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Rocco Ranalli's
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Burgers Restaurants American (Traditional) Pizza, Burgers, American (Traditional)
1925 N Lincoln Ave(between Ogden Ave & Wisconsin St)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
(312) 642-4700
- Nearest Transit:
-
Sedgwick (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 4 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 5 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
51 reviews for Rocco Ranalli's
Review Highlights
"My wife's favorite thin crust pizza in Chicago."
(in 17 reviews)
"plus they have a great wine/beer list."
(in 3 reviews)
"Huge outdoor seating area and great ambiance inside."
(in 3 reviews)
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51 reviews in English
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Review from Kaitlin M.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love Rocco's!
I recently went vegan and was really bummed out when I realized that I would be spending far less time at my favorite pizza joint Rocco's. I mean I knew I would still hang out with friends at the bar but not being able to enjoy their pizza... that is painful.
So... going against the advice of my friends I decided to stop in, have a couple of beers, and nonchalantly ask if they were able to make a vegan pizza??? :-/
And much to my surprise the bartender sparked up and said " OF COURSE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!" She went on to explain that they have vegan customers come in all the time!
So... the beautiful end to the story is that I got to enjoy my favorite vegetarian pizza in the city, sans the cheese and butter to make it vegan. And it was just as delectable as if it want vegan!!! OK... I'm drooling. Vegans... check it out!Listed in: Best "Non-Chicago Style" Pizza…, Best Vegan Delivery in Lincoln…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/8/2011
I must say I am lucky to have such a good pizza place, such as Rocco's, right next to my house!
I sit… Read more »
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Review from Laura L.
2/6/2012
This place has a great neighborhood feel to it.
They have a surprisingly nice big bar in the front - perfect for catching a game or meeting a friend for drinks. There is plenty of room in the restaurant area, and they have a great patio for the summer. Both times I have been, the owner came by to ensure service and food was to our liking. I love the way I feel when I am here.
The menu has a lot to choose from - salads, burgers/sandwiches, italian entrees, and a bunch of pizza options. ANYONE can find something they want here (though not a ton of healthy options outside of the salad). I went with a burger and chicken sandwich and I was pleased with both. They have some excellent topping options or you can build your own. The pizzas look pretty good too.
If you want a place to have a casual meal in the LP area, I highly recommend Rocco Ranalli's! -
Review from Jessica S.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2012
I just can't understand why more people don't know about this place and don't come here more often. I guess I'm biased since I live in the mid-rise building behind Rocco's, but still, this place rocks my socks off.
I'm a lifelong Chicagoan so I'm definitely pretty picky about my pizza, both thin and deep dish. However, I come to Rocco's for their phenomenal thin crust and excellent beer selection. The crust is perfect, sauce is savory and full of spices, the cheese is thick and gooey, and the mushrooms are fresh and huge. I'm not normally a pepperoni person, but when I'm here I order it because it's like nothing I've ever had before.
And, like I said before, they have an excellent beer selection - both on tap and in bottles. I normally do take out and order from the bar so I can't attest to the table service there but the bartenders are always really laid back and fun to talk to.
This place is not to be missed if you're looking for dependable, delicious food and late night delivery. -
Review from Jon A.
Chicago, IL
2/10/2012
I've ordered from this place twice for delivery. Both times I got a small thin crust pizza. Both times the pizza was very undercooked, and so soggy and wet on the bottom that I couldn't even bring myself to eat it.
I ordered from there a second time by mistake after forgetting the name of the place that delivered the worst pizza I'd ever had the first time.
The only positive part was the prompt delivery. -
Review from Jelena Z.
12/20/2011 1 photo
Deep in the heart of Lincoln Park lives a pizza joint that makes such jaw-droppingly good burgers, that I'll never actually end up trying their pizza.
True story (don't believe me? see photo).
Yes - that's a pretzel bun. Sure, everyone out there these days seems to think you can slap a subpar piece of meat on an disappointingly average pretzel bun and the masses will approve. But this pretzel bun isn't average (it's delicious) and the beef isn't subpar (it's superb). What baffles me is that I don't see my burger of choice, The 22, listed on the restaurant's menu on their website... but it makes the cut on RR's delivery portal menu and also on GrubHub. In any case, ask for The 22 'cause they clearly know how to make it and they do it well. It will set you back $11, but its layers of pepper jack cheese, roasted poblano peppers, raw red onions, guacamole, and chipotle remoulade will transport you to Kuma's. For at least a minute, anyway.
