Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
3223 Lake Ave, Wilmette, IL, 60091
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Wilmette for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
3223 Lake Ave
Wilmette, IL, 60091 - Phone (847) 256-5780
- Website https://www.loumalnatis.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
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 20th 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.
G R.
This is a pickup location only, order ahead for fresh hot pizza, or pick out something from the case. Used to be a regular place for us when we lived up here. It's staffed by friendly neighborhood college kids.
(4)A P.
Lou's is my go to pizza joint when back home in Chicago. I ordered a couple deep dish pies on this trip and was very disappointed. All crust very little cheese. Not the Lou's I know and love. I'll post a profile picture of one of the slices. You can do better than this, I know you can.
(1)Clay P.
My Godfather used to send me box of 5 frozen Malnati's pies at Xmas that were great. Out of the oven live and in person so much better. Chicago Special - simple basic and fantastic. Only problem - ate 4 slices and couple days later was hungry again.
(4)Julianne G.
This is the best place for carry out pizza and my favorite baked pasta. The food is always on point however, 4 stars for the fact that they need an upgrade in establishment it still looks like it is from the 70 with no new up keep. Be prepared for long order times on Sunday evenings.
(4)Jessica M.
Lou Malnati's is by FAR the best deep dish pizza in all of Chicago. To me it is the "true" Chicago deep dish, crust is amazing, ingredients are always fresh and they are always generous with their toppings. Please don't compare this to NY style thin crust, Lou's is in a league of their own. I'm very passionate about my pizza, in all my years I've never had another slice of deep dish that came close to the quality and amazing flavor of Lou's. Lou's is the BEST, if I could give 6 stars I would!
(5)Rishi N.
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria is one of the *best* places you can visit for authentic, high quality Chicago style pizza. I spent many years in Chicago (and agree with other reviewers who wish they'd franchise out to other cities like the Bay Area) and always make it a point to visit Lou's at least once when I'm in the city visiting family. I've eaten Lou's pizza for probably ~10 years by now - despite trying other options in the area, most never compared to Lou's. This location is only carry out / delivery, so be prepared to enjoy your pizza at the location of your choice. Since I only order deep dish Chicago pizza (why order anything else when I'm in town?), I can only offer my (glowing) commentary on that. Lou's crust is deliciously crusty without getting too doughy, and they include only quality ingredients (lots of cheese, delicious fresh tomatoes, etc.). All of this is available at extremely reasonable prices (seemingly much cheaper than competing deep dish chains) with enough to feed plenty (most folks I know who love Lou's intentionally order bigger pies than needed in order to guarantee themselves leftovers =D). Definitely order the pizza uncut and take a moment to admire it before diving in. Most importantly, savor it ... some of us don't get the privilege of eating Lou's nearly enough =).
(5)Shawn B.
Lou Malnati's is par excellence for Chicago style pizza. I wish they would franchise in other cities (hello, San Diego!). Uno's Pizzeria can conceivably be considered Chicago style pizza, but Uno's is to Lou's as Lovie Smith is to Vince Lombardi. My family is from Chicago, and I visit grandparents here once every year or so. We always make it to Lou's. And we always order the sausage and peppers pizza before we leave the house (it takes 45 minutes, so it's THE way to do it). The last time I was here, I got up to use the ladies room. I was rounding the corner back to our table when I heard my grandpa on his cell phone to his doctor requesting a refill for his Viagra prescription. GAWD, Grandpa! I don't wanna hear that! Even that terrible image in my mind did not mar my experience at Lou's though. Their crusty is crusty, even with a lot of toppings it doesn't get doughy. Their salads are the best I've had at a pizza joint. The atmosphere is very family friendly (as long as your kids don't know what Viagra is), with lots of sports paraphernalia adorning the walls. We never have a problem with the service. If you are a tourist to Chicago, skip Uno's (you can get that anywhere, jeez). Go here.
(5)Michael S.
Excellent pizza and taste
(5)Kathy L.
Always excellent! I order the large deep dish pepperoni and a Malnati's salad and it feeds our family of five no problem. Even better for breakfast the next morning! They recommend getting it uncut so if you do use a large knife to cut not a pizza wheel. This is deep dish!
(5)Jack S.
Best deep dish pizza ever put in my mouth. Nothing can top this place. Best pizza ever!!
