Tony took me to this place when we were in the area saying he goes there all the time for their lunch special. For the prize, the pizza was worth it. Sad to hear about the owner's daughter though. My condolences.
The tomato sauce is really good, but overall...eh. Just order the cheesy garlic bread for like $3 and get a side of the sauce. You'll enjoy yourself with way lower expectations.
The service is...odd...The people are...odd...It's like they call this place a White Sox bar because it kind of sucks, like it's a crude northside joke about the southside or something...I think I'm offended - no, wait - yeah, I am. Fried mushrooms cost $6. That's like .80 cents per crappy breaded mushroom or something, which, correct me if I'm wrong, is like the very definition of sucking.
PS - The idea of anybody in that place (me, our waitress and Paul Konerko included) wearing one of those Pequod g-strings that are hanging from the wall? [shudders + grossed out face]
Thin crust pizza is to die for! The cheese crust version is basically just like a Pizza Hut pan pizza, still good, but nothing fantastic.
Appetizers are classic bar food, not outstanding, seemed like they came from the freezer (which is fine, pretty sure most bars apps do as well).
Stick to the thin crust pizza. The place smells phenomenal and the atmosphere is very laid back and great for a pizza and beer night.
My roommate has been telling me for months now that Pequod's is the best pizza in Chicago. The man should forever make my pizza eating decisions, as Pequod's was able to beat Gino's East as my favorite pizza in Chicago.
The crust is what really sells me. It is crisp on the bottom with a bit of doughy satisfaction just above that. Then the sauce hits you with its full arsenal of flavor and tag teams your tounge with the other toppings that are generously arranged on top. For the cherry on top: that crispy, crunchy, not-burnt-but-also-a-little-burnt edge of the crust that gives this pizza a unique personality unlike anything else in Chicago.
There are a lot of seats in this place but they all seemed to get full before we left on a Friday night, and I say if you have to wait on one of the benches conveniently located just outside the door the pizza you will soon enjoy will be worth your wait.
The only complaint I have is that their beer list is a little short. However this is redeemed by being filled by microbrews (aside from the token Lite anyway) and pitchers are a welcomed option. Quality over quantity is an acceptable ideal for a beer list, so pour yourself a tasty pint of Dortmunder and get ready to try your new favorite Chicago pizza.
I am not to sure what the obsession over Pequods is. Its all right. The crust is ok. The rest of the pizza is ok. The service is ok. Wait time for tables is below average. Parking is just plain awful.
I want to be impressed with you Pequods, I do. You are like a really attractive person with a bad personality. I want to love you, but once you get past the face, it just goes downhill. Unfortunate!
Who would have known that next to the Thai place there was this gem that I have been seeing so often is soo good!! We had a slice of pizza(thin crust) with spinach.. it was so tasty! the cheese melts in your mouth.. and it has a great texture. The service was great also.
This place is def. worth it!! will be back
Kids Eat FREE on Thursdays!
Oak Park, IL
Yelp Special for new…
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Pizza
Morton Grove, IL
Category: Pizza
Take-out favorites that I order from so often,…
I'd rather stay home then go to these…
Here's where you'll find me when my tummy's…
Don't hate me for being a thin crust gal, but here…
A highly contested argument with Chicagoans, but I…
Growing up in Chicago, I am very anti-Pizza Hut…
Hey, pizza is personal. Everyone has likes and…
Here's my list of great pizzas. I favor the…