Oh, and I should mention that I've never consumed one of their burger darlings onsite at the restaurant... I've only had them delivered! Can you imagine how one of these bad boys must taste fresh from the chef's hand to plate, minus the 20-30 minute drive to my condo? I imagine it must smack of perfection and could be/may be/we shall see: A 5-star burger.
Pssst: They deliver 'til 4am daily and 5am on Fri/Sat. -
Review from Ermelinda C.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2012
My favorite neighborhood restaurant/bar. Delicious burgers, great beer selection and a fantastic patio to enjoy during the summer days. Nice staff and a great location!!!
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Review from Andrea R.
11/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Baby R turns 1 tomorrow- hooray! When it came time to start planning the bday bash months ago I thought I'd host it at home. Then I made a list of all of Baby R's closest friends and family and realized that my list of 95 people (she's a very popular baby) could not fit in our small condo. My husband asked me not to get carried away and suggested we have a pizza party. I obliged and set out to find the perfect venue to host Baby R's "Princess of Chicago" themed bash.
The all knowing Jelena Z suggested I check out Rocco Ranalli's party room for the bash. I sent them an email thru their website, immediately heard back from the Owner (Art) and made my way over there. The party room was exactly what I was looking for: casual, spacious and lots of flat screen TVs at the request of my husband. They also have an affordable party package (pizza, salads and soft drinks) that you can check out on their website. While visiting for the first time I placed an order for a grilled chicken salad, which was oh so delish. I figured if their pizza was half as good our guests would be happy campers.
I'm a bit of a neurotic party planner, but Art didn't seem to mind all my phone/email check-ins and he always got back to me within a day. I'm sure he'll miss hearing from me since he did comment he gets more emails from me than he does from his wife. :) Like I said...a bit neurotic. When I mentioned last week how many RSVPs we had he made the fabulous suggestion of doing a separate area for the kids entertainment (my daughter's music teacher).
This past weekend was the big bash and I couldn't have been happier with my choice of venue. Art & co went out of their way to help..and they made everything super easy! The separate area for kids turned out to be perfect because it got them out of the way...and the adults could enjoy themselves as they gorged on pizza and beer. As I was leaving I mentioned to Art that I may just have to have all of Baby R's future bdays at Rocco Ranalli's. I'm sure he's bracing himself for lots of emails from me this time next year, but in the meantime we'll be back for lots of delicious pizza...especially next summer to dine on their fabulous patio. -
Review from tiffany k.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/21/2011
This place still gets 5 starts. For what it is - heck yes.
I'm adding an update because I've recently discovered that every time the Bears play they have a free pizza buffet (with their yummy thin crust) in sausage, pepperoni, margarita, mushroom, plain cheese and maybe another one or two. So you have a lot of choice. Their appetizers are all half price all day on a Bears game day.
This is seriously a rockin' deal. I mean, you cannot beat absolutely delicious thin crust pizza with great ingredients (for free??!!) and half price apps all day! It is good to note that the free pizza buffet is only during the game - but I feel that a free pizza buffet for 3 or so hours is plenty for most people.
Drinks here are reasonable as well and they have an amazing beer list.
This is still my favorite pizza. I love you Rocco's!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2011
The 5 stars is purely for their thin crust pizza. I've had so many different kinds of thin crust… Read more »
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Review from Kylie C.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2012
Great food, bad service. The burgers are pretty good. But the meatball sandwich is my favorite. The thin crust and deep dish pizzas are really good. Definitely order something for dessert. I would give them 5 stars if it wasnt for the service.
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Review from Peter g.
Chicago, IL
11/21/2011
Been here twice, and its no 1 hit wonder for sure. The desserts could use some more flair, but the menu is big, full of good choices, and the pizza is very good, I have tried the thin crust twice now, they also serve deep, Pan w/ stuffed crust, and double crust (this is not on the resturant menu, but its on the carry out which they tell me is larger but still orderable insied)
My GF tried the Tom-Basil soup and had a thin crust of her own, both of the pizzas were piled high with toppings, I also orderd extra sauce its pretty good. The topping list is bigger then most places. But for those looking for more then Pizza, they have a large Appitizer list, and tasty things all over the menu, so this is very worth a trip.
