Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Name: Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Address: 1120 N State St, Chicago, IL, 60610
Telephone: (312) 725-7777
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.05

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria

1120 N State St, Chicago, IL, 60610

(312) 725-7777
Store is closed

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Menu

Popular Combos

Perfect Pairing

Game Time Decision

Best. Meal. Ever.

Perfect Pairing

Game Time Decision

Best. Meal. Ever.
Beverages

Canned Soft Drink

Dasani Bottled Water

Bottled Soft Drinks (20 oz)

Canned Soft Drink

Dasani Bottled Water

Bottled Soft Drinks (20 oz)
Appetizers

Lou's Bruschetta

Stuffed Spinach Bread

Calamari Fritti

Chicken Wings

Boneless Chicken Wings

3 Cheese Bread

Combination Platter

Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella Cubes

Garlic Bread

Burrata Crostini

Lou's Bruschetta

Stuffed Spinach Bread

Calamari Fritti

Chicken Wings

Boneless Chicken Wings

3 Cheese Bread

Combination Platter

Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella Cubes

Garlic Bread

Burrata Crostini
Soup

Minestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup
Salads

Malnati Salad

Chicken Club Salad

Spinach Salad (Seasonal fruit)

House Salad

Malnati Salad

Chicken Club Salad

Spinach Salad (Seasonal fruit)

House Salad
World Famous Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Cheese Deep Dish Pizza

Sausage Deep Dish Pizza

Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza

The Malnati Chicago Classic Pizza

The Crustless Pizza

The Lou Pizza

World Famous Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Cheese Deep Dish Pizza

Sausage Deep Dish Pizza

Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza

The Malnati Chicago Classic Pizza

The Crustless Pizza

The Lou Pizza

World Famous Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
Thin Crust Pizza

Cheese Thin Crust

Sausage Thin Crust Pizza

Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza

Small Gluten-Free Thin Crust Pizza

Thin Crust Italian Combo Pizza

Cheese Thin Crust

Sausage Thin Crust Pizza

Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza

Small Gluten-Free Thin Crust Pizza

Thin Crust Italian Combo Pizza
Pasta

Chicken Louie

Lasagna

Chicken Marsala Rigatoni

Penne ala Malnati

Bowtie Pasta with Lou's Sausage

Chicken Louie

Lasagna

Chicken Marsala Rigatoni

Penne ala Malnati

Bowtie Pasta with Lou's Sausage
Sandwiches

Seasoned Chicken Sandwich

Beef Sandwich

Meatball Sandwich

Seasoned Chicken Sandwich

Beef Sandwich

Meatball Sandwich
Food for Kids (12 and Under)

Kids Spaghetti

Kids Mini Burger

Kids Chicken Nuggets

Kids Cheese Ravioli

Kids Spaghetti

Kids Mini Burger

Kids Chicken Nuggets

Kids Cheese Ravioli
Desserts

Chocolate Chip Pizza

Tiramisu

Chocolate Chip Pizza

Tiramisu

Healthy Meal suggestions for Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria

Popular Combos

Perfect Pairing [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Game Time Decision [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Best. Meal. Ever. [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Perfect Pairing [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Game Time Decision [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Best. Meal. Ever. [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Canned Soft Drink [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dasani Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bottled Soft Drinks (20 oz) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Canned Soft Drink [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dasani Bottled Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bottled Soft Drinks (20 oz) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Appetizers

Lou's Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stuffed Spinach Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Fritti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boneless Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

3 Cheese Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combination Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Sticks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Cubes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burrata Crostini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lou's Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stuffed Spinach Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Fritti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boneless Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

3 Cheese Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Combination Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Sticks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Cubes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burrata Crostini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup

Minestrone Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Minestrone Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Malnati Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Club Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach Salad (Seasonal fruit) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Malnati Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Club Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach Salad (Seasonal fruit) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
World Famous Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Cheese Deep Dish Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage Deep Dish Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Malnati Chicago Classic Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Crustless Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Lou Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

World Famous Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Deep Dish Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage Deep Dish Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Malnati Chicago Classic Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Crustless Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Lou Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

World Famous Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Thin Crust Pizza

Cheese Thin Crust [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage Thin Crust Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Small Gluten-Free Thin Crust Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thin Crust Italian Combo Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Thin Crust [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage Thin Crust Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Small Gluten-Free Thin Crust Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thin Crust Italian Combo Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

Chicken Louie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lasagna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Marsala Rigatoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Penne ala Malnati [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowtie Pasta with Lou's Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Louie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lasagna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Marsala Rigatoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Penne ala Malnati [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowtie Pasta with Lou's Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Seasoned Chicken Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meatball Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasoned Chicken Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meatball Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Food for Kids (12 and Under)

Kids Spaghetti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kids Mini Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kids Chicken Nuggets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kids Cheese Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kids Spaghetti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kids Mini Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kids Chicken Nuggets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kids Cheese Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Chocolate Chip Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Chip Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Alex T.

Top notch establishment. The blue cheese salad was phenomenal. A great blend of sweet and savory. The pizza is exactly what you imagine when someone says "deep dish". I tried a slice of the sausage and a slice of the cheese. I tens to travel with an appetite, and maybe could have pushed the limit (and the waistline) to 4 slices. I played it smart though and kept it to 2 slices. All good.
(4)
Tina T.

We came around noon, right before the lunch rush. It only took 25min to sit us down. We stuck around the bar until then so it wasn't s problem. They called us (as in by phone) once our table was ready, so technically there was no issue if we had left the restaurant to wander outside. Food: we ordered a medium deep dish half Chicago classic, half Lou and both were great. Crust was spot on and the sausage on the classic was really good. I also liked the slices of tomatoes on top of the Lou. It's the small things! Service: I don't remember our server's name, but he was very polite and cheerful. Honestly was surprised with the hospitality. Ambience: nice, slightly dimly lit pub-like ambience. Very chill and welcoming. Overall, a good experience.
(5)
Amy H.

I'm not a Chicago native and this is my first deep dish pizza and have nothing to compare it to but this was Legit!!! Omg i could have eaten this pizza every day! Loved this place. Wait was about 30 min on a Wednesday. Our server was great! Loved the different options for apps and salads. We did the Lou and a thin crust pizza. Don't bother w the thin crust. It's for amateurs! The pizza I thought would come out soggy, it was cooked perfectly and held the cheese and the toppings! Big big fan!
(5)
J G.

Godfather I need some flavor! Usually ask the locals where the best food is when visiting a new town. 3 recommendations for Lou Malnati's so we thought we'd give it a try. Wife ordered a standard thin crust cheese pizza that was inedible. Thin crust in Chicago? Yes I know, but she is from the thin pizza state. so no surprise they make bad thin crust, I ordered the Malnati's and what a disappointment as well. it tasted like they took a frozen pizza and under cooked it for 45 minutes. I liked the quality and taste of the sauce and roma tomatoes, also thought the crust was tasty but it just didn't come together for me. My son did like the spaghetti, but he is 3 and doesnt really have a pallet yet! Chicago deep dish is awsome but Lou Mehnehtis didn't live up to my expectations. Pizzaria Due however did show us there is very good pizza in the windy city. Thats what I'm talking about!
(3)
Juan F.

When in Chicago, one must try their famous Deep Dish Pizza. I am a thin crust lover, but I was excited to try something new. This was my first time having Deep Dish and when we asked where to go everyone pointed at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. Although its a chain, this place gets packed. We had to wait about 40min to get seated and since they make the pizzas to order (of course) and its deep dish style, it takes 40min for the food to come out. The "Lou" - Spinach mix, mushrooms and sliced roma tomatoes covered with blend of mozzarella, romano and cheddar cheese on garlic Buttercrust: I really enjoyed this one. I love veggie pizzas and this was really good. All the veggies were soft and juicy. Lots of cheese under the tomato sauce. The crust was oh so crispy and buttery. The Malnati Chicago Classic: Made with Lou's lean sausage, some extra cheese and vine-ripened tomato sauce on Buttercrust. If you are a meat-lover, this is the one for you. Every bite you get tons of sausage. Overall, I think I still prefer the thin crust. I feel like Deep Dish Pizza's are way too heavy but I do love that they come with a ton of sauce and their crust is amazing. Service all night was excellent.
(4)
Lucas B.

I came to Lou Malnati's on a Friday afternoon. It was the meeting place and first stop on our Chicago Food Planet Food tour. I had actually talked to a few friends more familiar with the Chicago area before I arrived and all of them mentioned Lou Malnati's as a great place to get some good deep dish! They pretty much nailed it. We started off with the Malnati salad which was romaine lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms, Volpi salami bits and gorgonzola cheese with a vinaigrette and romano cheese. Definitely the best salad I've had at a pizza place hands down. The salami bits were my favorite part because it added a nice crunch to the salad. It was the perfect precursor to our main course. We were told when we were serving that Lou Malnati's was the only place that ever has sausage pizza outsell its pepperoni pizza and when we tried it, that made total sense. The sausage pizza was crazy good. The cheese and sauce were all super flavorful and the crust was nice and crispy just like I like it. Next time I come back to Chicago this will definitely be my deep dish of choice.
(4)
Cesar S.

First off, I need to say that Lou Malnati's is one of my favorite pizzas. I've eaten at their other pizzerias and have never had any problems. However, here it comes, this particular one that we went to was a HUGE disappointment. We were a party of six, and surprisingly, we were seated right away, so that's a plus. We ordered two pizzas, a large and a medium pan, plus an order of wings. Guess how long it took them to bring out our food? An HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES! I understand that the menu indicated 30 minutes for pan pizzas, but 75 minutes is ridiculous, don't you think? It wasn't even dinner rush time since we came in after 9:30 pm, so they can't really use THAT as an excuse. So what IS your excuse, Lou Malnati's? Somebody over there seriously dropped the ball, and the most aggravating part is that NOBODY even apologized to us for the wait we had to endure. My advise? Don't go there if you're hungry, expecting your food in 30 minutes as promised.
(2)
Mitchy M.

Want to experience authentic Chicago pizza? This is your place. This location is one of the larger than others in the area, however the wait list can still range from 30-45 minutes. Don't bother with some thin crust..go for the gusto with the deep dish. It's freshly made to order and you won't be disappointed. The staff is friendly and catering to everything you need. Hands down, it's one of the best pies in town. Parking: I got nothing... I use uber! If you're staying within the magnificent mile.. you can walk here.
(5)
Vy B.

I have two words to describe Lou Malnati's - BOMB DIGGITY. After spending three hours at MSP+an hour flight and what seemed like an hour train ride from Midway to our hotel and another eternity to walk from our hotel to Lou's, the bright yellow Lou Malnati's sign shined bright like a beacon from heaven. This specific location closes around midnight, so we were so happy when the very nice host was happy to seat us at 10:30pm. Our waitress quickly greeted us and managed our expectations by letting us know it takes at least a half hour for the deep dish pizzas to bake - so we ordered right away and got a pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, and onion deep dish. You know it's going to be a crazy good pizza experience when you can smell the sauce, see the steam come from the cheese, and can hear the crackle of the crust as the waitress digs deep in there with a serving knife. The buttery/crispy/crunch crust was the perfect vessel to carry all of the amazing ingredients to perhaps the best deep dish pizza I have ever had. The pizza sauce to cheese ratio was perfect and the flavor combinations happening in tat deep dish really hit the spot. Service was fast, staff were friendly, and atmosphere was really chill. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Lisa S.

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this place! Been coming here for years and the pizza is ALWAYS phenomenal! We even have it shipped down to south Florida and it comes out very well there also. A definite must try while in Chicago!
(5)
Trinh T.

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria is a Chicago based pizza chain that specializes in deep dish pizza. There are many places to go in Chicago for deep dish pizza, but I chose Lou Malnati's based on some fellow Yelper's recommendations (thanks Gem/Willis!) and lucky for me I experienced the best deep dish crust I'd ever eaten. My Overall Rating - 4 1/2 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Food, Return) Atmosphere - The Lou Malnati's near downtown has a nice Broadway type sign directing you to it. We sat outside in the open patio space and allowed the cool Chicago breeze to blow through while we people watched. Honestly I never made it inside the actual restaurant but when the weather is beautiful the patio can't be beat. 1 Star. Service - Our service was good not great. I hate playing the tourist card, but I like hearing about the history or background of a restaurant. Our server really didn't go into much detail nor make any recommendations, so we just checked out the menu for ourselves. Pizza can be a messy affair, and our tables did pile up some dishes. But our servers were nice, attentive, & helped with any requests. I just wish I could have gotten more insight. 1/2 Star. Food - If you're time is limited and you can only choose one deep dish pizza place to go to, make it Lou's. My experience with deep dish pizza is limited, but if there is one thing I will never forget, it's the amazing crust. The deep dish pizza crust is like a perfect, fresh-out-of-grandma's-oven pie crust. It's light, flakey, buttery, and simply amazing. I thought it would be hard, but instead I found this to be the BEST part of my pizza. My favorite was Lou's Special - a deep dish pizza loaded with fresh vegetables that it really lets the flavors stand out and not be over powered by salty meats. I'll be honest, I rarely eat my pizza crust at pizza restaurants, but at Lou's it was what made the pizza so amazing. Skip the thin crust pizza (you're in Chicago!). Salad appetizers were good too - but if you're here it's all about the crust. 2 Stars. Will I Return? - Yes. Chicago is a big city, but any visit back to this great city will include a trip to Lou's. If you're looking for the best deep dish crust in town, you'll find it here. 1 Star. My Yelp Rating Scale (Sum of all parts): 1 Star - Atmosphere - Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I'll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm. 1 Star - Service - You can have a great meal with bad service. But that's also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It's important to the dining experience that service is great and on point. 2 Stars - Food - I'll award up to two stars for the food, since this is the main reason we dine out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it's really all about the food. 1 Star - Will I come back? - If I know for a fact I'll return, I'll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return. Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Yelp score.
(4)
Alyssa P.

Hopefully what I'm about to type out doesn't get me boo'd off of Yelp and outta Chicago... I don't like deep dish pizza. I first tried it a few years ago, it was ok and I was in no rush to try it again. But it was the Hubs first visit to the Windy City and he wanted to try it. So off to Lou's we went. The place itself is really nice. I liked the casual feel of the place - wood tables, metal chairs, the room we sat in actually had a garage door as its window. I wonder if they open it up when the weathers nice... Our food was A-OK. Because all pizza's take 30 minutes to prepare* we decided to start with a salad. The Spinach Salad - served w/ 'seasonal fruit' (strawberries), red onions, crumbled goat cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette ($9). Apparently they went outside to a field somewhere north of the city and picked our strawberries because the salad took nearly 20 minutes to come out. At one point our waiter came to refill drinks and was like 'your salad isn't out yet? let me check on that..." Finally the salad made an appearance and our waiter actually served us. Is this a normal thing or did he just feel bad about the salad taking so long? It was nice of him to do that but totally unnecessary. Speaking of our waiter... he was very nice, very bubbly butttt a little aggressive. When we ordered a half pepperoni half sausage he insisted we get the 'Lou' (or whatever its called) with extra cheese and tomato slices. I had to stop him - if I wanted extra cheese and tomato I would have just ordered it in the first place. He said 'no problem' but wouldn't let up on the butter crust. I'm not sure I could tell the difference between butter and no butter but ok, go ahead and charge me an extra 90cents.. Our small pizza ended up being almost $15 and was enough for the two of us. Deep dish still isn't my favorite**, and I don't want to speak for the Hubs but I don't think he loved it either. Glad we tried it though, but we won't be rushing back anytime soon. *Our waiter said it didn't matter if you ordered deep dish or thin crust - 30 minute wait for all. **I'd rather have a $2 NYC pizzeria thin slice any day of the week.
(3)
Bruce K.

With the guidance of a native Chicagoan, our group was led here by our dear friend. She explained to us that this pizza doesn't get anymore authentic. Hey, I'm not going to say no! Stepping into Lou Malnati's was sort of crazy. It seemed like there was a huge party already forming in the front where the hostess was trying to frantically seat people. Luckily we were with our native Chicagoan, and she led us straight to the bar. Win. Of course we put our name in for seating, however we weren't going to just stand there and look around. At the bar we ordered drinks and then we went and got a menu to put in an order for our pizza. Because just like Ripley's Believe it or Not, it takes 45 minutes to cook this pizza. Yeah. You read that right, 45 minutes. While sipping on my Moscow Mule, made correctly in a copper mug, I took a chance to take in the decor. It had an old school feel as well as a boating sort of experience. I say this because they had a lot of ship wheels along with boat parts. And it seemed as if everywhere I went it was solid wood that sort of reminded me of the deck of an old school boat. Finally, after our drinks and such, we got a seat and not long after that our pizza(s) came out. We ordered 3 pan pizzas, however only 2 come up to mind: 1. The "Lou" - We sort of changed it a little bit and added pepperoni. This was a mass understanding, I sort of would've liked some sausage in the mix, but hey I'm not going to complain. 2. The Malnati Chicago Classic - This one was good. This was where I had to get my meat from. I mean. Both pizzas were awesome. Something I've never experienced before at a pizza place was the table side service of getting the pizza cut and served to you! That was interesting, but I definitely can see why. That dish must be hot, and to reduce people burning themselves because of their consumption of alcohol, yeah serving hot pizza is a good thing. Definitely a stop to go get legit Chicago Deep Dish pizza. I'll mark this one down on my list if I ever come back to Chicago and want others to experience the deep dish pizza.
(5)
Darian J.

As a new Chicago resident I have been getting my fair share of questions regarding the great "Giordano's vs Lou Malnati's" debate. I've had Giordano's twice at this point and Lou's once now. I can finally weigh in on my thoughts. First, because this location is on Rush street, I highly suggest either making a reservation or ordering online. I ordered online and my pie was ready right when I got there on time. It was incredibly busy on a Sunday afternoon. No empty chairs tables anywhere. People were eating in what looked to be a waiting room. I ordered a buttercrust deep dish with sausage, mushrooms, and garlic. The sausage was AMAZING. I have never tasted sausage like this before in my life. The mushrooms could have been sauteed longer, and the garlic I imagined would've been whole cloves or half cloves instead of minced. Lou is famed for its crust. Mine was a little burnt around the edges and it was super crunchy. I did not order my crust to be this crunchy so it was kind of a let down. Between Giordano's and Lou's, Lou's has the better sausage and tomato sauce, but Giordano's has the much better crust.
(4)
Janelle T.

Sooooo we ordered a deep dish Lou for delivery to our hotel room in Swissotel DT Chicago. The guy who took our order over the phone couldn't hear well & got a bunch of the details mixed up. My gf's name was incorrect, the hotel location was incorrect.... hence, the delivery guy ended up at the Sofitel!!. When he initially arrived, he called my GF to come down to the lobby stating that he was there. So I go down to meet him & I don't see anyone throughout the lobby. I text my GF. She texts me his number. I call him back, no answer. I asked the front receptionist, they mentioned no one has been there yet... So my gf calls him and calls me again & says he's wondering where I am. She says he told her he was now outside. I go outside & check the valet area, still no one. I call her back, still no one :( So then I wait 5 minutes standing in the lobby, awaiting for a call back and she tells me he was at the wrong hotel and that he was re routing to come back to the correct hotel. He told her he was waiting for a long time and that would be making his way over. I awaited for his reroute in the lobby, for approx 20 more minutes. Our pizza ended up arriving 30 minutes later than promised time so it was pretty much luke warm. I signed the receipt and gave the poor delivery guy a tip. The pizza was alright. We just ordered a small one to eat a late night dinner. Not really as good as we expected it to be. Maybe if it were hot... Perhaps it wasn't our style.. The dough didn't even meet our satisfaction. The sauce was good, the cheese was good texture, thick and stringy. The mushroom & pepperoni toppings were great.. No complaints on the top part of the pie. It was supposed to be a garlic butter crust but it didn't taste anything but bland. Maybe it's the style, not sure why we didn't really enjoy the food and we are def not picky. Maybe it was the experience, hard to tell. I guess I would have been more happier to just skip out on the $30 stale crust event & go to bed.
(2)
Ginger J.

Loved the house salad. Our service was fantastic and so was the pizza. Atmosphere great too. Racquell our waitress was super accommodating, she went out of her way to cut our pizza smaller and special wrap our pizza to go. Whatever we asked, she did and with pleasure! Awesome service!
(5)
Katya A.

After hearing from several people that this Lou Malnati's location was the one to be at, my friend and I decided to give it a try...and the pizza was really great! We first ordered mozzarella sticks that came out pretty cold but the waitress was very nice and brought us a new order and took it off our bill. The pizza was melting in our mouths and we definitely wanted to go back for some more!
(4)
Vee V.

I never really liked deep dish pizza, but I've now learned that I've never had real deep dish. So sad. Now I know what I've been missing out on, and still will be since MN is lacking in this department. Lou's is a staple in this city, I'm sure if I asked Chicagoans where I should go for the best deep dish I'd get many different responses, but I figured here was a good place to start. Very busy. When we walked in on a Friday night I knew we were in for a wait. Plan ahead people. Good news is that you can order your deep dish when you put your name on the list, cuts down on the hunger time. We went with the Lou deep dish, but we added sausage and onion, and the Malnati's salad. I loved the deep dish. We thought a tad bit more sauce would have put it over the top, but the crust and the sauce that was there...oh my! I thought I got some wine flavors in there. Whatever it was, fucking delicious. I really enjoyed the salad too. The house sweet vinaigrette, I was worried about it being too sweet. Nope. It was gooood. I recommend asking for your salad to come out with the pizza. You get a break from the carbs! Service was great, drinks came fast, and I got full!
(4)
Lily Z.

I came here on Saturday for lunch with 3 guys. Thankfully we arrived around 11:30AM so there wasn't much of a wait. However that was not the case when we left. What a line! We ordered a spinach and strawberry salad, thin crust with half pepperoni/sausage and a personal deep dish sausage pizza. The food was good. Although I'm a native Chicagoan, I've never had or thought to order thin crust from Lou Malnati's. Service was not that great. The server didn't really understand what we wanted (a surpreme style pizza), didn't know all of the beers on tap and was hard to find when we wanted refills.
(4)
Mo D.

4 stars because delivery guy forgot cheese and red peppers.
(4)
Ada W.

Everybody told me I have to try this place. We came here and waited for only 30 min. We had the Chicago Classic. The sausage tasted pretty good. But the cheese and sausage kept on falling out from the crust and I have to eat them separately. We also had the calamari fritti (pretty bland) and the stuffed spinach bread (ok, nothing special). I gave it a 3-star as it didn't wow me in any way in any dish we ordered. But the service was fantastic.
(3)
Christina D.

We ordered the Lou's and it was nothing like I had before. The mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, and 3 cheese combo was delicious! The only thing is the crust wasn't as crispy as I would imagine a deep dish to be. The bottom of the pizza was a light golden brown compared to the deep golden brown I'm used to seeing. The service wasn't as good as I hoped it to be but I'm willing to come back and give them another chance :)
(4)
Ali S.

this was my first deep dish pizza ever. maybe this is just how they are but I found the crust hard and tasteless. the sauce and cheese were great though the salad's vinaigrette was way too sweet wait time was the long not well air conditioned on a hot day
(3)
Phoebe C.

Before even stepping foot on Chicago soil, everyone and their mother insisted on trying deep dish pizza. After perusing hundreds of Yelp reviews and various food tours, we decided to try Lou Malnati's for deep dish. WINGS: Buffalo wings were amazing and that prompts me to up my review to 3 stars. It had just the right amount of kick and it really hit the spot. People in my party who don't prefer spicy also enjoyed the honey BBQ wings. Overall, no gripes from our party about the wings. DEEP DISH: Underwhelmed. I don't think I like deep dish. The bottom is hard and crunchy but the top is soggy, and the edge of the pizza is too hard and crispy. However, some people in my party stated that in comparison, it's good for deep dish. Having said that, it wasn't just the deep dish that I was unimpressed by. The Lou had no marinara and tasted like vegetables on top of crust. Furthermore, both the Lou and the Classic tasted flavorless, with the Classic having slightly more flavor. I doused both slices in pepper, parmesan, pepper flakes, and bleu cheese dressing, and it still tasted flavorless. Overall meh, and our party had 1.5 pizzas leftover. If it was truly amazing pizza, trust me, there would be little to no leftovers. AMBANCE: Half outdoor patio space has open loft feel. The natural lighting is perfect for pictures and the temperature is ideal. The neighborhood is relatively quiet, but you still feel like you are in the city.
(3)
Jonelle T.

When in Chicago, you deep-dish! Since Lou Malnati's is the OG, we had to come here for our first deep-dish pizza experience. The only thing I can say is make sure you come here hungry! We weren't messing around when we ordered the medium Malnati Chicago Classic on buttercrust. I mean, how can you really go wrong with sausage, extra cheese, and tomatoes on a buttery crust?! You just can't. Two of us demolished a pizza meant for 3. I think our server was impressed!
(4)
Sachin R.

We had the most attentive waiter, very patient and provided info on the menu items We had the spinach bread, which was excellent along with their classic pizza and washed it down with coke....a perfect dinner for my BFF babymoon dinner!
(4)
Scott N.

Before our last visit to Chicago, I asked several friends who grew up in the area about their favorite spots. Lou Malnati's came up and one of their locations was pretty close to where we were around Michigan Avenue on our 1st day there. Ana was our waitress and just couldn't have been much more helpful. We enjoyed her assistance. We decided on the Lou pizza and I made the bold decision to go against the recommendation and ordered the medium for the two of us. It was too big for us, but we were able to take the remaining 1/3 with us. I highly recommend the Lou, it's an excellent pizza.
(4)
Rachael B.

It's a 5 for a traditional, classic Chicago pizza with a cool atmosphere. My first time eating deep dish- I'm a NYC pizza girl and this pizza somehow snuck into my heart. Always prefer thin crust overall but this one was so darn good! Service great, but you do have to wait 30 min for a pizza so be patient . It's worth it! Hot goey goodness . Got the malnati and was licking my fingers but feel I gained 10 pounds- share!
(5)
Laura F.

Lou Malnati's is a must!!! Other Chicago style pizza places around town (Gino's East and Giordano's) make me wonder what the hype is about - then I come here. CHICAGO, THIS IS PIZZA TO BRAG ABOUT! Walking in, this is the most beautiful pizza restaurant I've ever seen. On our second visit, we sat on couches in the front window, in the dead of winter and it was warm and cozy! There are subway tiles, industrial piping and edison light bulbs everywhere! I want the person who designed this place to come do my house!!! I ate here twice during my most recent 5 day trip to Chicago, and that was only because I was worried about over-consuming pizza. I could have totally eaten here daily if calories weren't a thing. The bruschetta comes 9 pieces to an order, is served on freshly toasted baguette and is made with fresh tomato, basil and thinly shaved parmesan. If you're here with a group, go for this! Both times, I had a personal sized butter-crust sausage patty pizza. The crust is nice and crispy - perfect for delivering the heavenly sausage, sauce and cheese to your mouth. The personal size is quite big if you're a light eater. Both times, I ate somewhere around 1/2 of the pizza. It made me long for a refrigerator and oven in my hotel room. :P (According to their website, the personal sized butter-crust sausage pizza is 2 490 calorie servings. Helpful info!) If you are torn between a lunch or dinner visit - opt for lunch! They have an amazing lunch special. For $9, you get a personal pizza, salad and a drink!!
(5)
Tony S.

Well here on Yelp, I can't really give half stars, but Lou's would be a 3.5 I think. We had a deep dish pepperoni with extra cheese, chicken Caesar salad, three cheese toast, and two local brews. Atmosphere was good, service was excellent, and food was good -. Don't misunderstand... The food was good, just not exceptional or up to the hype or expectations. Example, compared with Cane Rosso which I just discovered, Lou's is not comparable. Completely different pizza styles I understand, but not in the same zone of foodie-happiness. Good experience, but I think we can find better here in Chicago.
(4)
Kaley K.

BEST deep dish in Chicago!! Came for lunch with family visiting out of town. Wasn't too busy. GREAT service! Our waiter did an excellent job explaining the menu and recommending food too. Cocktails were perfect. Salad was excellent. Calamri was perfectly peppery and crispy. The dipping sauce was tangy and fresh. We ordered the classic lou's deep dish sausage and added pepperoni. By far the best deep dish in chicago. "Other" places that offer stuffed crust or deep dish aren't worth a visit. Head to Lou's if you're searching for classic chicago deep dish!!
(5)
Shambavi K.

I love Lou Malnati's! I'm sure I'm not the 1st or the last person to say it. This is what I recommend to tourists for chicago pizza. My favorite is the classic chicago with sausage on a butter crust with Roma tomatoes. I like their veggie deep dish too. Since our office gets catering, they actually have fried chicken too. Whoo knew?!
(5)
Gem S.

Go Deep! Everyone knows that Chicago is the home of the deep dish style pizza but where may you ask is the best place to get a deep dish pie is a question sure to get varying responses from anyone you ask around Chicagoland. I've had deep dish pies at a lotta places & my review is overdue, but I'm pro-Lou Malnati's. It's hands down my fave & I think the best deep dish 'za round Chi-town. I know a lotta others will agree & other pizza-goers won't but I don't care, it's subjective. There are lotsa LM locations throughout the Chicagoland area & I've ate at several of them. They each serve the same, quality pies across the boards. My fave deep dish pie at LM is the "Lou", the signature pie which is a special spinach mix, fresh mushrooms & sliced roma tomatoes covered with a blend of mozzarella, Romano & cheddar cheese all layered on top of a crunchy, golden, garlic, buttacrust! It's so fresh & zesty, an effin' perfect marriage of yummy toppings & ratio to crunchy crust, hearty but not too dense! It'll knock yer socks off! I was in pizza heaven after eating Lou on my most recent visit! Lou only uses super, fresh ingredients in the making of his 'zas & he gives ya lotsa fresh veggies on your pies. The pizza sauce at LM is tangy, rich & bursting with flava, not bland or overly-sweet like some pizza sauces. But the key vehicle & not-so secret weapon at Lou's is LM's trademark "Buttercrust" that people like me love but others don't care for. I don't like excess crust in general & I usually leave the crust hangin' but this crust makes the pie. It's not too thick or thin or perhaps as deep as it's main rivalry Giordano's deep dish style pizza which is a good thing to me. LM's deep dish pies have the perfect amount of thickness & a nice, flaky, buttery crunch that friggin' melts in your mouth. It's deep dish without being overly heavy but don't worry after a couple o'slices you'll be still be completely stuffed! Some other deep dish notes: The salads at LM are good too & are big enough for sharing. I prefer the cheddar cubes over the mozz stix as an app. (See my LM pics at the 805 S State St, Chicago location). LM also offers lunch specials, individual-size deep dish pies, gluten-free pizzas, some sammies & thin-crust pizzas too. I've never tried a thin-crust pizza here & really don't waste yer $. LM's motto is the "The Best Chicago Deep Dish Pizza", go elsewhere for thin-crust people! Plus, order a thin-crust & ya might get the stink eye! Like I said LM's deep dish isn't as dense/brick-like as Giordano's style deep dish, yet it is deep & oh so de-light-filling! This Lou Malnati's is on 1120 N State St, Chicago, IL aka the Gold Coast location & is super busy with long waits. FYI: You can call in & pre-order your pizza before you come or pre-order your pizza at the hostess stand to reduce wait time at the table since the pizzas take around 30 min to cook. Some LM locations are carry-out only & you can buy frozen pizzas at all LM locations to take home & bake. Craving a LM deep dish pizza now but don't live near one? Don't fret, log onto Loumalnatis.com & have a deep dish pizza shipped to your doorstep! I admit I don't eat deep dish pizza all that often as good as it is. I prefer not to be the size of a deep dish pizza. But when I'm havin' an eff it, fall-off-the-carb wagon kinda cheat day & I wanna go deep, not just any place will do. If I'm gonna drop a calorie/carb bomb, I wanna make it count so I'm goin' to Lou's. If you've never had a deep dish pizza from LM, go eat one & I betcha you'll be Team Lou too! Trust me not cuz Lou Malnati's has been featured on lotsa food shows & endorsed by lotsa food celebs but cuz it's my fave & I'll argue Lou's really is da best deep dish pizza in Chi-town!
(5)
Tiffany J.

I am a huge fan!!!! What is Chicago known for?! They're known for their deep dish pizza and this place is AMAZING. I've gone to a few deep dish places and this is one of my favorites, by far. This is going to be one of my go-to places to come to every time I visit Chicago! I'm not a huge fan of crust. Specifically with deep dish, the crust usually can come out really hard and cardboard-like and just overall hard to chew. However, at Malnati's the crust was just the right amount of crunch to it where it wasn't hard to chew and it complemented the pizza very well. - Malnati pizza - We noticed that they had put the cheese first and the sauce on top, but my sister and I think it made the flavors really distinct in our mouths.. - Thin Crust with mushroom - wasn't too special.. - Malnati Salad - The combination of the salad with the bacon bits and the dressing, it is one of my favorite salads I have ever eaten. (and I eat a lot of salads). My sister completely agrees with me that this is one of the best tasting salads she has ever eaten! We came around 6 on a Friday night and there was no line at all. However when we left a little after 7, the lines were starting to form, so plan accordingly! :)
(5)
Tricia S.

The best deep dish pizza and buffalo wings! Snagged a great spot at the bar due to the long wait. The bartender was great and very attentive. I will be back here the next time I'm in Chi-Town.
(5)
Alexa R.

Within the first two minutes the bartender asked for my ID, and I'm like hella old so I plan on pretty much doubling his tip. Then I made the fatal Mistake of sitting at the bar next to a man who marches to the beat of his own drum and goes by the name Wolf Dogg. ?He's a rapper, probably not very successful based on the condition his teeth are in. I'm A drunk loser magnet. Always have been. 30 minutes later I had a small, classic, deep dish in front of me. For a "not New York" pizza it was amazing. It's a meal, not a snack. It's fork and knife, not street food. The sauce was simple and fresh. The crust was perfect and crisp. And the sausage didn't give me acid reflux. I liked the urban rustic decor. The music was not noteworthy but not offensive rock and was the perfect volume. But you know what I liked the most? ALL of the bartenders were incredibly nice to Wolf Dogg and treated him with the utmost respect. Maybe he is a famous rapper. Maybe I missed my meal ticket. Maybe I will never know. If you're reading this Wolf Dogg, give 'em hell. Give 'em all the hell.
(5)
Liliana P.

Came here for an early dinner before a concert. Among two people, we had a small "The Lou" which was the perfect amount of food. The crust was crunchy, I loved every part of it. There wasn't too much filling but we were stuffed at the end of the meal! I'm actually salivating thinking about that pizza and that crust.
(4)
John T.

Very good deep dish pizza. Being from florida we don't get much good pizza let alone deep dish. Lou definitely knows how to do it. We forced our local friends we were staying with to go before we went to the airport. It has a chain feel but everything was great.
(4)
Colin C.

Had always had only delivery or takeout from one of the many locations of this venerable institution. Finally ate in here and loved it as expected. The wait was shorter than quoted and better than the others in the area, probably because it is a large space. The bar is huge and lots of TVs and the booths are large for six easy. We had a group salad, keep in mind it is huge, and easily shareable for even six people for a great price. The deep dish was great as expected. I like it here over the other the other well known options because the deep dish is not all bread and not quite as filling, in a good way. You can enjoy more of it I've found. You can really tell the cheese is quality and the meats. Really night and day compared to chain pizza joints. I loved the classic with the meat and other nice stuff on it. The small for two seemed like it wouldn't be enough for two but was just right. Two large starving guys might want to bump it up a size. Someone at our table made an outrageous choice of a veggie thin crust. After making fun of her I tried it and actually liked it a lot. The thin crust is almost more like hand tossed at other pizza places in that it isn't that cracker type crust. Prices were amazing for a downtown Chicago location. Really can't beat it in fact if you don't over order.
(4)
Jake C.

I understand it was a Saturday in the Gold Coast but please don't quote to my face a 30 minute wait time and after 50 minutes of waiting argue with a customer that I had not been waiting for that many minutes. After we were sat we ordered The pizza which as always was five stars but the salad and drinks was one star. The drink glass had lipstick all over the rim. The salad had a fowl taste. I was hosting a couple friends from out of town and they wanted to try Chicago pizza and I've always recommended this place to friends. After this horrible experience I will patron giordanos from now on.
(2)
Richard J.

I've been to two Lou Malnati's locations - this one is my favorite. Of course the pizza is amazing... but what I'd really like to focus on is the salad. The Malnati salad might be my favorite restaurant salad ever. We ordered a family-sized salad for our table of four, and frankly it would have fed eight or more. What makes the salad so good? Could it be the dressing, which is a house specialty? Or the tiny crunch bits of bacon? Or the just-right addition of feta? Or the fresh mix of several kinds of lettuce? The mix of carrots, mushrooms, and green peppers? It's really all about how these ingredients come together in ideal balance, served fresh, for a bargain price. When you visit Lou's, do yourself a favor: order the salad alongside your deep dish pizza. You'll be thankful that you did - and hey, that means more leftover deep dish to go!
(5)
Adi E.

This is a must visit place when I'm in town. We started with family size Lou's salad. More than enough for 4 people! We had pepperoni and spinach deep dish pizza. And split a single serving chocolate cookie pizza. Should have gone bigger but didn't feel like any of us needed extra calories. All of the food was superb!!!!!!! Even my fountain rootbeer was biting. (Not flat. Not watered down)
(5)
Cristina G.

Considered the oldest family name in Chicago pizza, Lou Malnati's is as rich in history as its pizza is in flavor We order the famous : Chicago classic omg for me it's the best pizza ever .
(5)
Chris C.

The BEST pizza in Chicago - trust me, I've been to many many many pizza places. Lou's does it right - both deep dish and plain. The crust is delicious, crisp, and buttery, the sauce is super fresh with a wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity, the toppings are quality, and the cheese is not added sparingly! All this and I forgot to mention the service! If you don't have reservations you may have to wait. Either way, you can order while you wait so you can meet your pizza shortly after you sit down, there are also usually samples sitting around to nibble and get you hungry for more! But every single time I've been the service is extremely attentive and efficient! Most other pizza joints are good and also get 5 stars from me, but if you can only pick one - this one is it. Now stop reading and get some pizza! Lou's is the authority on deep dish pizza in the only city where it's done right! P.S. - the pizza takes 30-40 minutes to cook...welcome to fresh & real deep dish!
(5)
CY J.

First night in Chicago, never having had real deep dish pizza, of course this was a logical first meal! First off, we were seated very fast despite not having reservations and were pretty happy about that. Then a downturn. Our server, Justin, must have been in a crabby mood and just could not wait to get off his shift. He came within 1 minute of us sitting down to see if we were ready to order. Um...no? We were still looking everything over since we have never been here. So we asked for a few more minutes and then not even 2 minutes later, he came over again and asked rather brusquely if we were ready. Yes we were, we got an appetizer and a pizza, then he asked if we wanted the butter crust on the pizza, and I asked if that was better than the regular. Then he got this look on his face like I was a moron, and said very snidely, "that's OUR crust". Wow, good for you Justin! Had you been our server for the night, I would've tipped very little for that kind of attitude. Then came the saving grace of our night! Our terri-bad Justin left and our server switched to Alejandro. I heard him speaking to a new table that just sat down nearby, and he asked if it was their first time in, and what their specialties were. Ahhhh, if only we came in later, we would've had a great server! But the food was delicious. Yes I do enjoy my thin pizza but for a deep dish, this was quite yummy. We had some spinach cheese bread and made our own mix of toppings for the pizza. Yum yum!
(4)
Daniel N.

We are from Florida. But we come here at least once a year just to get our deep dish pizza fix!! Best in town! We love the outside seating!!
(5)
Alex P.

Ah, this was some amazing deep dish pizza. As I strolled in and ate at the bar on a Saturday afternoon, I knew this was the location to be at. The decor is gorgeous, the dining room is filled with classic Chicago. For a pizza spot, this was a sight. I must note, the other locations are not nearly as elaborate. I got their signature deep dish with Lou's sausage and butter crust. Was not disappointed. I did wish they served it right in the pan as some the bigger pizza's, but wasn't a deal breaker. The crowd was a solid mix of tourists and locals, and you could tell that some of the locals have been coming here for a long long time by their knowledge of the menu. If you are visiting Chicago, you will have quite a few pizza choices, but don't skip out on this one.
(5)
Josh H.

If you want Chicago Deep Dish, then Lou Malnati's is your destination. Expect a long wait to get seated, but expect that anywhere you go in Chicago that's worth a damn. The perk here is you can order your food while waiting for a table. That way your pizza is usually out within 15-20 minutes after you get a seat. It's a great atmosphere with great good. You can't go wrong.
(4)
Honey B.

