If you are like everyone else in the world — you love pizza. There is just something about the way this gooey, cheesy delight satisfies the mind, soul, and body.
It’s this universal love for pizza that has restaurants all over vying for the title of best pizza pie.
With so many different opinions, it would be impossible to claim which pizza eatery has the best pie out there. But there is one thing for sure — Chicago Pizza Oven & Grinder has mastered the pizza pot pie and made it on our list of Chicago restaurants we love!
Setting The Scene: An Authentic & Cozy Pizza Haven
This cash-only eatery sits inside a historic Chicago brownstone and is best known for its famous pizza pot pies.
Just as you would expect, the setting is intimate, cozy, and overwhelmed by the aroma of fresh pizzas.
There is limited seating inside so the wait for a table can be upwards of two hours — even if you go early! The hosts are old school and only take down names, remembering faces when tables are ready. Though this means no fancy pagers or text messages alerting you that a table is ready, it’s an intriguing experience to watch the host keep things going without a hitch.
By the time you sit down the urge to eat everything in sight is so strong that we recommend feeding your inner hunger monster with some of their fresh Mediterranean flatbread. The pizza pot pies take awhile to bake but the flatbread comes out quickly to satiate your hunger while you wait. It’s made from thin pita bread and topped with flaky cheese and fresh herbs.
Chicago Pizza Oven & Grinder Menu: Sticking To The Basics
The menu is short and sweet, offering the following:
- Salads
- Mediterranean flatbread
- Grinders (subs)
- Pizza-pot-pies
- Tortoni (Italian ice cream)
(Photo credit: Chicago Pizza Oven & Grinder’s Facebook page)
Chicago Pizza Oven & Grinder’s pizza pot pies come in either a half pound or one pound.
Two people could be content sharing a one pound pie, but by the time you make it inside, you’ll probably be hungry enough to devour your own. Note that vegetarian options are available.
If you order a meat pot pie, look forward to the pork sausage they use instead of meatballs or ground beef — it’s out of this world. The red sauce is made up of a beautiful medley of onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. There is also the option to add mushrooms to both the meat sauce and the veggie sauce.
Making The Pizza-Pot-Pie
The process of making the pizza-pot-pie involves loads of delicious melty, Wisconsin brick cheese.
How do all these ingredients come together to create this unique pizza pie?
First, they take a bowl and brush it with butter. Then, they add layers and layers of the sliced cheese. If you opted for mushrooms in your sauce, next, they’ll add them into the secret recipe red sauce. Finally, they top everything with Sicilian dough and another layer of butter.
Once everything is cooked a waiter brings out the steaming, hot bowl. Get your camera ready to film the waiter flipping the pot pie onto your plate.
Final Thoughts: Chicago Pizza Oven & Grinder: An Ode To The Pizza Pot Pie
There certainly is no shortage of phenomenal pizza joints in Chicago, but Chicago Pizza Oven & Grinder is on a whole different level. Once you try their pizza pot pie, you’ll never look at pizza the same again.
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