Flat screens are everywhere, and the staff is very nice. Bar area is nicely separated from main seating so the choice is yours, the bar got a little loud with the music but they do have TVs in both areas.
Give them a shot, it was not crazy busy there and worth the trip. -
Review from beth a.
12/29/2011
would have given them 2 stars if not for presentation:
that has to be the coolest way ive ever seen pepperoni put on pizza (HUGE slices, just about one per piece of pie), and their tiramisu is served like cake
also they offer free of charge ingredients on their pizzas once uve paid for 4 (ingredients)
now then...my pizza was delivered at room temp and since its not cold outside i can only assume that means that it was sittin outside of the oven/warmer for a good and long time before it got to me
cheese is flavorless and the tiramisu is overpriced
in a city thats supposed to have the best pizza options...im gettin tired of branching out into disappointment -
Review from Dan C.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
Two bad experiences, one decent.
The one time that we were waited on, the food was kinda tasty. The others had us waiting (not in a crowded time or setting, mind you) upwards of 10-15 minutes to get water or drink orders. The second time this happened, AFTER approaching the staff, we just left.
So why is this a dealbreaker? There's a pizza/restaurant/bar 50 feet away that has substantially better food, service, and atmosphere.
Go to Bricks. -
Review from Bryan C.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2011
Okay, granted, this was the first time we ordered from these guys and it was delivery but the food was just not worth the price. This was our order:
Reuben with bread on the side and dressing on the side: Now, the meat was flavorless and dry, SMALL portion (Which is funny because their Grubhub menu says: WARNING: Our sandwiches are not snacks... eat at your own risk!), and order the bread was freaking rock hard around the edges and the dressing tasted watered down. The good? The packaging! I love how they packaged everything individually just like I like it and their packaging is RECYCLABLE!
Mac-n-Cheese: This was just elbow noodles from Jewel and some block/packaged cheddar cheese with no flavoring what-so-ever! I literally had to add a little salt, pepper and garlic powder to give it some flavor because I was just not eating it that way.
French fries: Now, these were okay, nothing special, and no reason to order again.
Fish: My fiance ordered Fish & Chips. I brought up going to eat at BIG and littles, which has great Fish & Chips, so my fiance was craving Fish & Chips. The fish was okay, nice chunky sizes, seemed to be fresh but wasn't anything I would recommend.
Again, this was our first order and it was delivery but this was just unacceptable. We will NOT be ordering from this place again! I recommend Deluxe Diner on Clark & Devon for their Reuben if your in their delivery area, which, we were but are no longer and miss them already. Thankfully, we will only be in The Old Town area for a year and then moving back to Uptown... we miss everything about Uptown.. including the food and people! -
Review from Nathaniel G.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
Overall, the food is pretty good. The pan pizza is the best, the thin crust is good, the deep dish is mediocre.
I've also ordered a couple other things on the menu when i was tired of pizza and they were pretty good as well.
However, they get minus 2 stars for their service. Once I ordered a vegetarian quesadilla and it came with chicken in it. I told the waitress who was very nice about it. She then came back to inform me that they were fixing another one, I informed her to just pack it up to go for my friends were almost done eating and I didn't want to wait around.
When we got the bill, the quesadilla was still on it. I heard her arguing with her manager and he insisted that I pay for the quesadilla.
EXCUSE ME? You put chicken in this and I didn't get dinner with my friends and we had to wait.
Another time friends and I ordered a small pizza to go during a non-busy time. When my friend went to pick it up we gave the cashier a dollar as a nice gesture. The manager who was sitting next to her then mumbled quite loudly, that's a small tip.
again, EXCUSE ME? This was a pick up order at 2:30 in the afternoon on a Tuesday. Get over yourself. -
Review from Kelly H.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
Mr. Rocco Ranalli
Me and my intestines would like to thank you for making the most delicious gluten free pizza in the city. It actually tastes like a pizza. And those giant crispy pepperonis are a nice touch. Well done. And if someone thinks another place around here can make a better pizza pie, without gluten, let me know. I'd like to eat it. -
Review from M W.