Very good deep dish!!! Crust was excellent and not overly cheesy. We ordered some calamari was well. It was good but i didn't care for the Mariana dipping sauce. We sat on the patio and the staff was attentive. Recommend for sure!!!
(5)
Ryan W.

The pizza was good, but not great; very basic, kind of plain. The sauce was very good, but overwhelmed by an excess of cheese. The crust may have been better as a shortbread cookie. Maybe it's a matter of opinion on what Chicago deep dish is, or should be, but more butter doesn't always mean more interesting. I probably won't be back, which is fine. They've got their thing and they've been doing it a long time. If it's your thing too, then you'll love it. And, all in all, the price is right for what you get.
(3)
Samantha L.

I was in Chicago last week and was on a mission to eat the best deep dish pizza offered. The first night I was riding Lyft and took the opportunity to get a recommendation from a local. The driver told me I hands down had to try Lou Malnati's. The next day I checked yelp to find the closest restaurant to my hotel and then walked over for lunch. The staff was very nice and accommodating. I ordered the calamari appetizer and the classic deep dish pizza. Both items were superb. The pizza crust was buttery and crisp. The sauce was amazing and the bottom of the pizza was covered with one large sausage patti. I ate every bite of my meal and left a few pounds heavier, but it was absolutely worth it. Next time I'm in Chicago I will definitely be back! Thanks, Lou!
(5)
Sarah V.

Let me start by saying that the manger really cares to please. Someone in my party was unhappy with something and not only did they take that off the final bill but offered to. Get her something else on the house. I got the classic Lou deep dish with the butter crust. It was good. But giordano's is better. It all comes down to the crust. Lou has a crunchy crust everywhere. While giordano's has a doughy crust inside and a crunchy crust in the outer edges. I prefer doughy. They have a delicious three cheese garlic bread. Great marinara sauce. Some of the best I've had.
(3)
Courtney D.

While in Chicago I knew I was going to get deep dish pizza, the one problem was where would it be from? I had heard that Lou's or Giordano's are the top contenders and when Lou's was right down the block from the place I was staying I knew that was the winner. We ordered the Lou, the original and the cheese deep dish pizzas and had them delivered to the house we were renting. The pizza took a little less than an hour to arrive and the prices were good as well. Now onto the pizza... it was delicious! There was literally a layer of cheese 1-inch thick and so much sauce. The three pizzas fed 11 people for dinner (mostly guys) and then there was enough leftovers for a late night snack as well. There was so much food but it was great to try a few different pizzas while we were there. Definitely a must while in Chicago!
(4)
Patrick M.

Obviously the best pizza in Chicago. Everything else is laughable in comparison. Is a review even necessary? Go to Lou's.
(5)
Jv's M.

chicken wings chicken wings i know that they are known for their pizza and the history behind it. But let me tell you that their chicken wings are delicious crunchy and just right so happy with them I went twice
(5)
Edward W.

Always a great meal. Construction in progress so drive from the south. Had a beef with mozzarella and sweet peppers tonight. Excellent. Our group also got a thin crust pepperoni and extra cheese pizza. Excellent. We've phoned in orders for pick up several times and they always did a great job. Packaged nicely and fairly quick service. Speaking from past experience the buttercrust Lou pizza is the perfect deep dish pizza.
(5)
Anthony M.

LUNCH DEAL I have grown up a Gino's East Guy and its probably because of my parents. It is just a tradition in our family. A couple of years ago I was lured here by a lunch deal and I took it. It was the first time I ever tried Lou's and I was really surprised at how delicious there deep dish was. The price of the deal has gone up over the years. It use to be $6.95 and is currently $8.45 but it still delivers a nice quick satisfying lunch. You get a drink, soup or salad and a mini deep dish personal pizza. Recently I sat at the bar and watched some of the Olympic Games. The bartender Nick was really nice but busy. He never stopped moving. I decided to go with the cream of brooch soup over a salad. I wanted to go healthy but the snow piling up outside said I needed a soup hug. I am really happy I got it because it was really good. Nick suggested some to Tabasco which I thought was a great idea but I didn't want the vinegar taste in my soup. I instead sprinkled the red pepper flake from the pizza shaker in the soup. It kicked it up a notch. I love spicy and this really hit the spot. I wasn't cold anymore. My pizza arrived and it was so yummy. It may be small but it is the perfect amount for lunch. You will not feel like you need a nap or have to run 10 miles after eating it. Portion control is the best and easiest when it's enforced on your plate. The location is nice on the inside. It is amazing how saturated the Viagra triangle is with pizza now. There's a Homemade Pizza Co across the street, a new Connie's next to Morton's and a Pizzano's up the street. This area always known for its old rich guys and expensive sports cars is going pizza. Look out steak places you are being over taken by pizza seeking tourists. Back to the pizza. This is a place I hit for there lunch deal. It's yummy and fast and hits the spot. I think the mini deep dish is delicious. Luckily my family doesn't read Yelp so they won't realized I cheated on Gino's like that. Hey it's not my fault that the Gino's location closed down in this area many years ago. When a man needs pizza he's not walking two miles to get it.
(5)
Danielle T.

I won't order from here again! Placed an order for a SMALL pizza & it took 2hrs! I called to check status & the staff was rude! Once the driver came, I asked about the delay & he didn't give a valid response. Only to open the pizza & its dried out! I'm not sure if this was a bad night or what but it's definitely not worth it!
(1)
Kevin F.

Pizza was great. Loved the tomato topping and everything tasted so fresh. Service was also great, as they served us pizza from the pans and then came back to refill our plates. I found this pizza to be the best I had on this trip. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Taylor S.

Wow this place is great! Best possible way to experience Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. I just moved to Chicago and this iconic restaurant is a fabulous! The staff is beyond incredible. Any establishment in the hospitality biz that has someone one working for them for 16 years screams of a great culture and every employee here speaks to that. I am so excited that the new location in the West Loop is right next door to my apartment building. I suspect Lou Malnati's will help this California transplant survive winter in Chicago
(5)
Liam D.

Visiting Chicago looking for the best deep dish pizza I could find. Did not disappoint. Atmosphere was great, waiter was professional, and pizza was scrumptious. From being seated, the waiter offered helpful advice on portions, and gave an extremely precise estimate until when our food would be ready (2 minutes off!). The mozzarella was gooey and delicious, the tomatoes fresh, and the crust the perfect amount firm to hold the plethora of toppings above. Would highly recommend.
(5)
Michael S.

The drinks & apps are good the thincrust not so much & they sat us by the front the door was open & it was cold but i been here before the deepdish is the best in Chicago
(3)
Chris P.

YUP YELP they care.... They called me and asked me how they could improve... I personally DO NOT LIKE bad reviews.... I am glad I was able to move this one from 2 to 4.... cjp
(4)
Senie S.

I have had pizza here several time before. My family gets pizza here all the time and I have been to other locations. This location is nice since it is around bars if you want to go out after. They have a nice seating area inside, outside, and a place where you can sit in between. It is busy on most days so if you have a larger group make sure to call ahead. This is standard chicago pizza. They have the deep dish and the standard thin crust. You really cant go wrong. Definitely worth a try since it is chicago and it is wrong to leave without eating a hot dog and pizza
(4)
Ammir G.

I came here as part of a food tour. I have to say that this was the best pizza I had. All of the ingredients were flesh and hand made and you could really taste the difference. I highly recommend checking this place out as it is only available in Chicago. The pizza has a butter crust with fresh tomatoes straight from the vine. They also make an in house salad dressing which is amazing.
(4)
Chris S.

Lou's is where Chicagoans go for pizza. We used to go to the more touristy places...until we tried Lou's. Now, when we come to Chicago we always go to Lou's. Get the Malnati's salad and the "Classic" butter-crust pizza. Amazing!
(5)
Jerry J.

This place has extreme Chicago deep dish pizza.Super friendly staff and amazingly tasty pizza.I couldn't decide between the deep dish and the butter crust so I ordered both and wow wow were they good.I also tried the house chopped salad which was very very good.This is a must try while in Chicago.I will definitely be back even if they have to roll me out!!
(5)
Hessam R.

Yeah food was great although the waiter was rude at first and apologetic later. Manager was great. He made us welcome and we enjoyed our dinner. Pizza was great. Deep dish Lou's. Go for it u won't regret it.
(5)
Jacqui H.

My boyfriend and I were in town, and went to Lou Malnati's at this location, and loved it!! It was our first time in Chicago, and I heard that this was a great pizza place. I got a personal deep dish cheese, and he got a pepperoni deep dish. We were so impressed!!! We arrived at 10:30 at night, and they were still on a wait, but it was well worth it!
(5)
Laura C.

Being from the east coast I had never had deep dish pizza. It was hands down the best pizza I ever had. So so good.
(5)
Sarah H.

So this is a great location! Excellent pizza, excellent service! Nice ambiance. Bit of a wait for a table sometimes, is the only downside. Classic Chicago pizza, you really can't go wrong with Lou Malnati's. (In the burbs, go to the Lake Forest location. Avoid the Buffalo Grove location like the plague).
(5)
Joanna F.

The deep dish itself was great. However, we waited for over an hour to get seated, 20 minutes to get a salad and another 45 minutes for our pizza to actually come. By this point, we were all ravenous and cranky. Also, it was REALLY awkward that they served the salad to us one by one and served us a slice of pizza one by one. And it just added unneeded time to the process! Apparently, you can order your pizza while you wait so it will be ready when you're seated which we didn't know about. Pro Tip!
(3)
E J.

I would say this place serves the best Chicago deep dish pizza in the city. I've been to other places like Giordano, Gino East, etc a lot of times...and finally tried this place out for the first time today. Ordered Chicago classic and Penne ala malnati. To be honest, I wasn't really impressed with their pasta, but the pizza was so delish! Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Elvi W.

We ordered the malnati's salad, medium size of deep dish half chicago classic and half pepperoni and personal lou' pizza. Salad is very good, we prefer chicago classic the most for pizza ,the sausage is delicious.the pepperoni has too much tomato making it soggy. Lou was ok.
(4)
Kristen L.

I mean, who doesn't love Lou? This place. I'm lactose intolerant and I still want to eat here all the time. Perfect crust, sauce, and cheese. Big big thick pieces. Deep dish done PERFECTLY!
(5)
Carol M.

Loved the pizza. Got the classic buttered crust classic Lou pie. Yum. The calamari r was spot on too, extra crispy and very fresh.
(4)
Chris N.

I don't think I have ever left a pizza joint so full in my life. I'm talking that post-Thanksgiving dinner feeling where you don't want to eat for a week after that meal. Don't get any appetizers, you'll be wasting valuable space in your stomach! Our group had 8 people and we ordered 3 large pizzas so we could try a few different flavors. I don't think anyone could finish a 3rd slice and we brought 1/2 pie home with us... My favorite was the classic... just enough garlic flavor and the sausage was awesome!
(4)
Stefani C.

This is one of the best deep dish that I never tried. I have to say that I am from Italy and this pizza is not a pizza, it's something of different and original but it's very good. The only problem of this place that they don't accept reservation so you have to go early because the place it's always cloudy. If you are new in the city, this is a place to try and the price are very good!
(5)
Rehan A.

This is the place to go for some Chicago style deep dish pizza! We came in during lunch, and it was a bit busy. We waited maybe 10 minutes before being seated. The service was fantastic! Stefanie was very attentive and conversational, without losing any efficiency. The quality of cheese is really my main factor when determining how good a Chicago style deep dish pizza is. I loved the cheese here. Not only was it great quality, but the cheese-to-bread ratio was fantastic. I'd say that I enjoyed the pizza here more that a few of the other places I've been to around town (ie. Giordano's, Exchequer, etc.).
(4)
Katie C.

Great Chicago style pizza! Was very happy with the price, product, and service!
(4)
Crystal J.

I was highly anticipating eating deep dish in Chicago when I visited, and some coworkers recommended Lou Malnati's. While their basic pepperoni deep dish was good, with the right proportion of sauce and cheese, it didn't feel right to me because of the crust. The crust...lacked soul. It was kind of crunchy and hard, and had no flavor, which tasted weird against the really tasty sauce, cheese, and meat. Perhaps this was because the pizza wasn't completely fresh - we picked it up 10 minutes after it was ready, but I don't really find that an excuse. I do want to try Giordano's and Gino East the next time I'm in the area to make a real verdict; but as for now, I have to admit that I've eaten far better deep dish outside of downtown Chi-town.
(3)
Soyun P.

The hostess was extremely rude, but our server was delightful. Although the wait was long the Lou was definitely worth it. The buttery garlic crust is far superior to Giordano's plain tough crust. Again, there is a huge wait here as well.
(4)
James K.

Real top quality. Great fun with the family.
(4)
Mike S.

Okay, I actually visited about three months ago while on vacation, and am just getting around to catching up. But the details are still clear enough that I can write a relevant review. My girlfriend and I came in fairly late, a little over an hour before closing time on a weekday night, so it was pretty dead. The service was so-so. I could tell our waitress was trying to be friendly, but was either in a bad mood or tired (or both?). Either way, she came off as a little disengaged, and didn't stay on top of refilling our drinks, which is typically what annoys me with wait staff, especially when there's hardly anyone there. When we said we were from Omaha, she said the only thing she knew about Omaha was from the Counting Crows song, "Omaha." I told her that's usually the case with most people not familiar with it, and then the waitress and I proceeded to start to sing the chorus together, but then it got weird and we stopped. So at least there was that? The place seemed really clean and modern, with almost an industrial look to it. I really liked the decor and lighting. As for the pizza, I LOVE deep dish, and I made a point of hitting two different deep dish pizza joints while in Chicago. I've had Gino's from a previous visit, so I was looking to compare Lou's to that experience. My family built up Lou's so much in my mind before my vacation that I was actually a little disappointed when I finally had it. I'm really big on sauce when it comes to pizza, and not as big on cheese, so I'm probably more critical than most people about the flavor of the sauce. I felt like the sauce was a little too chunky, and didn't really have enough zest to it. I'm not a big fan of pizza sauces where there are still fairly large chunks of tomatoes in it. I really like a lot more garlic and basil (or whatever else the recipe can do to make the flavor pop). I didn't get that as much with this pizza. Now, don't get me wrong, it was still wonderful. We're talking about authentic deep dish here! But out of all the deep dish pizzas I've had, this ranks on the low end for me. Please don't let me dissuade you from trying it yourself, as I could see others really enjoying this pizza more than me. But if you have the same palate as me, there's a chance you'll be disappointed.
(3)
Eve Laure R.

With my family, we were looking for the best pizza in Chicago and we went to this restaurant. Indeed the food was delicious and awesome. However, there was too much noise between the TV, people's conversations and the loud music. So you can't eat calmly. Also the wait was extremely long. For a table , it was 20 minutes and if you don't take any appetizer or family salad you have to wait more than 30 minutes for your food to come. Finally, the interior design was awful! The lights were those of 1900 and would hurt your eyes and not light anything. The walls and inside designs looked abrupt and oppressing! But the service, though a bit slow, was nice and welcoming.
(3)
Kristina D.

As a New Yorker trying Chicago deep dish for the first time, I like to think that I was pretty open minded. I don't really understand how this place doesn't take reservations. We came on a Sunday night and it was crazy busy, so I can only imagine what it's like on a Friday or Saturday. We were told it was about an hour wait- but you are able to order your pizza ahead of time so that it's just about ready when you do get your table. The hostess was nice enough and took our order before we started our hour wait. It's great that you can order the pizza while you wait, but we wanted an appetizer as well. By the time we sat down and ordered the appetizer, the pizza was ready, too. I wasn't a big fan of this system. Service once we sat down was excellent. Our server was very friendly and super attentive. She was really great. For an appetizer, we ordered the trio of dips and pizza chips. The dips were roasted garlic, artichoke, and a spicy hummus. The artichoke was delicious and definitely my favorite. The pizza chips were really good- hot and fresh. For the pizza we decided to go with half "the Lou" and half pepperoni. I have to say I wasn't blown away by the pizza. The Lou was pretty good and consisted of spinach, tomato and mushroom toppings. The pepperoni was okay- it tasted kind of artificial. The sauce was good, but I feel like they kind of skimped on the cheese. I had one and a half slices and was super full- so definitely go there on an empty stomach. The four of us split one appetizer and a full pie and we had a good amount of leftovers. Prices were very reasonable for the amount of food we had. Chicago deep dish was an experience. But, NY pizza still has my heart.
(3)
Shan D.

Quick service for a deep dish spot. The staff is super friendly, and it's a great spot for big groups. I was surprised how fast the food came out considering it's deep dish. I'm not the biggest fan of deep dish, but this is a great place to take out of town friends who really want to try.
(4)
Paul R.

Let's be perfectly honest: this is fast-food quality pizza. Nothing more, nothing less. Utterly flavorless, cardboardy crust, canned-tasting sauce, mediocre cheese. Uninspired anything. Chicago! It's time to wake up and demand better. People should be ashamed and embarrassed to serve food like this. It won't happen as long as they remain uneducated.
(1)
Shane M.

Chicago deep dish pizza lives up to the hype! We came in to see what the hype was all about and I must say I enjoyed my meal. As a New Yorker I eat great pizza all the time and I left Lou malnati's very pleased. The wait was 30-45 minutes, but we were able to find seats at the bar. We started out with bruschetta which was very good the tomatoes were nice and fresh! I went with the Chicago classic and a glass of chianti. Great combination! The personal was good for a light snack, if you're looking for a filling meal for one the small is way to go as the bartender advised us. I can definitely see why this place has been around for so long and this will definitely be on my itinerary next trip to Chicago!
(4)
Sarah N.

Pretty good pizza place! I've been to Chicago quite a bit but never had an authentic Chicago deep dish pizza so I did a bit of research and found this place! My husband and I came for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon and this place was packed! It's a pretty big place that looks trendy and hip! We were seated right away! I loved the seating area we were placed in! It was in a lounge area that was much quieter compared to the noisy bar, & normal seating area! Our waiter was nice but kind of had a "know-it-all" attitude and this was our first time here so we needed bit of time to order. I wish they had a chicken or beef meat option for their pizza since we don't eat pork but oh well! I ordered the "Lou" in the personal size and it was the perfect amount for me. My husband had the beef sandwich and OMG his portion was so big! I tried some of his and it was pretty good! Be sure to have enough time to wait, one group across from us waited an hour and half for their pizza and seemed pretty upset. Since mine was so small, I only waited 20-30 minutes. Definitely a place I wouldn't mind coming back to!
(4)
Markus G.

Very good deep dish pizza. We enjoyed both food and atmosphere. Location wasn't too crowded even on a Friday night.
(5)
Modern C.

I ordered the deep dish special pizza. It was delicious and the sausage to die for! The staff was also so friendly. Apollo at the bar was very attentive. I highly recommend this place. It was laid back and I enjoyed that atmosphere.
(4)
Molly H.

Best pizza in the city in my opinion! Don't forget to put your pizza order in with the hostess while you wait! Save your self 40 Minutes!
(5)
Lisa L.

The. Real. Friggin. Deal. Just go. Stop reading all reviews, put on your stretchy pants and get ready to die in pizza heaven. Go. Now.
(5)
Matt U.

We had the deep dish yesterday with sausage, pepperoni, and mushroom. I would have to say this is one of the best pizza's we have ever had; and we have eaten a bunch of pizza over the have a century we have both lived. The house salad was also fantastic. The waitress was wonderful as well. The decor was cool. Very old school industrial. Try it you will not be disappointed!!!!!!
(5)
Erika B.

Fresh food, great salad, and great wings. I used to also say deep dish wasn't my thing until I ate it here. It was so delicious and fresh. The staff are nice and food was bought out in a timely manner. All in all I'd definitely come back. And the prices aren't too bad.
(5)
April S.

My husband and I were hungry for lunch, we were using our yelp app and looking for a place when we stumbled into Lou Malnatis. We were just visiting Chicago for the day/ The pizzeria was quaint, and rustic. The seating/ table were a little small. The service was a little slow and unfriendly. I was starting to get concerned. All negative feelings vanished as we bit into our deep dish slice of heaven. The best crust in a pizza in my life! The sauce was sweet and a little tangy. The cheese was fresh and the pepperoni was so thin sliced it had to be homemade. My only regret was we did not buy a second pizza to take home with us to Indy. I am looking forward to my next time in Chicago for some more of Lou's.
(4)
Roger E.

Love their thin crust. Fun place to go, nice servers, great food, good drinks. Go sit in the Triangle across the street after and people watch.
(5)
Denny M.

This is was my 1st time to Chicago and I heard that Chicago is famous for deep dish pizza. Our hotel concierge recommended Lou Malnati. We ordered the individual "lou" and "classic" pizzas. It took around 30 minutes to get our pizzas, but it was worth our wait. The butter crust on my "classic" was really tasty. If you're ever in Chicago, I highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Steven S.

Waited an hour to be served on a Thursday starting at 8p.m. despite having pre-ordered individual deep dish pizzas by phone. The pizza is average at best, and certainly not worth the wait. We prefer Uno or Due by far. Even though Lou's is in our neighborhood, we will not be going back.
(1)
Desiree P.

I am not a tourist. I am a native Chicagoan for over 40 years. This place is absolutely disgusting AND a rip-off. Please, do not go here or if you do, know it is the dog food of Chicago pizza. I have tried lou's repeatedly and its heinous. Except I guess for ppl who dine a la domino's. Just go somewhere else. The original uno's is a start------NO not the chain. Or maybe Gino's. If u want stuffed, do Giordano's. You can't do worse than this.
(1)
Joel B.

Best Chicago-style pizza CHAIN around. The key word here is "chain." This means that if you're looking to get snobbish about your Chicago-style pizza, then you should probably adventure elsewhere. Yes, because this place is a chain, the pizza has been designed to appeal to the largest swath of people possible. Everything from the ingredients to the crust (which I wouldn't really call "true" Chicago-style crust) is made for mass appeal, the middle, the mediocre. It's basically the J.Crew of chicago-style pizza joints. But, if you aren't sitting on a high-horse when you eat here, then you'll enjoy it. This *is* consitently delicious, quality pizza that owns other pizza restuarant chains. Don't get me wrong, I'm as willing to stick my nose up about pizza as your next laughably misguided fool. I'd absolutely agree that if you're looking for a pizza "experience," you should look elsewhere. If you're just looking for some unpretentious pizza yummy in your tummy, you can't go wrong here.
(4)
Rahul S.

This is a new location and it's amazing inside. It's brand new. The pizza is delicious as well. I've never eaten in a Lou's before. It may be a little pricey, but still I'd come here again. The small cheese pizza is fantastic (which I ordered)
(5)
Lisa E.

Such friendly service. Lasagna is fabulous! Garlic bread is the best on the planet!!! Pizza is great! My boyfriend and I love this place! Lou Malnati's rocks!
(5)
Karen L.

I have said it once and I will say it a thousand times... I LOVE Lou Malnati's and I especially love this one! We had a bunch of international and out of town guests in town for our wedding so of course wanted to introduce the best Chicago pizza ever! And I was excited to try this brand spankin' new restaurant. I worked with the restaurant manager and was able to get a reservation for a large party... she was SO nice and SO accommodating! I would highly recommend it! I could eat Lou's pizza every day...
(5)
T L.

One of the objectives of visiting Chicago other than watching my son graduate from Navy bootcamp was to eat some deep dish pizza. Well Lou's took care of this very well! Had the 'Lou' and my son and I could not finish it. The rest went for snacks and breakfast before I got on the airplane to fly back to the west coast. Great service, no wait to get in (it does take about 35 minutes to get the pizza, so have a couple refreshments while waiting) and it capped off a nice day that included Shedd Aquarium and a visit to the 94th floor of the John Hancock building. When I get back to Chicago, visiting one of the Lou Malnati's in town is right up there on my list of things to do most definitely. Great Pizza!
(5)
Mac M.

Recommended by the doorman at our hotel, well worth the walk in the cold! Immediately seated, ordered salad split for two and spinach stuffed bread, along with a couple of personal sized deep dish pizzas. Everything was great, will come back, thanked the doorman for steering us there.
(5)
Alden V.

When I first saw the Lou Malnati's sign on the plywood veil after Anthropologie bounced closer to Michigan Ave, I was pumped to say the least. When I finally had the chance to go here for the first time last night my expectations were blown away. Not only is the pizza the same and the BEST Chi deep that I love, but the atmosphere has classed-up and redefined what a "pizza place" environment is. Not knowing the menu one could easily assume the place is a gastropub or trendy bar. This Bull and Bear meets LuxBar -esque Lou's is by far the nicest of their restaurants and the open air seating out front is the cherry in my book. It fits in perfectly with the neighborhood. One piece of advice I have... Order Ahead. Tell them what time you'd like to arrive and you get priority seating over walk-in traffic. The pizza is done about 20-30 min after you sit down. I thought this was perfect timing and allowed us time for a salad prior. We chose to wait for a spot in the open-air section and had to wait a few minutes longer than our pre-order arrival time. My go to: Deep Sausage Pepperoni (butter crust) & Caesar Salad. (For some, the butter crust makes the bottom a bit soft, but it tastes great and besides, it's deep dish, there's a lot in there! Also, salad was huge, easily shared with 2-3 people and only $4.50, great deal)
(5)
Dan T.

Waitress was good - friendly and attentive. The atmosphere in the place was also pretty cool. Food was just OK though. Calamari was a little too rubbery and the deep dish was goo, but did not blow my socks off. Really filling and the cheese was awesome. The folks bussing the tables were a little too eager to clear your plate - even when there was food still on it! Overall though it was an acceptable experience.
(3)
Tom Z.

This was our first, and subsequently, best pizza experience. Expect it to take some time to cook (~30 mins). We did both eat in and delivery and both were great. I recommend just the plain cheese pizza with butter crust. No frills needed.
(4)
Joy K.

I enjoyed the outside city ambience. Loud. but I enjoyed. My friend ordered a salad and we shared the Gorgonzola smothered Fries. the fries came out cold. It wasn't even warm. We relayed this message to our waiter and she brought back warm fries. but the cheese made it super heavy and we couldn't finish it. Not a big fan of deep dish. but because I ordered the 9" small. I enjoyed it more. I ordered the Lou. I would probably order this again.
(4)
Samir N.

Lou's never disappoints. Sneaking in on a weekday before the 4th was a great idea as the place was at least half empty. Even the salad is really tasty. I love having deep dish when I am in Chicago, and unwittingly this is becoming regular in my rotation.
(4)
Keith B.

Great food, Great Staff. The food here isn't overly priced, especially for stuffed pizza, and it is on par with some of the best pizza I have had in Chicago. Maybe we just caught the staff on a good night but they were all exceedingly friendly and courteous, which made for an even better experience.
(4)
Steve L.

Couldn't have been better. We went on a busy night and there was about an hour wait. They took my cell number and called us when our table was ready, so we were free to shop around while we waited. Nice touch of customer service that you don't find most places. The price for a pepperoni deep dish pizza that feeds 4 people was $18, and it was outstanding. Great crust - highly recommend the butter crust, it was delicious. If you're looking for authentic Chicago deep dish pizza, you should definitely try Lou Malnati's!
(5)
Katherine G.

My husband and I went to Chicago for vaca and wanted to try some authentic Chicago deep dish. We were planning to go to Giordano's but decided to go to Lou Malnati's instead. Thanks to the two ladies vacationing from WI who stopped me and my husband by the Riverwalk to ask if we could take their photo. They recommended this place over Giordano's and we're happy that we went. I hope they can read this. THANK YOU. I'm not a pizza fan and I would normally have thin crust if given the choice of pizza but when in Chicago (in Rome), have the deep dish! We ordered the chicago classic and calamari and they were both awesome. Come to Los Angeles, Lou!
(5)
Jeff C.

The worst part about this place is the wait. But, once you're seated with an advance order, the pizza is totally worth it! This is my second LM location and it's head and shoulders above the one on Printers Row, but that's mostly because it's giant inside. Love the dÃ©cor...great bar...try the "Lou" if you ever stop by.
(5)
Candace L.

Yum! I've never had real Chicago style pizza but Lou Malnati's is probably the best place to first experience it. I arrived in the afternoon and it wasn't that busy at all. Service was friendly, but not super attentive when it did get busy. Since I wasn't with a big group, my party and I ordered personal sizes and not sure if that has any affect to the experience or quality/taste of the pizzas... The Malnati Chicago Special - the butter crust was gooood. The sauce was light but packed great flavor. The sausage also added great texture and the seasoning was on point! So simple but so delicious! The Lou - also, very good but I think I prefer the Malnati better. All the different flavors kind of overwhelmed the pizza. The spinach and mushrooms were good but it was just too much after a while.. Calamari Fritti - It wasn't 'lightly' battered, just full on batter haha. I liked the tomato/marinara sauce that came with it. It was very fresh and went well to balance out the fried batter.
(4)
Aletha H.

They're super awesome for changing the TV so that we could watch the SC game! Awesome food, awesome drinks, awesome times!
(4)
Adam R.

While I have no doubt that reviews on here lauding Lou's deep dish pizza are genuine, I will review the non-pizza options I experienced: AWFUL. In a group of 4 (2 tourists that 2 of us were hosting), two of us did not have the deep dish because we are both lactose intolerant. That left one Chicago native and lover of Lou's and one tourist to have a pizza together (which they loved). The two of us left to the very small amount of non-pizza options were presented with meals that were barely edible. While I realize "you don't go to a place like this and not have the speciality" probably rules, I believe owners/management of this restaurant location have another angle to look at since it's positioned to be a tourist destination. In a group of people deciding to go out to a restaurant, it is inevitable that there will be a small number that are not interested in having pizza but will go along with the group. It's sad that these people are left with sub par food. I'll gladly recommend friends go here for Chicago-style deep dish, but probably will avoid joining them unless I don't plan on eating anything.
(2)
Michele Q.

After trying Giordano's and Pizano's, I'm dubbing this the best deep dish. Yes, I'm sure there are other places that may be better but of the 3, I'd have to choose Lou Malnati's. Was actually in a rush, so it would have been nice if I didn't have to scarf down my slice and actually savor it. This wasn't as overwhelming as the stuffed pizza from Giordano's (although that has its pros as well) but definitely better tasting than that of PIzano's. Only downfall of all deep dish is the cook time. But I am biased - as much as I enjoyed Chicago's deep dish pizza, NY pizza will always trump all!
(4)
Ali S.

The Chicago style pizza would make a perfect meal, especially if you combine it with a Chicken BBQ salad!
(5)
Prachi Z.

The pizza had excessive cheese and is designed to make you fat.
(1)
Greg T.

First and foremost; the pies are simply fantastic, the Cesar salad was just OK. The dining experience, specifically, the way one orders THEN you wait for a table is just, well ODD. The experience would have been better if the hostess hadn't been such a snooty (starts with a B). Young lady...if you don't want to deal with customers and/or other humans....stay home. Don't ruin other people's evening because you have a miserable attitude. Not everyone, mind you, was like that. In fact the nice people working the registers were pleasant. We dined there during the Microsoft event last week on Tuesday night (5/5). My 2 cents. Greg T.
(3)
Rita D.

Ugh. My mouth waters just THINKING about this pizza. I sometimes wish I lived in Chicago just so I could eat this whenever I want... but the fact that I don't definitely helps my waistline. A definite go-to for delicious Chicago deep-dish!
(5)
Bryan B.

Came here during a weekend trip due to the praises on Yelp, and left knowing I hadn't had the best deep dish in Chicago. I will say...the bruschetta here is the best I've ever had. At any restaurant. In fact, it is the only reason this review is 2-stars rather than 1-star. The pizza, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired. The "deep dish" was only half as deep as the pan. And of that, more than half of it was crust. This would be forgivable if the crust didn't require a hammer and chisel to cut through. Overall, the pizza was tasteless and didn't substantiate the glowing reviews on here. Nor the 40 minutes we waited for it. I don't know if this was an isolated incident, but there are just too many pizza places in Chicago to justify giving this a second chance. I may stop for some bruschetta to go, but this is supposed to be a pizza place. And that's where it failed pretty miserably.
(2)
Julie L.

Great Chicago deep dish... So authentic and homemade. Loud and fun vibe on a Friday nite. Good food... Love the trio dip appetizer and the hummus/giardinera dip. So good with a kick! Great service and worth the hour wait for a table. We did start out at their other location on N Wells, they told us one hour and forty five minutes, but while waiting at Gold Coast I got a text from them that our table was ready after about an hour- so the time goes faster than quoted at the N Wells location.
(4)
Deena H.

The service for our party of 12 was excellent. Top notch. Huge family size salads were delicious and economically sound haha. Pizza was fresh. Deep dish and thin crust. Well worth it. Have had lous in the suburbs but was never impressed but I think this location steps it up way better.
(4)
Amara P.

Lou Malnati's serves the best deep dish pizza ever!!! No question about it! Any location is great. We just happened to be in the neighborhood and this Lou's was the closest. I get their pizza at least once each time I visit Chicago and my husband often orders the smaller pizzas online. Lou's ships them on dry ice to our front door in L.A. It's great!!
(5)
J R.

Ordered a pizza for take out, service was nice, pizza was delicious. All was right in the world!
(3)
Daniel S.

The LouManalti is taking over the world one tastebud at a time... the wait is huge, but worth it... The Lou Manalti Special pizza is a Chicago classic, deep dish buttercrust topped with cheese slices, sausage, and then tomatoes cooked gor 40 minutes to perfection!!!
(5)
Raymond H.

I will keep this short and simple. THE BEST CHICAGO STYLE PIZZA IN TOWN. If you know of anywhere better in town let me know cause I will be all over it to compare but I have had many in Chicago and this is the current winner. I am not going to pretend service, drinks, salads and everything else is above average but the deep dish pizzas are for sure and isn't that what your craving? I am :-)
(5)
Molly T.

Where to begin? It was our first trip to Chi-town, my hubby and I were given some great advice by people who lived in Chicago and people who had visited. We're not usually fans of deep dish either but the last night we were in town, we felt like we HAD to try it. I mean, the other culinary adventures we'd been on were wonderful and amazing so why not? Across the street from our hotel was Gino's East, a great little watering hole filled with locals and delicious craft brews. The first night we were in, we stopped at Giordano's, a name for pie that kept coming up but the deep dish looked ridiculous and we didn't get it. So, what did we do? We yelped it. Then, we asked our hotel staff as we were leaving which one to choose: Gino's or Lou's. Without hesitation, both immediately said Lou's! We found a Lou Malnati's two blocks away. We got right in and seated immediately, just before the dinner rush. Again, the reviews helped as we ordered the butter crust, crunchy and simple with "crumbled" Italian sausage and mushrooms. When the pie came out, our waiter even brought some of the spicy garden veggie mix which I loved. The toppings were wonderful, something about the meats here is just amazing. But, I could only eat 1/2 a slice of pizza because it was so rich. Then, I cut off the crust and ate the rest with my veggie mix. The crust, oh my, was crunchy, buttery and so light! The consistency of a pie crust and filled with quality ingredients. In Texas, deep dish = tons of dough and we are not fans of a lot of bread! But, I am still dreaming of that crust and will be waiting for the perfect day to have it shipped to us here at home. Thanks to your recipe and excellent staff, Lou, we'll be coming back for sure when we return to your great city!
(4)
Alison Y.

Awesome pizza! Never been a deep dish fan having tried Uno's and Giordano's but Lou Malnatis converted me with their classic deep dish sausage pizza. All I can say is wowww:-) Came here on a Saturday night at 6:30pm with a party of 8 and got seated after about a 45+ min wait. Good thing is we could order our pizzas before we got seated so we could get our food faster. Bulls game was on that night so having huge tv screens all around the bar area was perfect! Would give it 5 stars if they took reservations!
(4)
Jenny L.

The food here is amazing. I wish I could bring it back to California. The wait, not so much but I understand. I'm giving such a low rating due to the service. A particular waiter doesn't hide his dislike for your company. I'm not often one to name names but Apollo, thanks...for taking away our coke and waiting for our food to come to just bring it back. I saw you drop off a coke to another table as they were leaving. You packed their food and they were leaving and they got their beverage before us. We were basically left waiting for a good time despite putting in our order ahead of time. You were unapologetically, a bad waiter. I like this place, but I'm going to another location to bypass your crummy service. Oh, fyi I need a pen to sign your merchant receipt. Unless you wanted me to stay longer...or not tip you at all, not that you deserve it.
(3)
Calvin P.

This is a awsome place, we went to the other pizza place that didn't let us pre order so I found this place on yelp cause of the good review.... Much better than what I expected, cute place awsome setting food are awsome the patio is so cute ... I would deftly come back,
(5)
Greg G.

THE BEST DEEP DISH PIZZA IN CHICAGO! I've lived in Chicago for 25 years, and when you need some good deep dish pizza, you go to Lou Malnatis. This location is probably the nicest/coolest/best location out of all the Malnatis as well. Make sure you use a fork and knife to eat the pizza! Also this location sells frozen deep dish pizzas, which are amazing. They make great gifts as well. I always pick up some and bring them to friends in other cities. Be warned though, if you are coming here on a Friday or Saturday night, you will need to wait 1-2 hours before sitting down. They have a decent size bar that you can order drinks from, but you'll be standing the entire time you wait unless you get really lucky and some how get a bar stool at the bar.
(5)
Rafael A.

So this is one of those places that I HAVE TO eat at when I go to Chicago. I visit at least once a year, and I always, yes, ALWAYS make some time to eat at Lou's. In fact, I'm flying to Chicago later this week, and I'll be "checkin' in" at Lou's and possibly updating this review because the words in my vocabulary severely limit what good things I can say about Lou's. Don't tell me about the history of the deep dish and who started it in Chicago. Nobody cares who starts an argument, it's all about who ENDS the argument, and Lou's ends the argument for best pizza in town. Not Uno's, not Gino's, not Giordanno's; give me Lou's or give me nothing when I visit Chicago. Butter crust, oozing cheese, meaty pepperoni and I'm in heaven. Oh, and if you order the sausage, you are guaranteed to get sausage in EVERY bite. How/Why? Because Lou's add's a coin shaped, appropriately sized (small, medium, large) sausage patty to your pizza. That's what I'm talking about.
(5)
Marye R.

The place is pretty busy but they allowed us to order while we waited for a table. The pizza and service were outstanding! The process were reasonable and the experience was fantastic.
(5)
Iliana C.

This place made me fall in love with deep dish and Chicago. Bartenders are super friendly and they have big screens for all the big games. Best of all - their deep dish crust is VEGAN! Does it get any better? No, no it does not.
(5)
Ashik P.

With so many pizza options in a town famous for it, this is a great introduction to Chicago pizza. What we loved about Lou Malnati's is the price, selection, and customization! It's imports to try a variety before getting too full! Try splitting the pizza with a couple types to get a great feel! Though they are a chain, and I'm not particular to them, I recommend going and enjoying some great pizza!
(4)
Jackie Z.

worth the wait omggg. We ordered the Chicago Classic and the Lou, accidentally made us the large and the manager apologized to us for giving us a free large pizza - what!? So nice. Reasonably priced, too. BEST PIZZA PLACE IN CHICAGO.
(4)
Silvio D.

Butter crust on the deep dish is so delicious! Can't go wrong with the Malnati Chicago Classic. The tomatoes and cheese were fantastic. The sausage was ok. Good spot for some great deep dish pizza.
(4)
Steph G.

Hm, so it's been a few weeks since I've been in this pizza palace so I'm going to go off of what stuck to my memory. We were in town visiting and needed to do a Chicago deep dish pizza, so we ventured over here due to its proximity to our hotel, great reviews, and awesome pizza pics! We waited quite a long time to be seated. They don't take reservations, so be prepared and have a snack before you head in for the long haul. I was famished. Good thing there's a bar for pre-dinner drinks! Beer selection was mediocre, but oh well. Something to fill my belly. Pizza was pretty good. The thing I remember is the buttery crust- I'm not a crust person, but this was memorable to me, and therefore worth talking about. We got a veggie and a meat pizza. Wow, what a feast. Staff were nice and accommodating. You can order while you're standing around waiting, so that the pizza gets to your table not long after you sit down. A+ for that! I'd eat here again. It's a nice family spot also.
(4)
Christina C.

Great pizza and definitely worth the wait. Crowds start lining up about 30 minutes prior to opening. The staff was very friendly and prompt. A dirty plate was picked up by other staff or refills fulfilled. Great atmosphere.
(4)
Molly D.

Wow!!! Wonderful space, pizza, service! The works here...they have it all :-) happy to wait 30 minutes for such an outstanding pizza!! Enjoy the experience!
(5)
Tejas P.

