Lou's or Gino's?

Heading to Chicago chaperoning a group of school kids. I have a rare 2 hour window of free time, alone, and will be just blocks from Lou Malnati's or Gino's East on North Wells Street. I have wanted to try both for some time but now it comes down to one or the other. Help me out.

Ed,

I lived in the Chicago area for 8 years (high school and College) and my folks lived there for 20. While I haven't been there for years, I'd definitely vote for Gino's East- I used to LOVE the place. Great Chicago-style deep dish pie (and beer!). This is the real stuff: each slice weighs like a pound. Definitely a great way to escape the school kids as long as you are not looking for something fancy....

Deb

Ed,

It has been about 7 or 8 years since I've been to Chicago, but while I was there, I too only had time for 1. I was told that Gino's was for tourists, and Lou's was for pizza. I don't know if the friend I was visiting was right or not... but I can tell you the pizza at Lou's was very good for that style.

-Scott

I am a native Chicagoan and I lived there for my first 30 years, in that time I ate a lot of deep dish pizza. I still go here ... to the one on Clark street.

http://www.lilguysandwich.com/mypie/about.html


GG.

Thanks! I will be on foot and will need to be close by "just in case" so I will head over to Lou Malnati's since that location is just 3 blocks over. Next visit I hope to have more time.

Since Lou's has 25 locations, would they be considered a chain? There are so may chain bashers on this forum, I just had to ask. Sorry in advance. It looks like a great place to me and I wish I could be eating pizza and drinking beer there with you. By the way, for a Chicago place, their prices seem VERY reasonable.


http://www.loumalnatis.com/

I would consider Malnati's, Gino's and Giordano's a chain along the J. Gumbo, Kingfish, Buckhead, Bristol, Wick's line of local places that have branched out in their respective locales. The bigger question is when does that build-up tip over into a situation that a lessens the quality of the dining experience. I refuse to use the word "corporate" to define that slide as it demeans the hard work of many who work in the corporate world and have no intention of world domination. Although I firmly believe Cheddars is run by people who flunked Home-Ec 101. .
I would like to see more of our local restaurants branch out believing that more cash flow could greatly help them deliver an even more enoyable product, improve the quality of life of the owners and employees and secure a retirement for them. I strive to hit independents as much as possible, but by no means am I a proponent of a restaurant calvinism by only eating at independents. That is not practical for where I am in my life and I would bet a majority of the people on this forum.

Sorry. Let me step slowly off my soapbox now and hide.

I would consider Malnati's, Gino's and Giordano's a chain along the J. Gumbo, Kingfish, Buckhead, Bristol, Wick's line of local places that have branched out in their respective locales. The bigger question is when does that build-up tip over into a situation that a lessens the quality of the dining experience. I refuse to use the word "corporate" to define that slide as it demeans the hard work of many who work in the corporate world and have no intention of world domination. Although I firmly believe Cheddars is run by people who flunked Home-Ec 101. .
I would like to see more of our local restaurants branch out believing that more cash flow could greatly help them deliver an even more enoyable product, improve the quality of life of the owners and employees and secure a retirement for them. I strive to hit independents as much as possible, but by no means am I a proponent of a restaurant calvinism by only eating at independents. That is not practical for where I am in my life and I would bet a majority of the people on this forum.

Sorry. Let me step slowly off my soapbox now and hide.

It's about time someone totally and accurately describes the dif between a chain and not a chain. But to digress a bit, some chains actually get it right as do some indies get it wrong. My sweetie took me to Bonefish for my b-day and we had a sumptuous feast. Last week, I took my mom to lunch for Mother's Day and we dined very well indeed. I dine both at the indies and the chains that get it right and have no qualms with either. I still wish I could be with you at Lou's for some beer and pizza.

[/quote]

But to digress a bit, some chains actually get it right as do some indies get it wrong. I still wish I could be with you at Lou's for some beer and pizza.[/quote]



I agree with you.

I strive to hit independents as much as possible, but by no means am I a proponent of a restaurant calvinism by only eating at independents.

I thought I'd heard every Calvinism comment possible, but no. However, I am flummoxed. What do you mean?

A tongue in cheek example of the theology that independent restaurants have sovereignty over all dining choices.

I love Lou Malnati's! I still regret not getting there when I was in Chicago over spring break. I grew up in Chicago and almost always get my Lou's and gyro fix when I'm in town. I got the gyro (and Cub's fix) over spring break, but not my Lou's.

I vote for Lou's. That said, Gino's isn't bad at all, but Lou's is better.

Cheers,

Doug.

There are so may chain bashers on this forum, I just had to ask.

Why did you just have to ask that? Or, even say it. Seems to me like chains are brought up just for the sake of baiting the "chain basher" of which I am certainly considered one. This topic is raised far more often by the chain defenders than the chain bashers.

Ed: I think that you'll be happy with either Lou's or Gino's, but I'd give a slight nod to the latter based on a pie I had there last year.

Thanks to all. I should frame my questions with more care as I understand pizza is one thing that has so many opinions surrounding it. I like chicago style deep dish but Windy City Pizza isn't close enough to me to patronize, except on a rare event. Thanks again.

Ed,
As a current student of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the undisputed bastion of reformed thought and calvinistic theology, let me just say that your "Calvinist" comment was the funniest thing I have read in a long time. I get so sick of hearing about Calvinism. Hilarious! Just what I needed!
Kris