Chicago, IL
7/30/2011
Great beer list. But the pizza was just ok. The crust on the thin crust pizza was not very good (very flat and crispy, not bread-y like I prefer). Plus, there was just too much cheese and toppings crammed on. I prefer a pizza with few but very high quality ingredients to one that loads up on more of average quality ingredients. The same criticism goes for the bruschetta.
In addition, the outdoor seating has huge potential, but I didn't find it as nice as I'd hoped. I recommend better seating and more plants around the space. The service, while not bad, was rushed and it's never pleasant to be pushed to run through your order as quickly as possible. -
Review from Karianne W.
Chicago, IL
7/3/2011
FANTASTIC draft beer selection at a good price. They often run specials during the week that really can't be beat anywhere in the immediate area. Also offer fun beer flight option, 4 selections for $6! Huge outdoor seating area and great ambiance inside. Bar area has several large TVs for watching games.
Overall menu is fairly average but their thin crust pizzas are flavorful and everything about them is homemade. Recommended for date night, out with friends, outdoor eating and a good beer. -
Review from Lisa C.
Chicago, IL
6/11/2011
I'm begining my descent into a rather large arse courtesy of Ranalli's. I happened to find this place on GrubHub after searching my 'hood for something that *might* have something similar to the burgers and sweet potato fries at Sweet Baby Ray's in the neighborhood I grew up in. I ordered The Hipster (w/ sweet potato fries, duh!) via GrubHub and immediately fell in love. I've since spent much too much of my income on delivery - and my arse is growing larger. Thus, I'll probably have to end my addiction soon - but looking back, I'd have to say that all of those calories were worth it.
Sigh.
PS Downside? They have a cool point system if you order via their website (each order gets you one point, pts = $5 off), however, their online ordering system is so buggy that I ended up giving up and ordering thru GrubHub. Boo! -
Review from Robert C.
Chicago, IL
10/23/2011
Hard to find anything bad to say about this place!
I recently rediscovered this place after years of thinking it was just a typical Lincoln Park Sports Bar/Pizza joint. I went there with a couple of friends and my 2 year old daughter, we were very pleased.
The food was great (I had a $12 burger that was actually worth $12). They brought my daughters food ASAP as requested, and everything was very good. The beer selection is outstanding, They have a real "beer guy" picking the brews and the prices are some of the best in the city for "craft beer". We even had a friendly visit from Jerry (?) the owner, just to check on us and make sure everything was good. Very impressive. The location is great, right across from the Zoo and they have a great outdoor patio.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Niki C.
Chicago, IL
7/11/2011
A small group of us met here yesterday for Sunday Funday (I was there for after beach hydration & company). Our server "Awesome" was just that ... Awesome. She was witty & sarcastic & helpful & really giving one of the guys in our group a run for his money in suggesting interesting beers to imbibe.
I understand the pepperoni thin crust pizza was wonderful & gobbled up. I ordered the guacamole (for some reason I was craving some avocado action) & I basically inhaled it.
& although all I drank was about 3-4 huge glasses of water, Awesome was still super cool.
The desserts she showed us looking amazing, but we were all just tuckered out, so we declined, but will definitely save room next time.
We dined al fresco in their huge area which was roomy & alternately sunny/shady. When the skies threatened rain, Awesome let us know that, just in case, she was going to set up a table for us indoors. Seriously? She really is awesome.
We all agreed that we would absolutely come back for more. Thanks, Awesome/Mindy! -
Review from Geoffrey P.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2011
Old Rannalli's was awesome, new and not so improved Rocco's Rannalli's is terrible.
I have been ordering pizza from Ranalli's for years and it has always been good, fast, and hot, though I would advise staying away from about everything else.
That being said the Ranalli's I knew and loved is no more. I do not know if there was a change of ownership or what, but it is now Rocco's Ranalli's and the food is terrible. The crust and sauce is different then it used to be. The pizza tastes like a piece of cardboard and usually arrives cold, they no longer cover it with foil.