I came here when I was visiting a friend in Chicago. I loved the deep dish meat lovers pizza. Sadly I had come with a huge group of vegetarians and could not try the meat options as I would have liked. We ordered a couple of vegetarian options. The vegetarian pizzas were unappetizing and I would not recommend them at all.
(4)
Bryan M.

Not a big fan of deep dish.. but when in Chicago go with the flow..Right? Iam now a fan.. excellent deep dish
(5)
Roselin R.

Love this pizza very busy during summer time, the food is great excellent service l just wish they had parking..
(4)
Christa Lei S.

The reason it has three stars is because I like the cookie pizza and their actual pizza. Let's moooooove on. Service is really slow and inattentive. I've been here crowded and my meal was like, two or three hours long because of it. I also ate here today when there was no one there, and people only came to our table to deliver food. Despite the serious lack of people, we didn't have a waiter checking on us for water-- and I can always tell what a 'good establishment' is when my water doesn't run empty. But in this case, I had to ask three times for them to refill my water and flag a waiter down. The restaurant was empty, people! How do you not have someone checking on us? All in all, the food saves this place. The buttahcrust is fantastic and it's all G to me.
(3)
Wes M.

Being used to California "Chicago Style" pizza had me expecting the same thick crusted, very filling pizza. I couldn't have been more wrong. We ordered the "Lou" special and the light, fresh flavors couldn't have been more enjoyable. On top of that Monday night is half price wine night.
(4)
Rachel E.

When in the Windy City, eat pizza. Delicious, gooey, cheesy, deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. I am not sure who Lou Malnati is, but the man knows his pizza. During a recent trip to Chicago, a group of friends and I decided to indulge at Lou Malnati's. We picked it because we have a friend who needed gluten-free options, but all of us left thoroughly pleased with our decision. The girls of the group split a large deep dish with onions and sliced roma tomatoes. I remember thinking in my head that I wished the pizza would just replenish itself when someone took a slice - it was that good. In addition to our food, our waitress was great; she handled our fairly large (and not to mention rowdy) group really well.
(5)
Paul H.

Enjoyed a very nice dinner with excellent service. Started with the family style salad and butter crust pizza was delicious. I can't remember waiters name, but I did compliment the manager on the way out. See you again, hopefully soon.
(4)
Alejandro G.

This was my first visit to Lou Malnati's and I was so sorry that I didn't visit earlier. I brought my uncle, his wife and son here because they were visiting Chicago and wanted to experience their deep dish pizza. Their older son who had lived here a while back always used to have pizzas shipped to them for Christmas. We ordered the pepperoni for starters and was totally amazed by the crust and taste of this pizza. They ordered a sausage version, and although it seemed like on solid piece of sausage topping, it was good. But I preferred the pepperoni. For me it was just way to much sausage and it took away from the cheese. But that was the only drawback, Nice area, good seating, very courteous staff and I won't hesitate to return. I've already gave rave reviews to my friends and I want to visit the one on Lincoln Ave. Our beverage glasses was always filled without having to ask and our waitress was very knowledgeable with the menu items and even gave us some nice suggestions. I don't know how long this restaurant was on this particular location but it was a very relaxed setting and plenty of space.
(5)
Alice C.

So Is that why they say "CHEESE" before you smile in photos?!! MMMMM deep dish pizza. I'm a sucker for the oooodles of cheese. It takes about half an hour for the pizza to come out which my impatient self initially thought was a gripe, but really, is it a grip that pizza is fresh cooked? no way. So worth it to try this pizza. I'm not a huge fan of the butter crust but everything else on that pizza was heaven.
(4)
Deborah N.

Amazing food great atmosphere! Really enjoyed our meal. Ask for server Apollo. He will take care of you.
(5)
Vishal P.

Better than Giardono's. I'm not a fan of deep dish but this one wasn't overpowering like some of the other Deep dish pizza's I had. We had Lou's Bruschetta. Nice flavor, not too oily, the bread was crisp and chewy and not soggy. We got The "Lou" as a pizza. Nice ratio of cheese to sauce to toppings. The crust was almost similar to a thick pie crust than a pizza dough.
(4)
Cindi S.

This place was packed with a 45 minute wait to get your pizza. Order ahead while waiting. We got in at the bar and had a great time. Live the food and drinks. Definitely best pizza in Chicago!
(5)
Linda L.

Their thin crust tasted like frozen pizza. Deep dish was not to our liking either.
(1)
Billy C.

Pretty good pizza. The crust was the best part. Was a little light on the amount of pepperoni on the pizza itself, but the cheese was really good. It was delivered relatively fast, too.
(4)
Irene L.

Amazing and fresh deep dish. Had the Lou special, definitely would come back!
(5)
Madison C.

The the Pizza is very good! Being from California, I very much appreciated the thick, crispy crust. Definitely worth all the talk
(4)
Cat K.

Best Pizza Ever! I'm from Chicago but moved to texas a few years back so whenever I go home I always have to come to Lou's! I love the buttery crust and their cheese bread. The staff is always so nice and accommodating and the food really is great! Every time I come home to visit we always stop at this location with all my friends and just enjoy a night of great food and drinks! We never feel rushed, they're great about filling my tea in a timely manner and quick to clear our empty plates. I wish Chicago was only a few hours drive instead of 24 hours because I would be driving home every weekend to eat here if that's the case!
(5)
Gary S.

This place is tourist Pizza... Just plain not good... People always think of "pan pizza" when they think of Chicago, most people in Chicago actually prefer good Chicago thin crust pizza... And this is NOT it! Go to a real pizza place if you want a taste of Chicago!
(1)
Mary G.

Hands down..The Lou. Buttery crust, non-overwhelming sauces and ingredients unlike my previous Chicago style pizza experience. Very glad I got to try this one.
(5)
Mandy I.

We really enjoyed the pizza here. It wasn't as deep as Giordano's deep dish, but it had it's own uniqueness that is to be admired. The downside of this restaurant is the long wait, but if you order while you wait, it helps cut down on your total wait time. The staff wasn't spectacular, they didn't check more than once to see if we needed anything like water, so we had to flag someone down. I figure this is mostly due to how busy this place always seems to be, even on weekdays. If you can handle a 45 minute wait on a weekday, come here and try their personal touch on the famous chicago deep dish pizza. The classic has the best sausage!
(4)
Albert T.

I have just recently moved to Chicago so I am definitely no expert when it comes to deep dish pizza. However Lou Malnati's definitely lives up to their slogan of having the "best Chicago-style deep dish pizza." Now you must be wondering how can I possibly give a review when I have yet to experience other deep dish pizzas from other restaurants, well to be honest I have had other deep dish pizzas especially when I would visit my friends in the past however in comparison not one of them were truly memorable in terms of taste along with service nor were they even good enough to prompt me to sit here and write a review about them. We started off with some calamari fritti which were golden and crisp without any real hard pieces (meaning it was fried fresh) nor did it have any weird after taste. The lemon and fresh tomatoes served along with them was definitely a good combo. The main attraction was our small but definitely filling deep dish pizza the Malnati Chicago Classic. My brother suggested we add some spinach to the mix and although I was reluctant at first (I'm more of a more meat type of pizza eater) it was definitely a great addition, the fresh cheese, the butter crust, vine ripened tomatoes and sausage concoction was ridiculously good. It had plenty of sausage which was abundant but not to the point of getting "meat sweats" shortly after. The service was prompt and our server even came back to inform us about the status of our pizza after we killed the calamari. He never let our drinks run dry nor did we ever need to ask or call for his attention despite it being a busy Saturday night. Overall I'm definitely a fan and so thankful it's just about block away.
(5)
Anthony N.

***Lou Malnati's is one of Chicago's most popular deep dish style pizza spots; the pizza was satisfying though the only thing I felt really stood out was their crispy and distinct Buttercrust*** Lou Malnati's is one of Chicago's famous deep dish style pizza places (along with Gino's East and Giordano's, which is sold as stuffed pizza; Uno is also popular). They have several locations throughout the city and this location is on Rush Street and near The Magnificent Mile. The decor was a lot newer and more standard-bar-and-grill than I was expecting (you might have to seek out one of their older locations for a more interesting and less run-of-the-mill atmosphere). I had an individual size of their Malnati Chicago Classic, which had cheese and their sausage (as well as a topping of tangy and sweet tomato sauce). The pizza was served on their signature Buttercrust. The buttercrust was good and it really separated it from other pizzas out there. The crust was not entirely pie crust-like, but it had a crispiness that reminded me a little of pastries. The cheese was just okay and so was the sauce. The sauce gave the pizza some good moisture without being overwhelming. The sausage, which sounded good on the menu, was a little disappointing (it was a little on the average side). It lacked both color and spice/seasoning. It did not have any heat and I would have preferred more of a crispy outside/sear to the sausage. I think the pizza would have been better if I would have had one of their larger pizzas. I think the smaller you go here, the more you miss out on the distinct deep dish style. Service was pleasant. It takes a while for them to bake the pizzas here. You can expect to wait at least 30 minutes from the time you order to get the pie. Prices were good. If you have a big group, you can probably get a good value here since their pizzas are very filling and prices are mostly in line with pizza places I have tried in Los Angeles. Lou Malnati's was a decent and satisfying lunch, but I wonder if I would have enjoyed Gino's East or Giordano's more. I think if you come to Chicago to really immerse yourself in Chicago's deep dish pizza, you probably have to try all three. I am not sure what the parking situation is around here, but I imagine it is expensive and hard to find.
(3)
Mishari A.

Our waiter was so nice and friendly I like her because she understands what I want but I didn't like the pizza so much and I don't know why we were sitting in the bar while there was other tables but anyways the service and waiter raise the stars/...
(4)
Christian A.

Order the Malnati Chicago classic, real fresh ingredients made for a great pie. Like with getting deep dish anywhere it takes a while to cook so be sure to start with an appetizer.
(4)
Helen H.

Our first meal Chicago was deep dish pizza. The pizza arrived hot and fresh. This pizza is huge. It could probably serve 6 people. The crust is nice and crispy on the sides and bready on the bottom and has a slightly buttery taste. On top of the thick layer of mozzarella is a flavorful and not too fatty layer of sausage. It tastes home made and there is a lot of it. Not sure if this is normal for Chicago deep dish but the tomato sauce on top was chunky and there was a lot of that too. All in all it was a great experience.
(5)
Janet K.

We were only in Chicago for the weekend, but decided having a real Chicago style pizza was on our list of things to make time for. We asked around a bit to get what locals felt was the best. Lou Malnati's was worth the effort! A little different from what we knew as Chicago style, the pizza was deep dish, but somehow the crust was lighter and crunchier than what we expected! In a good way! We ordered the medium which was supposed to be for 3, and then thanks to the timing, we were 4, still couldn't finish it. Also, we got a coupon from our hotel for a free cookie with ice cream on top pizza. We were so full, but the cookie pizza was wonderful as well. Great chocolate chip cookie with 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream. Ask to leave the whipped cream off though, it is just a nuisance to scoop off, you really don't need it.
(4)
Debbie D.

Walked into Lou Malnatis quite excited for a Chicago deep dish. Found out that unlike New York, you can't grab a slice and go. So yes I sat down and ordered. Then proceeded to wait 30 plus minutes for my pizza. Ordered the classic. Disappointment it was. It was reasonably priced unlike Giordano's but the flavor of the stuffing just wasn't as great as expected it. Maybe we hyped it up too much.. And I was hungry too so it should've been like the best thing ever (you know how when youre hungry you think a bag of chips taste great! LOL) The service was fantastic. LOVED our waiter who was super patient with me ordering everything on the menu and explained the history and such. The experience was greater than the food.
(4)
Rich W.

This is the place to get a deep dish Chicago pizza.. I've eaten "Chicago deep dish" before and honestly wasn't impressed at all. it tasted like pizzahut. But this place was differant, this was thenplace locals go to.. The lines are always long which is an indication of how good this place is but don't worry, they move people along quickly. Tip- Get in both lines, put your name in and then go directly to order your pizza before you sit down. pies take 30 minutes. They will ask you how long your wait is and have your pizza ready shortly after your seated. Also get your drinks when you order and hang outside and have a beer. Along with our pizza we had a chopped salad.. Overall this is a great pizza but New Jersey still has the best pizza.
(5)
J B.

I have been to a lot of pizza places while living in Chicago. I hate to say it but this is my least favorite. I always heard great things, but stopping by and trying it was another story. But to be fair the only thing I have tried is their sausage pizza though so I cannot say for anything else. But with that experience I will have a hard time trying anything else. It was a bit like they got a huge sausage and cut it into the largest pieces they could have been cut into it it overwhelmed the pizza. I really do not like their sausage! Different bites in different areas of the slices I experienced different tastes. Im not sure if the dough was not done properly or what. Literally every other bite was a roulette of extreme blandness, fairly good taste, or over spicing. A very first for a pizza for me! The atmosphere and the waitress were great though. I really wanted to get a lasagna but was pushed towards the pizza from my gf. I rolled the dice and lost!
(2)
Srini S.

We ordered the deep dish buttercrust pizza and loved it. The tomato sauce was a little on the sour side but attributed it to their signature taste.
(2)
Jason D.

Awesome Pizza every time.
(4)
Linette L.

My first thin crust pizza here, and I hope it won't be my last. I especially enjoyed how little tomatoes sauce there was. Instead, the pizza was topped with slices of tomatoes. Ingenious!
(5)
Robert M.

The Pizza was delicious. You can tell Chicago takes pride in it's pizza you had to wait 45 mins to get your pizza but it was well worth it! Staff was friendly environment was cozy.
(5)
Morgan Richelle M.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, thats AMORE! If you don't love pizza (and a killer salad, sandwich, steak, etc), then get outta here! Pizza is phenomenal. Hands down one of my favorite Chicago favies. Their salads are also SO GOOD. I ordered a spinach salad with goat cheese, pear and a vinagrette, and just melted over it. Everything was extremely fresh! I was so thankful that my mom knew about this place. The interior decor is charming and colorful- perfect for all ages. A great spot to bring the fam too!
(4)
Jennifer M.

When they tell you that that serving size per large pie is 4 people, it's not a lie! Our course our big eyes and even smaller stomaches completely ignored the warning and ended up with whole pie worth of slices untouched. GET THE DEEP DISH. GET THE 'LOU' OR 'MALNATI CHICAGO CLASSIC' PIE. CHEW WELL AND PREPARE FOR THE 'ROCK' AFTERMATH ;)
(4)
Sarah L.

We had our rehearsal dinner in the awesome private room here after our original rehearsal dinner spot closed about a week before our wedding. Now, you might think that having to find a new rehearsal dinner spot for 45 people with less than a week's notice would be stressful. Actually, from the moment we called Lou Malnatti's Gold Coast everything was easy. Luckily, they still had availability - they got back to us with a quote within a couple hours and were responding to emails at 10:30 on a Friday night (in addition to all day). We were able to get in to see the space and sign a contract right away. All our out of town guests LOVED the chicago style pizza, beer and wine was free flowing, and there was some sort of amazing warm cookie in a cup situation that was super good. the private room was perfect for a night of toasts and hanging out. It was quiet enough that we could hear everyone fine without any mics, which was really important to me. It fit everyone comfortably and had a tv we could have used if we needed a screen for any reason. Thanks, Lou Malnatti's, you saved our rehearsal dinner!
(5)
Brian M.

Lou Malnati's is the best deep dish pizza in Chicago hands down. We always get the Malnati Chicago Classic (sausage pizza) which is as basic and delicious as it gets. They start with the most crispy, crunchy, buttery crust known to deep dish pizzadome. Unlike some competitors, Lou's goes easy on the cornmeal which I like. The edges and sides of the crust always get just a little caramelized which adds to the crunch and the flavor. Next, you've got the sausage. This is real-deal honest to goodness sausage made in house that they cover the entire bottom of the pie with. It's mild and savory and among the best I've had on a pizza. Then, you've got the cheese. They use their 3 cheese blend and lay it on thick. Finally, to top off all the deliciousness, the chunky tomato sauce. This stuff is the bomb and never disappoints. Anytime my friends and I are feeling like pizza, whether eat-in or take out, we can count on Lou Malnati's to deliver among the tastiest pizza we've ever had. That's what makes Lou's a true Chicago institution, they get it right all the time, every time.
(5)
Tiffany H.

I LOVE Lou Malnati's. I have made my rounds to the other local Chicago style pizza stars, but this is my main squeeze. The prices are fantastic, it brings a great atmosphere for large groups or pizza dates, and the food is just top notch. Traditional deep dish, great service, low cost, and great beers on tap. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Jayant U.

I love their Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza. Very courteous staff, amazing 8 inch pizza and really good ambience! Loved the place. Must visit for people going to Chicago!
(5)
Daniel S.

This review is WAY overdue, as I was in Chicago in June! 4 months late, better late than never! Lou Malnati's is hands down the BEST Chicago Deep Dish Pizza you can find in Chicago! Came here 3 times while on my trip to Chicago! It was close to where I was staying so I walked here to get myself a personal deep dish pizza. I always went with the Chicago Classic and it was perfect! So good! I really want some more right about now. Its a little pricy for a personal pizza, about $10 or so, takes 45 minute for them to cook it! But it tastes amazing. Service here was great, never really had a problem getting a table but I usually did take out cause it was easier for me. Definitely a must try when you're in Chicago!
(5)
Knut B.

Best deep dish pizza in Chicago. Which also means it's the best in the world. No doubt! Get the sausage pizza.
(5)
Gillian D.

Good pizza. Fairly thin crust for Chicago-style, and not "stuffed" like others. It was ok.
(3)
Anna Y.

I did not go to Lou Malnati's pizza planning to like it. On my recent trip to Chicago, I only had enough time to eat out two times, so instead of taking a risk on a more adventurous eatery, I figured I should just check the box on trying a real Chicago deep dish pizza. I've eaten at Pizzeria Uno's numerous times growing up, but it never left much of an impression on me. It was just pizza. I ordered a personal size of the Lou Malnati Chicago Classic to go. It comes with sausage, mozzarella, and fresh tomatoes on Buttercrust (TM!). Buttercrust is apparently their extra-unhealthy but extra-delicious version of pizza crust. I got there at 5:30pm and had to wait 30 minutes for the pizza to come out. I think 30 minutes is totally reasonable. Food doesn't need to be prepared fast; it's service that needs to be fast. What's more important to me is that once the food is ready, it's delivered promptly--fresh, hot, and still toasty. This was phenomenal pizza and I would tell anyone visiting Chicago or who lives in Chicago that this is a must try. I was impressed by the quality of ingredients and overall, the pizza simply had a great mouthfeel. In fact, this place has changed my pizza philosophy. I used to swear by Neapolitan pizza and consider every other kind second-class. No longer--great pizza exists in every city and in every style and it's simply a matter of execution and quality of ingredients. There's nothing inherently superior about a Neapolitan pizza.
(5)
Laura H.

Hands down best deep dish in Chicago- in fact when I loved here 5 years ago I hated deep dish until a friend brought me here a year ago, Now I have been here over a dozen times and always fabulous. MMMHMMMM butter crust. Full bar, great atmosphere, excellent wait staff
(5)
Brad S.

Pizza is great, but the wait was long. Get the pizza to go and find a place to sit outside to enjoy Chicago.
(4)
Kayan H.

I've always gone to the "other" Chicago deep dish pizza chain, but my husband wanted to try Lou Malnati's this time and we're very glad we did! The sauce and crust is way better here! Not to mention the service! Really enjoyed our stroll through the Gold Coast neighborhood, didn't even mind the 1 hour wait. We had the salad and the Special deep dish and everything was delicious.
(5)
Asta R.

So normally I would give this place a great review because I absolutely love their gluten free pizza. But tonight (a Thursday) the wait time for food was ridiculous. From the time we walked in - and we put our order in with the hostess who told us it would be a 20-25 minute wait for a table, we waited about an hour and a half for our order. Normally this means the pizza is ready 20 min later. Not once did anyone come by to check on us to see if we wanted drinks, water, anything else - nor did they update us on wait time. Next time I'm just going to carry out. Why bother going & sitting there?
(3)
Ben B.

I love Lou Malnati's. For my money, it's the best pizza in the city. But this location has a lot of work to do. It's only been open a few weeks at the time of this review. When I arrived on a Saturday night, the place was totally packed. Our wait to be seated was roughly 45 minutes. The decor is fancier than you'd see at the Wells Street or Wrightwood locations. (Those are more sports-themed. This one is dimly lit and trendy.) But the service is lacking. I asked for a pitcher of water for our table. I was told that couldn't happen. (I get a pitcher at the Wells St. location every time.) Our waitress didn't give us straws with our drinks. And when the pizza arrived, there was no silverware on the table. What's more, the pizza was just lukewarm when it got to us. That never happens at other Lou locations. Again, this is my favorite pizza in the city, so I'll be back. I'll chalk it up to inexperience and hope this location raises its game to take its place atop Chicago's pizza mountain. (On a return visit, the service was even worse. I think they have too many tables and too few servers. We had more offers to box up our pizza and get the hell out than to refill our drinks.)
(3)
Carolyn S.

Yum! Chicago pizza isn't my thing, but the pizza, service, and salad are great. This location opened in 2011, so its still new. Very modern. Get the Lou Malnati salad!!!
(5)
Kurt S.

Ended up at Lou Malnati's after unsuccessfully finding a table at a couple other restaurants in the area. We had to wait approx 30 minutes on a Saturday night. We ordered drinks and the sausage deep dish pizza. The pizza takes FOREVER to come out, we were dying. Different than what we are used to in Connecticut and I have nothing else in Chicago to compare it to. The sausage was like one big patty rather than individual pieces, which I kind of liked. The "butter crust" was not buttery and pretty dry. I think I just like chewy crust better. Next time I'm in Chicago I'll try Giordano's so I can compare. Vito's By the Park stuffed meat pizza in Hartford blows this place out of the water.
(3)
Eyad A.

I tried their deep dish I was so delicious. Good service, perfect location. Highly recommended
(5)
Kristen D.

Lou's is tied at my top for deep dish pizza with Giordanos. I love a LOT of sauce, which is where I sometimes run into trouble with Lou's. I love the chunky tomatoes, though! Pizza here is always awesome. I'd eat here once a week for the rest of my life and be perfectly content. You can't get much more Chicago than a slice of Lou's with a 312. This specific location is fabulous. Great decor, our server (Karina?) was polite and not overbearing, they got our friend a birthday cookie with candle and sang to him...everything was awesome. I'd come back here just for the ambience of this place alone!
(5)
Celia C.

Visiting Chicago and I stop on for lunch. I ordered the specials and it was a great deal a small sausage pizza salad and a drink all for under 900 I fresh taro sauce was so good And the goodies were hidden under the sauce the deep dish was yummy I really enjoyed my lightly toss salad. Everything was fresh.
(5)
Kelsey B.

The wait on a Saturday night was about 40-55 minutes. We ended up getting in within about 45. I have several food allergies and talked to the manger before who said she'd sub out regular cheese for goat cheese (whey allergy) even though they normally don't do that. I thanked her and we were seated. When I told our server about it, he said there was no way they could switch cheeses but he could put some on the side. Well, if you're already giving it to me, why wouldn't you just it bake in? I even offered to pay more, since normally restaurants charge more for vegan cheese (which this location doesn't have) anyway. I proceeded to tell my group of 8, without realizing how loud I was being, that I wasn't pleased and within 10 minutes the waiter came back and he said they could put the goat cheese on the pizza. He should have just said that he needed to verify my conversation with the manager instead of immediately telling me no. However, I do appreciate that the accommodation was made at no extra charge. The pizza itself was okay, but when you're gluten free and dairy free, anything resembling pizza will be satisfying.
(4)
Johanna F.

CRAVINGS... I confess. Historically I am a New York Style pizza kinda gal... BUT Lou Malnati's has officially turned me over to the dark side. In the three weeks we've been in the city we'll have visited/eaten Lou Malnati's three times...The third time will be this weekend - the husband has already asked - ha! TIPS: try the bruschetta...simple yet delicious. DEEP DISH! This place gets packed but its worth the wait. There is a nice patio area on the days that aren't so humid. Can't wait for the next one...it may be a weekly thing for us!
(4)
Carrie T.

Lou malnatis classic was good. Great cheese, delicious buttermilk crust. But ok giving it 4 stars bc deep dish isn't quite my deal. I prefer thin crust.
(4)
Joan H.

I admit, I'm not a Chicagoan - I'm a New Yorker, so we have a very different type of pizza. But truth be told, I think all pizza is delicious. Who can refuse dough, cheese, and tomato sauce in any form? So I am not one of these pizza nazis who have to insist it's only done right in the "old country," or only New York thin crust is tops, etc. Anyway, back to the review. I'd only had true Chicago style pizza once before at Giordano's, and I have to say that version gave me a very daunting impression of Chicago style pizza. I was left believing that Chicago style pizza is just a giant cake of cheese, but Lou Malnati's corrected that. Here, the crust has a distinct buttery crisp deliciousness, and there isn't SUCH an overload of cheese that you don't enjoy the toppings lost in goo. It's a really good size. We had both the Chicago and the Lou - one is meaty and one is vegetarian. I appreciate that there is a special veggie pizza, as most places think only meat can be special. Having read some of these reviews in advance, we made sure to order the spinach bread and the chocolate chip cookie pizza. Both are good additions. The spinach bread is a shockingly dense little package of mainly cheese. The choco chip cookie pizza is also a wonderfully decadent way to end a wonderfully decadent meal. We also had some nice crisp calamari that was notable for not being sogged in oil, and got some local beers on tap. Biggest plus -- this location is open until midnight, and there is no real last order, so you can head out to Second City, take a walk down here and get a great dinner. Just beware that all the food takes time to prepare, so if you're starved, you might go bad with the wait! Finally - nice outdoorish seated area (it's covered, but you can avoid the freezing AC in the summer and enjoy the cool Chicago night air.
(4)
Kelly S.

I know pizza is subjective to everyone, but as a non Chicagoan this is by far my favorite. It's just the right blend of sauce, meat and cheese. We got the Lou and the crust was perfect, not too thick, not too thin, the sausage was delightful and the cheese just complimented it all. I want to order some for the freezer but it was too expensive to ship. Shame, I could really get with a Malnati fix anytime I chose but until the shipping prices go lower, I'll have to wait until we get back to Chicago. Delicious cheesy cuisine!
(5)
Jeromy G.

I got the Original Chicago style pizza. Sausage, tomatoes, extra cheese and a buttered crust and that's it. That is all you need and that is all I wanted and more. The wait here was about an hour to get a table when I called in so I asked how long to pick up and it was 35 mins so I opted for that and picked up a small pie and walked to my hotel about 5 blocks away. It was gooey, meaty, thick goodness and everything I imagined it to be. I know that Giordanno's is the staple but I think this place is just as good and I didn't have to wait 1.5 hours for delivery, carry out or dine in which was the same time for all choices at Giordannos. I was very happy with my food and my family members agreed it was tasty. Fork and knife type of pie here.
(5)
Ami A.

Called in the order beforehand. Highly recommend you do that because the pizza takes 50 minutes to bake. Here's what we tried: - "The Lou": A deep dish veggie pizza. It was decent. Apparently it would have been much better if I had ordered the butter crust. Oh well, guess there's always next time. - Chocolate chip pizza: Basically the equivalent of a pizookie from BJs. It was just okay. Our cookie was too undercooked. Pizookies are better IMO. After trying this place and Giordano's, I preferred the later.
(4)
Gina S.

Disclaimer, my review rating is strictly on the dessert...which was consumed after an okay deep dish pizza dinner in the comfort of their open aired covered patio in the arms of a cushy leather armchair. Three little words that will make me melt: Chocolate Chip Pizza. When you join their Birthday club, you get a free dessert...so that's what I did. Two things that are great on their own are greater together. A soft fresh baked hot chocolate chip cookie pizza topped with cold vanilla bean ice cream (I opted for no whip cream). At first I was telling my hubby, "babe I'm kinda full so you'll probably get to eat most of the cookie pizza." Yeah, one bite and it didn't matter how full I was going to be, I couldn't resist and we ended up splitting it. It was one orgasmic bite after the other, and perhaps I had one or two more spoonfuls than him. We left with me saying over and over again, "we really should go there just for dessert!"
(5)
Jeff A.

I was a little worried because of all of the "hype" that I heard about this place. I can tell you that without a doubt, this was one of the best pizzas I have ever had. I wasn't too sure of the "deep dish" style, but it was absolutely fantastic. One of the guys even ordered a couple of pies to be shipped to his house in Florida. The place was pretty jammed packed (kinda tough with a group of 8 of you). But the bar was a great start. After a few drinks and some apps, we made it to our table. Great food and a great atmosphere! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town.
(5)
Cyn C.

I'm not sure why this Lou Malnati's has a lower overall rating than the others. I've been to three Lou's and I'm only going to write the one review. I should say that I am not the biggest pizza fan. I am never the one to suggest grabbing pizza, and I really only eat it b/c it's what everyone else wants to eat. I know it's a crowd pleaser. So, if I don't love pizza, why have I been to Lou Malnati's THREE times in the year I've been in Chicago? Because they have a cookie pizza. A deep dish pizza pan, with choc chip cookie dough that's not baked all the way through. Then pile on some yummy vanilla ice cream and some whipped cream. And I'm in heaven. My typical order is to get a small individual sized pizza (even better if I can find someone to split it with me. Not that I can't eat one of these by myself, but then I can save more room for my COOKIE PIZZA!) and then gorge on the cookie pizza. It says the dessert serves 2 or 3. And I SUPPOSE it should. But i'm pretty sure I could polish it off by myself if no one was watching. PS. My pizza loving friends love this place. I do like pizza crust, and theirs is really delicious!
(4)
Dan S.

So it's not New Haven-style pizza. I get that. And the thin crust style back home will never be replaced by this. BUT, we came here as part of the Chicago Food Tours and I really enjoyed the pizza. The crust was buttery and the pizza was quite filling, even for just a slice. Nice atmosphere, friendly people too. Nice local place and a far cry from the chain "Pizzeria Uno's" that are cheap imitations. Would definitely try again when I return to Chicago.
(4)
Lora B.

As a former employee, although I am bias, I just want to say that it doesn't surprise me that most people rate this restaurant 5 stars. The only reason I am not working for them anymore is because I am relocating as I am graduating from college. The standards that they hold their employees to (I was a server then hostess) is extremely high and the customer is always thought of first. The kitchen is squeaky clean and the managers, if they can help it, don't let anything out of the kitchen that's less than perfect. In addition, they are strict on the dress code and demeanor of their employees, always keeping in mind it is a family restaurant. Although it can get insanely busy, they try their best to accommodate customers quickly by allowing them to put their order in ahead of time. I am proud to have worked at a place with such standards.
(5)
K T.

Definitely a tourist spot, but I finally tried the pizza after over a year of living in Chicago and it is great! Solid location as well.
(4)
Michelle F.

SO, SO, SO upset about our experience here. Honestly, it was one of the worst dining experiences of our lives. I don't know why I keep coming back to you, Lou's when you burn me so badly each time. SHAME ON ME. So a HUGE group and I were supposed to go to Gino's East. We had a party room there and we were supposed to pay $16 per person, blah blah blah. Well, a few of our group had to cancel, so they were going to make up the money for us not having over 20 adults by charging us more money per person. We weren't down with that, so we changed our location to Lou's instead. Mistake. Big mistake. My friend called on Friday and asked if we would be able to make a reservation for our group of THIRTY people (including 16 kids). They said sure, and off we go. Come Saturday (when the reservation was for), we had some latecomers, and I called to add them to the reservation. Here's how *that* really odd conversation went: Me: Hi, my friend made a reservation for us for tonight for 30 people, and I was wondering if we would be able to make that 33 people Them: We don't take reservations. Would you like to make one? (Ummmm....what?!?! either you DON'T take them--in which case, what is that thing that my friend made yesterday, and if you don't take them, why are you asking if I would like to make one??? So weird) Finally we got all of that straightened out, and I asked him if they had any private rooms. Them: Yes, we do, would you like one? Me: Yes, PLEASE. We have 16 kids with us, and you probably wouldn't want them loose in your restaurant!! Is there an extra charge for that? Them: Oh, absolutely not. Then we went through how many high chairs we would need based on the amount of kids we had in the group, etc. So we get there right at our reserved time of 5:30. They are not ready for us AT.ALL. The rude guy at the front keeps asking us how many high chairs we need, only tells us he has X amount, so there's not enough for everyone, etc. Strike number one. He leads us to our table. Strike number two: WE ARE IN THE **MIDDLE** OF THE RESTAURANT. No private room (that we had to PASS TO GET TO OUR TABLE). I wished the customers around us luck and told them I hope they liked kids. RIDICULOUS. Strike number three: HUGE EFFING STRIKE. We were at two separate tables, so we had two different waitresses. That was all fine and dandy...until... We all ordered at the same time. THEY WERE SERVED, ATE, AND PAID, AND SOME EVEN GOT THE PRIVILEGE OF LEAVING (lucky ducks) BEFORE WE EVEN GOT OUR FOOD. We had been there for over two hours at this point, and the kids (understandably) were starting to melt down. Our waitress was A.W.F.U.L. Terrible. Seriously, terrible. We went to the bar for our drinks because she was nowhere to be found for HUGE stretches of time. RE-FREAKING-DICULOUSLY awful. So I tracked down a manager, Colleen, who did her best to help our group, but excuse after excuse just pissed us off at this point. And even after she got involved, it still took ten minutes for our food to come out. (And another 15 minutes for one of our party's pizza to come out after the rest of us had been served. She had to sit there and watch the rest of us eat!!) I cannot believe the lack of customer service at this location. This was one of the worst experiences I have ever had!
(1)
Justin S.

Upon walking in, it reminded of a Yardhouse or BJ's styled restaurant. Plenty of seating, roughly 20 minute wait around dinnertime. No worries, friends and I did some nearby shopping and people watching until our buzzer sounded. Food: Lots of folks were suggesting this place so I went in with very high expectations. When expectations run high but is not met... well it tends to get disappointing :P. Honestly speaking, I thought the pizza was dry, the crust was hard, and it wasn't anything special. I probably would not visit this place next time I am in Chicago, nor recommend it to anybody else traveling here. There are plenty of better places to try around the city.
(2)
Michelle S.

Best deep dish out there! I've been a fan of Lou's forever and anytime I'm in town I try to get some pizza. My friend had her rehearsal dinner here and once again proved that Lou's is the only way to go when having pizza in Chicago. Aside from the amazing pizza the service was outstanding. I love love love the sausage pizza and I won't eat sausage pizza ANYWHERE else. Seriously. If you aren't in a pizza kind of mood then have a salad, they're outstanding! The one with the salami crunchies on it is the best on there is. We used to have Lou's every Sunday night but now that I live out of state I have to come home to get some delicious pizza.
(5)
S R.

Visited their flagship location on N State Street twice during my visit to Chicago this memorial day weekend. This was my first visit to Lu Malnati's. Geno's East was my regular Deep Dish Pizza spot in Chicago. For the first time, I tried this place. This place is no way less than the Geno's East. Great Pizza. I love their deep dish, because crust is not very thick like other places, so it is manageable and not messy. I believe the deep dish is all about a crust, and this place does deliver. I have tried the pepperoni and the signature "Lou". Enjoyed the Pizzas thoroughly. It was a great experience.
(4)
Ira B.

Awesome pizzas, perfect tiramisu. Stylish decor. On a sunny day you can sit outside in the comfy well worn leather armchairs. And they serve mimosas too. The only complain is - no espresso. Otherwise 5 stars.
(5)
Michelle M.

So excited that Chicago Food Planet food tour stops here! Always a favorite; there's nothing like it.
(5)
Solmaz K.

We were expecting deep dish pizza to have a heavy, greasy crust. Much to our surprise, it was flaky and buttery! Their secret recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. Their pizzas are handmade from scratch. And their sauce (the most essential component) is rich, tomatoey and amazing. The Malnati Salad was like a party in my mouth! I thought the sweet vinaigrette, fresh mushrooms and bacon came together really nicely. The "Lou" Pizza was my favourite pie. It had spinach, mushrooms, sliced roma tomatoes and was covered with three cheeses. The Malnati Chicago Classic is great for all you meatl-lovers out there. It's made with local sausage, cheese and vine-ripened tomato sauce. Save room for dessert! The Chocolate Chip Pizza is freshly baked and it's humongous (feeds at least three people). The vanilla bean ice cream was a nice touch.
(4)
Kristina M.

The BEST deep dish pizza I have tasted so far. Definitely worth the money. My boyfriend and I were in the area on our way home, looking for something to take-out. We never actually had Lou's before so decided to give it a try. I expected it to be a normal pizza place such as Sarpino's, Little Caesar's, Rosati's... but it was far more classy and upbeat than I had imagined. Walking in, the place was full of people casually dining, and the place was very very clean and well maintained. There are chairs you can wait at if you order take out, but there is also a little room with couches and classy little tables. More like a lounge area. It looked like something classy for dinner but the employees were more than happy to let us wait comfortably there. Speaking of customer service, they were great! The staff was friendly, very professional, always smiling. Easy to talk to. The lady that took our take out order was quite nice and I forgot to get her name. The wait was no longer than 35 minutes for a medium deep dish - it filled us up and we were ravenous. We still had a slice leftover for each. So if you're with a friend or significant other, I recommend a medium deep dish if you're hungry. I think it was around $18 for a medium but let me tell you, it was worth every penny. We ordered the Malnati's Chicago Classic - a MUST. It's to die for. The sausage was plenty, the sauce HEAVENLY and so, so fresh! Better than any tomato sauce I've tasted. The cheese was oooey and gooey and was just the right amount. I love lots of cheese on my pizza, deep dish or not!! And the Chicago Classic is made with their Buttercrust - Jesus Christ, I died a little bit inside. It's nothing to special, doesn't have a cheese filling but packs just the right amount of crunch - it has a great taste to it unlike other regular pizza crusts from what, Sarpino's? I couldn't save it for last. I ripped off the crust and dipped it in the pizza sauce when I was halfway done with a slice. I promise you the Classic will not be regretted. Each bite was heaven. The ride home was 50 minutes (we take the bus since we're broke college students with no cars). The whole bus ride home my mouth was watering from the smell, but I was worried that the pizza would get cold by the time we got home. Nope - it was still piping hot!! In the box they put some aluminum so that the pizza stays hot. I like that since not many pizza places do that. Lou Malnati's will make a great dinner and whether you eat in or not, you will receive awesome customer service and amazing food. And though it may not be the cheapest, the high quality will make you forget about all the debt you owe to your student loans or credit card companies. Screw it, as long as you're tasting a piece of heaven. Best deep dish in Chicago!
(5)
Try O.

Don't get the rave reviews. I love pizza, but this was just average for me. I ordered a thin crust pizza with basil and mushroom. When she brought my pizza out, she said they didn't have basil and brought me a jar of oregano/Italian seasoning, WTF ! How does an Italian place not have basil. That's like going to a Mexican restaurant and they don't have beans. My mom had their deep dish with sausage,etc.. The pizza looked yucky to me, the sausage was sliced and grey looking. It just looked gross to me, but I tasted her pizza and the flavor was actually ok. Won't be back to any of the Lou Malnati's when return to Chicago. There are too many other pizza places to try.
(2)
Wolfy W.

First night after arriving in Chicago, a small group of us wanted to try the famous deep dish pizza like all out of state guest. Although I was in Chicago a long time ago, I had the deep dish pizza before from a competitor and very much enjoy it then. We order 2 deep dish pizza, a Malnati Chicago Classic consist of sausage-extra cheese-tomato sauce. The second was the Lou, spinach-mushrooms-roma tomatoes- 3 cheese. Both were large 14 inch size which could feed 4 very generous servings. We had order a family styles cesar salad first, as it a good ideas to have your daily greens at least. I found the deep dish pizza about 1/3 or more than the deep pan in came in, not what I expected. As I thought it would be at least 1/2 to even 2/3 deep. But then it would be over whimming with other ingredients & mounds of cheese. Here we have a very simple somewhat not cooked thur as the cheese was still too stiff, not running. The crust was too stiff/hard. Sausage was lacking any taste, bland. No herbs that I could detect. I did like the so call non-meat deep dish a little better, but was also on the less than deep as they called it.
(3)
Zander H.

Pizza is great, but people taking phone orders are morons. Ordered 4 cokes and 2 diet cokes and took her 3 tries to understand what I was ordering and she still screwed it up and gave us 4 diet and 2 coke. It ruined the experience of getting our pizza delivered because we had guests and no drinks and we had people that wanted regular coke. Might not sound like big deal, but it was just annoying because the woman taking the order couldn't get our order straight and screwed it up.
(3)
Alexandria T.

