A Pizza Question

So I just got back from Chicago where I sampled Giordano's and Malnati's classic chicago style stuffed pizza - and I really liked it.
Not a "i'll never want any other cause this is the best" like, but it was different and yummy so I can see wanting it occasionally.
Thinking back, I've had all kinds of pizza over the years, but this style is fairly unique. In trying to find something similar here in Louisville, I searched these forums, finding nothing really. It seems that virtually all of the pizza styles in Louisville that I'm aware of, seen pics of, etc. are all basically the same. Traditional, thin or deep dish; sauce then toppings and cheese - but not the buttery stuffed crust simple sauce on top chicago style. You'd think Old Chicago would be certain to have it, but really its just a deep dish pizza - not the Malnati/Giordano style. If there IS such a beast around? And if not - I wonder why? With all the pizza offerings, you'd think someone would have this kind of pizza available...

There is no place in the Louisville area to get that type of pizza that I know of. We used to have Windy City Pizza but they closed a couple of years ago.

[Robin Garr]

We used to have Windy City Pizza but they closed a couple of years ago.

Yep, Windy City (née Queenie's) was a real treasure for fans of the Chicago style. They did both thick and thin the Windy City way. But it's gone. <sob>

I assume the national franchise chain called Old Chicago isn't?

Old Chicago and most of the other chains using the "Chicago-style" advertising (e.g.: Gino's Pizza) have nothing in common with either Giordano's (personally my favorite is their stuffed spinach & mushroom!) or Lou Malnoti's. (NOTE: Gino's is great in Chicago, but they dumbed it down for the chain, figuring the rest of the country wouldn't understand true Chicago style).

Actually, the only thing in Louisville that is remotely close is BJ's in Oxmoor. They have a deep dish (not stuffed) Chicago style that - while it pales besides the originals - is still far closer than anything else within 100 miles or so. I wouldn't necessarily rush over to try it, but if you're in Oxmoor anyways and are hungry you might try it, and tell us what you think.

Anyone tried this place yet?

http://www.eastofchicago.com/

I've seen it when we been in Peking City that's next-door but haven't tried it yet. They appear to be busy and are actually expanding to double their size in order to have an eating area, originally they were just take out. According to their website they have true Chicago style pizza so it may be worth a try. I think I remember that Steve P had been to one of them up in Ohio and didn't think much of it but maybe he'll chime in and give you some more information.

I had noted the East of Chicago chain (although new to Louisville) may be an option and I recall seeing a post here mentioning it wasn't great, so I kind of blew it off. Initially I failed to see their version of that chicago style pie in the menu but upon further digging, found it. While the picture is small, it seems like it may do the trick. But a picture is only a picture. So while Chicago is still fresh in my tastebuds' memory, I'll be heading there in the next couple of days to give it a shot. Will report back.

I really hope East of Chicago works, but we haven't tried it for two reasons:

1. The pictures on their home page are of chicken wings, not a great idea for a restaurant which claims the best pizza around; and

2. Their description:

Authentic Chicago Style
Seasoned pie crust filled with your favorite toppings, a generous layer of our blended cheeses, topped with our Chicago Style or original pizza sauce and grated parmesan.

"Real" Chicago Style is NOT a "seasoned pie crust"!!!

Not quite the same but the "Refrigerator" pie at NABC Public House and Pizzeria off Grant Line Rd. in New Albany is pretty dern good!

http://newalbanian.com/pizzeria-and-public-house/menus/

[Robin Garr]

You talkin' about this?

Not quite the same but the "Refrigerator" pie at NABC Public House and Pizzeria off Grant Line Rd. in New Albany is pretty dern good!

http://newalbanian.com/pizzeria-and-public-house/menus/

I'll second this. NABC is the best deep dish pizza I've run across in the area.

Went to East of Chicago (EoC) Pizza Monday and got their version of the authentic chicago style pizza aka Malnatis/Giordano (M/G) style.
Around $13 dollars for a 1 topping (pepperoni) 12" - only came in one size.
Unboxing showed a pie very similar in looks to what I recall two weeks ago from Chicago. Crust looked almost identical.
Sauce was a bright chunky red and there were a few diced onions in there (don't recall the M/Gs having onions but I could be wrong).
Pulling a slice out, it was about the same thickness with slightly stringy cheese - so far pretty close to M/Gs...
But I noticed the crust was a bit on the thick side - maybe 1/2 in the bottom. NOTE: I seem to recall the M/Gs being two thin crusts with toppings in the middle. There seem to be two very similar types of Chicago styles - the regular deep dish Chicago and the stuffed crust deep dish Chicago. The version at EoC Pizza is the former - not a stuffed crust.
I believe the way they assembled at EoC was a single crust, thicker on the bottom, followed by a dusting of seasoning (different from M/Gs) then pepperoni, cheese and finally sauce. Another NOTE: Malnati's had a shaker of seasonings on the table so seasonings are not uncommon - it just isn't added during assembly. The EoC pie was baked at this point because the cheese had developed a nice browning in places (another difference from M/Gs I believe) and then sauced after it came out of the oven.

Now all component and assembly differences aside - how was it?
Well, it wasn't a M/G's Pie, thats for sure. But I thought it was quite tasty once I let myself understand that it wasn't an M/Gs pie! The crust had a very good flavor and was quite reminiscent of the M/G crusts, despite the seasoning. The sauce was good, but definitely had a heavier seasoned salty flavor whereas the M/Gs both tasted very fresh and light with unadulterated tomato flavor being the star.
The wife on the other hand was underwhelmed. She dearly loves the Giordano Pie but pretty much doesn't care to have this particular pie again. She would say it is a doppelganger pizza - looks virtually identical but is pretty far from it.

So, if you crave an authentic chicago deep dish, this may be the closest offering available on this side of the Ohio - but for the real deal - head a few hours north! That being said, I'll venture to NABC sometime in the future and give their version a try. Besides, they have more than a few good beers to make the short drive worthwhile - at least until we begin paying tolls...

[Robin Garr]

Went to East of Chicago (EoC) Pizza Monday and got their version of the authentic chicago style pizza aka Malnatis/Giordano (M/G) style.

Craig, thanks for a seriously comprehensive report. You put us fully in the picture, and I for one really enjoyed reading it.

Thanks for the great review!

Yes, thanks for the review, Craig - very helpful.

I love Giordano's and try to get there whenever I'm in Chicago, but this sounds like a poor enough imitation that I'll steer clear. If I find myself with a hankering for thick pizza I'll stick with the delicious Detroit-style stuff at Loui Loui's.