The delivery guys are also total douche bags. If you order pizza from Ranalli's frequently they will send you $5 off postcards. They used to subtract that amount from the bill, now they tell you that the driver will give your $5 cash, ostensibly because the drivers weren't taking the coupons and you could just use them over and over. If you attempt to give the coupon to the driver in lieu of a tip or try to get the $5 they hassle you about it ,claiming that they won't get a tip, which is untrue. They're just trying to get paid twice, once when you tip them, and again when they turn in the coupon for cash at the restaurant. -
Review from Joe B.
Chicago, IL
5/11/2011
KInda baffled by this place. In the past 1.5 years, it has been 'Roccos' then 'Ranallis' and now it is 'Rocco Ranalli's'. Anyway, it seems they have finally found one that is legit (Trust me, when it was just Ranallis, it was not great).
The new place has an entire new menu, helpful staff, great owner and plenty of TVs to watch Games. Pizza is really really good, very solid thin crust. Overall, they have jumped up about 3 stars in the last 6 months.
Ill go back, prob in the next 2 weeks. -
Review from Maggie K.
Chicago, IL
8/17/2011
ADDENDUM as of 8/19/2011
After I wrote this review as a 1 star because I was so upset about the situation that occured, the manager there, Jake, was quick to reply to yelp. Like I would have expected from My Nalli's - so classy and very upset to hear about the experience I had had at his restaurant. He handled the situation so well and very professional. I am impressed, but not surprised by the way he responded so quickly and appropriately to me. I will be going back to my favorite restaurant/bar this week and getting the BBQ Chicken thin crust well done pizza that I have missed so much over the last 3 months! Now if only they will put Old Style back on tap...
Must have gotten the one bad apple that day - hopefully she no longer works there. I look forward to spending my football Sundays back at Nalli's.
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Too bad I didnt write this review for them last winter.
Nalli's (name I made up since I was a 'regular' ) was my favorite place. In fact if you look on my bank statement, I was actually there no less that 4 times a week. I got to know the managers, bartenders and servers. My favorite pizza is the bbq chicken - yum! I have had my last two birthdays there and have brought in over 30 friends that have spent thousands of dollars there over the last few years.
All that changed this June.
I went on a Monday with 3 friends that I introduced to Nalli's. We ordered 3 large pizzas and beer. The check came and the server (who already was a witch with a 'b' and just so rude to us - never had that happen before there, btw) and gave us the bill that was incorrect. I said, 'oh, it is 1/2 price pizza day! I come every Monday.' She responds with 'oh, we don't do that during the summer, we make enough money.' I was so very offended.
A. You don't say that to a customer, even if that is the REAL reason.
B. This was not told to us or advertised anywhere in the restaurant. In fact we were there the week before on Monday and got 1/2 price pizzas.
C. Wow.
Oh, really? You don't need my money? Then you must not need mine and my friends' thousands of dollars throughout the winter than either.
Have not been back since. And will not go back. So rude, and not what I expected from them. -
Review from Jamey M.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
Rude. Was there last night with my boyfriend...we were looking for a quick bite and a beer or two. The Bears game had been over for about an hour so the place wasn't crowded. At all. We walked in and I tried to get the bartender's attention so I could ask her if we could just grab any table since there wasn't a hostess or anything. I made eye contact with her twice but she never stopped to talk to me. My boyfriend finally spoke to the bar back who told us we could sit anywhere. So we sat. And sat. And sat. Nothing. After about 10 minutes of no one even acknowledging us, we got up and went to Corcorans and had a great meal with great service.
This was the 4th time I had been to Rocco's and my previous experiences were pretty good. But I doubt I'll be back now out of principle alone. HUGE pet peeve. I'll spend my money at the places where they at least act like they give a crap about their customers. -
Review from Anne D.
12/3/2011
I came here after having my heart set on trying Brick's, only to find out that there was already a 45 minute wait at 6pm! Yikes! I was trying to make it to a play on time, so that wait wasn't going to cut it. Enter Rocco Ranalli's. I wasn't really sure what to expect but didn't have very high expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by the pizza! Very thin crust and a good cheese to sauce ratio. Mr. Ranalli himself even came by to say hi. It looks like their patio would be a lot of fun in the nice weather! The only downside was that I kind of felt like I was at Chuck E. Cheese...there were dozens of kids running around! When we were trying to leave, it was as if a clown car had just dropped off a load of kids outside. So if you live in the area and have kids, I'd say it would be the perfect place to come! If you don't have kids, just be aware that you're going to be outnumbered.