My brother and his girlfriend were in town for the weekend, and they wanted deep dish. I had already gone to the River North location on Monday for lunch, so I had Lou's twice this week! I figured the location on State would be pretty lively on Friday night, and I was right. When we arrived, our wait time was quoted at 45-50 minutes, but we were seated within 15, which was really nice. We ordered bbq wings, a family size house salad, a large Lou and a medium pepperoni and sausage. I'm finding that each location is really consistent with taste and service. The salad was fresh, and they provided tons of dressing with it. The server was very friendly and did a great job. That is why I will return time and time again to Lou Malnati's.
(4)
Monica T.

Life changing pizza. Fresh, good crust, good salad, great service. Best pizza in town! Always worth the wait.
(5)
Easter E.

The pizza here is alright. We were hungry and looking forward to some deep dish. Sat down here and ordered The Malnati Chicago Classic: It says: Made with Lou's lean sausage, some extra cheese and vine-ripened tomato sauce on Buttercrust. Got this one rather than the "Lou's" because i wanted a little meat on it. It was ok. Sausage is lean, heavy cheese, you get good fresh tomato flavor, but that's it. Probably should have gotten something else on it. We got a small size, which is 4 normal slices.. perfect for 2 people. The pizza took over 35 minutes to come out and it just didn't seem that deep or done. I mean it was ok, but the deep dish pizza at Zachary's in Berkeley is much much better. service was good and no problems.
(3)
Keith P.

More like 3.5, but ill round up. Pizza is great, especially the sausage and pepperoni. I didn't get the whole "buttery" taste they talk about in the crust, but it was still damn good. Got wings for an appetizer. Could have been a little warmer, but they were a good balance of spicy, meaty, and crispy. The Lou Malnatti salad was delicious! Great dressing on it, a good thing to order with or before your pizza. Little tip: if you're coming from our of town, go to the website and sign up for their email chain an you'll get a coupon for a free appetizer. Use it to get some wings!
(4)
Jennifer W.

Okay i'm going to make this short, sweet, and simple. If you've been to SF and had Little Star or Zachary's, you can pass on this place. Chicago deep dish ain't got nothing on SF deep dish.
(2)
Martha Z.

I always have a great meal here. They are a good definition of Chicago deep dish pizza. I usually have the veggie pizza. The Gold Coast location is much roomier than the River North location.
(4)
Muriel N.

Butter crust. My friends and I were in bliss. Gah.
(4)
Daniel S.

high quality deep dish, only had the sausage, but it tastes great, the sausage is in big shards, as opposed to the traditional round shape, ive never had their thin crust, also had the dessert cookie pizza which was amazing and big, a must for cookie fans
(4)
Matt Capri Z.

Too good too much. I loved it
(4)
Zoe F.

Get the spinach stuffed bread along with the bruschetta! Both of which are appetizers.They are seriously amazing especially the bread
(4)
Katharine A.

Meh really describes what the whole family felt. I am not fan of deep dish pizza in general so we went with the thin crust. I think the crust is what I don't dig about this pizza, I want my pizza crust more bread-like and this is more pastry-like. I guess it really is about personal preference and what you are raised with. The three kids eating with me (nieces and nephews) agreed. We got apps while we waited for To Go and my nephew declared his new love for Mozzarella sticks and marinara. He wants to come back for more.
(2)
Amy C.

Came here as part of the Chicago Food Planet Tour. The salad we started with was very fresh. But onto the more important element -- deep dish pizza -- it's interesting. I definitely could not eat it every day like I could NY-style pizza. I had one slice of the sausage classic with butter crust and was totally full! It was so thick. I love that sausage surpasses pepperoni as the topping of choice in Chicago though--good choice Chicagoans! The place has a cool vibe, decorated sort of like an old warehouse. Love that it's still family-owned. We came back one more time on our trip, but not for more pizza. We got wings and the cookie deep dish dessert for Nat'l Ice Cream Day. Yummy. Very, very yummy!
(3)
Dean K.

i love living in the city. i love being around a lot of people. but this place can be a bit much. the wait for a table is forever and the people just crowd around the front and all over the sidewalk like a blood coagulation. it's claustrophobic. i'll stick to the one on sheffield cuz the pizza is the same at both locations.
(3)
Clifford D.

I was visiting friends in Chicago and told them I really wanted to go to a famous deep dish pizza restaurant. They all suggested Lou Malnatis (when pronounced, I thought they were say illuminati, like from the da vinci code), so that's where we decided to go. We started off with salad and garlic bread--both were delicious. They had a great selection of beer (I am really starting to like Goose Island brewery) and service was good. The pizza was really good, but I was a little disappointed with how "deep" it was...however, I had high expectations and I really enjoyed myself.
(4)
Christina M.

UN REAL..... I thought....it's been awhile....I work in the neighborhood let's stop at lous.... Funny thing is....my gut said....GO TO PEQUODS......my laziness quickly countered with...Lou's is across the street. 6:00 walk in and get greeted by the MOB of hosts eagerly trying to be the first one to say hello. (awkward and annoying) we sit and look through the menu.....6:07 rolls around.....No server......6:10.....the table that got seated after us is getting drinks brought to them....6:15 (at this point I'm trying not to lose it and I flag a guy down....ANDY....I asked him if he could get our server he said no problem...he did offer to take our order to hand it over to whoever was going to take our order....by 6:20 we received our first millerlite.... AFTER 20 MINUTES OF JUST SITTING? Andy helped us and yes i was happy to be getting service...but I'm assuming I don't order from the front? there's a server that is supposed to take our order? MAYBE?! Thank you Andy. you were a great waiter.... But not good enough to get me to set foot at this location again....I just am at a loss of for words.
(1)
Jeffrey C.

Having already hit up two of the Deep Dish three musketeers (Giordano's and Gino's East), I turned my sights to Lou Malnati's on my latest Chicago trip. Quick take: Giordano's goes heavy on the sauce (which I love) and Gino's on the cheese (which I don't). Lou Malnati's strikes a nice balance between the two, with arguably the best crust of the three. Amongst 9 people, we split two larges: The "Lou" and the "Chicago Classic". The former was sans meat, the latter with sausage. Both were money dining in the restaurant, and with plenty of leftovers, money later that night 3 am as well. Lou's "world famous buttercrust" definitely lived up to the hype. It was moist, yet crumbly, tasty, yet not overfilling. The Malnati salad was a great starter, also done family style with a fantastic--and would you believe it--"famous" dressing. The spinach and garlic bread appetizers were passable but unnecessary.
(4)
Lin Lin S.

One friend complained it was too much cheese and not enough sauce. I kinda got tired of so much sausage. This is the place where a layer of sausage (think of placing a thick sausage pattie on top of the cheese) instead of your typical sprinkling of toppings. If you eat at Lou's, do not forget to request the butter crust. It is not an automatic add-on, not sure why. we placed the order while we waited, then ran back to request butter crust added 10min later but it was too late, the order had gone through already.
(3)
Erika C.

round three... so, my boyfriend and I had a change of heart and decided to venture back in to Lou Malnati's to give you another shot. and let me say this time....we were not disappointed! Kristie, our server was by far one of the best waitresses we've had in the city...very personable, welcoming, and genuine! you could just tell she loved her job! also, the food was delicious! i don't know if this place changed kitchen staff or management, but everything just seemed more put together then our last years experience. sorry to underestimate you lou malnati's in my last years review, but this time you really proved yourself! we will be back! :)
(5)
Grace N.

Awesome deep dish pizza! Friendly staff!
(5)
Jeemin P.

we had a very complicated situation, but they were VERY accommodating and very helpful! 5 stars for sure on customer service! It was even more amazing because they were swamped! the waitress was also wonderful! VERY sweet, VERY nice, checked on us JUST enough- not too little and not too much! Pizza! We ordered the chicago classic with mushrooms- SOOOOOOOOOOOO DELICIOUS!!! And we ended up with a veggie pizza + black olives and onions... I don't like black olives OR onions...and i LOVE meat so this pizza was not so good in my opinion...
(4)
Arizona T.

Best pizza in Chicago, hands down! Get the Sausage Classic with the butter crust, amazing!!!
(5)
Jyosh J.

Amazing service, food is always on point. Our server Bobby, who was working the bar are last night made us feel right at home. I had a great experience and if you are served by Bobby I can guarantee excellent service. He was very at tentative, and very personable.
(5)
Jesy F.

Every time I visit Chicago (as recent as summer 2013), Lou Malnati's is on the agenda. Hands down, best deep dish in Chicago! The sauce is authentic and fresh tasting and the cheese is right on point -- not too much and not too little. We also get wings and other comfort foods, and all have ALWAYS been very good! I've been to Lou Malnati's a few times and the service is consistent as well. Servers are attentive to our table, our requests, and check in at reasonable times. Location is great too, because it's near Shedd Aquarium and other Museums. This place is too good to pass up. I say go for it!
(4)
Ken S.

Got a table for 5 very quickly on a Friday night. Big Plus. Had a very solid pizza. Nice roomy restaurant. All of our food was good. Comparing I would but Giordano's, Gino's East, & Uno's ahead in the pizza category but you will have a much longer wait at the other locations on a fFriday night. Pizza wasn't bad we thought their sauce lacked a little zest. Our Deep Dish sauce a bit bland compared to the others. Still good. Friendly waiter always a plus. We were not rushed to get in and out on a Friday which was great.
(4)
Jackie K.

To start, I really dislike deep dish pizza and my four stars does not mean that I like it now but the ingredients were very fresh and delicious. The family size salad is huge and bare bones but good. I only had time for one deep dish pizza place and we chose this place and was happy with the service. Also, you can call ahead and order your pizza and have it served to you when you get there. We were trying to catch a flight so they had our pizza ready to go so we didn't have to wait a half an hour for the pizza. We also sat in a patio area that was half outside which was great.
(4)
Peggy S.

We were in Chicago for the week and it was so good we stopped in three times! First evening we tried it for dinner, it was busy but definitely worth the wait! The pizza has this amazing butter crust, filled with cheese and a delicious sauce! Soooo YUMMY!!! Second night we stopped in a little after 10. Started with the chocolate chip pizza cookie & an Italian margarita... SO GOOD!!! We decided we needed a pizza to take back to the hotel, too. So good, we had to go back on our last night for one final pizza cookie! Considered taking a frozen pizza home with us, but didn't know how it would fare on the 10 hour trip home. HIGHLY recommended!!! Delicious and excellent service for a great price!!!
(5)
Johnny P.

So damn delicious! went with friends here and had our pizza with spinach, pepperoni, extra cheese and crust well done! (Yes we went with locals to show us how to do it right!) Best damn pizza I have ever had! And I LOVE PIZZA! The are spectacular! Order them dry with the sauces on the side. Crispy, not greasy and lots of flavor! Definitely coming back and recommending to others! Thanks Lou!
(5)
Greg C.

After having Giordano's our first day in Chicago we were certain it was our favorite... Hold the phone... Lou Malnati's has topped them all today! Other than a short mid-afternoon wait, after calling ahead and being told there was no wait, we experienced a great overall value and would recommend this location at Gold Coast. The pizza was excellent, salad to kick things off was equally fresh, and, to top the day off, we had the baked cookie for two with vanilla bean and whip! Service was awesome and the atmosphere was friendly, warm, and very enjoyable!
(5)
joseph g.

Had the classic and the buttery deep dish crust was amazing. The service was also fantastic. Get there early or be ready to wait.
(5)
A Q.

Horrible service. This was going to be or last meal in Chicago and we were really looking forward to it. The place was about 10% full but the hostess tried to seat us at a high top in the bar with backless stools. Not going to work. I asked to be seated at a both our a banquette and she said no! She sat us at another table squeezed in between other table with young children and metal chairs. Unfortunately that's wasn't going to work for my back either. She refused too seat us at any of the 20 our so tables that would have worked for us, so we reluctantly left. She yelled after us to have a good day as we left. Disappointing. Uno's and Giordanos were both great and the service was much better than Lou's, even when Giordanos was slammed.
(1)
Ang L.

I would give this place 3.5 but their excellent service makes it a 4. I've tried the Lou, thin crust veggie and the classic. They were all tasty but I personally thought the crust was hard.My favorite was the Lou - good amount of veggies not overcooked or hard but just right and mixed in well with the right amount of sauce and cheese. Service was EXCELLENT. I still prefer NY pizza. :P
(4)
Elaine L.

We'd intended to eat at Giordano's, but after encountering the weekend afternoon wait time of 90 minutes and come-back-in-45-to-preorder-your-pizza spiel, we opted to walk up the street and see what else we came across. Wandering into Lou Malnati's, we found seats at the bar and ordered up some food and drink from our friendly bartender. Half an hour or so later, our deep dish was ready (starters and beer came much earlier). Dang, Chicago - you are the deepest and the dishiest - this may be the first time in my life I've been conquered by one slice of pizza. Definitely forkworthy! We enjoyed our pepperoni, sausage and olive pizza along with some Metropolitan Dynamo. Of course there was (at least one) game on, but it was still calm enough to hold a conversation while we lingered over a late lunch, taking our leftover pizza along to revisit later. Thanks, Lou Malnati's, for having space for us at the bar, for not being a weekend circus, and for serving up some damn fine pizza. I'd love to come back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Steven F.

Visited Chicago for the first time and tried 4 different deep dish spots. This one was for sure the best one. The "Lou Malnati's Chicago Classic" was pretty fantastic, esp with the butter crust. That thing put me into food coma immediately after.
(4)
Chris R.

This location is a great place to hang, watch a game and have some beers with friends and colleagues. I have tried every pizza place in Chicago and I keep coming to this spot every time i visit. Doesn't hurt that my old friend and native Chicagoan Capt. Jack from the Chi-town Fire Dept took me to a Malnati's for my first visit back in 2005. I get a pie every time I can while in town.
(4)
Brad J.

Worth the wait for a seat outside. The pizza was highly recommended and did not disappoint! Get the classic. A medium would have fed the four of us since we could not take the left over.
(5)
Francine G.

You can't visit Chicago and not get a deep dish pizza! I was very glad that my co-workers was craving for some deep dish pizza and since we never have been to Chicago we asked our co-workers which spot they would recommend. They mentioned Lou Malnati's. Oh my was it delicious! We each ordered our own individual deep dish pizza and each an appetizer to share. I ordered the Lou's deep dish which came with tomatoes and mushroom. I also ordered the wings. The pizza was really delicious and the wings were just amazing. It is a total must try! As for the service, our server was very friendly and was on point with the refill of our drinks. I would definitely recommend this place if your looking to hang out and have a few drinks and craving for some delicious food.
(4)
Ryan C.

Gregg Claggett has been our server 3 times and each time he tops the last time in service and anticipated our every need. I always recommend him to my friends and family. Don't let that guy go!
(5)
Tony T.

Never Disappoints! For me, the number one deep dish in Chicago! Salads are great too! Nice location and very friendly staff!
(5)
Tony S.

So for not accommodating at all I like all flats on my chicken wings they said they r portioned already and they couldn't do it . I have 4 restaurants and I try to accommodate All my patrons ! Manager name is ( Amit ) I'll let u no how it goes!
(2)
Lim K.

My husband was in a mood for Chicago deep dish pizza so we decided to go to Lou Malnati's for the first time. I was very impressed with the dining area. Nice Christmas decorations and good atmosphere. Started off with fried calamari which was a little greasy but tasty. We ordered a classic with sausage and a side of anchovies. I ordered a house salad for myself. My husband liked the pizza; however, it was not the kind of pizza I like. I like pizza with very little tomato sauce and with soft crust. Anchovies were very fishy. I squeezed lemon juice on top but it did not help. The salad was good. Our server was very friendly and attentive.
(3)
James V.

THE BEST PIZZA I HAVE EVER HAD! Never had anything like it. Crisp deep dish, layered by soft dough, topped with cheese, the best damn sausage, and the freshest most flavorful chunky tomato sauce I have EVER had. I love it. I recommend Lou's to everyone and anyone when talking about pizza, anyone traveling to Chicago, and did I say everyone? I had a salad, damn good too! I wish I still had Chicago as a region at work so I can come back for a pizza, great beverage, and a side of that delicious salad!
(5)
Lielen d.

Having never been to Chicago obviously the search for the city's best deep dish was on the trip itinerary. There are great debates as to who reigns supreme in the pizza pie realm out here in the Windy City. You'll have people cluck about the big 3 -- Gino's East, Giordano's, and Lou Malnati's. My friend, Kyle M. (or The Doctor as we all like to call him), says that no one's got anything on LOU!! We went halvies on a large of the Lou (vegetarian) and I believe the Malnati Chicago Classic. I'll be honest, and I almost fear being this honest but...I wasn't wowed. Maybe I don't know what makes a Chicago deep dish a CHICAGO deep dish but I've had some pretty good deep dish in San Francisco. I never was a deep dish fan until Paxti's. So when I dove into my first slice of Lou's I was left wanting more. I think the one thing I did really like about Lou's was the crust. It didn't get soggy, in fact, it was pretty crispy with a light buttery taste. Next trip out, gotta try the others. Until then, this place stays at a 3 out of 5. Sorry bout it, Doc.
(3)
Logan A.

Best pizza in the country...
(5)
Eric K.

Best pizza, best service, best staff! Highly recommend!
(5)
Amy L.

Great deep dish pizza, right amount of sauce, right amount of meat. Crispy buttery crust. Like how they keep the ingredients simple. Everything was delicious, even when I reheated the leftovers the next day! The cheese was incredibly stretchy like they way it should be. Didn't leave me thirsty for water...I would have another slice at a heart beat if I had the stomach for it.
(5)
Natalie L.

Lou Malnati's is my favorite of the chain deep dish places (I'm not a huge fan of deep dish so take that for what it's worth). I've been to this location twice and, while I probably liked it better as an Anthropologie, both times were with large groups and they have always been very accommodating and provide good service. Also, the baked cookie ice cream thing is such a guilty pleasure...
(4)
Lisa Z.

I'm sure you've heard legends of their deep dish pizza...the one with a FULL LAYER of SAUSAGE. That's right. You won't know the glory until you've tried it. This stuff is pretty awesome when it comes to classic deep dish in Chicago. Their thin crust pizza is pretty good too, but the deep dish is where it's at. What's more, the cookie dessert. It's so good. They cook a cookie to hot perfection in a pizza dish and top it with ice cream. Lots of places do this, but no one does it as hot and perfect as this place. Boy do I love it. I just can't eat it as often as I'd like!
(5)
Cassie V.

I'm going against my family on this one, but Lou's is my favorite Chicago deep dish. The favors are fresher than most other pies,which cuts that grease that some people don't like about the deep dish. The crust is crisp with a little cornmeal, so it bridges the gap between the other deep dish legends. Its the best!
(4)
Julie Y.

Once again, I find myself humbled and speechless. I'm almost ashamed that I profess to love pizza and yet I've never had the chance to eat a deep dish pizza slice until now. And if I might channel my inner meme spirit: ermahgerd ah ruv! Ish sho derishious! (Omgod I LOVE. It's so delicious!) Why Lou Malnati deserves a 4 star rating: 1. My mother is a person who's palate is much harder to please than my own. She had an unfortunate experience with deep dish pizza the last time she was in Chicago, but after one bite off Lou Malnati's pie, she became an avid fan. And she hates cheese so double the props to Lou~! 2. Quoting my brother on this, but on whim, he said that "the x-factor to a good deep dish pizza is the crust". And indeed, I would have to concur. That crust was so addicting! Crunchy and crisp on the outside, doughy chewy goodness on the inside. nom! 3. Taste : outstanding! We ordered the classic Lou Malnati pizza with sausage and my goodness-- so yummy and filling! I was afraid at first that it would be overwhelmingly cheesy, meaty, oily, and heart-cloggingly unhealthy, but that wasn't the case! The sausage was juicy and savory; it gave a nice meatiness to the dish. The tomato sauce was all-around delicious as well-- I'm not sure what they did with them tomatoes but there was a nice robustness to the sauce. The first thing that popped into my head after the first bite was "Yum. The taste of classic". And despite the amount of cheese I'm sure was invested into the pizza, my stomach didn't feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed at the end of the meal. Instead, I was quite content! :) 4. Service: quick and efficient. Thankfully we came in just before the wait time for securing a table got long so yay! And yes you have to invest another 20 -30 min for the pizza to be made and cooked but when it comes out, you'll be glad you waited! Verdict: the pizza was just plain delicious. Things to note: 1. order a salad if you are super hungry! Family Size portion was perfect to share among five people. 2. not a fan of pizza? try out the spaghetti with meatballs -- something about Lou Malnati's treatment of tomatoes, but that sauce is just magic. Yummy in my tummy! (or well, it was for my dad's tummy keke) happy chow~ can't wait to come back to Chicago to try this pizza again!
(4)
terri r.

Not all that great! But is any Chicago pizza all that great? But do yourself a favor, never ever get the thin crust here. The deep dish is much better. No offense to all the Lou lovers, but the pizza is just ok.
(2)
Marlon M.

Very good pizza. Highly impressed with the service and food. Unique pizzas and the people were very friendly.
(4)
Shradha A.

this location has a really cool private party space that i'm looking forward to utilizing soon.
(4)
Maria Cristina G.

Best deep dish Chicago pizza style so far. The place is cozy and nice. Cons: a little chaotic with a lot of people.
(4)
Jason P.

When you come to Chicago, Lou Malnati's is one of those pizza joints that everyone talks about. With its 30+ locations, you're bound to cross paths with one of their locations. And if you do, drop by and try a pizza to see what all the buzz is about. We were originally going to go to the 439 N Wells St. location, but decided to check out their newest location that had opened this year because of its much larger size. We were told that the place can get quite crowded later in the evening, so we decided to grab an early dinner just before 5:00 PM. The place was only about half to three-quarters occupied, so we were quickly seated at a table by the bar. From the outside, you would have never imagined what is inside, because it appears to be a large modern brick building. The ambiance of the restaurant is one that you don't mind spending some time in. It's a bit rustic, almost barn-like, with the exposed wooden beams, wooden tables, and catchy 70's turquoise blue bench chairs by the bar. The bar area is very large, with 18 metal bar stools, and a nice display of wine and spirits categorized among different shelves. If the whole rustic thing isn't your scene, you can grab a seat near the front that opens up completely and is partially outdoors to let in the fresh air. Since our party of 3 had come for an early dinner, we weren't looking to eat big. We decided to order The Malnati Chicago Classic (12" Medium, serves 3 - $17.40) at 5:00 PM. Our waitress informed us it would take about 30 minutes, which we became accustomed to after visiting other deep dish pizzerias in Chicago. Lou Malnati's has sort of earned a reputation of being legendary for its deep dish pizza with their lean sausage, cheese, and vine-ripened tomato sauce on their famous authentic Buttercrust. To that end, we waited patiently until our pizza was brought out at 5:40 PM. At first, it sort of resembled a Gino's East deep dish pizza, presented in a black pan dish, with signs of crust on the side and bright red tomato all over the top. But after taking a bite, it was nothing like a Gino's East pizza. The sweet and tartness from the tomato complimented perfectly with the ever so subtle saltiness of the sausage. At times, the sausage reminded me of some sort of seafood, salt walter, clam brine. No one else agreed with me, but it had this very distinct salt water brine taste, in a good way. It was a delightful pizza that was very enjoyable. My only gripe was the much talked about Buttercrust. I was not able to taste the butteriness of the crust that I was expecting. It was good, firm and crunchy in texture, but it did not wow me flavor wise. But putting it all together, Lou Malnati's made one delicious pizza that I could really appreciate and come back for, time and time again. Table service was exceptional. Despite that our party had only ordered a deep dish pizza, our waitress was more than attentive, consistently checking up on us numerous times and refilling our drinks with a charismatic personality. With the ambiance, fairly reasonable price, good eats, and friendly staff, this is a place you might find yourself as a regular. The pizza will not knock you off your feet, but you will find yourself fairly satisfied. I think if they mixed the toppings from Gino's East Meaty Legend, without going overboard in saltiness, and complimenting that with their Buttercrust, they would have one superb pizza.
(3)
Ray D.

Good pizza but not amazing. I like the buttery crust. The marinara sauce gets old after 2 pieces. It's just too much and too thick. With that being said it's top 20 in Chicago.
(3)
Brian R.

I'm still not a huge fan of deep dish Chicago style pizza, but if you're going to order the boggy pan of cheese topped with sauce, there are probably no better practitioners of the Everglades in a pan than Lou Malnati and Co. Cheese is cheese, so the crust and the sauce are the keystones. The restaurant ambience was nice. We sat on the patio on a warm July day, but it was relatively cool and comfortable. Service was excellent and the rest of the menu looked like it was worth trying on another Chicago trip.
(5)
Hayley N.

Favorite spot in all of chicago!! The pizza is incredible and dont even get me started on the Malnati's salad. I crave it everyday! I LOOOVE the thin crust pizza here because it is just like the deep dish crust, but a bit thinner. When you arent too hungry, this is the perfect meal to hit that pizza spot.
(5)
Christina N.

Lou Malnati's, you made me give Chicago pizza another chance. This is my second time trying Chicago pizza, My first taste was at Gino's East. Horrible experience there -- long wait and it was way too bready/tough to eat. I hated it and told myself I'd never eat it again. So after hearing so many good things about Lou Malnati's and that it will change my opinion on chicago pizza, I decided to give it a try. Overall, it was pretty tasty. I loved the crust more than anything so crispy/crunchy. I didn't get tired of eating it. We went with the Chicago Classic deep dish. Good stuff. I could only eat a slice and a half but it was really good. Tip: Order the MALNATI SALAD. That was FREAKIN GOOD. If I had to choose, I'd get the salad again over the pizza. The sweet dressing was down right amazing. ^ Malnati Salad Romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, black olives, sliced mushrooms, crumbled Volpi salami and gorgonzola cheese. Tossed with Lou's famous dressing with a touch of romano cheese.
(4)
Alexis M.

Love at first bite. I've had Lou Malnati's only once, but I am completely obsessed. Please open one in NYC, otherwise I just might have to move to Chicago...
(5)
Johanna G.

Great food, lovely service. The butter crust takes some time to prepare. The wine list includes some standouts. A few times the servers have confused my order and gone to extraordinary lengths to make up for it.
(5)
Juliana R.

I have to update and lower my rating. What is going on here?!! We called in an order and were on the phone for 20min REPEATING our order. REALLY?! I don't get it.
(2)
Whitney W.

I took my best friend here last night for her birthday. There was no unreasonable waiting time for our food, we were seated immediately, and our waiter Bobby was amazing! This is the best location because you can go out for drinks right around the corner, or stay at the restaurant and have a good time. Very trendy, cute setting. Love it!
(5)
Bill S.

Pizza was mediocre, drinks were mediocre, order accuracy was close, and the service was pretty good. It is nice that they will take your order while you're waiting for a table. It helps buffer the long wait times. The pricing was surprisingly reasonable given the location and popularity. Given the number of great pizzerias in Chicago, I'd leave this one for the tourists.
(2)
Kate B.

Multiple friends & coworkers recommended I visit Lou Malnati's upon my visit to Chicago. When a hotel concierge told me the same, I decided it was fate. My mom, boyfriend & I headed to Lou Malnati's Gold Coast location, where the wait was about 25 minutes. We put our name in, & settled in for the wait. The women working at the to-go counter were kind enough to offer me tap water when I asked to buy a bottle of water to quench my thirst during my wait. They even refilled it for me twice while I waited! A few minutes later, one of them came out with two thin-crust pizzas, one sausage & one cheese, to offer us as a thanks for dining there & as an apology for waiting. They gave us three small pieces each - YUM! We were also informed that we could pre-order our pizza so it'd be closer to being ready when we were finally seated. We placed an order for deep dish classic with sausage. We were seated within the 25-minute window, & our servers were attentive & friendly; one was training, so another followed her around to be sure she was on the ball, which we felt she was. Our pizza came out so quickly that they actually apologized for how speedily we received it! It beat our bruschetta appetizer to the table. I am IN LOVE with Chicago deep-dish pizza. Why can't I get this in New Hampshire? I only wish my stomach were a bottomless pit so I could've finished the entire massive pie. I want to go back!
(5)
Lorrie J.

I visited the restaurant with 10 family members on a saturday evening. The problem is that when I called ahead to make reservations...I was told they don't take reservations. Needless to say we had to wait 40 minutes to be seated. I would like to say that the food made the wait worth it but I just can't. We ordered deep dish pizza, thin crust pizza and an assortment of appitzers. The pizza was just okay...there was nothing special about it...I've had better take out pizza. I just think this restaurant is so overated due to it's name and noterity. I also feel bad because I dont think my family enjoyed the food either. I would not go back.
(1)
Jason F.

We went here Saturday night, and there was a 45 minute wait. normally i don't wait for food, but being from out of town and hearing this place was the best, i had to try it. i was not disappointed at all, we got a large deep dish pepperoni, incredible. buttery crust, the cheese was perfect, as was the sauce and pepperoni. service was pretty good as well, definitely coming back!
(5)
Lan N.

This was my first meal evar in Chicago. There were so many pizza places to choose from that it seemed like I couldn't go wrong with any of them. I asked the hotel concierge what his favorite was and he, without hesitation, said Lou Malnati's. It was like a 5 minute walk so I made the trek down rush street and landed at Lou's. Ambiance is like a sports bar. They sat us at a communal table in the bar area. There were a bunch of TVs playing mostly baseball and some hockey. My wife and I ordered some stuffed spinach bread for appetizer and shared a small 9 inch pizza. We got their two most popular. The "Lou" and the "Malnati Chicago Classic" with the buttercrust. Stuffed spinach bread was pretty good. It's almost like a spinach pizza on top of garlic bread. Good way to start off in Chicago. Then came the real deal. The deep dish pizza. I've had deep dish in California but was super excited to try the real thing. Not quite as bold as I was imagining, but it was good. The buttercrust was something totally different. Cornmeal like crust and buttery flavor. It was almost pie crust like. Pizza takes like 40 minutes to bake, so be prepared for that. Overall great first taste of Chicago.
(4)
Veronica F.

The BEST CHICAGO DEEP DISH I HAVE TRIED TO DATE!!! Let me start by saying the Italian Margarita is grrrrrrreat! I started with a house salad with the sweet vingarette dressing. It was good and fresh. I shared a 9" Signature Chicago Pizza with a friend. Believe it or not! The four slices defeated us. We each could only eat one slice, after having an appetizer each. My only sadness was that the salad components (tomatoes and cucumbers) were chopped a bit smaller than needed to be to pick up with my fork.
(5)
Nellie K.

Lou Malnati's is the best deep dish pizza in Chicago, and the greatest pizza in the world- very few pizzas compare, or can even be mentioned in the same sentence. This is their new flagship location located in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. Their new location is the culmination of all their success and hard work over the last 40 years. As usual, they did not disappoint on any level. A couple of former Chicagoans were back in town for a visit with their kids, and the first meal of their vacation had to be Lou Malnati's. No matter where we as Chicagoans go in America, we always come home to our classic pizza, and nobody does it better than Lou Malnati's in terms of deep dish pizza. And for out of towners looking for true, authentic Chicago style deep dish pizza, I'm from here- I've had them all. Nothing beats Lou Malnati's in terms of a classic and simple cheese and sausage deep dish pizza. If you were to actually try the other places (i.e. Pizzeria Uno/Due, Pizano's, Gino's East, Burt's Place in Morton Grove, Pequod's, Art of Pizza, etc.) side by side, you will quickly discover what I, and entire generations of Chicagoans, realized a long time ago- Lou Malnati's is the best when it comes to the simple deep dish cheese and sausage, and then there is everybody else. For starters, Lou's House Salad with their housemade creamy lemon garlic salad dressing is always the perfect way to get a good evening with friends and family off to a great start. Mission accomplished. For dinner, nothing beats a classic deep dish pizza with sausage and buttercrust. Lou's fresh garlic sausage from Peoria Meat Packing was perfectly seasoned as always, with some cracked black pepper, and very heavy on the garlic. It's applied evenly all over the pizza which creates a sausage in every bite dream come true. It's also very lean- between 80 and 90%. While pepperoni may be the number #1 topping in the rest of America, sausage is king in Chicago, and Lou's fresh garlic sausage is definitely one of the best representations of pizza sausage in Chicago. Lou's famed buttercrust was perfectly flakey, crisp and, most importantly, buttery- very buttery. Lou's use of REAL butter in his buttercrust is how he separated himself from his father's (Rudy Malnati, Sr.) original crust recipe at Pizzeria Uno/Due. Whereas Uno's and Due rely more heavily on corn oil and olive oil in their crust recipe, Lou opted for butter, and the rest is, as they say, history. And history has never tasted so good in terms of a pizza crust. There's only one pizza crust that can even compare to Lou Malnati's in Chicago, and that's Pizano's which is owned by Lou's much younger brother, Rudy Malnati, Jr. But even Pizano's can't touch Lou Malnati's famed buttercrust. But what really separates Lou Malnati's from everybody else are Lou's tomatoes. The Malnati's tomatoes are a masterpiece in and of itself. They are perfectly vine-ripened, with the perfect blend of sweetness and tanginess. You'd almost think they use wine it's so good. And if you'd like, you can dip the pizza in Lou's above mentioned housemade creamy lemon garlic dressing as many regular Lou's fans do for the true garlic explosion. Perfection in every way. And the deep dish chocolate chip cookie dessert with ice cream and whipped cream, baked in the deep dish pizza pan, is still the best way to end an evening, particularly if your kids are in tow. The service was exceptional as always, and the setting couldn't be any better. There are several large screen liquid crystal t.v.'s with whatever Chicago's sports teams are playing at that moment, especially the Cubs, the Bears, and the Blackhawks. This is the perfect Lou Malnati's for watching sports with friends and family, and eating pizza- world class pizza. They also have a really nice outdoor eating area if the weather is right. Beautiful seating arrangements, too. BOTTOM LINE: Lou Malnati's still makes the best classic deep dish sausage pizza in America. Lou's is still the gold standard for the simple cheese and sausage deep dish pizza, and their new flagship location represents everything that is right about Lou Malnati's and living in the greatest pizza city in the world- Chicago. I've had a lot of great pizza in this city, but Lou Malnati's is the quintessential Chicago deep dish pizza. It's what other pizzas strive to be. It's what pizza should be in every imaginable way. PERFECTION in its' simplicity.
(5)
Michael O.

My favorite Chicago pizza.
(5)
Andrew W.

Love it... favorite pizza in Chicago. I know it is a "chain" per say but it is unbelievably good. I convert at least one person to deep dish every time I go.
(5)
Sheri T.

The pizza and service were excellent. Bobby and tabitha was our server and was very attentive. My first time here but not my last.
(5)
Karen M.

The first and last time I had deep dish pizza was wayyyy back in 2001 when I was in grad school. That experience was so memorably delicious that I have mentioned it in conversations ever since. When will I have that again? Well, it's only been a few weeks and happily, Lou Malnati's did not disappoint. I know that there are those who pooh-pooh Lou's, claiming that it's not legit because it's a chain....blah blah blah...but my time in the Windy City was extremely limited (6 hours! We drove in from a tiny town 2 hours away and had to be back by early evening for my recital that night!) and I just wanted a good representation of deep dish pizza. Lou's sufficed. My pizza was deep and cheesy and saucy and hot and butter crusty! How can you NOT like that? My friends devoured their respective dishes with matching enthusiasm and after we ate as much as we could, we all sighed and declared ourselves sufficiently satisfied. I just hope I don't have to wait 12 more years until my next deep dish date!
(4)
R K.

So shortly after I submitted my review of Lou's on State I received a message from Lou's customer service Meghan stating to please give my number because the District Manager would like to call me and talk to me about my experience. Well it's been over a week now and nothing. I didn't expect them to even respond to my post but it was an instant response. Seems like it was more of a automatic response with no meaning behind it. I took the time to write an honest post of which I wasn't even as detailed as I should have been. Then even took the time to log in to give them my phone number and got nothing. Such a disappointment considering we are LM fans. Maybe it's time to check out some of the other places that offer similar pizza's Don't bother replying to this post cause you blew your chance!
(1)
Kathleen A.

Excellent. Get sausage pizza. Enough said.
(4)
Eliza W.

As tourists, my husband & I knew we must have deep dish at least once while in Chicago. We asked a few locals for the best spot, and Lou's was the obvious answer. We got the "Lou" and it was incredible- I never wanted it to end! My mouth is legit watering at the thought of the gooey cheese. We also got the spinach bread as an appetizer (you have to wait at least 30 minutes for the pizza to cook) and it was to die for- I definitely could have made a meal of just that. The service was wonderful, as well. Our hostess & server were both very knowledgeable, friendly, & accommodating. Loved the decor, too. The exposed brick and the glass "openness" of it made for such a pleasant dining experience. If I am ever in Chicago again, this will most certainly be my first stop!
(5)
Jay P.

I thought that the quality of the pizza was pretty good. It was nice to make a visit to my old Gold Coast neighborhood, especially because it was a weekday and other areas can be dead on weekdays. I'm not sure if it's because I've grown up with the Chicago-style pizza or what, but I didn't leave the place thinking that it was the best I've ever had. This is a very solid location that will give you a good selection of toppings and good service. It's nice to not be rushed. It's also great to have individual options. A few places in the city are bad about allowing you to have an affordable personal pan. There were definitely some jerks who were way too obsessed with the game. The place is spacious enough that it didn't get in the way of having good conversation. I'd recommend Lou Malnati's if you're in the area and don't want to spend a fortune at some other locations on the same block. If you've never had Chicago-style deep dish, try it out here. If you want an awesome thin crust slice, I'd recommend a hole in the wall to-go place in the surrounding area.
(4)
Morenike K.

Not interesting at all. I was mislead into believing this pizza was one of the best in the city, but then I realized that there are at least 100 other places that'd go to before I come here again. I'd come again for the cheap drinks and nice space, but not the food
(2)
Joshua G.

I had done my obligated deep dish pizza while I was in Chicago years ago and honestly I wasn't impressed I felt that the bread was too much and that just ruined the pie. (this was UNO's by the way) We decided to give it another go this visit and boy I'm glad we did. Lou Malnati's history is actually stems from Uno's as the owners actually worked there for years and when they realized there was no more room to go up the corporate ladder they started their own shop. I'm so glad they did. The crust on their pizza is what was my favorite and the sauce isn't really a sauce it's just crushed tomatoes on top of this glory. You can tell they use real butter with the crust because it has the golden crunch you can only get from good butter. I'm craving it already and recommend here more than other deep dish places.
(4)
Joan A.

Solid Chicago deep dish pizza! This is a great location - food is spot on and service is good. If you're not from around here just know that deep dish does normally take a while (~45 min) to prepare. This place does big groups, but be sure to make reservations!
(4)
Denise S.

Oh where do I begin. This was my first trip to Chicago and wanted some good pizza. Boy did we find it here. We were staying at a hotel nearby and "yelped" pizza and directed here as the closest place. Yay for yelp! Yes it was a wait and this place was packed! Hardly any standing room. We ordered take out and the pizza was ready at the time they said it would be. Ordered a deep dish pepperoni, kept it simple. Oh my oh my how I wish I could bite into one right now. It was divine. Like tiny bites of cheese heaven. The butter crust was crunchy and wonderful. I will go back if I'm ever in town again and I will have to order a shipment to LA because I'm hooked.
(5)
K B.

Although I've been to Lou Malnati's before and I've had a pleasant experience before, speaking with the group sales lady (starts with a "D") today was about as unpleasant as I can imagine. So, I took my party of 12 and $600-$800 down the street to Gino's location at 500 N. LaSalle. No thank you, with that type of attitude and service.
(2)
Jack W.

This place continues to be my very favorite pizza in town, and 1120 N State my favorite location for bringing out of town guests. In addition to great food, it has a party atmosphere with a large bar and large screen TVs usually tuned to sporting events. I go for their classic with the butter crust, extra cheese, sausage, and pepperoni.
(5)
Allan P.

The classic sausage pizza is consistent and the service is really outstanding. This is not my first pizza from Lou Malnati's, and it won't be my last!
(5)
Rene F.

Great time at this new location. The restaurant I think is well designed tailored to the customers with a variety of sitting areas. I love the Malnati salad, we also ordered the calamari, lasagna, and of course for pizza the Chicago Classic. Courteous service and good food, definitely have to come back next time we are in town.
(4)
Nadeem P.