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Review from Chloe C.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
big fan of the turkey burger. served on a pretzel bun with sweet potato fries - what's not to love?
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Review from Sam S.
Chicago, IL
6/3/2011
Live right down the street. This spot has great food, beer and service. Go there!
To be clear on how good it is. Rocco Ranalli's food, beer selection and service will probably all make it to Heaven to help serve the dinner party for the Lamb. Reference (revelation 19:6-9...you want to be there!) -
Review from Matt L.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Can't stop singing this place's praises. The deals they've been running recently are especially worth noting, including $50 all you can drink on New Year's which came with $50 in gift certificates. These guys are constantly thinking outside of the box to meet and exceed their customers' expectations.
Rocco's feels like a modern day Cheers, a relaxed neighborhood place where everybody knows your name. Jake does a great job of keeping the bar staffed with craft brews that you won't find in other establishments. Their staff is efficient and friendly without being pushy, making sure you've got what you need when you need it.
While their food menu isn't as extensive as their beer list, it's well worth the price. Their wings and BBQ chicken pizza in particular are among the best in the city. There's plenty of TVs on which to watch the games plus an outdoor patio area for when it's nice outside.
If you're looking for a good place to unwind after a long week at work, you'd be hard pressed to find a better place than Rocco Ranalli's. Without a doubt my favorite neighborhood establishment in Chicago. -
Review from Charles A.
Chicago, IL
2/22/2011
Best thin crust. After the 4th ingredient the rest are free. We've ordered from here for the last 10 years and now it says Rocco in front of Ranalli (?not sure what that means) but the pizza still tastes the same...G O O D
The only problem is it tastes so good you eat too much. We always order for delivery, & they send us $5. off postcards in mail. -
Review from Norman R.
Chicago, IL
8/3/2011
ah ranalli's pizza(licking my chops as i type this) ...if you want excellent chicago pizza..this is the place to check out. i used to come here with my friends all the time.. the thin crust pepperoni is the best in the city..they also make a mean stuffed/pan pizza.
next to bacinos i would always get carry out from this place back in the day. its that good :)
it gets a bit crowded in the early evening..but that ok because they are open later... the food here is decent, the prices are good too..nothing here is overpriced, and the servers here are stellar.. plus they have a great wine/beer list..
hmm i think i might make a pizza run tonight:) -
Review from William L.
Chicago, IL
8/29/2011
We stopped into Rocky's with intense hunger pangs and needing a drink like Amy Winehouse on a Friday night (too soon?). Rocco's definitely fit the bill. The menu is pretty large with all kinds of sandwiches, entrees, and pizzas. I had the Hipster burger, lame name but decent burger. The BBQ sauce was not that great, but it didn't make me wolf it down any slower. My dinner date had a pizza, and although her tastes are pretty simple, it was pretty good and provided plenty of leftovers. They had a double-IPA on draft that I can't remember the name of for the life of me, but it was delicious and served in a proper tulip glass. Service was great all night, despite being busy. I marveled at the fella's accent, it seemed like he should be working at some fancy-pants restaurant. Either way, he was cool.
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Review from Annie C.
Deerfield, IL
10/25/2011
Huge fan of this place! Why? Because they have GF beer and GF pizza - and it's actually GOOD!
They actually use barley and hops to brew the beer, but have developed proprietary technology to extract the gluten protein from the beer after processing. Amazing! Now THIS deserves a Nobel Prize in Science! They have this beer stocked at Rocco Ranalli's on Lincoln Avenue in Old Town. We first went to Ranalli's a few months back because they offer a very good Gluten-free pizza. They had New Grist stocked at the time, which is somewhat of a sweet beer made from Sorghum. I had read about Estrella that week so talked to the beverage manager about ordering some. He came through. Ranalli's is very concsious about their gluten-free offerings (although they don't have a dedicated kitchen yet), as Jerry Ranalli, the owner, has a daughter that has gluten sensitivity. Their pizza is crispy, their beer is cold, and we've become a big supporter of their efforts to offer tasty gluten-free food, including pizza and beer, in Chicago. So if you live in the greatest city in America, or if you're visiting, definitely make a stop. Thank you Ranalli's!