So I recently moved to Chicago, and after having tried a few deep dish spots starting with the letter G, I could honestly say deep dish pizza wasn't for me. I was ready to swear it off, hell there's no real reason to eat something so heavy, dense, and bad for you, until at the urging of my wife I we decided to try Lou Malnati's. One word, WOW! This place does Chicago deep dish justice, and made me rethink my whole game plan to swear it off. If I could I would eat Lou Malnati's at least once a week from here on out, that is if I was ready to shave a few years off my life span, which I'm not. We ordered, the deluxe, which was not on the menu. It had a great mix of veggies and meats, and a large fed our party of 4 VERY comfortably. The toppings and cheese blended together perfectly, with the crust bringing it home. In all it was the best deep dish pizza I've even had and I will be coming back, many more times...
(5)
Rebecca Z.

I had my first Chicago deep dish pizza and I LOVED it! My bf and I shared a salad and a small deep dish pizza. I could only eat one slice and saved the other slice for a midnight snack. The decor was also very cool. Wish they had a place back in my hometown of philly.
(5)
Manncel W.

Ahh yes!! Just ordered that fresh Lou mal's!! Most definitely the best deep dish in chi town!!
(2)
Justin P.

Lou Malnati's is the place to go for authentic Chicago deep dish pizza! The location was great, the food was delectable, and the service was top-notch. I am currently living in southern California, but originally am from Chicago so when I went back to visit for a week, I knew I had to stop by Lou Malnati's for a slice of their deep dish pizza. I definitely would recommend ordering an appetizer and/or salad because it does take some time to cook, but I assure you that the wait is worth it!
(5)
Jennie C.

Of all the deep dish pizza places, Lou Malnati's is still my favorite. Love how they use tomato slices instead of heavy layer of tomato sauce on their pizza. Most recent time I went, tried the chicken parmesan sandwich. Had to doggy-bag 1/2 of it, but was glad the chicken breast was moist and tender.
(4)
Cryetti C.

I was visiting Chicago for the first time and had to have the deep dish pizza. Lou Malnati's did not disappoint! It was huge and delicious! I went here with a food tour and we were given one slice. I honestly liked it so much I wanted to eat more. However, did not want to look like a total fatty. LOL. The pizza also came with their signature salad which was also very delicious.
(4)
Tommy M.

So glad to have a Lou's at this end of town, right in the heart of Rush Street restaurant madness. On perfect nights (like tonight) they open the big windows (garage doors) and the fresh air feels great. Glad they kept the grand wooden doors from the Anthropologie that used to be at this location. Oh, and the pizza beats the competition! The deep dish is not so deep as Gino's East and I like it Lou's way that is also more generous with the mozzarella. The house salad is perfect.
(4)
Matt H.

THANK YOU FELLOW YELPERS!!!!!!!!! This place was awesome .... yes awesome. Be prepared to wait about 25 minutes for your pizza, but it's worth it. We had the buffalo wings (spicy) as an appetizer. They very good, but not cheap. You get 9 wings for $9. Yikes. The table next to us ordered a salad. It looked amazing, but large. I think all the salads are 'family style' so keep that in mind. We split a small Lou deep dish (sausage). Very, very good. We actually liked it more than Pizano's a few days earlier. The pizza was just cooked perfectly and tasted sooooooooo good. Give this place a try, it' worth it.
(5)
Eugene B.

Awesome pizza for deep dish style (New Yorker here), deffinately try LOU'S CLASSIC, with sausage...but skip the fried cheddar cheese cubes. Cheddar should NOT be battered and fried.
(4)
Jared H.

Went to Chicago and I had to try deep dish pizza. Went here as I heard it was the best. We had a half sausage, half cheese deep dish. It was very good. If you get sausage, let it be know it is an entire layer of sausage, not just a topping. It was good
(4)
Josh B.

Bland, uninteresting pizza and stale crust. There's a reason why Malnati's often has tables available. I've had better Chicago Pizza in San Francisco. UPDATE 9/20/2011: I'm not changing my rating, but I thought folks should know that someone from Malnati's contacted me about my review. FWIW.
(2)
B D.

Fantastic real Chicago deep dish pizza. Great location, great food, and fantastic service, really a memorable visit.
(5)
Bonnie L.

Chicago styled pizza that's packed and full of great food. Easy to get to and great ambience. We got The "Malnati Chicago Classic" a vegetarian deep dish pizza and a combo appetizer platter. It was good. Can't go wrong with fried appetizers. My favorite was the mushrooms. It's not really anything different then you would get at other chain restaurants. The pizza's were good, the vegetarian tasted a little more canned tomato to me. All in all, if you are into mildly flavored pizza that has a good butter crust, this is a great place to go. Personally though, Giordanos has to be my hands down favorite between the two. Giordano's has bolder flavors that you can actually taste from ingredient to ingredient. The crust was also a lot more crisp and complementary to the great sausage pancake they layer in the middle. But that's just my personal opinion.
(3)
Paul G.

This location was pretty good. I must say I am more of a fan of NY style pizza, but when in Chicago, do like chicogogians? (my own term). They have a good bar with three large TV's for sports. The place was pretty lively. it takes 30-40 minutes to prepare your deep dish pizza so they take care in your food. The staff were very friendly and really nice. Very pleasant to interact with and were quite accommodating. The pizza itself was full of flavor and will fill you up. Pizza and beer, you really can't go wrong.
(4)
N.A. S.

How come this Lou Malnati location gets a lower rating than the other locations when it's BY FAR their best location? Let me explain... First it is in a former Anthropologie store, so it is spacious and has a nice wooden decor. Then, it is an awesome spot to watch a game with a long bar, a huge screen and plenty of side TVs... More important, the staff: Kevin is a great pro, and whether he is chatting with locals or giving advice to tourists, he makes everybody have a good time. He also managed to develop a following so during big playoff games, you can often see 2-3 regulars laughing together! Beyond this 5-star bartender, the staff is overall way better than other chains in general, and other Lous in particular. Eric, who is no longer there or Ashley are higher standards than you would expect in similar places. The managers also: Mike is a very nice person, making sure everything runs smoothly in the restaurant. Another manager, when important pieces of his staff were on vacation and the employees seemed overwhelmed, went behind the bar, fixed great cocktails and saved the day! As far as the food is concerned, it is of course the exact same as any other Lou, probably not the best but still one of the very best Chicago pizza. Now for the (few) cons, it is sometimes packed with tourists on Saturdays, which can make even this large restaurant too crowded to be comfortable, and a new (weird) policy of them decided that managers should have the remote controls, so instead of having what you ask for in seconds it sometimes takes a while and a few requests. Bottom line: One of the Chicago style pizza places to not miss in the city!
(4)
Don D.

Just not a big fan of the chicago deep dish type pizza. but that's what people from other parts of the world want when they come here. It all seems over priced but that's downtown for you and the wait has been a real pain every time I have been here again its downtown area......My suggestion would be go with a basic pizza over loading them with stuff just don't work at lou's and I personaly would stay away from the onion as they seem to just layer on a think layer and they don't cook well enugh to get ride of the raw onion flavor......they do have decent salads and it is a fun place to take friends if you don't mind the wait or price! Anyway I like other places enugh to avoid this one unless I am with frineds and they want it....
(2)
Robin K.

A little bit of a wait, but have to go for true Chicago deep dish pizza.
(3)
Diva D.

Fantastic! Their butter crust is the best! This location is super busy on weekend nights, but accommodated our very large group with ease. Parking is a bit tricky (there is a pay lot around the corner with limited parking spaces, but the attendants are prompt and polite--bring your ticket into Lou's for validation).
(5)
Meghan B.

I love Lou's and always like to take out of town guests out for a taste of Chicago's best deep dish. This Lou's on State street has the best ambiance for out of towners. The patio is fabulous! (with the exception that 2 beggers ask us for money while we were eating dinner!). My favorite menu items include, stuffy spinach bread, antipasto salad (medium is plenty big for sharing), the lou deep dish pizza and you can never skip the cookie pizza! it is absolutely out of this world!!!! My only complaint is in regards to the wait staff. While the host/hostess were very attentive, both time I have been here, my waiter has been far too scarce! There were multiple times when my drink was empty and he/she was no where to be found and then it took ages to get the check!
(4)
Elyse C.

So AMAZING possibly the best pizza ever! The large says it feeds four...it could feed 8...I cant eat more the one slice...I feel like im gonna burst. Got the Malnatis with Sausage and pepperoni and of course butter crust. YOu can order your pizza before you get there so you dont have to wait as long...you can also order while your waiting for your table. We got the app sampler which was good too your typical fried cheese and veggies...that was also good. I recommend taking out of towners here for the chicago piza experience. Well worth it...Im having guests this week...we will be back.
(5)
Matt F.

Pretty good deep dish, not too expensive either. Doesn't seem to be the most authentic, as far as I can tell. Like a touristy deep dish. But I was leaving the next day and was the only place still open. Its well kept inside and the bartender was nice.
(4)
Julie P.

I could write about the incredible pizza but there are already many accurate reviews. So ditto to all the other reviews. I would add that the service is also always great. Though tonight we hit the jack pot. Our waiter, Rodney, was helpful, professional and a great guy. Even though our party included one 67 year old and someone who is 16 and 6 other people of various ages, he managed to keep everyone happy, I live in the neighborhood and have always been happy with the wait staff. But this was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting Rodney.
(5)
Nick S.

This ish is bomb dot com yo! I got this swag ass spinach bread that made me get a mouth erection. The came some deep dish pizza son. And that shit erupted my mouth erection into a full on mouth orgasm. Make sure you butter up that crust for 75 cents yo. You'll thank me later.
(5)
Miguel C.

I asked a local about Gino's and he said, "I never go there, I would go to Lou Malnati's". I've never had a Chicago style pizza so I was just there to check this off my list. The place is in a nice area near some college buildings. The got the 9 inch classic and a blue moon. I don't know if I was because I was hungry or if it was just that good but I ate it all. Well, it was good..except for the corners were just a little burned. The service was friendly, no problems at all. I wished they had a bar and draft beer. Yes, it took a while, a long while but I was okay with that.
(4)
Y B.

My husband and I stopped in here for lunch today with our kids. We had only a small time frame so when we sat down to order, the first thing we said to our server Meghan was "What's quick on the menu because we only have short time span to eat." She recommended the lunch specials but didn't specify the time it would take to prep. So we order the small personal pizza and some meals for the kids. 35 mins later, no food except a order of salad. Fed up with waiting, and not been giving a time frame for food even though we had stated at the beginning that we were on a time crunch, we decided to leave and go to the host to pay for our salad. Our server then tells us to wait saying she's going to call the manager. She heads for the back in the kitchen. 5 mins later, she comes back out with all our food in boxes ready to go. WTH??? I ended up paying for my food to go. Not happy at all. Not ever going there again. **************************************************Â**************************** UPDATE! I posted a complaint to Lou Malnati's Gold coast website and within 2 hours I received a phone call from Lynn, the store manager herself. Lynn was apparently on site the whole time we were there whilst our server Meghan bypassed her on the way to the kitchen to get our food! Lynn was actually very concerned and very mortified for me that I'd actually paid to take my food home. I want to say that Lynn was very helpful in explaining to me the procedure for the deep dish pizza's creation time and that our server should have suggested something that was pre-made or already ready to go. She apologized for our bad experience. You know I felt like a mug having paid for food I didn't want but Lynn's concern about how I felt made me felt like I mattered to her even though hundreds pass through their doors everyday. The charges to our bankcard were reversed and she invited us back to meet her. One day, I'll stop by there again. Thanks Lynn, for showing me that you actually care.
(1)
Noah L.

The ambiance is great. Why does the pizza have no flavor?
(2)
Michael S.

They have restored my faith in them. Without notice, we revisited this location and the service was excellent. YAAYY!!
(5)
Marc C.

Got back to Chicago for a quick meeting and had to get my fix - there is none other than Lou Malnati's. I went to the new location and sat out with friends people watching and enjoying some of the best pizza known to man! Any trip to Chicago requires a stop at Lou's. I have always made Malnati's a stop (either to eat in, take out or bring back home No matter where I live in the country). I went to school with one of the brothers and they have kept their father's tradition alive. From the Cornmeal crust to the homemade sauces and meats. Chopped salad is awesome. Chicago deep dish - whether cheese, vegetable (get the spinach and mushrooms) or home made Italian sausage - Lou Malnati's is THE place.
(5)
Francesca D.

I had a very nice experience at Lou Malnati's. One of my friends that was visiting wanted a traditional deep dish Chicago pizza. Naturally, I'm going to take her to Lou Malnati's! We ordered the pepperoni deep dish with their famous butter crust and added some vegetables. The wait to get the pizza was around 25 minutes so if don't have a lot of time, don't come here. DUH. Our pizza came and it was sooo delish. The crust was excellent and the pizza was very cheesy. I also liked the sauce how it wasn't too thick like some other deep dish places. The chunks of tomato also gave a nice texture to the slice. I also ordered a blueberry vodka drink and it was extremely good. Please come here for deep dish :)
(5)
Mark K.

I'm a big Chicago pizza fan and was brought up on UNOs or Gino's during many a family trip to the city, I've got to say that this is my new favorite. The pizza is simply great. Location itself is nice and well done. The salad is a must try on the menu.
(5)
Thomas S.

Lou Malnatis always amazes me. This location is excellent. I went at 4 after the air and water show and was sat immediately. The location is great but that also works against them because the volume of people usually makes the wait long. Knowing this I went early and enjoyed myself.
(5)
Jeff M.

In my opinion, this is the best pizza in chicago (right next to Pizano's in terms of quality). The crust is crispy and my favorite part, for sure.
(4)
Darl B.

Let's get out of the way I was already a fan of Lou's. But also true is fact I dont give out stars easily. The lunch experience is not up to par with the big pizza experience which is good. Even frozen to take home Lou's is pretty good, btw. most frozen pizza from stores for instance hard to even chocke down. Lunch is okay but the smaller pies just dont come out the same and seem a small portion for yours portly (I'm actually not portly but I am looking for the funny click thrus). anyway, another disappointment was the salad like the malnati. kind of plain jane and the dressing that comes with is cloyingly sweet for sure. we ALL know the best salad is wildfire.. so why not rip them off a bit and use more of their ingredients... it's not like that combo of stuff is patented lol. There are better deep dishes in city (cough sound Gino's East cough sound two Nancy's Superosa) but Lou's is good and unique in the deep dish category. tomatoes and cheese not quite liek anyone else's. place looks great and service at this new one was friendly and fast with the lunch specials. they dont allow 1/2 stars but add it here, jsut about a 4.
(3)
Chanel W.

The food was great and so was our waiter, who was a former bartender. We had a great time in a good environment.
(4)
Oanh L.

they have the best Chicken Club Salad everrrrr and it is HUGE. share share share! My friend and I shared a Salad and a 9" pizza .. and we still had half the amount of food left over (might I add we came there starving) i won't say much about the pizza because I just dont think think im a big fan of deep dish. it has way too much mozzarella cheese and not enough sauce.
(4)
James P.

Waited in line for 45 minutes and had preordered the pizza. Get to the table and they say that its still another 20 minutes before the pizzas ready. At this point the waiter tells us that their credit card machine is down and thats its cash only or theyll manually take down your credit card number (very secure) and charge it later. Pizzas good but not worth the frustration.
(2)
Maria M.

Great service and really yummy pizza. Great tourist destination and it seems like a local fav as well.
(4)
Andrew H.

Thank you other reviewers We were in Chicago for conference and wanted Deep Dish Lou's was awesome There was a 40 min wait, but they recommended we order our pies so they were timed with our seating. Genius We had a beer Sat down, had the Malanti salad which was awesome Then got out pizzas A Speciality and Lou's. Both were awesome We also tried a Deluxe thin crust which was good too But the deep dish was truly special A true taste of Chicago
(5)
Alice W.

LOVED the Manalti Salad (I never eat Gorgonzola cheese but this salad was absolutely delish!) and the Manalti Chicago Classic! The prices were extremely reasonable!
(4)
Chau P.

So I was in town for a friend's wedding and the big get together for all of us out of towners was at Lou Malnati's, which I was assured was a good experience for Chicago style deep dish pizza. While I will be telling you how I felt about the food, I will say this review does not encompass the food at all, just the service (I try to review based on things that are not as subjective as taste). So with a party of approximately 20 people, it was expected that the wait would be long as the restaurant was very busy. So after about 2 hours of waiting (which is perfectly acceptable due to the size of the party), the host called us inside and said he'd be taking our orders first while they were clearing the tables and setting it up for us. So we order a fairly large amount of food, and then we wait for another 5-10 minutes to be seated. Once seated, we order appetizers and wait. And wait. And wait... it was approximately midnight (about 1 hour after we had placed our orders) before we got our food. And what a disaster the pizza was... so my girlfriend got the thin crust style pizza (she is not a deep dish person), and it was never delivered to her. For some reason, they refused to let us serve ourselves (I can understand that normally this is a fine option, but with a large party it makes more sense to place the pizza down and let us at it). So because of this, orders were misplaced and some of us never got our pizza. Of course this was brought up immediately, but the first server plopped down a slice of a pizza that wasn't ordered and walked away before anyone could say anything. So after about 30 minutes or so, the manager finally comes down to us and promises us the missing pizza will be ready in a few minutes as it is being rushed out. Well the pizza arrives at around 1AM (much past the "few minutes" we were told), and it arrives at closer to room temp than the temperature of something that came off of a hot pizza stone. So that is my 1 star, and I must also note that this is the first time that I've ever had cheese that was flavorless.
(1)
Carl S.

My Wife and I had tasted Lou Malnati's at the taste of Chicago and thought it tasted pretty good, we had also seen a special on TV about Lou Malnati's. So on 5-12-12 I decided to take my wife here for Mother's day it beat expectations our waitress Tisa was great, the food was top notch best pizza I've ever had! Whatever u do get the butter crust. The wings were very good as well! We will be back real soon!
(5)
V C.

I left with a great tasting pizza and a bittersweet after taste. As I was coming in who appeared to be an owner or big manager was scolding a Hispanic employee publicly. Since I had never been there, I started by asking some questions about the price of the gluten free pizza. Regrettably the waitress had not clue or sense to tell me she had no clue and basically pointed to one part random section of the menu as I pressed for the answer of where are the gluten free pizza prices. The bill was somewhat higher than what I had estimated. Well, after paying, and upon asking again, I got the correct response to my original question as to which section of the pizza should I look for the prices. Ordering pick up next time. Good for large groups.
(3)
Georgiana T.

this is where you want to go for the Chicago deep dish Pizza, but be ware of the time you visit . I don't know if they take reservations ,they should be, I've been waited for a table many times.
(3)
Jessica B.

My boyfriend and I were staying at the Monaco Kimpton Chicago Hotel in order to be close to the Lollapalooza Concert at Grant Park. Well this was our first time being in Chicago, and we did not want to end this trip without having a traditional Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. The second night at the hotel, we asked the front desk clerk where to order from and he said Lou Malnati's, but that night my boyfriend did not want deep dish, he wanted mediterranean/greek style. So Chicago's is the place to go for that. But, on our last day we looked for HOURS for a place for deep dish, we had to borrow a map from a stranger on the street, and ask random people for their opinions. Two people said this place, one said Giordino, BLAH! by the way, fake cheap pasta salad says it all! Anyway, we finally found this place, waited 35-40 minutes for our individual personal pizzas, because originally by boyfriend wanted to try by the slice, which is impossible for deep dish. Well we noticed EVERYONE that got there AFTER we did, got their pizza first. We didn't say anything to our waitress, but a young lady came to our table and apologized for the wait, and offered free dessert. We said, "cool, but we're full." She immediately said that was fine, and comped everything, but our salad, which we swore was $7, and turned out to be $5. Those pizzas were the BEST! And we got 'em for free, not intentionally, but hey that was the best deal. We ordered the "Lou" and the "Malnati Chicago Classic". My boyfriend acted like he hated Chicago deep dish pizza BEFORE we came here. We are on a mission to find pizza like this in Texas now. If we come back to Chicago for ANY reason, we are DEFINATELY coming back here!!!!Oh and the ceasar salad is HUGE, could serve 3 people, dressing is a little strong with garlic, so i reccomend adding in small amounts. LOVE THIS PLACE!
(5)
Tony D.

For an ExChicagoan who lives in Honolulu who CRAVES Deep Dish (yeah, forget you Jon Stewart) when ever I'm back in town me and my family make it a TRADITION to head to this Lou Malnati's. For one, these people are friendly, courteous and professional. Me and my family always feel welcome and after getting some really rude receptions from Pizzeria Uno AND Due, LM's values their customers. And then the Deep Dish. Yes, yes, yesyesyes. After being away for years on end and biting into my first sausage and pepp deep dish with the butter crust...Lawd, yes. And like I said it's our family tradition now to spend a lunchtime here whenever I come back and we really enjoy ourselves, the food (the appetizers alone makes me cry in Hawaii). So, yes, Chicago, Lou Malnati's represents you proudly when you make someone who lives in paradise crave to be back in the cold wintry days just for a slice of deep dish.
(5)
David F.

Good deep dish pizza. Ordered carry out and the hostess was very attentive. Wouldn't hesitate to visit again.
(3)
Peter C.

i went to high school with a malnati, and as a result got lots of free malnati's pizza. don't tell him, but i've never really understood why so many chicagoans -- surrounded by some of the world's best pizza -- still rave about this pizza. they warned us that deep dish takes a long time to cook, standard practice for a chicago pizza place, but we didn't even order deep dish and at noon on a saturday it still took about an hour to get our food. want good pizza? check out baccino's in lincoln park.
(3)
Justin O.

Love the pizza that this place serves up, both cheese and cookie (save room and try the latter for dessert).
(4)
David G.

I've ordered from here a few more times since my first review. The pizza has always been great, but there continue to be issues getting my order 100% correct. Two times I ordered a pepperoni that got put into the system as cheese. Both times I had third parties with me to confirm I wasn't crazy and had indeed said pepperoni. Luckily the second time I caught the error since they repeated back cheese. Another time I ordered on the phone a little before 7 and the person for some reason thought I wanted to pick up at 8:30. I mistakenly figured she meant 7:30 since it was to go and they have a 30 minute cook time and because I hadn't mentioned not wanting it ASAP, but I should have questioned the 8:30 time. I showed up at 7:30 paid, and after about 10 minutes someone came out of the back asking if I had told them I wanted it at 8:30. The funny thing is, they were closing at 8:00 that evening for a staff party, so I couldn't have gotten my pizza at 8:30. Anyway, they had it ready by 8:00, although I don't think it was cooked quite as well done as normal. The high points are that the pizzas are almost alway perfect and delicious, and the staff is very polite and seems to really care. I had mentioned an issue I had once and the manager insisted on giving me a gift certificate. I told him it wasn't necessary, but he did it anyway.
(4)
Jing C.

Aside from the way that the name of the place sounds like it should be in should be in a Dan Brown novel, this place serves up some good pizza. The Lou is my favorite Chicago style pizza in the city. Try the calamari too. The only thing keeping this from being a five star review is that in comparison with other Lou Malnati's locations, the service here is pretty slow. Hope they hit their groove soon.
(4)
Kathy H.

Even though we went to a small bit of effort to pre-order for a group of 20+ people and made clear what time we would arrive, our orders were not even close to being ready upon arrival. However the manager on duty, Mike, did apologize and accept blame and made good with free desserts for one-and-all. Under the circumstances that was fair and appreciated.
(3)
Ke M.

As far as chain pizzerias, pretty darn good. The pizza came out fresh and hot and was a perfect balance of toppings/cheese/crust for a deep dish. I also really enjoyed the family size salad we split at the table. I would definitely recommend sticking with a pizza option because the pasta dishes aren't going to be a great choice at a pizzeria. The lay out is pretty cool, too, so not a bad place for a group or family night out if you're craving pizza. Obviously super busy with long wait times during the weekends. Best to do carryout unless you plan ahead.
(4)
Napkin Freak C.

very good food . try the buttermilk crust and salad. this place was recommended to us by our tourguide. If you're visiting Chicago, malnati's is a spot to check out. It's also known for being a rival to Giordano's... so it's great to try it out to compare. Yippee!
(3)
Ed K.

Located at Rush & State, the atmosphere was great, the service was great, and the deep dish pizza was really good. I had the Malnati and she had a deep dish pepperoni with the buttercrust. Both were very good. We can't wait to return (hopefully this summer)!
(5)
Pam D.

Went there last night. Great time and the pizza is the best in Chicago. Our server was Erica and she was attentive and provided terrfic service. It was busy with the MLB World Series champioship game on. We were seated in 20 minutes on a Friday night. I have been to alot of resturants in Chicago and very rarely see a manager visit with the patrons. Mike was extremelyt cordial with geniune concern about your experience at Lou's. He was fun to speak with and we will definetly be back again. Thank you for a great evening
(5)
Brian K.

I don't believe the pizza is worth the long wait. Admittedly, I prefer NY style pizza but do enjoy Chicago pizza. I've had better than this in Chicago and elsewhere. However, I enjoyed the atmosphere since it's lively (and can be a bit loud). My "side" salad was very tasty and large enough to be an entree. Decent selection of beers and bar had decent selection (Templeton rye).
(3)
Katherine L.

I had one of the most frustrating restaurant experiences I've ever had in Chicago at the State St. Lou Malnati's. When I arrived, there was no one else ahead of me in line for a table, and I noticed that there was a table opening up outside. I asked the hostess about being seated at the outdoor table and she said she would check on it. Next thing I know, a family shows up and asks if there happened to be table available outside. I remind the hostess and mention to the family that I already requested that table and that I had been waiting there a few minutes. The hostess checks with the manager and the family is promptly seated at the table I requested! Now, I know for a fact that Lou Malnati's does not take reservations. They do however allow people to call ahead to "pre-order" since their pizza's take 30 minutes to bake. Ok but... in what world does ordering your pizza ahead guarantee that you can cut ahead for a table outside? In my world, either a restaurant (a) DOES take reservations, or (b) DOES NOT take them. Even for restaurants that do take a res, tables outside are usually first come first serve. When I expressed my frustration to the manager (who had obviously made the bad call), he was unapologetic. Now I know that at fancier establishment a table outside might be held for a good customer. However, in such circumstances the staff generally has the manners and social acumen to handle the situation without offending the non-regular. I expressed to the manager that I did not think this situation was handled correctly. Needless to say, I will not be dining there again.
(1)
Abby M.

Great food, great staff and great atmosphere. What else is there to say?
(5)
Stephanie S.

Was happily surprised to find out the day we were here was opening day. The owners talked to each one of us. The deep dish pizza and Calamari Fritta was out of this world!! I plan to stop here each time I am in town!
(5)
Tina N.

I think it's safe to say you'll get the best deep dish pizza in the South Loop (I can't say this yet about the whole city, but it's damn near close). Lou Malnati's pizza is great, you just gotta wait in that ridiculous long line. Sure, I get the whole "no reservations" thing, but sometimes you wanna eat great pizza on a Friday night and not have to wait over an hour. But, I guess once you do get seated, and at this point your stomach has eaten itself, that pizza tastes damn good. The service has always been awesome too, as soon as your done eating your slice, they are back at your table ready to cut and serve you that next slice. It definitely is a touristy spot, but who cares, when the pizza is that good.
(4)
Chris B.

I've always enjoyed Wells street location but the new Gold Coast spot is a major disappointment. Wine pour was pathetic; instead of industry standard 5 oz., this was 3.5 oz.at best. Pizza, promised in thirty minutes, took forty-five at 8 p.m. on Thursday night when the place was not at all crowded. I sincerely hope Malnati's ups its game here. Otherwise, it will quickly develop a reputation as another Rush Street ripoff joint that once-loyal local patrons will avoid.
(2)
Jackie H.

Always a treat visiting Lou Malnati's while in Chicago. First let me preface with the fact that I'm more of a thin crust person aka NY style but I must say when deep dish is done right (like at Lou's) you really cant go wrong. We stopped at their newest location on State street, which is so different if you're familiar with any of the other spots which are small and more limited on seating. This location has the look and feel of a more upscale restaurant. Food is still great and I actually enjoyed the decor as it had a very old industrial building feel. Great service and we went midafternoon so didn't have to wait to be seated. I think any deep dish pizza would be good but we settled on a pepperoni and sausage one. I probably still prefer the overall feel of their other locations that have that cozy cramped feel but I think that just added to the whole experience. This location feels like its trying to be more upscale, but it was great that there is more seating and so less of a wait time. Overall Lou Malnati's is still one of my favorite places to get deep dish pizza (which is a must while in Chi-town). Would definitely recommend to friends/family
(4)
Mary B.

This location has great customer service. We attempted to order pizza by calling the bucktown location for delivery. They passed us off to the river north location who then told us they don't deliver to us and sent us to gold coast. Though the gold coast location doesn't deliver to our location, they made an exception and were very nice. I recommend this location over the bucktown location.
(4)
Carol M.

We went on a busy Friday night. After waiting 60 minutes, our beep finally went off. A nice gentleman seated us and walked away. 3 minutes later, another hostess comes rushing over to our table and asks if we seated ourselves. Did we put our name on the waiting list?? We explained that of course we did, and even gave her our name we used on the waiting list . She still questioned us! Finally, after giving her more information, she left. Geez! Nice start to the meal! That being said, our waiter and the food more than made up for this.
(4)
Jon-David J.

Loved the pizza. Loved the service. AND I loved the location enough to blog about it fully WITH a virtual tour video (I made myself!) at The Local Tourist dot com
(5)
Adrian f.

I haven't had the deep dish or any other pizza here besides the famous sausage based one... I'm writing this as a pizza lover with a gluten allergy! Malnati's offers a crust less pizza with sausage as the crust. wow. absolutely incredible. flavorful delicious sausage with italian herbs on it and tons of cheese and tomato filling it. we also added onion and mushroom to the small size (meant for 2 people - definitely fed both of us with 2 big pieces) for $17. Not bad for a delicious unique chicago pizza experience. also great attentive service and a fun atmosphere/decor. pizza on "state street that great street!" we will be back!
(4)
Heather C.

as an east coaster, i didn't know how i was going to feel about this deep dish pizza thing chicago is crazy for. but, it was delicious! you really can't compare brooklyn style to chicago style - one is a thin crust street food, the other is a fork and knife affair. Lou's pizza had a great buttery crust and was filled with great sauce and cheese. just be sure to get there before you want to eat - and to place your order before you wait in line- we waited for about an hour before we sat down, but our pizza was delivered to the table shortly after we got our drinks!
(4)
jack b.

i thought for a new rest. that just opened it went as smooth as one could expect.everyone was super friendly and the side salad was great and the pizza was oh so good.............
(5)
D G.

We got The Lou, and it was wonderful!! Because of the long wait, we decided to switch to takeout. Though they were very busy, the staff was friendly and courteous, even with our change of plans. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Mike S.

Buttercrust. That's all you need to know. And if you need to know anything else... just say 'The Classic Lou' and you're all set. I think this is actually my favorite Lou's location. I've been here twice and ther servers always been nice, whether suited or in tourist gear and it's hard not to like the area. I recommend coming at 'off hours' because it's crowded 90% of the time.
(4)
Albert M.

This could be the most beloved pizza place in all of Chicago, if not the most beloved restaurant in Chicago. Chicago pizza is thick...I mean loaf of bread thick....they take a loaf of dough, put on cheese, and stewed (taste like canned) tomatoes and voila. Lou's is not the original, but it is the best. Legend goes that the first deep dish was at Uno's (Due's, the sister store, followed). The head chef at Uno's was Lou Malanati. He opened his own resturant, perfecting the original Uno's recipe. This place is everyones favorites, but most importantly, it's my wifes favorite food on the planet. When I got married in Chicago in June 2011, every person from Nashville asked where to get the "deep pizza", and I sent them all to Lou's. My friends Hannah and Andrew didnt eat at a wedding to save room for late night Lou's. Lou's can also be shipped across the country, and I swear that it is the best frozen pizza ever...it tastes just like the original. A group of friends from Nashville have had it shipped to them 4 times since my wedding! I like the veggie or spinach. BUT THE BEST IS THE LOU'S SPECIAL, THE LOU!!! VEGGIES, SPECIAL SAUCE, AND 6 TYPES OF CHEESE!!! AND YOU GOTTA GET IT WELL DONE!!! And do not forget the appetizers (garlic bread, fried zuchinni and mushrooms) and the salad (the Onion dressing!!) It is fantastic!
(5)
Michele S.

Lou Malnati's is the king of Chicago pizza. This restaurant was packed at 7pm. The table adjacent to us had some rather drunk carolers. The marinara sauce is wonderful. Loved the veggie Lou's. Calamari appetizer was quite delicious. Helpful waitress.
(5)
Mollie T.

I had the personal size "Lou's" pizza. It was just the perfect size for 1 person. Also had tiramisu and enjoyed it.
(4)
Tony M.

Great service and food! This place is usually packed, so get here at times others are not. The deep dish is always good here. The thin crust is great using the same dough as the deep dish. Fresh ingredients every time gives a fantastic tasting pizza! Great waiters getting what you want whenever you need it and bus boys cleaning up after you right away gives great attention to detail! Awesome food every time I come here!
(5)
Baris C.

First of all, I gave 4 stars because you can't give 3.5 stars. The place was better than 3 stars though, just to be fair. The food was good and the fact that we didn't wait at all to be seated was great. However, the plates, forks and knives we got were DIRTY. We sat outside and our table was rocking the whole time. But the ambiance was good and the prices were fair, I would go back to Lou Malnati's again.
(4)
Ji L.

My friend and I were in Chicago for the first time and had to try some deep dish pizza. We went to the Wicker Park location to find out it was a take-out only location. We traveled here and thankfully the wait was only about 20 minutes. We enjoyed sitting outdoors in the warm weather and people watching. We ordered a small classic pizza + mushrooms and spinach. Our waitress brought it out, cut it up for us, and served us. I was pretty full from all the other food we had been eating, but I made room because it tasted so good! I had my doubts about the lean sausage, but it was very flavorful and tasted like normal fatty sausage. And there was lots and lots of cheese, which I loved. We were only able to finish 3 of the 4 slices because each slice was soooo filling. I am so glad we tried Lou Malnati's!! It was one of the best meals of our trip.
(5)
Jeremiah V.

Fantastic pizza! My group ate there 2 nights in a row. Best deep dish hands down! They make a gluten free pie with either a gluten free crust OR a crust made solely of wonderful sausage. Our server did make a mistake, on the second night, regarding our order. As a result one of our group received the wrong pizza. The wrong pizza was still fantastic and the manager, without any prompting, made sure that pie was on the house. Great food and great service. The wait??...well with food and service that good...you should expect to wait. On Saturday at 7 pm we waited 45 minutes for a table. Sunday at 5 pm we only waited 15 minutes.
(5)
Judith C.

Absolutely unique & delicious! If you want to enjoy a pizza that you will never forget for the rest of your life, here's the spot! Service was superior!
(5)
Vivian R.

I really liked this place - my 2nd time in Chicago and eating deep dish. Major things I liked that deserve a 5 star: -Affordable, reasonable prices -Fun atmosphere -Helpful, casual, funny staff -Full service: they don't just put the food on your table, they actually take the time to serve it to you, including salads! I thought that was pretty amazing -Tasty crust, ingredients and filling quite generous and high quality The only reason why I am giving a 4 instead of a 5 is that I found their pizza to be not as "compact" and it was constantly sliding everywhere and the tomato topping was good, but very messy. I also prefer toppings to be bite sized and our pizza had whole sausage patties or slices on the bottom. Another reason is that they don't have anywhere for you to wait or at least when we went, we couldn't wait at the bar or even sit down. Oh - their Malnati salad is SOOO good, lots of toppings, all bite sized, generous portion - a MUST have! Would TOTALLY return. I'm not going to lie - we also tried Giordanos, and while that was also good, their prices were roughly $10 more a pizza!
(4)
Lise S.

Can never go wrong with the Lou Classic pizza and their classic salad (sweet vinaigrette). This location is easy to access and it has a great ambiance and large restaurant and bar area. You can either sit at the bar, tall bistro tables, booths, or regular table/chairs. I really should try something else on the menu sometime, but I tend to stick with the classic and what they are known world-wide for serving. Love the spices and butter crust - give it a try!
(4)
Shayla P.

Carlos was fan-freaking-tastic! Super outgoing, super friendly..I will continue coming here because of him !
(5)
Keyona D.

Decided to try the thin crust cheese pizza. Low and behold it's not my thing. Surprisingly I didn't care for the overly buttered crust. Hey ya live and ya learn. Next time I will definitely stick to the deep dish. The bartender was friendly, but she should not be touching/boxing up people's pizza with her bare hands.
(3)
Gabriele P.

I'm not a fan of deep dish pizza in general, mostly for being too thick and creamy, but I must admit Lou's pizza matches my taste a lot. Much thinner and firm than Giordano's or Gino's and definitely better in my opinion. Service is very smart, allowing you to reserve a table and to place an order at the same time, such that you get it a few mins after you are seated. Totally recommended!
(5)
Janie Z.

Such a yummy place to go! Had the original and it was perfection! Ooey, gooey cheesey! We also had the calamari.. so good! Seasoned and lightly fried.. not greasy at all! And the house salad with the lemon garlic dressing.. I would eat it over and over! Our waiter was great.. suggested things off the menu and was so down to earth. We will for sure eat here again before we leave!
(4)
Charles W.

I was in town and had to try a deep dish pizza. I found this location while walking downtown. The staff is very friendly and the bartender Darren is very helpful answer a tourist's questions. I did the lunch special which included a personal pizza, salad or soup and a soda for just $9! You can't beat that deal. The pizza was great. I will definitely stop by on my next visit. This looks like a great place to watch sports with all of the TVs.
(4)
Kim B.

Deep dish pizza. Awesome!!! They frown upon dipping it in ranch however, their ranch is actually pretty tasty!! I'd suggest you try it (if you're into that sort of thing). The bartender - Zach was super friendly and attentive. Very clean bar and very nice atmosphere.
(5)
Alicia D.

Awesome beer selection too!
(5)
Khan K.

I was taking a random to find a place to eat when I stumbled across this place. I walked in and there was a wait time, I put my name up in the lost and in 5 minutes I got a phone call and a text that a table was ready for me. I was a little surprised on how much crowd this place was attracting on a Monday night. I sit down and menu is brought to me, and my eyes sparkle when my veggie self finds the Lou. I knew immediately it was what I wanted to order. A deep pan pizza, it took about 25 minutes for it to come, but it was definitely worth the wait. It was so darn good that I ended up ordering a second personal pizza, and was willing to wait for another 25 minutes for the same. The staff was very polite and helpful, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who's looking for a good pizza, and based on the ambience and crowd, I would most certainly come here with friends as a group too. I saw a lot of large groups there, families, friends, and the place is good for groups.
(4)
Brian S.

The Malnati Salad may be the best one I've ever eaten. We split it 4 ways and also shared a large thin crust pizza. I liked the taste.
(5)
Mary Shobee H.

I had an out of town guest with me and they wanted to try the famous deep dish pizza. The wait was long...(as expected) but, what made me give 1 star was the Bar area service. There was no Bar service. The Bartenders were absolutely RUDE. Even the people who sat at the bar wished me luck trying to get served and informed me that they too had a hard time receiving service. They gave no attention to anyone looking to order. Good service is a thriving point for any business. I don't think it's necessary to beg for a drink at a bar. That's unacceptable, hence this review. Your food is delicious but, you need to reinvent your bar staff and review the ratio of losing customers vs those who stay and wait.
(1)
Meredith L.

I was not impressed with this place. The pizza was not nearly as good as I was expecting. The pizza sauce was bland and tasted like a can of tomatoes was just opened for the sauce. Despite the big hype for this place from locals, I think Giordano's is a better choice for a pizza pie that actually has some good flavor. Also, the restaurant we went to near the Gold Coast was having a tough time managing a crowd on a Saturday night when I went last month. We were told we would have to wait 2 hours to sit down, so instead we opted to place a take-out order. Twenty minutes later we were informed that our table was ready for dining.
(2)
Sarath P.

My first deep dish pizza experience was surprisingly more pleasant than I expected. I was pretty sure that the pizza was going to be a thick, doughy and a soggy mess but it was actually nothing like I imagined! The way the pizza was cooked, the bottom was not soggy at all. I loved everything about our pizza -- the fresh veggies, sausage and my favorite, the hot giardiniera! What I didn't love was the crust. We even opted for the recommended buttercrust but it had no flavor at all! Usually, the crust is my favorite part of the pizza but in this instance, I just ate around it. Even though I enjoyed my pizza overall, next time I'm in Chicago, I may have to try another spot.
(3)
Tanya K.

I was staying nearby and in town for work for two nights so I thought I should try some deep dish pizza, it is Chicago. So I came here based on the reviews and I thought t was pretty damn good. I had the personal size "Lou" and a cup of minestrone soup and both tasted fabulous. Lucas my server was a hoot and very good. The only reason it is getting 4 stars and not 5 is because it took almost an hour to get my pizza and there weren't many tables of people. I'd come back though!
(4)
Brooke C.

My friend and I stopped in at Lou's after seeing a show around the corner. I haven't had their deep dish in a while, usually preferring Giordano's when in the mood for pizza. The wait was shorter than expected for a Friday night, and we were seated I about 15 minutes. We also pre-ordered our pizza to keep the wait as short as possible. I think this particular Lou's has a much nicer decor than the other ones I've been to, and a great bar. We ordered The Lou, a vegetarian option, and it was pretty good. We also ordered the lemonade cocktail (twisted lemonade?) It was pretty strong, and priced okay considering it's the Gold Coast. I like that the prices are lower than Giordano's and the wait staff was very friendly. The pizza was pretty delicious as well, but I cannot say that it is my favorite.
(4)
Mark H.

I have been eating their deep dish pan pizza w/ sausage as far back as when the Chicago Cubs made it to the 1984 NL Championship Series and of course the Bears Shuffling Crew video. youtu.be/NxIRJp14_cM It's amazing how their taste has stayed consistent over the years. Their sauce on top of the cheese is their signature move. The cheese is not too salty. The sausage is proportionately placed. "The Lou" w/ sausage is an excellent option too. This is close to a hearty everything pizza. This Gold Coast spot is cool. The interior has a top notch bar setting with nice seating for the family. Located just north of the Viagra triangle. Excellent spot. One complaint for this location is...there is a young guy who is either very careless or not edch-ma-cated and has gotten my delivery order wrong several times. He should not be handling this highly difficult task of following directions. Other than that, in my opinion, Lou Mals is one of Chicago's finest pizza and a constant reminder of my childhood. Definite must try for tourists.
(5)
Jessica D.

When in Chicago deep dish pizza is a must. This place is a must go for pizza. The wait is long, given being so popular, but good system in place to preprder your pizza while you wait. That way by the time you sit your only waiting very little or none for your pizza to be ready.
(4)
Gilbert O.

Coming from Pueblo Colorado where we have three excellent Pizza joints, I was unimpressed with both the Pizza and the ambiance, however, we ordered the Malnati's salad, and it was delicious.
(3)
Jackie K.

The overload of butter on the crust really ruins the pie for me. It cheapens it somehow, reminds me a lot of Pizza Hut actually. Don't bother with toppings; the sausage was awful. After eating at Lombardi's in NYC all other pizza tastes like discount frozen entrees.
(2)
Thomas M.

Butter crust on the pizza is really really good. Sausage isn't greasy & tasty great. Cheese is high quality. My new favorite in Chicago. Highly recommend.
(5)
Lizzie J.

There is a lot of competition for Deep Dish Pizza in Chicago... but go NO further than Lou Malnati's. I love the Lou Deep Dish, a spinach deep dish pizza and add pepperoni. Whichever pizza you choose, order the butter crust. OR for a really surprising delicious meal, get the pizza without crust that instead uses sausage for the crust. It's to die for. And always get the Lou Malnati salad.
(5)
KaThy T.

This was not the best deep dish pizza in town. My friends chose this place (they're not from the area). My other friend who didn't know them knew it wasn't the best place, but didn't say anything because she doesn't know them; she's from the area. I came with group of friends who love drinking. Even though they were drunk, they didn't think it was the best deep dish pizza either. I thought it would be better since there were a lot customers in the building. Nope...(my friend had deep dish at the O'Hare airport and said it was bomb...so funny...) I expected the pizza to be thicker than it was. There wasn't enough cheese on it. And the dough tasted like it wasn't completely done; this was supposed to be the best part! Guess I'm sticking to thin crust. I had to ditch the bread part. If I was drinking, I probably would've finished it off and not cared. And our server was not that great. He served everyone at the table, even the people that left for the bathroom, except me. WTF. You put slices on people's plates when they're not there but leave me hanging. That was so stupid of him. I didn't even do anything wrong. Seriously...luckily upper management or whoever they were kept coming by to ask how we were doing. They served us too. And spared this guy a few negative star ratings.
(3)
Alison T.

Delicious pizza! Ordered while waiting and actually got seated very quickly. Some of the best pizza I've ever had.
(5)
Brian P.

A few times the pizza has come cold or messed up, and we only live a few blocks away. Typically I order delivery so that it gets there when I get off work or home from the gym. This time is the last straw... The level of disgusting reached a whole new level when they put the order IN the pizza. The paper took off a bunch of the cheese when I had to peel it off of the pizza. This place is dirty and disgusting enough to put paper in pizza, who knows what else they let slide. I wonder how old the sauce is, or the dough or the pepperoni....... They don't care. Last time we ever order from them.
(1)
Sylvia C.

Definitely, had high expectations since people say its the best pizza joint...maybe I'm just a northeast pizza girl at heart. We ordered deep dish and thin crust. Gotta say Uno does the deep dish way better. The thin crust is like an overly toasted cracker with some tomato sauce. Also, very limited topping menu options...so not great for customization.
(3)
Rob N.

The pizza is awesome, service terrible. Phoned in a pizza order to be ready in 45 minutes from Butch McGuires Showed up at Malnatis and was told another 45 to go on Pizza Went to PJ Clarkes and never got a call until 3 hours after initial order Needless to say we enjoyed fine bar cuisine at PJ's and great atmosphere with drinks at Butch McGuire's.
(1)
Jason B.

I was a little underwhelmed by the personal pizza for my first visit, not so sure I'd recommend this to other first timers. That being said, it was still pretty delish! Will be trying something else next time.
(4)
Daniel L.

Yes, I know Lou's is considered one of the more touristy pizza options, but having experienced over a dozen places, it's still my favorite deep dish hands down. For me, every part of the pizza is done perfectly: the sauce is tangy, but not cloyingly sweet or overly dense. The cheese is fresh, thick and gooey, and the buttercrust is the perfect balance of chewy and crunchy. I know this varies by experience, but I've also never had a pizza from them (delivery or dine-in) that wasn't hot and fresh, which I can't say about a lot of other places. Whether it's against mainstream or more hipster pizza places, Lou's deep dish is still unrivaled to me.
(5)
Landman H.

We went to giordanos off michigan ave and this Lou Malnati's. First off, both these pizza places crush anything available outside of Chicago. It's not even a comparison. Giordanos was an ever slightly better pie but Malnati's had it's own completely different style that was really good, especially with a salad appetizer. However, there is an hour wait at all Chicago deep dish pizza places. Here, the experience was really nice. They had a great bar that we just ordered a bottle from and the time went by pretty quick. At gordianos the wait wasn't really as much fun. This Malnati's restaurant is located in a trendy, younger part of town where the locals seem to go and there are fewer tourists and convention goers so it's a good atmosphere too and there are lots of places nearby to keep things going after dinner if you want. We bought some of their salad dressing to take home but we packed it in a carry on and it got confiscated by security. Oh well.
(5)
Kim J.

Every time I come to Chicago it's with people who haven't been here before. So inevitably I have to take them to eat deep dish pizza. Lou Malnati's is my favorite one. Not really the biggest fan of deep dish pizza (too heavy for me) but when I do eat it, I prefer Lou Malnati's (just like the most interesting man in the world prefers Dos Equis). Like with other deep dish pizza joints, once you place your order it will take 35 minutes or so for the pizza to be ready. We ordered a Caesar's salad to hold us down before. The service was excellent. Our waiter came by to check on us every five minutes or so and always topped off our drinks whenever they ran low. I've been to this particular location several times now and it never disappoints.
(4)
Wakeelah M.

I ate here last night with my friend and it was great. We didn't have to wait long, we got to pre order our pizza, our server was great, and overall it was a great time. I'll definitely come back again.
(5)
Sid S.

I have been waiting to have deep dish pizza ever since I left India. A lot of people told me about this place called Lou Malnati's which is famous for its food and I shall tell you more about it from the ambience to the food. This place is "the place" for pizzas. I had gone there with my girlfriend on a weekend, so we got a table for two. The location of Lou Malnati's is great because there are other restaurants in that area and all of them are really good. On reaching the restaurant I was amazed as it was pretty huge. I saw a lot of people waiting for their tables, so I suggest book in advance. We waited for our table for 30 minutes. We were well greeted on our arrival to the restaurant and on requesting she got us a table slightly earlier than expected. The ambience in that place was great, there were dim lights which made the place give a gloomy look which was not exactly fine dining but it gave a feeling of an exotic food. The place was a bit too noisy as it was a weekend but you can ignore that if you have great food and good company. Then again its Lou Malnati's so just enjoy that pizza. When I looked at the menu at first I was puzzled because everything looked great. Then I asked the server what she could recommend, she recommended the "The Classic Lou's Pizza" which is very famous. So we ordered a small size which was good enough for the two of us. The pizza was going to take 30 minutes, and since I was really hungry I decided to order another dish. I went ahead and ordered pasta called "Chicken Louie". The pasta took only 15 minutes to come, along with beverages like coke. The service was great as everything came on time. When the pasta came it looked yummy. The pasta was with tender pieces of chicken, fettuccine and cream sauce baked with mozzarella. The serving was huge. Later, when the pizza came it was just as amazing. The trademark pizza, "the classic lou's pizza" consisted of spinach mix, mushrooms and sliced roma tomatoes covered with blend of mozzarella, roamano and cheddar cheese on garlic buttercrust. It tastes as good as it sounds. It is simply "wow". If anyone is a weight watcher consider eating at Lou Malnati's because this is the place to break your diet and just simply make you enjoy food. The Lou Malanati's is surely a place to be. I consider Lou Malnati's as the king of pizzas. My overall experience was amazing. I should cherish that and visit again.
(4)
Inti M.

Our server Jessica was great! The food was delicious. I will come again anytime. Most people are used to the super thick deep dish, but that's not what you find here. LM has the real deal and I love it. Very fresh ingredients!
(5)
Michele W.

This place has a long wait however, you can place your order in advance prior to being seated and you can also order a drink. The sauce was balanced and seasoned well. The mozzarella tasted fresh. The crust tasted good but, I felt like it was a bit hard and lacked the buttery flakiness that I was anticipating.
(3)
Rachel M.

This place ROCKS. My sister had been to Chicago many times before with her husband and recommended this place to my friend and I since we were looking to try some legit deep dish Chicago pizza while stopping through. I'm so glad I took her advice! For one, this place is huge and we were seated right away. I was surprised since it was dinner hour and I was expecting a wait for how good this place is, but I wasn't complaining. After looking over the menu briefly (I just headed straight for the deep dish pizza section), we decided to go with a medium pepperoni with butter crust. I've had deep dish pizza before in Sacramento, CA, but it does NOT compare to the real deal. I just about had a pizza orgasm. The sauce and cheese were perfect. The cheese was VERY melty and it took a good few cuts with my knife to get it all on my fork but it was so damn good. The sauce had a great tomato flavor and it wasn't too much like some other pizza places do. The pepperoni was delicious and flavorful. I had to get my favorite (root beer) to go with my pizza and it was a tasty treat. My friend and I weren't sure if we should order a small or medium since a small is recommended between two people but we decided that it was better to have more than not enough! We each devoured it all and left no slices behind. It was just that good. If I ever come back to Chicago, I will DEFINITELY be coming back to Lou's.
(5)
Alan S.

I am from New York City, and obviously there is a pizza rivalry going on between there and Chicago. But Lou Malnati's might make me a convert. Had the Chicago Classic and it was excellent. Not used to digging deep into a pizza with a knife and fork. It felt like a chicken pot pie version of pizza. Also had the chocolate chip pizza for dessert which was awesome! Waitress was very friendly, food and drinks came fast. Had the back (or front section) by the window since it was early evening/late afternoon and it was a very relaxing atmosphere. I'm a native New Yorker so my stubbornness still says we have better pizza overall. But Lou Malnati's is now one of my favorite pizza places in either city!
(4)
Maria B.

Wow! What incredible deep dish and service! We had such high expectations and Lou's didn't disappoint. Apollo was our server and he guided us through the menu perfectly. His craft beer recommendation impressed my husband and his friendly demeanor was much appreciated. Thank you for making the last night of our vacation in Chicago such a highlight!
(5)
Joe R.

This is the best pizza I've had in my life. This is my number one place now, this and Moose's Tooth in Anchorage, AK. Great job guys!
(5)
Awesomeness S.

Silly restaurant name lol. I enjoyed my pizza but definitely ended up liking my Giordano's better
(3)
Bobby W.

Awesome! Service was killer. The deep dish was something to remember. Pizza has been redefined! The last 30 years of pizza was erased tonight by their pizza. Soo good.
(5)
Joy S.

When in Rome... You do what locals do, right? As soon as I got situated on my flight to Chicago, my co-workers and I immediately began discussing which restaurant to go to for a deep dish pizza. Based on some polled Facebook comments from friends, there are some good choices out there. We ended up choosing Lou's because it was within a walking distance from our hotel. The restaurant was buzzing with business, and there were parties lined up at the door, waiting to put their names down for a table. A good sign. We had six people in our party, so we were told that the wait would be 1 1/2 hours. No problem, we thought - we can hop over to the bar next door and imbibe some strong cocktails while we wait. Once seated, however, no one came over to greet us for 15 minutes. Keep in mind that we were weary travelers who only had Southwest Airlines snacks in our tummies. But being easy-going San Diegans, we smiled and placed our orders politely when a waitress finally came by (we had to get up and ask for one to come by) and took our deep dish pizza orders, which we were told would take 40 minutes to expedite. Oh, lord. Bring on those bread sticks because we needed them! [The cheesy bread sticks and the garlic bread were delicious. Also, the manager came by and apologized for the long wait and graciously took the appetizers off the bill.] When the pizzas finally came, there was some sort of confusion because two serving trays containing identical pizzas were brought out and placed by our table. Yes, we'll take them all, thank you. I shared a Classic deep dish with a couple of other people, and while I thought it was tasty, I secretly thought to myself that UNO's was better (more meat, more sauce, yummier crust). I felt guilty (perhaps blasphemous?) for having these thoughts because why should one prefer a chain restaurant over a local favorite, especially for someone as well-versed on food as I am? Well, it is what it is. I might give this restaurant an additional star, if it hadn't been for the fact that the entire dining experience took over 3 hours. I'm pretty sure the pizzas took longer than the proposed time...but maybe I was delirious with fatigue and hunger to really know for sure.
(3)
Margaret P.

We went to Lou Malnati's Pizzeria because many locals recommended it. Giordano's is more of a touristy locale and it's a larger chain with many locations throughout Chicago. Our experience at Lou Malnati's was decent. As our first time eating Chicago Deep Dish, we had the Malnati Chicago Classic. I'm not a huge fan of deep dish, but I would have to say that the crust was perfectly done--a great harmony between crispy and thick. The tomatoes tasted fresh and the ambiance of the restaurant was classic. I shared a personal sized pizza with another friend, but if you are really hungry, that's a very good size for one.
(4)
Tiffany L.

pizza was really really good. had the 'lou'. vegetarian option with spinach mix, mushrooms and sliced roma tomatoes covered with blend of mozzarella, romano and cheddar cheese on garlic Buttercrust. thats all i need.
(4)
Patricia J.

Omg the best pizza salad buffalo wings & service ever I called from the Drake Hotel and they were Spot on!!! Thank you & yes it is after all it's late but after the St Patricks Weekend I give them 10 stars :)
(5)
Sara T.

Maybe I had higher expectations but the deep dish pizza I ordered was just okay. The crust was so bland that it sort of ruined the pizza for me. If the crust was more seasoned, it would've been perfect. I think I should've ordered the butter crust. Maybe next time. Till then, I'm not impressed.
(3)
Vivienne H.

I like pizza, but I never thought I can love it SO MUCH like this! My friends and I were looking for deep dish pizza in downtown, then this place pop-up because it wins a great rating on Yelp, so we decided to try it. The restaurant was easy to find out. They have cozy interior, beautiful location, and friendly service. Our server, Otha, is a really nice gentleman who reminded us conscientiously when we ordered too much things that we can't handle. Even with the friendly "warning", we still tried almost everything on the menu: We started with the Malnati Salad, and I had the Minestrone Soup. The salad was great, which everyone likes it! Then we ordered 2 different pizza (Chicago Classic & Lou's) and 3 disparate pastas (Chicken Louie & Spaghetti with meat sauce & with marinara sauce). In my opinion, the Chicago classic deep dish pizza is awesome, and the Chicken Louie pasta looks good, but I still prefer the Spaghetti with meat sauce because the marinara one was too sour for me. All my friends enjoyed the meal! DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE! BEST DEEP DISH PIZZA EVER!
(5)
Chelsea C.

Deep dish pizza was really salty!!! It would've been better if I ate it with salad or something non-salty food. Maybe deep dish pizza is not my thing. I waited an hour, and it was totally waste of my time and money. It was a bad experience. I want to throw up just to think about it. :(
(1)
Bill T.

OK I am going to settle the great debate right now, right here - yes, there are many outstanding places for pizza in the windy city, but the BEST Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza in my book is made at Lou Malnati's. Of course they use excellent ingredients, which make a good pie, but I am hooked on their Butter crust - it takes their pie over the top - and makes it #1. Try it - you'll love it. They also have delicious chicken wings and make sure you get the Malnati Salad - this salad is BIG, so for 4 people we get the medium and that is just a perfect amount. Usually we order in from their Gold Coast spot, but this time we went over, so let me add to the comments about the food that they also make great martinis (Ketel One for vodka lovers) and Hendricks for the gin aficionados. The wine list is reasonably priced too. So with apologies to all the other great pizza spots - Lou is #1 - and if you don't believe me - go check it out - you'll see!
(5)
Angelica M.

Great deep dish pizza! We ordered the Classic with a large house salad, paired with wine and cocktails. As someone who has heard so much about "deep dish pizzas", it was great to have an amazing FIRST deep dish!! The atmosphere was amazing as well. It definitely is a great place for friends to gather, date night, and such. Next time I visit I definitely will come back for more.
(4)
Hang N.

So I'm one of those people who aren't crazy about deep dish. After having "the Lou" I'm now a fan. The reviews are right, the deep dish here isn't too heavy. Perfect balance between, sauce, toppings, cheese, and pie dough. The bottom of the pie had a crust that was solid, could support any amount of topping and had a perfect crunch to each bite. My 2nd time trying Chicago deep dish and Lou Malnati's has changed my mind about deep dish.
(5)
Regina S.

This is a relatively new location added to the Lou's mini chain and the ambiance and decor is super fun with exposed ceilings and wooden antique molds used in the railroad business. ( They are hard to describe but super cool). Our server was very knowledgeable as we would not have guessed what all these wood sculpture like pieces were. Anyway, born and raised in Chicago so I am not new to its pizza scene. Living on the East Coast, though, makes me crave for windy city pie be it thick or thin. We ordered a Chicago Classic deep dish and man oh man was it spot on delicious. Through my years of trying to recreate this dish at home, one taste and I realized how I frickin far off I was. The ratio of cheese, crust, tomato, and sausage was perfection. It was juicy, hot, crispy and gooey. Everyone at the table just stopped talking. The silence was the best measure of this glorious pie. Goes to show that you can open another location, but still deliver a perfect product. Oh Lou's I will miss thee.
(5)
Chichai M.

Let me preface by saying I love and will eat pizza in any format from anywhere and I don't have that high standards. Lou Malnatis is the one pizza I've ever tasted that I actually dislike. Bland crust, bland sauce... I guess the giardinera is pretty good, but that's the best I can say. Any out of towners that I've heard from who went to Lou's land up either saying it was bland or asking me what was even 'Chicago Style' about the pizza.
(1)
Gretchen R.

Seems like a less crowded location, but food is still good. 6 of us shared a family size salad and large pizza and still had left over pizza. Waitstaff was friendly and we had no problems. Would return.
(5)
Willie H.

Every bit as good as advertised. One cannot go wrong with their deep dish pepperoni and sausage pie!!! Can't say the best pizza I've ever had, but don't recall a better one. So the food was great, let me speak to the ambience. Perfect amount of TVs, music playing but not blaring and friendly people all around. Do not pass this one by.
(5)
Young Jun L.

This review is for June 4th, 2014. I live in Chicago area, and because I had a guest from Germany, I wanted to have a deep dish pizza from Chicago. I was planning to see the fireworks for Navy Pier, so I thought it would be nice to pre-order a pizza near the river north/old town area. I called Giordano's, and they told me that don't take pre-order at their location (one on Rush), so I called Lou. The first time I called, I was transferred and someone hung up on me, which was a trivial mistake. Then I called again and they took my order then. They asked me when I'll be coming in, and I told them 7:30PM because I was under the impression they would put it into the oven right away and will be ready when I arrive 45 minutes later. My friend and I arrived on time, through all the Neanderthals smoking cigarettes outside the door, only to find the server at the front state that Lou is "full" (by that I saw open tables, but they decided to let other people who's been on the waitlist go ahead of me) and that I should come back in 15-20 minutes. I was getting a bit hungry, but I thought it was reasonable and would allow me to walk to the Lake and back. We never made it to the lake, and decided to turn back near lake shore drive due to hunger. When we arrived 15 minutes later, we were told we were next on the list, and were placed in the middle of the restaurant on tall tables. It wasn't the most comfortable, it wasn't most efficient (the table could have sat 5-6), but I thought it would allow me to have a good view of all the sports that were being played on TV. I come back from the bathroom, having washed my hands, and the waiter is taking our drink order. My friend gets an OJ, and I get water. They've taken the printed receipt of our pre-order pizza and I think the pizza will arrive shortly. Shortly after, our drinks arrive, but our pizza does not. I ask the waiter what's going on, who tells me I need to wait 15-20 minutes more. I get a little annoyed and probe him further, but he just says "I'll get you the manager". - I got the vibe that this guy was too busy to care, or I'm not the only person who's made this complaint before. (TL; DR - guest excited about pizza, little annoyed from delay) The manager, I never got her name, arrives the table, and I explain to her that I called 45 minutes in advance, arrived on time, waited outside for another 20 minutes for the table, and have been waiting at the table for 5-10 minutes, and now I have to wait another 20 minutes. I ask her what the advantage is for pre-ordering when I could have just walked in, and would have gotten the pizza earlier. She tries to explain that they use my expected arrival time, and that the pizza is 15 minutes from being served from when you'll be seated. I try to ask why it couldn't be 15 minutes from my arrival - if they had started the pre-order into the oven during my phone call none of this hassle would have ensued. Her claim is that my pizza time = my expected arrival time + expected wait time to get a table + 15 minutes. I guess it doesn't occur to them that in my head: my pizza time = expected arrival time + minutes. She tries to calmly tell me that it's to keep the pizza fresh, and that if I were to walk in and wait, the wait currently is 1.5 hour-2 hour, thus saving me time. I tell her that I could have gone to other Lou locations and I've waited this Lou with less than an hour wait (honestly, how these mindless drones come up with numbers like this is beyond me. I'm sure there's scientific ways to actually derive a wait time with smaller error). (TL; DR - Manager tells me I'm wrong and I need to wait) Usually, when I have issues with people not delivering their promise (food) on time, they are either apologetic, or give some financial incentive to make them a repeat customer. One time Giordano misplaced my order for 20 minutes (East Randolph Street), and they threw in a free cheesecake, and I ended up giving him a huge (50%+) tip, because I felt sorry for getting so worked up, and that the cost would cover the cheesecake. At Lou's in this location, the manager had to prove that I was wrong about the company policy, which she clearly knew better. I think she'll do great job running that store, because she's always right, and the customer does not know any better. I believe, after having tried an excessive amount of deep dish pizza with different guests I had over the years, the quality of food is less trivial than the quality of service. The attitude of the staff makes the difference in the quality of the meal. I did not enjoy my meal, and I do not plan on returning here. As words of advice, if you're a native to Chicago, you have no reason to go there, and if you're a tourist, there are other places that will make the experience a more Chicago-style, which doesn't involve the bitterness of rude staff ruining your deep-dish pizza. (TL; DR - will not return, and you shouldn't either)
(1)
Taniya A.

Darren and Andrew. Nicest people ever! Chicago has been good to us and so has the pizza. Veggie pizza was bomb!
(5)
Todd C.

Good pizza. There are lots of options for good pizza in St.Louis and this is one of them. Traditional options in a cute environment. Don't miss this place.
(3)
Meilani S.

When asked where to get a deep dish pizza in Chicago, Giordano's and Lou malnati's will prolly be one of the recommended locations. Personally, I feel Lou malnati's has better deep dishes than Gio's. Lou malnati's is the same family that owns the famous Pizano's, which has been featured on diners drive ins and dives. Their pizzas just have more flavor and they are not stingy with their meat. Although, I was disappointed when they wouldn't allow me to order chicken on my pizza. My waitress jokingly declared that was a "California thing." Little did she know I'm Californian! Instead, I ordered their house sausage and I was not disappointed! Very flavorful. Lou's over Gio's hands down.
(4)
Jim C.

My wife and I usually eat at a Malnati's every time we go to Chicago. I love Girodano's, too, but the wait there seems to start at half an hour, then another 30-45 minutes waiting for our pizza. We particularly like the atmosphere at the Malnati's on North State, but the food has always been good at all of them. If you like salads, the house salad is a good way to kill time waiting for your pizza.
(5)
Vi Y.

We ordered Lou Malnati's for delivery at 12am when we were in Chicago. I don't know if I don't like deep dish or what, but it just wasn't that good. Even the next morning, it wasn't that great. Good thing is it was only $20, and they delivered to our hotel.
(2)
Humberto R.

So tried the deep dish and even though it was good, must be my west coast or Mexican taste buds that just could not give this pizza a more than just ok taste. The tomato sauce definitely lacking flavor and the pepperoni was just not flavorful the actual dough was good, just need to get better tasting toppings. However had the shaved ice and that was amazing! Did try the thin pizza and it was also good, but over all nothing to write home about . On a 1-5 maybe a strong 2.
(2)
Laura R.

Great atmosphere, friendly service, and amazing pizza! We tried the Malnati Chicago Classic, deep dish style. I don't usually add meat to my pizza, but the lean sausage was an excellent addition. I'm so glad this restaurant is in my neighborhood!
(5)
Amy H.

A bartender at our hotel recommended this place, he said it's the best in chicago, and he was right!
(5)
Steven L.

We had a large party come in after work for Lou Malnati's. It kinda bothered me that every time someone said Lou Malnati's, I thought they were saying Illuminatis... but anyways, I had never been a big fan of deep dish pizza, usually preferring thin crust instead, but Lou Malnati's did the deep dish justice. For me, pizza is about the ingredients and the bread to ingredients ratio. Deep dish always had crust that was just too thick, but eating this deep dish with a fork and knife was great, kind of like eating a crispy lasagna. We had a little cookie with ice cream for desert as well which rounded out the meal nicely.
(4)
Emily B.

Delicious! We were there on a Sunday night. Even though it seemed very busy, we (a group of 5) were seated on the patio immediately. Our waitress was very friendly and upbeat. She kept our drinks full and checked I with us periodically. We knew that the deep dish takes a while to make (and she forewarned us) but it was nice that she would stop by and let us know how much longer. We will be back when we are in town!
(4)
Sarah L.

I am new to "real" Chicago deep dish but pn first try this place was great. The sauce was delightful as was the deep dish crust. Fine ingredients were clearly used. The atmosphere was classy & very friendly. The linch specials were very reasonable.
(5)
Robert D.

Sorry folks. I was raised in the New York metropolitan area, & I love the NY pizza. I thought the deep dish pizza was average, & can't get past the fact that the tomato sauce is on top of the cheese here. Sorry Lou, go Ray's Pizza!
(3)
Donald F.

Wow, the pizza here is great! I only give four stars because the pizza took a very long time and the carbonation in the drinks is over powering. But over all very good experience!!
(4)
Niekema H.

One of my favorite pizza spots in Chicago. I make sure to take all my guest to Lou's when visiting Chicago. The service at this location is always stellar. I've never had a bad experience. Great place for gatherings.
(5)
Kent Jacob S.

Pizza is my favorite food and I will gladly eat any type of pizza. It combines two of my favorite items: break and cheese! Anyway, Lou Malnati's, by far, has the best deep dish pizza I've ever tasted. The restaurant is a popular destination not only for tourists but locals as well. I have been to the Lou Malnati's on Wells and found this North State Street location to be a whole lot bigger. The wait at this location was much shorter than the Wells location. I recommend phoning in your pizza order in advance so your wait time to get a table is quicker. Our wait time was only 20-30 minutes which cut our wait by half the normal wait time (for a party of 4). On both visits to Lou Malnati's, my party has ordered a deep dish pizza. I loved both but found that the "Malnati Chicago Classic" trumps the "Lou". The classic has a butter crust that has the right crunch and greasy/buttery flavor. The star of course is their Italian sausage, which has huge chunks below the tomato sauce and cheese. The medium sized deep dish could certainly fill you up with one slice so I'm not sure why the menu says it only feeds 3-4 people.
(5)
Connie Y.

My favorite Chicago deep dish place! I always bring my friends who are visiting who have never had deep dish here! They love it. I almost always order the Chicago Classic and the Malnati Salad. Absolutely LOVE both of them. They are my go to items whenever I come. On one visit, a friend and I ordered their stuffed spinach bread which was also amazing! Oh so yummy - I expected nothing less! Excellent and friendly service at this particular location also make the dining experience here all the more better!
(5)
Brad G.

It doesn't get much better for Chicago Style Deep Dish. This spot has a great industrial yet cozy atmosphere. The pizza is excellent with fresh ingredients. The company is always rated as one of the best for their employees in the state. Their desert cookie ice cream is outstanding. The "butter crust" option is delicious. Overall this is the best Chicago Style deep Dish place. I think Due has better atmosphere since it's in an old victorian house, and The Art of Pizza has a better pizza, but as the whole package this location is your best place to get the famous pie and have a great time.
(4)
Ted H.

Looks like I was having such a good time that I forgot to hit post on Friday. A Chicago Classic at Malnati's is just something you can't go wrong with. Best sausage and crust (buttercrust if course) of any Chicago pizza place out there. The sauce could be a little less chunky for some people I know, but it's just fine for me. The only downsides to Malnati's are the wait time and the service. I don't think the servers are actually bad, just too busy for how many are on the clock for a Friday night. I do like the "pre order" system for your pizza though. That way you're only waiting 15 more min for your pizza to cook when you sit down rather than 45min - 1hr.
(4)
Frankie F.

Not a big fan of deep dish, hence the score. Very nice staff and cool location though.
(3)
Amber A.

Ordered the famous deep dish with extra pepperoni and the butter crust, 2 rootbeers, an iced water with lemon, and an appetizer (cheesy bread). The bread was delicious although I would have preferred a little more olive oil on the bread. Served as a huge loaf with a dipping sauce of fresh sweet tomatoes blended with spices. Next up, we had the small pizza for 2. Let me tell you, you need to come starving to eat more than a slice of this hearty gooey topping bonanza pizza. With every bite it drips with cheese sauce and said toppings. I was barely able to finish a regular slice because of the hearty-ness of the toppings so you def get what you pay for in terms of ingredients. If you're not from Chicago though, you may want to order easy on the sauce because the pizza comes heaped with sauce on the top, which us Californians are not used to but the pizza was very delicious, just a note to future out of town diners :) as far as the service we had a very sweet and attentive waiter named Rodney. He was gracious in all of our requests such as extra napkins or answering questions about the menu and it seemed he was very sincere which is nice. He served us our slices of pizza as well and when he noticed our plates were empty, he offered to serve us another piece from the pan onto our plate. Also, about the atmosphere, there are different places to sit inside which is kind of cool. There is a colder area with steel chairs and little tables, there is a main area close to the bar with bar stools and taller tables, and there is an enclosed area with glass windows and cozy couches and chairs. There are heaters and heat lamps hanging from the ceiling and cozy big chars where you can eat at smaller round tables. We chose to sit here and were happy, plus there was more privacy. In all, we would def come visit here again with the wonderful service and hearty food.
(5)
Marc G.

Boy... if I lived in Chicago (went to school here and left way too soon...) I would rotate between Lou's, Giordano's and Gino's... and eventually make it out to Burt's Place. But I don't, so on every visit I usually get to pick only one place for 'Za. Two years ago it was the cheese bomb that is Giordano's. Delicious, but I walk out feeling like I am going to explode. Last time it was Due's... So disappointing, I cannot even tell you. And that was my first, only and last time there... And this time was Lou Malnati's. I had been to a different Lou's two years ago and realized I could eat two slices and not feel like I was going into a food coma. I like that. Great deep dish... great crust (regular, without extra butter)... great sauce... and you walk out feeling good. We split a pepperoni and mushroom... and a spinach and onion... So tasty. The Malnati salad was really good, too. And sitting in a booth in the bar was roomy and gave us access to watch Da Bears... they lost... Doh! Love the pizza here... and this location, too. It was quite comfy and the service was great.
(5)
Paul R.

Amazing Chicago deep dish pizza. The ambience was cool and hip. The food was amazing. My first time here and what a wonderful experience. You can order when you arrive which is nice since it takes a while for it to be made.
(5)
Jon Y.

Good pizza, just lacking a bit of zip I was hoping for from the sausage on the classic.
(4)
Rebecca T.

My group and I woke up at 4am to board our flight to Chicago, then dropped off our things at the hotel, and headed straight here. We got to the restaurant at 2:00pm, so we all were extremely hungry and extremely excited. We ordered the calamari to start off. Nothing to complain about. Between the four of us, we ordered 2 small deep dish pizzas. Each small was cut into 4's, so we got to have a slice of each. AND BOY WAS THAT ENOUGH. The first, was the "The Lou," and this was my fav. It had this buttery crust unlike any I ever had! The crust alone is a must try as I never had a deep dish with a crust that buttery and delicious before. There was also an adequate assortment of veggies, cheese, and tomato sauce. Not overcooked, just right. The second one was the Chicago classic, which was sausage, sauce, and cheese. This one had the normal crust. I didn't care for this one. The sausage tasted weird (aftertaste). There was too much meat, too little sauce, and too much cheese for my liking. We finished off with a "cookie pizza." This was basically a pazookie from BJ's but much better. THe cookie was baked just right, not undercooked, not too crunchy, just right. I don't know if I can say this is the best deep dish pizza I ever had, or my expectations were set too high. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy one of the pizza very much, and service was delightful, but it wasn't everything I wanted it to be.
(3)
Lightphoot _.

Wasn't going to leave Chicago without trying deep dish pizza. I read reviews about many of the "best" places to go and decided on Lou's because of compliments and they have a good bar area to wait or eat (knowing there was going to be a wait). Ate at the bar, which still was a little bit of a wait - better than the hour it took to get a table (I held on to the pager to see how long). This was expected though on a Saturday night. For being as busy as they were, the bartenders were attentive. Most reviews said to preorder while waiting, but the pizza came pretty quickly - about 20-30 minutes. Tried the Classic deep dish which was delicious. Granted I don't have any other "original" Chicago places to compare to, but this was pretty much what I was expecting. The crust had a nice buttery taste and it was a great combo of crispy and soft. The sauce and cheese were in good proportions to the rest of the pie. I look forward to trying other deep dish places in the future to compare.
(4)
Anthony D.

It's definitely good. Better than the other famous deep dish places in the city, in my opinion. But is it great? I'm not sure. I enjoy deep dish pizza in general, and I definitely enjoyed eating it here. It just didn't blow me away. It didn't have that certain "je ne sais quoi," which may be more a "me" thing than a "Lou's" thing. I do love that it's cheap, and while I'd recommend going a size up from what the menu recommends -- at least for big eaters like me -- doing so won't break the bank. The minestrone soup is great too. I would and will go back, but it's not the be-all-and-end-all of Chicago spots, in my opinion.
(3)
Dennis H.

Not sure what the hoopla is about, I found the Classic rather blah. The crust is good because of the butter but maybe the whole deep dish thing isn't for me. The decor of this location is really nice, very high end for a pizza joint. I am sure this is not the norm for Lou Malnati's. Now I just need to try Gino's East to make a fair comparison.
(3)
Katrina R.

Welcome to Lou's on Rush (okay, State-- but it's at the corner of Rush and State so we will call it six of one half dozen of the other, OKAY?!). Here, you will find the best damn pizza in Chicago. I believe that the Rush (State St!) location is the best Lou's location in the city. The pizza here is always, always, always pure melty perfection. I have never had a pizza here which even verged on mediocre. It's all excellent. I'm partial to The Lou, but honestly I'm no purist. Sometimes I like it with spinach, easy sausage, or maybe onion and mushroom. You don't need to be picky. Have I mentioned that whatever you get it's going to be good? However, this factoid does come with a caveat-- don't order the thin crust. Don't do it. It's not like it's bad or anything; Lou's does a fine thin crust pizza. But, you're cheating yourself. You're kidding yourself! I don't care if you're "not a deep dish person". To that I say, you're not a deep dish person *yet*. Ingredients here are fresh. Pizzas are hot. Crusts are buttery. The drinks are simple, they know they aren't the star of this show. The pizza, oh man, that pizza! I cannot reccomend Lou's with the emphasis it deserves, and that is a travesty. However, the greatest travesty of all would be you not hauling ass to Lou's post haste. I love you, Lou Malnati's.
(5)
Zoe Z.

Pizza is tasty. And the waiter cut the pizza for us. The best is the dessert, The cookie pizza: cookie in a pizza pan and has cream and vanilla ice cream on top of the warm cookie. Definitely the one to order.
(5)
Michael S.

Really nice location right on Rush st. We got one of the handful of tables on the sidewalk which was awesome on a nice day (it is usually crowded though so you might have to wait a while for outdoor seating). We got the 'classic' deep dish and it was not good. It was basically a TON of cheese and then pieces of sausage. There was almost no sauce and the sausage was not even good sausage; it tasted like the sausage you would find on a frozen pizza at the grocery store. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong item, but I thought I should go with the 'classic' as it was my first time. This experience actually scarred me so much that I did not eat deep dish pizza for almost 6 months after this as I thought maybe deep dish just wasn't for me. Luckily, I gave it another shot at Giordano's and had their 'classic' which was absolutely delicious. Overall, I will probably return and try a different pizza - especially since it is in such a great location and the prices are good ($20 for a deep dish that feeds 3 or 4), but I highly recommend you do not get the 'classic.'
(2)
David T.

I don't think this place needs much of a review. If you know Lou's then you know. If you don't know Lou's then you must not be from Chicago. If you are from Chicago and still don't know Lou's don't tell anyone that information and you should probably move away for being a bad Chicagoan. Haha Lou's is the best pizza in Chicago and I'll have words with anyone who says otherwise.
(5)
Jaime D.

Most amazing pizza I've ever had!! Buttery crunchy crust. Lou's salad and dressing was perfect. Ordered 3 bottles of the salad dressing to go it was so good!
(5)
Carmela A.

I'm normally not a big fan of thick crust or deep dish pizza. But if it has BUTTER CRUST like the "Lou Malnati's Chicago classic", I'm in!! The crust is not overwhelmingly thick like other deep dish pizzas I've had. In fact, it's thin, flaky and dangerously buttery! Thin crust=more space for cheese and meat! The cheese was exactly the way I like it, gooey and stringy! The pizza comes with the standard sausage, but we added pepperoni and mushroom in ours. Bomb! I also had the Malnati's salad, which was a great salad, but filled up stomach space which I could've used to eat a second slice. * sigh * While we were stuffing ourselves with stuffed pizza, we also got to sit outside whilst watching Chicago at night. So, will they deliver to California? Because I am willing to spend $20 on shipping to get my hands on that butter crust pizza again, and I am not sharing!
(4)
Jason F.

I stopped by here this past Monday with my fiancÃ© as part of a food tour. The inside of this place was pretty cool as it had a nice lounge area on the street side of the restaurant and we were taken to the back area which had a faux-wall with lots of manhole covers and other industrial like pieces. It really worked with the rest of the restaurant as well as it had the industrial feel of wood beams and duct work showing on the ceiling. For our tasting here we were given a Lou Malnati salad and also a piece of deep dish pizza which had some sausage on it. We started off with the salad which was good as it had a sweet dressing on it and there was some prosciutto bits on the table that we added to it which gave it that perfect sweet and salty taste. While we were eating our salads the food tour guide told us about how the deep dish was made which gave us a better appreciation of it whenever it arrived. The butter crust of it was thin and had a wonderful taste. There was also ample amounts of cheese of top which I loved and went well with the sweet sausage. Finally the tomatoes on top surprised me in that I normally hate them but these tasted a little sweet and were actually pleasing to my palate. My fiancÃ© also liked the pizza which was a surprise to her as she had been avoiding deep dish pizza. The bottom line for me is that I would come back here again in the future. Both the salad and the pizza were good and I enjoyed the feel of the place.
(4)
Scott D.