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.glutenlessf... -
Review from liz c.
Wood Dale, IL
12/12/2011
I live right across the street from Rocco Ranalli's. I've been a patron for over a decade....until last night. I'm not sure what has changed, management or the chef? I ordered a Margherita pizza and it had cheap Parmesan cheese on it (the type that you get in a can). This ingredient wasn't mentioned in the description and it was horrible tasting. The "fresh mozzarella" isn't fresh mozzarella but extra regular mozzarella and the basil was blackened from having been put on the pizza too soon.
I also order a beef burrito for my friend. The beef wasn't the steak that mentioned on the menu, but ground beef and it tasted like the ground beef that's in lasagna. The salsa that came along with the dinner was watered down and the sour cream was pasty. My friend basically threw out the burrito and ate just the rice and beans. I had 2-3 pieces of pizza but couldn't manage to eat anymore. The cheap yellow canned parmasean cheese ruined it even for me who was starving.
Very disappointed! -
Review from Aimee R.
Chicago, IL
4/19/2011
AMAZING Pan Pizza! The pepperonis are HUGE. Seriously, they are like twice the normal size. The crust is braided and crunchy...I love it!
The service is friendly and great...my only complaint is that there is no parking...If they had a parking lot, I would visit more often! -
Review from Luke S.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here on a hectic Saturday after the Air & Water show. Maybe that was my problem with the place, but upon arrival our hostess was being berated by her manager that she needs to start turning people away (something along those lines). He really should have pulled her aside and spoken to her instead of looking like a boss on a tirade in front of hungry customers. We wanted to sit inside anyways, so we were seated relatively quick. Our server/bartender was overwhelmed, but she did her best to be attentive. The pizza itself was delicious! I was really impressed only we had ordered "pan" pizza and what came out was some of the thinnest thin crust I have ever seen. Was this a mistake? We didn't ask, but we were definitely charged for a pan pizza. I assume that my experience would have been much better had they not been busy, but they were not great at handing large crowds.
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Review from tim l.
Chicago, IL
9/14/2011
Their website stated: Dine-In Hours: Monday - Thursday 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. |
Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 3 a.m
Sunday 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
I went there for lunch last Friday and was told they have take-out only. I notified them via their website, and now see they've updated their website. -
Review from Paul S.
Chicago, IL
5/15/2011
This place has great delivery. Consistently on time, generally good food.
Love the pizza! -
Review from Keith C.
Crystal Lake, IL
7/11/2011
My wife's favorite thin crust pizza in Chicago. Great craft beer selection on tap. The pepperonis on the pizza are GIGANTIC and crispy...! Fun place to sit outside when the weather is right.
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Review from M B.
Chicago, IL
4/13/2011
So far I have ordered delivery from them 3 times and all 3 times my order has been wrong. I was so excited to order from them because I have celiac's disease and need gluten free and so far they are the only pizza place I have found that use gluten free dough AND use a metal tin to bake it on to ensure that it does not get cross contaminated which is great, but if you can't get the orders right...then why keep coming back??
1st order) They forgot the side of ranch I ordered (it was on my receipt), I called and was offered a $5 "oops" gift card to be mailed to my house. The gluten free pizza was amazing though, crispy and hot! I thought the gift card was great and received it in 2 days.
2nd) I used the $5 gift card to order a gluten free pizza with anchovy and they delivered a gluten free pizza with sausage and green pepper. Called, they delivered a new anchovy pizza and another "oops" $10 gift card. Both pizzas were not as good, they obviously had been in the delivery sleeve for a while as they were soggy and lukewarm at best.
3rd) Thinking 3rd times the charm and decided to give them one last try, ordered a gluten free pizza and wings, and I got the gluten free pizza (worst than the last time, the crust and pizza really cold and spongy) and I got chicken tenders, not wings.
Sorry Ranalli's I really gave you a try but when quality keeps getting worse and you can't get the orders right I just can't order from you anymore, no matter how many "Oops" Gift Cards you give away. -
Review from Jenny N.
Chicago, IL
6/28/2011
Amazing thin crust pizza with fresh ingredients, surprisingly good and extensive beer selection, HUGE beer garden which makes me want to come here once a week in the summer. Thank goodness I live 6 blocks from here. I've always had good service and even better food.