Definitely worth the hype this place gets! I had two delicious slices and cannot put down anymore. Excited about eating the leftovers later on tonight! I'm not much of a seafood fan, but the fried calamari was amazing. Great wine selection as well. I had an excellently paired Castiglioni Chianti with my sausage pizza. Enjoyed the atmosphere eating on the outside deck with beautiful coverage. Was a little loud and hard to hear everyone at my party of 10, but I'm sure it would be fine with a more intimate dinner.
(4)
Drew M.

Disclaimer: please don't take this review as some sort of objective dissection of the merits and shortcomings of this establishment. To me, this place is a little slice of heaven, my zen, my equilibrium, my nirvana, the one point in spacetime where everything is in perfect balance. I need to recuse myself from having to emit an impartial verdict here. Lou Malnati's Chicago Classic is, quite possibly, my favorite thing of all time. The Grand Canyon is great. Love is fine. Fjords look really cool at sunset. The Beatles truly were awesome. Potable water can never be overrated. The Chicago Classic is reliably, persistently splendid. It is the superlative of perfection, if that's even a thing. It all starts when your teeth break through the perfectly buttery crust for a perfect, satisfying crunch; then comes a layer of moist, subtly bready dough preceding a perfectly spiced layer of sausage. The cheese is, at first, runny and grows more and more rubbery with temperature, but it never loses that purely milky flavor. The tomato sauce is simple, unassuming, and perfect. It tastes like tomatoes and that's that. If it's a question on the merits of deep dish over regular pizza, let's just put it this way: I don't care if you think deep dish is pizza or not; no pizza provides that crunch, nor does it structurally allow for that much mozzarella, sausage, and tomato sauce in every bite. And it doesn't have that perfect umami touch. As for alternatives to deep-dish, Giordano's stuffed pizza really lets the cheese take the driver's seat, but the other components really don't come through as beautifully. The location itself is comfortable and generously appointed. The staff are reliably wonderful and hellbent on maximizing your overall experience without being intrusive. I think that, being in such a wonderful city for beer as Chicago, their beer selection could be much stronger (absolutely nothing beats the two-fisted symphony of ecstasy that is Alpha King with Lou Malnati's), but it is more than most pizza chains offer. They also have Intelligentsia coffee, which is always good. On the minus side, it seems adding chicken to the spinach salad barely makes a dent on the standard 0:1 chicken-to-salad ratio; then again, if you're at Lou Malnati's and not eating their deep dish, you're in the wrong place. Also, I think there is a gap to be filled between their two smallest deep-dish servings: the "personal"-sized pie is entirely too tiny to really leave me satisfied, while the 2400-calorie "small" one is a bit more than I'd like to consume in one meal if I am to leave room for their delicious desserts. The pies they ship nationwide comfortably sit in the middle of those two in terms of size, and I find them to be just the perfect amount for a hungry, thin-framed individual. Well, that actually wasn't so bad, was it? I hope I've actually given you an idea of what it is that I love about their pizza, and what Lou Malnati's could do to enhance the general dine-in experience.
(5)
Casey L.

Amazing Pizza. Tourist Trap. Hard to get a table.
(4)
Amrita P.

Let me preface my review with the fact that Im not into thick pizza, Im a huge fan of thin crust. However, since I was in Chicagoland I figure I should give a few options a whirl. Lou Malnati had a great local beer selection. However, I wasnt a fan of their crust or sauce. I tried their signature za called "The Lou" which had loads of nice veg, but because it was soggy it was not appetizing. The strawberry salad was lovely to me, but my hubby and fam were not a fan of it because of the tangy/sour vinegarette. The garlic bread was also nice. Compared to Giordano's I wasnt a fan of Lou Malnati's.
(2)
Fernando C.

EXTREMELY BAD SERVICE AND WRONG INFORMATION ON THE PHONE, made me waste 40 dollars on an Uber SUV. Details - called in knowing the pizza takes 30min to cook, ordered on phone and was told my name was added to table wait list. To make it on time had to get the most expensive Uber available. Upon arriving there was told the info was wrong, the pizza is being cooked but would have to wait for 30min for the table. Which means first they made me waste the Uber trip, second THEIR PIZZAS ARE NOT SERVED FRESH, they cook when you order and re-heat when you get your table!!
(1)
Elisa R.

Last time I came to Chicago I made the mistake of trying my first deep dish pizza at Gino's. So, for three years I thought I hated deep dish pizza. That was until my boyfriend convinced me to have another go-around. This time we listened to Yelp and decided to go with Lou Malnati's. Our waitress was the sweetest person ever. Her name was Autumn. She recommended the buffalo chicken watermelon salad and did not lead us astray. It was one of the best salads I've ever had. Then, we made a mistake and ordered the "Lou" when we really wanted a pizza loaded up with sausage. She was insanely patient with us, and managed to change the order in the kitchen to a "Classic" (despite the 30 min cook time for most pizzas). It was so delicious....and I'm so glad we made the change. The butter crust is amazing. Everything was perfect. Listen to Yelp! And ask for Autumn!
(5)
O L.

My sister has some dietary restrictions and we have to be careful when dining out. She is allergic to a list of ingredients, garlic being one of them; and she's gluten-free. We went to Lou's because it has a gluten-free pizza. We explained her allergies to the staff. The waiter, chef and manager were incredibly accommodating. They explained that Lou's sauce is pre-made and has fresh garlic in it. ALL OF IT. After some discussion, the chef agreed to make a garlic-free sauce for her gluten-free pizza. The problem is that I previously sent an email to Lou's nutritionist which wasn't answered until after our visit. Her response email to me: "Thank you for contacting Lou Malnati's. Our sauce does not contain any garlic." HOW CAN THAT BE? That is a direct conflict from what the restaurant told us. How can diners with allergies ever know what is actually in the food about to be consumed when the restaurant gives different information. I'm giving 3 stars because I have no idea what to make of this. My sister is okay after eating the pizza but I'm a bit frustrated and confused.
(3)
Jennifer K.

Deep dish pizzas!! Yummm. I was excited to try deep dish pizza during my visit to Chicago. Can't find many Chicago style deep dish pizzas around the Bay Area. We walked in for lunch and got seated at their patio area. It seemed like an extension of the restaurant. The seats were all couches( super comfy!!!) i loved it. Great for people watching and just relaxing while enjoying drinks and pizza. I forget which pizzas we ordered. My bf and I ordered two and they were perfect sizes. Not too small or big. The margarita I had was refreshing! Service was very prompt and quick. Overall..Great place to dine. Glad we stopped by here!
(4)
Ari M.

Ordered "The Lou". Hands down one of the best pizza experiences I've ever had (I'm from New York, so, blasphemously, you should definitely believe what I speak of...). Went during lunchtime, on a Tuesday. The place was dead, but the service was great. Nice restaurant, and hope to return one day, to replicate the nirvana-like experience the pizza elicited from my very being.
(5)
Alexander Y.

Before I even came to Chicago, my friend suggested Lou Malnati's over Giordano's. My feelings for Giordano's notwithstanding, I will say that I can understand why there is a split in opinion with regards to Lou's and Giordano's. All I can say is, either one's good for me because this was also some bomb ass pizza all day err day. The difference I suppose is that it isn't "stuffed" like Giordano's. I kinda have a differing opinion on what constitutes deep dish and I'm not sure this actually cracks deep dish, although it's still considered deep dish I guess. Either way, it's good. Got the Malnati Chicago Classic with some hot giardiniera + butter crust...man, I am in pizza heaven here. I guess because it's not as cheesy as Giordano's, you can definitely taste the toppings more. And they are some damn good toppings. God I wish they shipped individual pizzas instead of having to pack in six pizzas in one.
(4)
Chris M.

DEEP DISH PIZZA was incredible. Go here on an empty stomach because it is the real deal. Medium pizza comfortably fed 2 adults and the price was very reasonable. If you want deep dish near the shopping centre, go here. Hands down
(5)
Alex B.

Got the Malnati Chicago special, was delicious. Buttermilk crust crispy, and tomato sauce tasted fresh. Overall a great deep dish pie.
(5)
Tiffany H.

The place wasn't too crowded for a Saturday and the noise was moderate. The server was very attentive. The food was okay.... ( had alcoholic beverage, pizza, and spinach salad) overall it's a nice neighborhood restaurant.
(4)
Charlie V.

The food was great and the service was decent. Definitely one of the better services I have gotten from a family chain. The pizza tasted fresh and buttery.
(5)
Pamela R.

Ate here on the recommendation of a Chicago native. We ordered the "small" Malnati Chicago Classic, which was phenomenal. The deep dish pizzas take a bit, and we figured some sort of vegetable was a good idea so we ordered the Caesar salad to start. The waiter was especially nice and informed us that their Caesar comes with tomatoes. Not a problem- it was a nice addition and very tasty. The table next to us ordered a plethora of fried appetizers and we were slightly jealous, but better off for not going that route. Afterwards we were stuffed. All in all the perfect meal to start off a full day of walking and sightseeing.
(5)
Judy H.

Got a small classic deep dish and oh my goodness. I was so full, but just kept eating and didn't even care. Also got a thin crust with roma tomatoes and spinach and deliciousness and that was also pretty good. Not as great as the deep dish but still amazing. They also had beerz and I had the Poet, an oatmeal stout. Delicious. *sigh* everything was just delicious. I want more....
(5)
d a.

The rating isn't for the pizza which is what it always is-consistent, great tomato sauce but not really really deep dish. They also have nice couches and in the summer when they open the windows it's a great place to sit. The rating is however for the server, a seth rogen like character who was incredibly rude. We came in on a saturday mid afternoon-a dead time in the restaurant to eat pizza but more to talk. The waiter, apparently unschooled in waiting came over every 5 minutes to ask if we were done while were talking and finishing. This went on for about 20 minutes and ended with some snide comment. Chicago is a cutthroat deep dish pizza town and there are a lot of joints that have service that isn't awful. Won't be back. s others learn about great local businesses. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees.
(1)
CatwomanRoar M.

Yay! This one delivers to Wicker/Bucktown. Lou's is my fave go-to deep dish place (Uno's my fave have-lots-of-time-want-to-dine-in place) Anyway, I digress... My reg go-to: Malnati Chicago Classic: Buttercrust (only pizza on menu that comes w/ it) Sausage (big patty covering bottom of entire pizza) Extra cheese (yup extra) Vine-ripened tomato sauce (w/ chunky pieces of tomatoes) ADD-ON: Spinach & Mushrooms. Yessssss. I highly recommend (if you're able) to.... by-pass the Wicker location. Over the past few years, their quality has really gone down &/or is very inconsistent. When I want deep dish, i want it deep. Not some overly thick crust (bottom), really light on the toppings. We used to order at least once a month there, no more! This Gold Coast location was so, so much better. They also forgot to add a topping and were super nice about rectifying the situation.
(4)
G M.

After traveling the US my criteria for a 'GREAT PLACE TO LIVE' is determined by the pizza. Let me tell you I've tasted some God awful pizza during my travles. So upon returning to my home town, Chicago, my first stop was Lou's.......and I had to take a moment with the pizza...eyes closed and a huge smile on my face. OMG....this pizza surpassed my fantasy! Lou's doesn't disappoint.
(5)
Sho G.

Fantastic pizza. Last time I was in Chicago I had Pequads and the debate was between these two places having the best deep dish pizza. I was back in Chicago again and had Lou Malnati's and I can say it was much better. Its all about the sauce. Something magical is going on there. The service was great and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very pleasant.
(5)
S P.

I went to this place on Sunday of Labor Day. We beat the crowd by getting in at 6:00. The wait time for the restaurant got progressively longer as we ate so definitely recommend getting there early. We waited for a patio seat, which I recommend great for people watching. Like most pizza places in Chicago, the pizzas took atleast 30 minutes to make. We got both a deep dish and thin crust. On the deep dish, we told them them to cook it well done, so it wouldn't be gooey. Thin crust was great as well. Everyone at the table had a different favorite, so I recommend trying both.
(5)
Darcy W.

I LOVE Lou's and stop here every time I'm in town! Minneapolis lacks a good Chicago style pizza. The butter crust is crazy good!! I am also a fan of the Lou's salad! I would like a little better wine selection but hey it's decent I came for the pizza! I can also tell you I have compared Uno's, Gino's, and Giordano's...all are good but Lou's is the BEST!
(4)
Chris Y.

Awesome pizza, "deep dish" is not everyones favorite, including me, but if you just slow down open up your mind and try to appreciate what other people see in it you will understand. The crust is great and the sauce is definitely not the usual as thin crust.
(5)
Nicole P.

Who loves meat and veggies? My brother and I love meat and veggies! ...respectively. First of all, it's a shame I didn't realize this place is within walking distance of me. Secondly, this place is AWESOME! My brother came to visit from Michigan and this is the place he chose for dinner. The customer service was fantastic! Our waiter, Salim (sorry if I spelled your name wrong, dude), was entertaining as well as informative. He was johnny-on-the-spot with everything from suggestions to plate clearing. I appreciate that he took the extra time he had (the place wasn't extremely busy) to chitchat with us instead of just his coworkers like a lot of waitstaff tend to do. The food was, of course, delicious. I had been to a Lou Malnati's before but I hadn't had the pizza. "Well then, what did you have?" you might ask. I had a fruit salad...mostly grapes...it was wine. At any rate, I got the Lou. I highly recommend this for the veggie lovers out there. My brother ordered the Classic and added either sausage or pepperoni. He also ordered another small sausage pizza to go, which Salim was so kind as to monitor the timing of, as to make sure it was warm when we left. The small sized deep dish pizzas were perfect sizes for us. They're pre-sliced into quarters. I don't think either of us finished them -- not for lack of trying. I actually took all but one slice home. We also split the Trio of Dips and Pizza Chips. Oh. My. G. The hummus with peppers (giardiniera-topped) was to die for. My brother, who does not normally eat/like spinach dip b/c of the artichoke, really liked the spinach dip...because he didn't know that it had artichoke in it (wink). We were both satisfied with the roasted garlic dip. The portions are all pretty large so it's a fantastic deal for the prices. Not many other restaurants in that part of town are that reasonable. The decor was interesting (including that in the ladies room). It's well lit, so, bring your grandparents! They'll be able to read the menus just fine. I noticed that there was a pretty nice sized patio, great for summertime snacks. I also noticed that there was a pretty large group seated toward the back of the restaurant. They were just far enough removed that it didn't feel like sitting next to the NYSE. Great acoustics in there. There are also plenty of nice big tv screens behind the bar. I like! I will definitely be returning. So. Much.
(4)
Marion D.

Great drinks and awesome pizza. Go with the Chicago Classic- it's a classic for a reason!
(5)
Jenny L.

Had dinner here yesterday everything was jut delicious! From appetizer to desert!!! Service was also great!!
(5)
Jim O.

Best one in town. Lou's special with butter crust is excellent!
(5)
Derek F.

I wasnt always a fan of deep dish chicago pizza until i went to lous. 1 slice will do it. I think pizza starts with a good sauce and I was hooked after one bite. My gf recommended the place and we've stopped in every time we visit. Highly recommended!
(4)
Jackie M.

Lou Malnati's has definitely grown on me as far as Chicago deep dish goes. My favorite is the original with the sausage patty layer. I think this location did a particularly nice job of the buttery crust and balance of flavors. It's not too thick, overly salty, or "charred" as many of the other deep dish pizza places. In fact, after going to multiple LM's this one I believe has won me over on best Chicago-style. ATK (for you non-PBS nerds, America's Test Kitchen) did an episode on the crust and replicated an at home recipe. I would not be surprised if the show was filmed there too, they got it down to a science!
(5)
Jiho S.

I lived in Chicago 20 years and never had Lou's Shame on me. Finally came back after leaving Chicago a decade ago. Heaven in a pan. The malnati classic is the most popular (50% of orders per waiter). Conclusion - butter crust a must. Chunky tomato sauce was unreal. I'm not a big meat in my pizza guy so next time I'll just get cheese but there's plenty of sausage for those that desire this. This location was empty for lunch on Sunday. Lotts hitop tables so my guess its doubles as a drinking joint. Next stop pequod for the comparison.
(5)
Chris W.

Perfect. Just perfect! Came here on new years eve and got a 4 course meal for 2 with leftovers for a fantastic price. They even sat us next to the window, next to the Christmas tree as we watched it snow outside. The salad and wings were fantastic! The pizza was amazing as usual and the atmosphere was spectacular. After spending money on super expensive restaurants the past few days this was a nice refresher. Great customer service as well! Thank you. Make sure you get a deep dish pizza here!
(5)
Anna N.

Lou Malnati's exceeded our expectations. I came with a group of 18 college students from Pennsylvania. We are in town for the National Restaurant Association Show. Our walk from our hotel was long and cold! So we were very hungry and anxious to try deep dish for the first time. Our waiter Greg was very helpful and super friendly. As Hospitality students, we greatly appreciate the ability for a restaurant to cope well with large groups of people. I highly recommend Lou Malnati's. Ask for Greg! He was great!
(5)
C L.

The pizza is good for deep dish, but I think what sold it was the service. After one slice, it's meh. We sat in the lounge area and it was super awkward to eat in there with low seating and tiny tables. Ask for Sergio if you go. He's top notch and will definitely take care of you. All in all, a nice meal.
(4)
Larry W.

Get the Chicago style deep dish but start with a salad!!!! Best salads I have ever had!
(5)
Celeste A.

Visiting from California had to try the deep dish pizza. Omg I'm still drooling & couldn't stop eating even though it felt like my pants were about to explode. The sauce was so fresh with chunks of tomatoes. The crust just melted in your mouth. Amazing
(5)
S L.

There's no doubt that there's a wait, but the wait is beyond worth it. The Chicago classic deep dish with butter crust is the best I have ever had. The waiter gave our order accidentally to another table and apologetically told us they would make another order for us. During our wait (which actually was pretty short), the manager gave us complimentarily appetizers. We wanted to save room for the pizza so we didn't order too much, even though they offered to generously comp two appetizers per person. we decided to just share two total. We ordered bruschetta and minestrone soup, which were both probably also the best I've had. Honestly, I would have came even just for the appetizers alone. Having been a server previously, it does take a lot to impress me and this place did just that. The best service and food. The best experience.
(5)
YiÄŸit S.

Deep dish pizza was okay, but we waited 1 hour to be seated. The server was great. If you go there just want to be served by Robert. 4 stars for Robert.
(4)
Beki T.

True Chicago deep dish. Definitely recommend it! Staff was wonderful, restaurant was clean, bathroom is well kept
(4)
Ashley S.

I don't even like deep dish but this place could convert anyone. Be sure to get the buttercrust!
(5)
Alicia H.

We got a deep dish pepperoni small pizza that was plenty for two. The sauce was fresh and you can taste the tomatoes. I would say it was more a medium on the deepness thickness.
(5)
Lisa F.

Delicious pizza, great staff, very attentive, neat atmosphere, we're stuffed!!
(5)
Daniel A.

Boy oh Boy! Lou's is hands-down my favorite of the big Chicago style pizza places. It has to be the butter or some kind of MSG or something! I ended up eating at this location easily over five times in the course of 3 weeks and was absolutely in love with the pizza. If you only have time for one Chicago style pizza, Lou's is where you need to try it.
(5)
Paul S.

I don't know Lou. I gotta friend back home in Va Beach who's got your pizza beat with one hand tied behind his back. And that salad ain't nothing to write home about either. I tell you what Lou, I bring my mother out in the rain to get some deep dish, show her a nice night out in Chicago. Lou, I expect a bit more than this. This is my Mother Lou, she deserves the best! Atmosphere: I felt like a tourist eating at a tourist trap dining on tourist quality food. As if the chef was back there saying 'Eh, what do they know, those tourists, just give them some pizza.' Just something about the place that I can't put my finger on made me feel like I was being swindled. Salad: I've had some boring salads. Salads are all made of roughly the same ingredients. Some greens, some supporting elements. Some pop, and some taste like watery greens. This was the latter, and the house red vinegarette didn't do much to save it. Pizza: All three stars go to the butter crust on this pizza. And I'm talking about the edge of the pan, because as we get closer in, it's just soggy. But the flavor was decent throughout the pizza. I did want to keep snacking on that crust though. Hey Lou! Maybe you outta just sell bits of crust in bags! Hey I'm just bustin your balls man. Overall, I'd say find somewhere else. Leave this one to the unsuspecting tourists.
(3)
Trista T.

Thank gawd I am back in Chicagoland so i can get back to eating real pizza. Lou Malnati's was a perfect comeback too. Normally I am a Giordano's fan, but someone convinced me I should try out Lou's. Though I don't think the pizza is as thick, the ingredients were top notch. The cheese was perfection, and the big pieces of tomato in the sauce were so tasty. The crust was super crunchy and full of a buttery flavor, it never got soggy either! We also tried the spinach cheese bread as a starter; it was def up to par with their pizza. Honestly, you just can't go wrong with pizza in Chicago. O, an the service was great as well!
(4)
J T.

I visit Lou's in the triangle almost every time that I visit Chicago. Great Pizza as you would expect and a nice selection of beer to complement. Weather was nice this time, so sat out on the patio and got caught up on work while enjoying dinner. Plenty of other places to try Chicago pizza, but Lou's is in a great location and is consistently good, so why bother?
(4)
melinda b.

Shortly after my review I was contacted by the district manager regarding my experience. She thoroughly explained their new policy on large parties and apologized for the negative service. I'm extremely happy they care so much about customer satisfaction, pretty dang awesome.
(5)
Neil S.

Recently moved into the neighborhood (Gold Coast location) and thought this place was going to be a tourist trap. Boy were we wrong. My wife and I ordered the deep dish sausage special and after our first bite we turned to each other and said in unison "this is the best pizza I've ever had." We've been back every week. Their thin crust version is now in our repertoire, as well, and the service is also a bonus. Whenever we have guests in town, LM's has made our regular rotation. We recommend it to everyone. Only downside I've seen thus far is that you can't split toppings (say half sausage, half pepperoni) without them charging you for two. Doesn't matter though - you can't find a better pizza in town.
(5)
Sara H.

Had the 6" Lou for lunch on a Saturday and was thoroughly disappointed. The crust was so bland and lacked pizzaz. Ain't got nothing on Giordano's.
(1)
Monae P.

Let me start off by saying, I am not the biggest fan if Chi-style pizza, but when in Rome do as the Romans...so if I'm here, I must partake. After reading several reviews and quite frankly, hearing about the Malnati's salad, we decided on Malnati's. All in all, great spot, food is good, ambiance is casual, but nice. Salad was amazing with a homemade balsalmic dressing, bacon, and blue cheese; better than the pizza honestly. We had The Classic Malnati's Pizza, with fresh mozzarella and sausage. Like other reviewers have mentioned, the crust is buttery and baked to perfection. Sauce is delicately seasoned, yet flavorful! For those of us, that are not native to Chicago, they do have thin crust as well, which is tasty. All in all, although deep dish is not my first option, I will make a trip back to Malnati's for a slice of hearty goodness and of course, double up on the salad!
(4)
Ellie K.

Although I'm more of a NY style pizza lover myself, I do find myself having monthly cravings for Lou Malnati's chicago deep dish! When you're in the mood for stuffed pizza, this is the way to go :) YUM
(5)
Mary H.

Delicious pizza, great atmosphere. Service was good, allow extra time for deep dish...worth the wait. I usually prefer a thin crust, but this deep dish is great, because the crust stays crusty on the bottom and edge with just enough give under the cheese and sauce to satisfy the doughy aspect as well. The sauce has a great tomato flavor with a really fresh taste. A must when visiting Chicago.
(4)
Jennifer O.

My new go-to favorite for Chicago deep dish! The rich crust and the thick Wisconsin cheese is just heavenly! I may have to get a few pies shipped out once I return to L.A.
(5)
Joy G.

Visiting friends in the Chicago area and decided that I needed to try the famous Chicago Deep Dish. Reviews for Lou Malnati's were very good and ultimately swayed my decision. We came on a Sunday afternoon. No wait, which was great. We sat in a quiet room off to the side, which was great, as we had two young kids with us. Our server was great. Good recommendations and awesome service. The food was good, but definitely heavy. Will recommend to others.
(4)
John f.

I was shocked to see this location is rated a half star less than the others. I would expect this location near Rush and State to be a half star more just given its new interior, patio, and location. First let's start with the pizza. The thin crust and deep dish are very good. However deep dish pizza and quality of crust are hotly debated topics in this city. The Lou salad is also a winner. Share the large and still enjoy a deep dish pizza. If your not sure which pizza to get, go with the "Lou" unless of course you have to eat meat and risk filling up too soon! Added bonus of this location is the better than average decor, atmosphere, and cleanliness among the pizzeria's in the city and lacks the high throughput touristy feel. Granted I was there early for lunch so who knows if the place gets overrun by ankle bitters and American Girl Dolls! With the open front and patio tables on the sidewalk you get the added bonus of Chicago's best people watching, you are in the Viagra triangle after all!
(4)
David K.

Although I've lived in Chicago for awhile now, I had never been to Lou Malnati's--my parents were in town, so we decided to pop in here for lunch. I have to admit (and Chicagoans, please don't exile me from this city, I do love living here), I am not the biggest fan of deep dish pizza. I like it, but I'm not *in* like with it, if you get what I mean... That said--Lou Malnati's was actually pretty tasty. There was something different about it (versus Giordano's or Uno or Gino's, etc.) that made it much better. They had a fantastic balance between toppings and crust that made the pizza enjoyable and not awkward--and as an added bonus, the crust didn't taste like cardboard (I'm looking at you, Gino's East), so it was pretty great. We had also started with a large house salad to share, that was pretty fantastic--maybe it was just that through the course of my parent's visit that we had forgotten to eat our vegetables so anything green tasted fantastic, but it had a better combination of pizza-place-salad ingredients than most places. It was pretty nice. My other huge plus for this place was the ambiance--for some reason, I think old-timey-looking lightbulbs are really interesting and that was definitely the main motif for this place--lots of exposed bulbs with fascinating filaments. Not gonna lie--kind of cool. My hesitations about this place are mostly that the service was pretty subpar. The server forgot an item and was slow with everything. Slow to take our orders--told us our drinks would be out shortly and then they took forever to show up--never brought us water....definitely not my favorite. My other hang-up was about drinks--okay this one is odd, but I ordered a Goose Island Matilda; I have never been to a bar in Chicago that didn't serve Matilda in its adorable wide-mouthed glass; but they served it in a pint glass! I know I'm being snobby, but this really annoyed me. If you are a Chicago establishment, you should know how to serve Matilda. Overall, it's an alright spot. The food was actually pretty great; the service wasn't fantastic, but the ambiance was interesting. On one of those rare occasions that I'm actually searching for a deep dish pizza, I may have to wander down to this place.
(4)
Justin T.

Wonderful, wonderful pizza. Garlic bread is an easy skip, but the pizza was fantastic. Also, their beer selection was quite nice.
(5)
J R.

Had the Minestrone Soup, which was delicious. Followed that up with "The "Lou" Pizza which was fantastic! Highly recommend this pie to people. All in all, a great pizza joint in the city.
(4)
Ashley S.

I was in Chicago for a mere 6 hours, visiting in my down time on tour. A few friends of mine told me this was their favorite of all the places to get deep dish in Chicago, so I took their word on it and went on over to Lou Malnati's. I was aware it was going to take roughly 40 minutes to make the pizza, which honestly was no problem for me. Most the places I've ventured to for deep dish seem to take roughly the same amount of time, so I placed in my order for deliciousness. We made sure we got a salad, and by god, it was epic. If their salad was this good, I could only imagine the pizza. I also ordered a grey goose lemonade, it was strong, but delicious! By the time our pizza came out, I was well buzzed, filled with salad, and salivating at the site of our deep dish that had arrived. I was instantly sold on the first bite. It may have been a little wait, but it was certainly worth it. No disappointments here, only pure enjoyment.
(5)
Liz W.

Although my heart belongs to New York pizza, I must say that Lou Malnati's was incredible. The waitstaff was friendly, the atmosphere was laid back, and most importantly, the pizza was delicious.
(5)
Matthew D.

Mmmm, deep dish pizza. While not as dense as Gino's East, it's still a filling pizza. I didn't make the time to eat in but I did get take-out a few times while I was in Chicago and was very pleased. As I have come to expect with deep dish in Chicago, ingredients were high quality and very flavorful. Since it isn't as dense as some other pizzas, you can either eat an extra slice or not feel like you're going to pass out after two. I chose the latter along with a fresh garden salad. I highly recommend it. I'm supposed to head back to Chicago soon, which is good since a friend bought me a gift card for my birthday. Can't wait to spend it!
(4)
Steve J.

I had the deep dish pepperoni and my wife had The Lou. Both were excellent and the service was outstanding! They told us 30 minutes for the pizza, which was spot on, but our appetizer was out in about 10-15 minutes. Great place to eat!!
(5)
Shea R.

Came here when I was visiting Chicago to grab some lunch and the place was pretty empty overall. We were seated near the outside since there were no more tables available outside. We ordered the appetizer sampler which was awesome an I enjoyed every bit of it. We also ordered a small Chicago deep dish which was good but nothing special. I would definitely come back here. Prices are very reasonable too which was a plus.
(4)
Patrick G.

Visited Saturday night. Wait was long but usually for good food that's not a problem. However with so many pizza places in town the competition is thick. Sadly compared to the other less well known places the same cant be compared to the thickness of the deep dish at Lou's. Thin crust vs thick, not a huge difference. Wings though were very good. Price was reasonable. That is a plus. Maybe quality was sacrificed in the name of speed. Either way, decent but not the best I've had in the city. My take? Overrated.
(3)
Rosa H.

I liked their chocolate pizza more than the pizza because I'm not a big pizza person. Still amazing! Chocolate pizza is like a pizookie that's deep dish..
(4)
Juliana E.

Pizza was amazing! The only thing was that the pizza took about 45 minutes...so if you are starving get an appetizer. That's the only reason why I don't give it 5 stars. Deff a place to check out if you're visiting Chicago
(4)
Chuck S.

We stopped here after the Ditka Sweater Vest Fest (DSVF) to finish off the night with some Deep Dish. It was super busy but worth the wait. Pizza was awesome.
(5)
Lady S.

I love Chicago pizza pie! But what I had here was more like deep dish pizza. It was good but not what I would label as pie. Giordano's is more preferable or Gino's East.
(3)
Janelle K.

The pizza was great! The host, who seemed to be the manager was super nice and friendly. However, we were sitting in the corner and our waitress was very unfriendly and seemed to overlook our table at times. Had to ask for drink refills. Watched the other waiters/tables and they seemed to be having a great experience. Will still return just hope to have friendlier service next time. Came from out of town and looking for a good dining experience.
(4)
Steph G.

Go ahead and ruin your diet with this place. It's far superior than some of the other more "touristy" places I will not mention here but you can contact me for more info. With that being said, I would also visit the State Street, Lincoln Park location and Wells as a last resort as it can get very busy. As a former Chicagoan, you are getting deep dish pizza. Thick, buttery crust with chunky tomato sauce topping and meats on the top. But, all that walking around will probably burn off the calories so go ahead and be a glutton. We always opt for the sausage pizza and one cheese as well as a salad. HA! A salad....it's probably the only vegetable you will eat in a town built on meat and meat products. (I actually tossed in a banana on this visit and my body almost rejected it) AND, did you know that the pizza actually tastes just as deelish although cold if you leave it out in your hotel room. No, you're not going to die from eating it. It's just like you had it when you were in college when someone left a pizza out the next day. Just sayin'. Finish off your meal with one of the pizzookie cookie and ice cream concoctions and you'll probably fall into a food coma. Join the e-Club and get special savings and announcements.
(4)
Duncan M.

I called for a delivery. This restaurant is at 1120 N State St. I am a few blocks away at Clark and Division. The man who answered the phone said he wasn't sure they delivered to me. Had I ever called them before? You know what, if it's that hard, I'll call Gino's East. They deliver no problem. Lou Malnati's makes a great pizza. They need to have an online ordering system. Let me use the Internet and avoid their people who don't know if they deliver to me, and who don't tell me who they think will deliver to me.
(1)
Brenda V.

Wow. Haven't had pizza this delicious in quite a while. Maybe the trick was asking for the sausage patties to be chopped instead of having them whole. Only downer was the service was too slow.
(4)
Alma E.

Great service, beautiful building and the pizza was excellent. I shared the "Lou" deep dish pizza and thought it was amazing. They also have thin crust options if deep dish pizza isn't your thing. They had a small but good local beer selection. Great place to enjoy a bite to eat if you're in the area.
(4)
Jaime S.

Wow - let me say that this place has changed my mind on my earlier review! The District Manager, Lynn Y., asked to call and speak with me. I answered and would like to say they really know how to change things around and make them RIGHT! I can't take back my experience with the pizza, but my suggestions are being heard and changes will be made. Please visit any Lou Malnati's Pizzeria and see the difference! I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Brandie T.

Birthday party? check Amazing group of friends? check Brilliant Bazillion calorie giant Red gummy bear? CHECK (this thing was ENORMOUS!! Easily one foot & a half tall!!) momentarily confusing but deliciously amazing pizza? check! I say momentarily - because I am USED to the cheese being on the top of any pizza I consume. I don't normally eat deep dish, but I took this opportunity to sample it anyway. While you can't SEE the cheese, rest assured it's there. the Pizza was amazing. I have to say one of the best I ever had! and while it was deep dish, the bottom of the pizza was crisp - not soggy!! I wanted more, but it was not to be. the entirety of the pizza was consumed before I could make it through the one slice I did get!! I guess this means a second trip? yes? I think so!!
(5)
James B.

It was my first time having deep dish pizza in Chicago, so a friend took me here. It was 8pm on a Sunday and there was still an hour wait. Atmosphere was hip, people seemed generally happy and eager to wait. Being from Boston I didn't realize that these pizzas took 30 minutes+ to cook, so that you can order while you wait. Great tip from my friend, we were able to get our pizza just minutes after being seated and having our drinks refilled. We got the sausage pizza...just a big 'ol layer of sausage patty laid right on top. Plenty of toppings per bite, although it did end up giving my heartburn. The pizza was very good, cooked perfectly, great flavor. Liked the atmosphere, will definitely be going back next time I'm in Chicago.
(5)
Kelly K.

Lou's is one of my favorite deep dish spots (Giordano's takes the cake). This location is spacious, which is key since it's a high traffic location. Minus the one Friday night where the bar was incredibly over-crowded, it's a great place to grab a pizza.
(4)
Joe L.

I tried this place out with a good friend from high school while I was on a business trip in Chicago and I think out of the 3 big Chicago style pizza places (Gino's East, Giordano's & Lou Malnati's) in downtown Chicago, this is my least favorite. The crust was pretty good, but the sauce wasn't that great and the toppings were just ok. I prefer Gino's and Giordano's to this place any day but I'm glad I tried it.
(3)
Cynthia L.

I ordered a Lou's deep dish for delivery tonight. FIrst thing I noticed was the pizza "looked" appetizing and it arrived still warm. It had picturesque tomatoes layered on top that tasted like hothouse vine tomatoes. They look good and have no flavor. I was disappointed that the cheese was so bland. Lastly, the pizza arrived and the pizza crust was a soggy swamp. If the pizza had incredible flavor I would have given it another star. I was so looking forward to this pizza, and I feel that I got sold on a lot of hype. This pizza chain has gone cheap on their ingredients and the end result is a bland, colorful food mass. I hope they improve the flavor of their ingredients. The delivery guy was right on time and didn't thank me for the tip. I think this pizza has spread its "sauce" too thin. xo
(2)
Cory C.

As always the pizza was great. The service was good. Very hard to hear due to how the restaurant was. The location Wells is much better.
(3)
Jeff Z.

Ok Lou's is always my first stop when I visit Chicago. I arrived in Chicago in the afternoon of July 4th and I was looking forward to a Lou's pizza experience. We got there right at 6pm and had a short wait to be seated. I always tell my friends that's Lou's is the best pizza in the world and they say yeah, right. This visit I had some friends with me who were having Chicago deep dish for the first time. We had Lou's special and a pepperoni pizza and as always the pizza was outstanding. I had to fly out the next day but my friends stayed on and visited Lou's 3 more times before they left on July 8. 3 more converts :)
(5)
Christina T.

Since we only tried Lou's pizza on our trip, I can't say I have much to compare it to, but according to our Chicago friends it's the best place for deep dish. And looking at my friend's pictures of the super heavy deep dishes from other places, I think this one was definitely the best pick. It was deep, hearty, and flavorful, but not too much to the point where I felt like I was about to have a stroke. I had the Lou, which is actually vegetarian, but I loved it. Comes with a slice of tomato on top, kinda like pepperonis. haha Great service, the waitress had great suggestions for Chicago beer and what it's California equivalent would be. Very knowledgeable! Thank you for a great taste of Chicago!
(4)
Seth B.

This Chicago staple delivered and excellent afternoon snack of both think crust and traditional Chicago deep dish pizza. The location on .... was packed in the heart of a very traveled area and really hit the spot. We had the Lou deep dish and a peperoni thin crust.
(4)
Tim Y.

This review is for the take-out only: I've had Gino's East in the past, but Lou Malnati's is wayyy better. Butter crust all the way. Yes, not healthy, but why would you try to make deep dish something it's not? Chicago Classic: Added extra sliced tomatoes to this, and tasted like heaven. It's hard to describe in great detail personally, but the butter crust is really the root cause. A deep dish pizza is more like a lasagna in that it has to support that extra 1-2 inches of food, so using butter crust gives the deep dish a heavier base for support. Get it with fresh tomatoes - makes a huge difference, as the fresh, refreshing taste balances out the richer cheese and sausage. Bruschetta: Fresh tomatoes with parmesan, basil, garlic etc. No twists, no turns, just the traditional tomato bruschetta like it should be. Malnati's Salad: Reaallly good salad with romaine, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, crumbled salami that tastes like homemade bacon bits (mmm), and with dressing that makes the salad both sweet and savory. Like the first time you try putting strawberries into your salad; if you haven't, try it! You won't regret it.
(5)
Alyssa K.

If you don't like deep dish, then we can't be friends. And no, the overpriced shit served at your local Pizzeria Uno's does NOT count as true deep dish. Lou Malnati's is a place very close to my heart. It was the location of many gatherings in college. Its pizza is also one of the few foods that will get me salivating just thinking about it. Every time I return to Chicago, I HAVE to make at least one trip to Lou's. I was overjoyed when my brother had a frozen Lou Malnati's pizza shipped to our family's house over the holidays last year. Is my love for Lou's evident to you by now?? Anyway, on to the food. I normally hate sausage on pizza... but the sausage on the Chicago Classic completely changed my perception of sausage pizza. I still avoid eating any other sausage pizza at all costs, especially since none of them compares to Lou's. The sausage here isn't those pathetic, gray-colored bits you see scattered carelessly on any other pizza. No, on the Chicago Classic, a complete layer of sausage blankets the pie and is accompanied with lots and lots of cheese and sauce. This is a pizza for an absolute meat-lover. I'm also a huge fan of the three-cheese bread (because you really can't eat enough cheese at Lou's). On my last trip, I tried the Malnati salad. AWESOME. If you don't want to feel too badly about the thousands of calories you're about to eat from the pizza, order this. The salty bits of salami make this a killer salad. My last trip here, I noticed they expanded the restaurant. It's still not as big as some of the other locations, but I went at peak dinner time on a Monday night and didn't have to wait for a table. But if you find yourself having to wait, be sure to place your order with the hostess before you're seated. That way, you won't have to wait another 40 minutes after you're finally seated to get your food. I've had Gino's, which was forgettable, and I went to the Giordano's in Evanston regularly until Lou Malnati's opened there and I had my first Lou's experience. I don't know what it is, but all of the ingredients in their deep-dish pizza just seem to work perfectly together. Everyone who's tried a bunch of deep dish places has his/her favorites. For me, it's definitely Lou's!
(5)
Kristi E.

Hubby and I were in Chicago for the first time a few weeks ago. We ordered the Chicago classic and had it delivered to where we were staying. WOW. The crust was so buttery and delicious! The sauce and flavors were very fresh and not just out of a can. We would eat here again. This is a must if visiting Chicago!
(5)
Virgil W.

Best damn deep dish pizza you will ever have. That is all :)
(5)
Curtis H.

Service is good beer is great!
(4)
Alyssa M.

One of the best places to go to get deep dish pizza in Chicago! The pizza is crisp, soft, cheesy, and just sooooo tasty! The tomato sauce is flavorful and chunky, which I love! Go and try Lou Malnati's if you want a taste of great Chicago deep dish pizza!!
(5)
J B.

not that deep dish. wasn't great. I'd rather have domino's Had the Lou's special pie I'm a NYer but I do like my deep dish pies. I'd say go to Gino's for their pizza. That pizza was way more flavorful and the crust was way better
(2)
Ada T.

You have to have amazing deep dish pizza during your visit to Chicago and Lou Malnati's is the place! R and I came here 2 of the 3 days we were in Chicago, during our first and last days. On our second day we went to Giordano's which made us decide to come back to Lou's. We had the small Malnati Chicago Classic (9 inch) both times, as we added mushrooms during our second trip. The pizza was perfectly crisp. with an enire flat layer of sausage over the pie. Not like the usual little balls of it you are used to. The sausage was delicious and there was a great balance of cheese and sauce. The butter crust was really tasty! Pizza is really delicious, and prices are cheaper than competition (Giordano's). I wish I wasn't so full after eating the pizza, because I really wanted the cookie pizza for dessert. :( We had one appetizer each time we had made a trip to Lou's. We had the spinach and cheese bread, which R said reminded him of lasagna and also the calamari. The spinach and cheese bread was good, though felt like a little tease to our stomach since we were starving. The calamari wasn't so great, as the batter kept falling off the squid and the squid was a bit too soft in texture. Service is on point and we were lucky we didn't have to wait either times. It got really packed on the Saturday around 8, as loads of people were waiting for tables. Tip: Preorder your pizza if you're going on a Friday or Saturday during busy time as you wait. It takes about 40 minutes to bake your deep dish. :)
(4)
Paul H.

Very good deep dish. I love the original Malnati's with the butter crust. Service was good as well.
(4)
Colin T.

This was my first deep-dish pizza, my first time in Chicago, and my impression was of a wet, runny center. Liquid pooled where the first slice had lain in the pan. I'd almost ordered soup separately. A large group of women with huge earrings celebrating a birthday helped make up for it. Special recognition goes to Ashley.
(2)
Manda V.

Decent pizza, decent service. That's all.
(3)
David G.

I am very happy to have such a reasonably priced place near my house where I can just go and relax and watching sporting events. The bartender there (although his name eludes me) is great at making us feel at home. We typically have a small salad to split (which is plenty btw), a large pizza, and a few beers each and the bill is about $40... not too bad for this area. If your looking for a place with great food for a reasonable price... try it!
(4)
Karin R.

What can I say....I love Lou Malnati's and living in Arizona I come back to Chicago and have to eat here. The new Gold Coast location is roomy, comfortable and provides outdoor seating (not when I was there in winter) via an area that can be opened by a garage door of glass. The menu is the same at every location. I'd have given them 5 stars but the staff was a little slow to respond and check in. When arriving we had two children (one is 3 yr and one is 18 mo) but they only gave us one children's coloring placement/crayons. No one appeared at the table after we were seated so I had to hunt down the hostess for another set. The food is simply amazing. We had deep dish pepperoni/sausage and a thin crust cheese. It was delicious and worth the trip!
(4)
Kai Y.

We were told to must try Chicago Deep Dish Pizza when we went to Chicago. Originally we were trying to go to Pizano's Pizza, which was quite close to the hotel we stayed in, also, the hotel concierge recommended it. However, when we got there, it was super packed and the line was HUGE. ( Pizano's Pizza doesn't take reservation) Luckily the hotel concierge provided plan B for Chicago-styled pizza nearby, which is Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. It turned out the line wasn't necessarily any shorter than Pizano's Pizza's. But we were too tired to go anywhere else. We waited for almost an hour. We got some beer at the bar and pre-ordered our pizza, this was a way for them to shorten customers' wait time after hungry customers got their table and sat down. We ordered the classics on the menu. They were pretty good. There was cheese in the crust, which was a new experience for me. The crust was surprisingly crunchy, not like some of the bad and soggy thick-crusted pizza I had before outside of Chicago. They were very fulfilling and a bit on the greasy side. But when you're hungry and anticipating some Chicago pizza after an-hour wait, it was certainly not a bad option. The ambience was a bit too loud. Service was fine. The wait was too long, though.
(3)
Michelle M.

Lou Malnati's in the Gold Coast has the best deep dish pizza in Chicago. I love their sausage pizza with butter crust. It's only 5 blocks from the John Hancock building. Plus, they don't have the graffiti like Gino's East.
(5)
Marisa P.

Every time that I have friends come in from out of town who want to try Chicago deep dish, I take them here. Why Lou's? Obviously, because it's the best pizza in the city. Completely blows Giordano's, Gino's, etc. out of the water. I don't trust anyone who says otherwise who has tried all three. If they haven't tried all three, I tell them to go to Lou's and get back to me. I can't tell you how many people told me they thought they liked Giordano's until they came here. There is NO comparison: butterflake crust, housemade sausage, vine-ripened tomatoes? So flavorful. Plus, it doesn't break the bank. Why this location? The ambiance is awesome. I love those huge, gorgeous doors, the woodwork, the wrought iron, the soft lighting. Nicest looking pizzeria I've ever seen, for sure. I would say you can bring families here, but it definitely has an adult atmosphere with the huge bar (great beer selection) and aforementioned rustic decor. I'm floored someone tried to bring a party of 30 with 16 kids here--that's seriously poor judgment. It's not a Chuckie Cheese in the burbs, it's a pizzeria in Gold Coast. I've also had great service every time I've been there. Pilar, a blonde hostess, is particularly always 100% on top of everything. Just go, you won't regret it!
(5)
FRANCO P.

If there is one thing i hate more than a chain restaurant, it's a pizza chain restaurant! Hard to believe that this is where they send all the tourists to sample the deep dish pizza Chicago is known for,it was like walking into Chilli's. Pizza was over sauced and just nowhere near as good as Pequad's!
(1)
Stephanie K.

I'm very impressed with the effort Lou Malnati's made to get in touch with me to offer their apologies for making a mistake in charging another table's order to my debit card. The district manager was wonderful and it is great to see how much they care about customer service. The DM restored my faith in Lou Malnati's. Heat me up a pizza and pour me a beer - I will be returning soon!
(5)
Jacob H.

Came here on a Monday night at 11pm. Place was pretty empty. Our server was extremely nice and explained to my coworker what was good. I've had Lou Malnati's before at their other location but I feel this location is definitely better. More space, full bar, outdoor seating, so it was definitely good. The food tasted the same as the other place. We even got a Catalog to take home in case we wanted to order to be shipped. This place has by far the best deep dish pizza. I like it better than Giodanos.
(5)
Dennis L.

I don't eat Chicago Deep Dish often, but when I do...I choose Lou's. I have been to a few different Lou Malnati's locations, and this one is my favorite. Sure the food is essentially the same at each (or should be), but I love the design of this restaurant. On this visit we went with the medium Chicken Club Salad and a medium "Lou." The salad was delicious, and I would definitely order it again. It was also plenty to share for a party of 3. The "Lou" was also excellent. Every major deep dish player has a different crust, and that one at Lou's is light and flavorful. Overall, a solid experience at a great Chicago style pizza joint.
(4)
Bob G.

Decent pizza, but not as good as most deep dish pizza in Chicago. The problem was the service. It was a team effort in incompetence. We called ahead to put our order in and put our name in. By the time we got there, they had not put our name down, and while they had our order, they had not put it in yet. So I put our name in while holding a baby. When they finally come to seat us, they scold us for not telling them we had a kid with us, and the number of people was wrong (by 6). Unbelievable. After we're sat, we then have to wait over half an hour before we flagged someone down to get our drink order... which they got wrong. The only refill, or should I say fill, was upon my requesting one. They brought out bread, which was thoughtful, but only brought one piece for ten people. Half an hour after that, the pizza still isn't out yet, so we flag someone down again. The manager had to get involved to figure out where our pizzas were. The pizzas come out, and instead of the green peppers and onion pizza we ordered, they bring pepperoni. They were kind enough to take off the pizza that we never ordered, but by that time, it was so late that we needed to just eat something. The service was simply terrible. By the time we left, both the baby and I were crying, and I needed to be changed.
(1)
Erin J.

I am not a fan of deep dish pizza but this restaurant is the exception!!! First time I was here, I got a thin crust. Of course, amazing. But everyone kept saying I hadddd to try the deep dish. So I did the next time. And now every time I've returned, I get the deep dish...sausage and garlic...oh boy is it tasty! Other things that are delicious? Malnati Salad, Gorgonzola Cheese Fries, Regular Fries, Italian Beef, etc. etc. I have not had one thing I didn't like here. And you can't forget about my favorite drink. VOODOO LOU is where it's at! SO delicious. Waitstaff is attentive, nice and helpful in ordering portion sizes. Hosts are super kind and accurate with wait time. I've never ever had a "mess up" order...which is great considering I'm there at least once every week or so. Cheers to Lou Malnatis! I work at Water Tower Mall & recommend this place to everyone who asks where they should get Chicago style pizza.
(5)
Emily B.

This place kind of cracks me up. They just opened and so this particular location looks like a palace compared to the other Lou's that have been around since the Godfather debuted in theaters. It's big, spacious, trendy, in the middle of everything, open and lively. The food I've eaten here so far, however this is possible, has been more fresh and Delicious than their River North location. Go figure. Beware on a Friday, Saturday night. Even though they stay open late (love that), you will be surrounded by douche-baggery at it's finest. What's nice is that if you are like me and carrying your order home, 9 out of 10 guidos will offer to help. Chivalry isn't dead yet, it's just drunk off Jack. Funny thing though is: I live approximately 2 blocks north of this location and attempted to order delivery the other night (don't ask). Upon giving them my information and being put on hold 3 times, they came back to tell me repeatedly that I was outside of their delivery zone. I finally had to be connected with a manager who pulled up my address on Mapquest and confirmed I basically waving to him from my window as we spoke. Not sure what the breakdown was, but the pizza did eventually come.
(4)
Bee B.

The pizza is the same great Lou Malnati's pizza (though I really am more of a Pequod's/Burt's girl myself, I can appreciate this tasty pizza too!) but the atmosphere is oh so swanky! Interesting dÃ©cor, and a nice mix of booths, tables, smaller side rooms, patio seating.... Oh, and a bar. Major plus points for a full bar with cocktails!! Both times I've been I have had the bootleggers brew which is a yummy mix of lemon and honey jack daniels, plus some other stuff I don't remember. What? Who knew there even was honey jack? Honey Jack is not whack, I will tell you that much. I drank the cocktail on the rocks, because I think drinks are more delicious with ice, and also because I feel like a douche when I have to use a martini glass. But that's just me. Another highlight of this fancy Lou's location is the hummus with pita/pizza chips. It's hummus with spicy giardiniera and fresh baked pizza chips. Woah. It's really good. It makes me want to spike all my hummus with spicy peppers. This dish is only on the bar menu, so you have to be a bit of a detective to find it, but it's worth the search! So, this place is a pizza joint, yes, but it's also a great place for a date or to bring out of town guests. There are also lots of families there earlier in the night. And try the spicy hummus appetizer.
(5)
Trina R.

Not sure what all the hype is about. The spinach salad was delicious, but the pizza was soggy in the middle and the crust wasn't crispy at all. I guess I will stick to NY style pizza!!
(2)
Michelle P.

My first time at Lou's after moving to Chicago and I loved it! The service was great and the food was excellent. Highly recommend the chocolate chip pizza for dessert!
(5)
Stephanie W.

Seriously, why do people like this place? 1: The entire restaurant is covered in hard, reflective surfaces that bounce sound, so even when it's empty it's incredibly loud. 2: Despite the fact that there were 10 open tables on the patio and no one else waiting, the hostess told us it would be 10-15 minutes before the two of us could get a seat on the patio. 3: Our waitress was impossible to find and took at least 15-20 minutes to bring us water, even though she had at most 1-2 other tables. 4: They haven't trained their staff to follow basic safety procedures, like opening champagne with a towel over the cork so it doesn't hit someone in the face. 5: THE FOOD. After waiting that long and all the hype, I thought it would at least be edible. At that point we were so hungry we didn't really care, but the bruschetta was flavorless and the deep dish pizza felt like eating a mouth full of mediocre heart attack. Suffice it to say that we won't be back, even though I live down the street.
(1)
John Paul D.

Long lines great pizza. I think that about sum's it up... Well, then again, it is a pretty cool place, among cool places. Malnati's makes in my opinion the best deep dish pizza in the world. This place only enhances it. The building is retro cool in a way words can't really describe. Old wood, choice metals, and white kitchen tiled walls acentuate the fusion of the old meets new. They have a sweet patio for chilling and people watching. Maybe the best in the Triangle. The waits can be pretty long as they combined a sweet new building in one of the coolest sections of town with World famous Malnati's deepdish. Get there early, enjoy the bar, love the scenary that is about as close to Miami beach as Chicago is going to get, and thank me when your toungue thanks you for eating Chicago's best deep dish!
(4)
Monica B.

All cheese, no crust. Coming to Chicago for the weekend, I was so excited to get my Chicago deep dish fix. I was so disappointed in this pizza. We deviated from Gino's East this time around because of all the great reviews for this place, but word to the wise, go to Gino's instead. This was the weak point in a great culinary weekend in Chi-town.
(2)
Arun R.

Wonderful restaurant. Great ambience. Been there twice and have never been disappointed. The Classic is the way to go. Excellent service. Will go back. I used to think there was nothing better than a New York style pizza but now I have to say Lou Malnati is just as good.
(5)
Kesha B.

The Best Chicago Deep dish Pizza! Im drooling thinking of the delectable taste!!!
(4)
Molly L.

I am a Lou's fan. The Buttercrust is heavenly, and I love the chunky sauce. When I saw this new location going up in the Gold Coast, I was excited for the Mag Mile tourists who could stop going to Giordano's and eat real deep dish. I decided to brave the tourist crowd on a Sunday evening with my boyfriend, my 5-year old godson and his 7-year old brother. The 4 of us arrived at 6pm and were told it would be 20-25 minutes. We got a buzzer and pre-ordered our pizza. I like that option. We were seated about 10 minutes later. The wait allowed us to really take in the space. They did a really nice job with it. The high ceilings and auto shop decor give it an industrial feel. I liked it. I especially liked the front rooms with couches that look out over State Street. Once seated, we ordered the house salad with ranch to share. It was really good, but the portion was huge. It'd probably feed about 6 adults as an appetizer, so we had tons of leftovers. We also got a deep dish sausage pizza with the Buttercrust. So good. I'm not really a huge fan of Lou's sausage (not spicy enough for me), but it was what the little ones wanted. They loved it and each ate 1 huge slice. They especially loved the crust. This is how I know we're related. We over-ordered due to our inexperience with child-sized appetites, so we had plenty of leftovers to eat the next day. My only complaint is that our waitress had no personality. She was efficient enough, but very boring. I did appreciate the kids place mats with activities and crayons she gave us, though. I probably won't come to this location a lot because of the large tourist population and accompanying long waits, but it's a great addition to the Lou's family.
(4)
Rod R.

Get the classic Chicago style deep dish with sausage...doubt you can find a better pie. Have a local craft beer or two to wash it all down and enjoy the attentive service. Cesar was great!
(5)
Mac G.

A co-worker with Chicago roots said this was the go-to place for deep dish pizza. We arrived at 5 PM on a Monday. Only a couple of patrons there which surprised me. My co-worker said the Malnati salad was a must try. She was right! A delicious, sweet concoction of goodness. Romaine, tomatoes, cheese and crispy bits of salami. We ordered a small sausage and black olive, butter crust deep dish. In a word the pizza was Bland, bland with a capital B. The sauce and sausage had little flavor. If I was blindfolded I'm certain I couldn't tell if it was sausage. To use the classic verbiage on Yelp, "I wanted to love it but didn't." Tip: Order a small for two people unless you want leftovers. We could only finish three slices.
(3)
Mike S.

Was in Chicago last week on business, had to sample some deep dish. Was going to go to Gino's east but the hotel bartender told us to go here instead. We had no wait, got a high top in the bar right away. Waitress was very friendly and brought our drinks right away. We (2 big ish guys) were going to order a large But she talked us into a medium malnati's classic pizza. We added olives and mushrooms. It was terrific and any more would have been too much so thanks for not overselling. Total came to about $77 for both of us for the pizza, a few pints each and tip I would come back here next time I'm in Chicago if craving deep dish pizza
(4)
Carolyn T.

The food was good. I am usually not a fan of deep dish pizza, but this wasn't over sauced and the toppings were pretty tasty. What wasn't great was the service. We were seated quite promptly when we arrived +1 and we got our drink orders in pretty quickly. Everything seemed to be going great! Until we ordered our food. After we put in our order, our waiter disappeared for 50 minutes. We knew they made it fresh... but what was confusing was that the table that was seated and ordered after us received their food 10 minutes before we did. When he came back... it was just to let us know that our pizzas will be out 'soon' then disappeared again. Drink refills would have been appreciated at this point. We were hungry and our drinks were empty. We actually had to flag him down just to get him to come back to our table. We would have understood if he just checked in on us every once in a while. Most of the time we were there, we felt forgotten. Our waiter would walk around to other tables on occasion, but we were ignored.
(3)
Thomas L.

I was never a big fan of deep dish pizza, it's just way too heavy. But Lou Malnati's changed all that. We ordered delivery, so I can't comment on the dine-in experience, but the pizza was mind blowing. We ordred the "Malnati Chicago Classic" +mushrooms. I can still taste the warm gooey cheese and the house made sausage, so good. If you're looking for a solid deep dish pizza experience, Lou Malnati's won't disappoint.
(5)
Paige K.

I thought it was over-rated. The service was good, but the pizza was a little too cheesy for my taste.
(3)
Akila C.

After trying to go to another Lou Malnati's but entering a 45 minute-1 hour wait, we decided to wait 2 days to go to another one. This ambience was less bar like and more restaurant like, making it an enjoyable day time place to eat deep dish pizza. The service was awesome, and the pizza was the most filling meal I think I have ever had. Personally, deep dish isn't my style, but this deep dish my friends was incredibly delicious! Go to Lou Malnati's if you're ever in Chicago!
(4)
India K.

WARNING: This review will read like I'm getting paid by Lou. (If you work there, feel free to send me a gift certificate!! Hahaha) A great new addition to State & Rush! Where to start? Smartly planned space to suit all types of dining parties. Great sliding doors to each section to help keep the noise down. I defy you to compose a group of the most eccentric-needy-family members and friends and you will find a spot to dine that everyone can be happy in. Unbelievable but true. The space is also styled very very well and kept very clean. I realize it is new but it is clear that up-keep is on the top of the to-do-list here. Quick service. Same fantastic food that I get at the other locations. The crust was perfectly done except for maybe a silver dollar spot right in the middle- but come on, that is nothing! Buttery crusty goodness that will make you grin ear-to-ear! And, the final mark of excellence at any LM's....The Malnati Salad- oh my goodness deliciousness- perfectly composed dressing that is made in house with fresh ingredients (just look at the unbruised slices of fresh mushrooms) and served with perfect timing in conjunction with pizza. Hit this place up quick- BEFORE everyone else **if you think I'm ranking this high, check out my other reviews- NO ONE gets a 5 star mark from me- you gotta work for it!!
(5)
Alexa H.

Our party of 4 came here on Saturday night specifically because Lou Malnatis has the best deep dish pizza and we wanted to bring our friends from LA here, we love the deep dish pizza! Thankfully, the food was amazing and great as always.... Sadly, the service, staff, and management was very disappointing. We were told we would wait one hour to be seated ok no problem. We went to the bar to get drinks while we waited and the bar tenders ignored us completely for about 10-15 minutes. Then we see tons of open tables all around us and we don't get seated, more time goes by and there are still tables open and we still don't get seated. Anyway, an hour went by and we never got seated. We ended up sitting and eating at the bar away from each other. Very disappointed, we have never had a bad experience here until now.
(2)
Scott G.

We came here on a busy Friday night. The place was packed. We had reservations for a large group and were quickly seated. We started with an Italian salad for our first course. It should be noted however that the salad has more toppings than greens, but I would never complain about this as it was delicious The pizza was pretty much what you'd expect as far as deep dish Chicago-style pizza. For those who haven't experienced this, it is more like a casserole than an american or Italian style pizza. The crust is thick and pretty dry. What sets Lou Malnati's apart from their competitors is that they use a much more chunky tomato sauce, which depending on your preference can either be a good thing or a bad thing. I remain neutral as far as the tomatoes go. I tried the mushroom pizza and the sausage pizza and preferred the mushroom. The warm cookie with ice cream desert was amazing and must be tried! Overall the service was excellent.
(4)
Madalena T.

I've had other deep dishes in Chicago and this is by far the best! It's their flaky garlic butter crust man.. Order The Lou! Came with a group of 12 people and shared a large of The Malnati Chicago Classic, a customized pepperoni deep dish, and The Lou and it was my favorite of the three!
(5)
Frank A.

The pizza was def worth 4 or 5 stars, but I just couldn't give them that rating. My Check-In Stamp on Yelp showed I arrived at 5:34pm. My phone showed 5:51pm before anyone greeted us at our table. (Note the busboy did drop off waters). I know places are busy, but a table NEEDS to be greeted within 5 minutes of sitting down. 10 minutes is pushing it, and this was over 17 minutes before someone said hello. Curious to see what management says about this ... we will see if I get a reply. After that - everything did go great. Our server was very nice and attentive (once he showed up....It may not have been his fault either - could have been the hostess forgetting to assign the table). We started out with a few appetizer orders. The Mozz Sticks were ok, nothing great and the wings were good. We ordered a Large Pizza for 2 adults and 2 kids. It was HUGE. We had about half the pizza to take home. When it says how many it serves, assume it means how many hungry adults it serves. lol. If you have kids, you can def scale down. The deep dish was delicious! I thought $22 for a pizza in downtown chicago on prime real estate was a great price. I would def go back, and will improve my star rating if the initial service is better.
(3)
Arti N.

During my foodie crawl weekend to Chicago in mid-Sept, my friend and I were able to slip in this second Chicago-style pizza place onto our packed itinerary! Due to the massive quantities of eatin' we were doing, we shared a personal deep dish pepperoni only. We did upgrade to the buttercrust! It's not really possible to compare to Pequod's, the first of our pizza stops a couple of nights prior. They were so different, though I'm not sure I was a big fan of the burnt cheese on the outside of Pequod's pizza. For that reason alone, Lou Malnati's edged out Pequod's... though I can see getting a late night post-bar hankering for a slice (or two) of Pequod's!
(4)
Randy F.

Deep dish pizza and Chicago are almost synonymous. While we have some great renditions on the West Coast (Blue Line/Little Star, Patxi's), it's always nice to try some of the originals. I probably got the most votes for Lou Malnati's followed by Gino's East and Giordano's. As Malnati's has the most locations, it was definitely the easiest one to try. Numerous guides tell you to call ahead to place your order as the deep dish pies can take up to 45 minutes to cook. As this area is a great walking area, we called 25 minutes ahead and planned to be there after the noon crowds. The person taking the order said there would be a 15-20 minute wait if we arrived at our scheduled time and that she'd put a priority as we pre-ordered a pie. Upon arriving at our time, it was clear the place was busy and even though it was a late lunch, locals and tourists pretty much come at all times of day. When I got to the front, they initially couldn't find my order, but confirmed that they had it and to expect a 20 minute wait. Sitting at the benches waiting, you can't help but notice that there are a lot of patrons, but a lot of tables only have drinks, likely waiting for the pizza given the lead time it takes to cook. I smiled as I thought I'd probably avoid this as it was now almost 45 minutes since I had ordered. The 20 minutes came and went and soon it was closer to 35-40 minutes. It was hard to fault them though as it was busy. If anything, I think a few tables should have been turned over more quickly, but whatever. By the time, we sat, it was 40 minutes since I arrived and now an hour since I had called placing my order. Guess what? Did my classic order arrive quickly? Actually, no. It took almost 30 more minutes for the pie to arrive. I really am not sure if pre-ordering does anything at all. Now on to the food. Lou Malnati Chicago Classic - the pie came out nice and warm but cooled quickly. I'm not sure if that was because my pie was pre-ordered. I loved the butter crust. If anything, I think that's Malnati's calling card and the distinction from other deep dish I've had. Sauce is medium amount and the sausage is plentiful and great too. Overall, it was a really good pie. I think it would have been nice if it was served hotter (again, not sure if it was preordered and then our sitting wait didn't match up with how long ago I ordered it) but the ingredients are all top notch. I'm not that much of a pizza connoisseur though and think most of the deep dish I've had are pretty good. So while I enjoyed the food, I didn't enjoy the wait, especially given I had called in advance. Lou Malnati's takes credit cards, including American Express.
(3)
Angela E.

We went for lunch. Waited about 15 mins for a table. Ordered mozzarella sticks which were ok. Cheese didn't melt through. We got the lunch special which is a great deal...soda/salad/individual pizza for about $9. The crust needs a little bit of salt. It was a decent pizza but definitely not the best I've ever had. It was cooked all the way through and crispy on the bottom which I liked.
(3)
Kay T.

It was our first time here and they had amazing service. We had a salad while we waited for our small sausage deep dish pizza but then our waiter said that they accidentally put a MEDIUM in the oven and we had to wait 5 more minutes. It wasn't a big deal at all but they took it very seriously and professionally and sincerely apologized for the wait. The manager even came out to talk to us to say that our salad was on the house and we'll only be charged for a small pizza! It was so sincere and generous and we were laughing about how seriously they took such a small situation! Anyway, they have the best buttery crust ever! Coming from NY, I never thought I would ever be into deep dish but this really opened my eyes. It wasn't as overwhelming as I thought it would be.
(5)
David A.

Can't go wrong with Lou's. Everything you want from a sit down pizza restaurant in Chicago. From the seating, the decor, to the food everything was spot on. Try the Lou deep dish with the Malnati salad. Both are excellent and the Malnati may be the best salad I have had ever. Plenty of food to take home as well and it's just as good reheated or cold the next day!
(5)
Jon R.

Nothing like coming back home to Lou's. Amazing!! So happy!! Chicago deep dish at its finest!!
(5)
George M.

Some of the best pizza I've ever had. I thought I didn't like Chicago style pizza because of Uno's in Boston as a kid, but this was absolutely incredible. My girlfriend and I got The Lou I think. We split the large and ate the whole thing... it was that good. We even went back the next night and did the same thing. Oh my goodness it was good. My friend who lives around the corner told us to get it "well-done" and the crispiness of the crust was so awesome I can't stand it. I gained 7 pounds that weekend.
(5)
Josh K.

Swung by Lou's during lunch last week. It was my goal to try another version of deep dish after Giordano's rocks my world each time I'm there. Place was really nice, open, and the service was fantastic. We ordered up the Malnati salad and cheese bread while we wait for the Mal special pizza. Both items were fantastic. The salad was a great mix of a sweet vinaigrette with some crunchy bacon and blue cheese crumbles. Good mix of veggies in there too. The cheese bread was essentially a loaf split, and cut in half with a solid mix of cheeses on it, and served with a great red sauce. I'll put it this way, I liked this bread so much, I'd come back for the bread alone. About 20 minutes later, the pie comes out and it's feast time. First observation, a little thinner crust, and the sauce is more chunked than a true sauce. Lots, and lots of toppings, but lacking in cheese. As I dig in, I notice the crust, while thinner, is a bit harder and more well done than I normally like. No worries, a little more on the buttery side too, but again, no biggie. The only real complaint I'd have on the pizza is that the sausage wasn't drained, at all, so we had some major league pooling of grease. Which, normally I'm a big fan of some pork juice, but, I'd rather have it mixed into the pie/creation a bit more than just pooling on it. All in all, I went to the other side of the pasture to try it out, and I'll stick with Giordanos. But, I may head back just for the cheese bread alone.
(4)
John C.

Let's start with the service, which was absolutely terrible. They have a daily lunch special that goes until 2pm. At 1:59pm we asked our waiter if we could still get the daily special. He emphatically told us no, and that the kitchen had told him 5 minutes earlier that the lunch special pricing was over. Who does that?! Next, it took 40 minutes, I shit you not, to get the small deep dish Chicago Classic pizza that we ordered. The place was not super busy at the time (2pm when we ordered), so we have no clue why it took so long. Five minutes after getting our pizza, the waiter came around and asked if we needed a box. WTF? Maybe give us some time to eat before asking? Literally one minute later, he dropped the check down at our table. This is seriously one of the worst service experiences I've had at a restaurant. Now let's get to the pizza. 3.5 stars at best. Wow, what a disappointment for our first meal in Chicago!
(1)
Mattia Q.

Great pizzeria, the deep dish is delicious, and the service fast and friendly! Good value for your bucks!
(5)
Tiffany H.

My first time eating a deep dish in Chicago! Came an hour before closing time. Got the honey BBQ chicken wings and the personal sized "Lou classic" with lean sausage and cheese. The wings were good. A little too chewy than I am normally used to, but decent. The deep dish took 30-40 min to prepare. I was pretty shocked by how long it took to cook this tiny pizza. The pizza was more like a dessert pie. A thicker outer crust, but a thin bottom throughout the pizza. Not as "deep" as I envisioned with thick dough. The cheese was gooey, but I think the sausage was in too big of chunks. I loved the crust, the filling was just okay. Nothing super fantastic.
(3)
Rebecca S.

Can't go wrong with this classic. After several months away from Chicago, I wanted to sink my teeth into some deep dish. Lou Malnati's has my favorite deep dish by far! The crust is crispy and buttery and the ingredients are well proportioned. We got a small of The Classic, which was more than enough for two people. The huge pieces of sausage were amazing--absolutely perfect for my craving! The service was excellent. Our waiter routinely checked on us and made sure we were satisfied with everything. He gave us a friendly heads up about how long the pizza would take when our stomachs started to grumble. Even though I can only do deep dish once a year (for fear of having a heart attack), there is no other place I would go than Lou Malnati's.
(4)
Mary S.

I do not like deep dish pizza I kept repeating to the hubby. I don't either he said. So with that in mind we asked the server if we should orders their thin crust or try the deep dish. He was nice and said both are good. So what did we decide? When in Chicago do as the Chicagoans do! It was amazing!!!thats all I can say. Go and enjoy.
(5)
Cat C.

Deep dish pizza! You'd be a fool not to get it when visiting Chicago! I Yelped around and asked around for recommendations and got all sorts of different answers: Giordano's, Lou Malnati's, Pequod's, Gino East. Due to location Pequods was out. Gino's got so so reviews. So it was between Giordano's and Lou Malnati's. Giordano's is stuffed crust, so we decided on LM's due to it serving more of the traditional Chicago deep dish. We trekked to the restaurant and arrived after 5 on a Monday night. The restaurant is pretty large and there were plenty of seats. We ended up on the hightop tables at the bar. We were surprised that our small deep dish was under $15 only. We ordered the Lou Malnati Chicago Classic, which was lean sausage, extra cheese, chunky tomato sauce and their butter crust. The small feeds two. We were quoted about 30-35 minutes, but it came out a little quicker. I enjoyed the juicy sausage, and the extra stringy cheese! The sauce had a little bit of a tang to it. But we all know deep dish is all about the crust. The crust was buttery but not too much, but not very deep maybe due to it's small size it was a lot thinner, it felt like it crumbled easier than traditional deep dish. Perhaps we needed to get a medium, but it was only two of us! In all fairness back home we get a smaller but it's a bigger size and love the crust and all the toppings. By "fat American standards" the small may be a small personal size to some. I mean, we weren't super stuffed as we usually are with like two slices though from bigger smalls from Blue Line and Patxi's back home. I wish they had a deeper but small pan to work with to get the deep yummy crust we all want. The slice is quite filling though due to the nice amount of sausage and all the glorious cheese. Service was attentive (they always cut and served us our slices) and I loved the decor of the restaurant. The area the restaurant is in is loveable as well, kind of reminds me of a little bit of Rodeo Drive/Santana Row. If ever in Chicago, would I come back? Possibly. But I so want to try Giordano's if there's a next time. It's not a bad a choice for sure if you're in the area, especially if you have a bigger group or larger appetite in order to order medium to get the deep crust. I'm not 100% sure if it was just our pie or that's how it is for smalls (I was trying to compare on Yelp and Instagram). 3 stars though for good flavors and all that cheese I love!
(3)
Jimmy P.

I've eaten at Lou's many many times Now this experience the pizza (the classic with the butter crust) for some reason lacked the usual flavors and tomato sauce kick that the deep dish pizza usually has. Maybe an off day since in the past you tasted garlic and the sausage flavor really came out Will try again since in fairness the Blackhawks won that nite and I won't blame the kitchen staff for not being spot on
(3)
Ryan R.

Went here during my visit since it was the last one of the Big 3 that I needed to try. I went with the Lou special after reading all about it on the Yelp page. The crust of this pizza is delicious, but I have to say (compared to the other pizza places in town) this place lacked a bit in the cheese and sauce department. The service here is great and the price is reasonable, but I do prefer the other two places in town. You can't go wrong really with Chicago deep dish pizza though so you won't regret checking this place out.
(4)
Becky M.

For an out-of-towner that has not experienced truly good deep-dish before....my friend and I were in HEAVEN. Yes, we went two nights in a row. Yes, the bartender recognized us since we sat at the bar both times. I am not embarrassed by this. :) The Chicago Classic with extra sauce and cheese and the butter crust was just to die for. It is the reason that I watch what I eat otherwise -- so that I can treat myself to guilty-pleasure food like this. This is what we had -- both times. The Chicago Marathon was in town and the place was PACKED both nights. On weekend nights, expect to have to wait for a table. We had the benefit of being a party of two and getting lucky finding seats at the bar both nights. We also asked the locals where to go -- and many said there is no choice other than a Lou Malnati's. Happy we obliged.
(5)
Michelle B.

My husband and I come to Chicago every year for the air show. We always head to the same pizza place every year. Someone recommended Lou Malnati's this year so we decided to try it. I can't wait to come back to THIS place every year. The deep dish pizza was so fresh and the crust is amazing. The staff was very personable and attentive. I may have to go back one more time before we head out of town!
(5)
Benjamin L.

With rock-solid reviews, I can't help but feel like I missed something completely on my meal at Lou Malnati's. I'll be up front that I'm typically not a huge fan of Chicago-style pizza. I'm more of a Neapolitan fan. But I was in Chicago and I wanted to stick to local favorites. I went in with the best intentions of still liking it since pizza is my go-to favorite anyway. I typically wouldn't expect 2 PM on a Friday to be a busy time but apparently it was. There were no tables available but I was famished so I agreed to sit at the bar even though I really wanted a table. I seated myself at the large bar area which was about half full. I was greeted by the bartender who I soon realized was overseeing not only the bar seat but also about a dozen high tables nearby. My order was taken right away but as time went on, I soon realized that this place was a bit short staffed. My food finally arrived after about 45 minutes which at this point I was just starving. I had ordered their specialty butter crust Chicago-style pizza which was loaded with meat toppings. I wasn't in love but I tried. The uber thick crust is just too messy for me. While I ate my meal, a lady nearby apparently was stung by a bee and starting having a panic attack. But no wait, it was a piece of glass. Or maybe not. She couldn't make up her mind but she was having some sort of major fuss. The wait staff kept bickering right in front of me and I was just ready to pay and go. The bartender was a nice guy but clearly a bit overloaded with a ton of tables. I'm sorry to say that Lou Malnati's quickly slipped into 2-star territory. Maybe it was the wrong place for me but I just wasn't swooned like so many other Yeplers were.
(2)
Sean G.

Best deep dish in Chicago. Lou invented it & this is where we locals go. Gino's East, Uno's, Due's and Giordano's, though decent options, really are where tourists go. Get the butter crust, you won't be disappointed. The garlic bread (without cheese) is just perfect. The "Lou" pizza with added sausage is amazing! Not in the mood for pizza (for some odd reason)? One of the best meatball sandwiches in the city and curly fries!
(5)
Rick V.

Wanted to check out the hype around their pizza. Well, not really as good as people say it is. The crust is too hard and you can barely cut it. The vegetables are too large. I'm used to homemade Italian pizza, made by real Italians in the real Italy. This was not even close. The service was bad as well.
(3)
Claudine V.

Not a fan of thick pizzas but I had to have a real CHICAGO pizza and this was the place I was referred to. Came here for lunch and just ordered a small personal pizza , The Malnati Chicago Classic and minestrone soup. The pizza had a very nice tasty crust and buttery and flaky. It almost tasted like biscuit crust which is ssoooooooo good. The overall flavor was very well balanced and salty just the way I like it. Even the minestrone soup was tasty. I would definitely come back here if I'm craving pizza in Chicago. The ambiance was nice, place was decorated well and very hip and service was awesome. Next time I will try the medium size so that I can get a bigger crust.
(4)
Mike Q.

Pizza was real good and service was superb. The appetizer stuffed spinach Roll was amazing! Cheesticks and house salad was fresh. Only thing was I'm not a big fan of dim lighting !
(4)
Hannah S.

So Lou's did not live up the hype. Not at all! We've been hearing for weeks that this is the place to go to. Upon arrival, it was definitely pleasing to the eye, rustic and that cheesy italian kind of vibe. Got seated quickly (different from a lot of reviews) Got the small sausage butter deep dish to split, and was definitely a good size! Very filling. The flavors were pretty yummy, and the crust was pretty good, but notice all my uses of "pretty"? It just didn't live up to expectations. I had only briefly been to Chicago before, just to stop and try a random pizza place I saw called The Art of Pizza in Lakeview, and it was HANDS DOWN better than Lou Malnati's. It was cheaper too! So I would recommend trying a place that isn't a chain. And not trusting my friends' advice! haha
(3)
Robert L.

I can't tell a lie (well, actually I can and am quite proficient in it) but I choose not to right now- I'm a New York style pizza guy, not Chicago...but when in Rome. Sauce on the outside? Craziness! But it worked. I had the deep dish Malnattis Classic. Crust was great and the sausage and cheese worked well together. Wife has the thin crust and kids had the cheese deep dish. Yum. Shared a bottle of Super Tuscan. Nice atmosphere and good service- a little loud but ok. I'm not saying I converted on this trip but it was close.
(4)
Jesse L.

First in Chicago and first time getting Chicago pizza. Not much of a pizza person in general as there is really nothing nutritious but I do enjoy the flavor occasionally. Much different from east coast. Quite good though. Crust tastes fried. Cheese was underneath the toppings. Got the lunch special which included a salad and a drink. Including tip it was $15. The salad was typical boring lunch salad. I could care less about a drink. But good deal if your into that. Service was quite nice! Great view outside at this location of the Hancock building
(4)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Address : 1120 N State St
Chicago, IL, 60610
Phone (312) 725-7777
Website https://www.loumalnatis.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 12

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Pizza

Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.

Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.

Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20^th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria

1120 N State St, Chicago, IL, 60610

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Menu

Popular Combos

Beverages

Appetizers

Soup

Salads

World Famous Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Thin Crust Pizza

Pasta

Sandwiches

Food for Kids (12 and Under)

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria

Popular Combos

Beverages

Appetizers

Soup

Salads

World Famous Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza

Thin Crust Pizza

Pasta

Sandwiches

Food for Kids (12 and Under)

Desserts

Alex T.

Tina T.

Amy H.

J G.

Juan F.

Lucas B.

Cesar S.

Mitchy M.

Vy B.

Lisa S.

Trinh T.

Alyssa P.

Bruce K.

Darian J.

Janelle T.

Ginger J.

Katya A.

Vee V.

Lily Z.

Mo D.

Ada W.

Christina D.

Ali S.

Phoebe C.

Jonelle T.

Sachin R.

Scott N.

Rachael B.

Laura F.

Tony S.

Kaley K.

Shambavi K.

Gem S.

Tiffany J.

Tricia S.

Alexa R.

Liliana P.

John T.

Colin C.

Jake C.

Richard J.

Adi E.

Cristina G.

Chris C.

CY J.

Daniel N.

Alex P.

Josh H.

Honey B.

Ryan W.

Samantha L.

Sarah V.

Courtney D.