(5)John H.
My personal favorite Chicago style pizza. I like pizza the best with sausage and hot giardiniera.
(5)Joe H.
The best deep dish in Chicago, period. This location has always made delicious pizza, both deep dish and thin crust, and has been consistent through the years. The staff are always on top of things and you can count on getting your pizza as you ordered it, on time every time.
(5)Christi K.
Best deep dish in Chicago. Hands down. There are a few locations scattered throughout the Chicago-land area. This one is take out or delivery only. There are some secrets to getting the best experience possible. The biggest one is get the pizza UNCUT! Otherwise, the juices will seep all over and you'll have a big soggy mess when you get home. You want that butter crust to be as crispy as possible to get full enjoyment! I highly recommend the Lou's. Perfect balance of toppings and flavors. You can always add pepperoni or sausage to it if you want some meat. I'm personally not a fan of the Malnati Chicago Classic. But if you are a sausage lover then this is your pie. The thin crust is pretty good too. I love how crunchy and buttery the crust is.
(5)Michelle B.
Food is great, but EVERY SINGLE TIME we order from this location they mess something up. Asked for no blue cheese in salad it came with blue cheese EVERYWHERE. Wrong salad dressing too. Driver very nice but whoever is making or putting together order needs to be replaced.
(2)Peter K.
I grew up in Chicago but now live in NYC. I don't know if I've totally converted to NY style pizza but every time I go back home, I'm a little disappointed in that Lou's just doesn't seem to be as good as I remember it was when I was younger. Have the ingredients changed? There's nothing particularly bad about this location. I called in my order for "The Lou's", it was ready for pickup when they said it would be.
(3)Patricia T.
This location has friendly employees and good customer service, but they frequently overcook their deep dish pizzas. Our last deep dish from this location was burned on the top, had a tough crust, rubbery cheese and dried out tomatoes. Since this location is carry out only, we didn't know there was a problem until we got the pizza home (about a 15 minute drive). A phone call to their very nice manager got us an apology, a promise to talk to his kitchen staff, and a coupon for a free pizza mailed to us. So good customer service won the day!
(3)Barry M.
Great pizza even better service. I accidentally ordered the wrong pizza crust called back and ordered a new one because they had put the first one in the oven already. When I arrived they had the corrected pizza and didn't make me pay for both. Just a smile and a "we made it right for you"
(5)Reanna H.
Buttery crust, moist mozzarella cheese, a unique tomato sauce... My favorite pizza in the world. I like this location the most. It may not be a sit down location, but it's always faster than other locations I've been to.
(5)Nancy L.
Great deep dish in true Chicago style. The thin crust is nice too when you don't want a heavy meal or have bigger groups to feed. Salads are fresh and a nice addition - try the creamy garlic dressing - it's really nice! Delivery/take out only in Wilmette.
(5)Alex B.
My favorite pizza in the entire world! I look forward to getting Lou's every time I come home to Chicago.
(5)Mac P.
Pretty bland, didn't even finish my half of the pizza (their "signature one" too). The cheese was tough, the tomatoes watery, the crust tasted like it had been defrosted. Even though the pizza qualified as edible, it was clearly not worth the calories. Never again.
(2)Jennifer L.
This is not my normal location - but I was in the neighborhood, so we ordered pick-up. I believe they ONLY do pickup at this location... but I could be mistaken. Either way, it's the famous Lou Malnati's pizza and was delicious. You have to get the deep-dish, as that's what they're famous for, but I've also had the thin crust which is quite tasty in it's own right. :) Enjoy!
(5)arpan s.
lous is the best pizza in the world.....this location sucks... ive eaten at about 5 differnt lous, lincolnwood is the best, evanston, lincoln park, schaumburg, etc...this place is the worst. just the taste of the pizza here...and the fact that you can't relaly sit down
(2)Cynthia D.
Does this say it all? Every year for my birthday my husband offers to take me to dinner ANYWHERE I want, but I always choose "deep dish cheese pizza from Lou Malnati's, please!"
(5)Patrick O.
I order from them all the time they are great! On time and accurate orders every time. There pizza is great, i love the thin crust pizza. Only draw back is they dont open till 4pm on the week days. So I cant get a snack at lunch time. Good environment in the store as well.
(5)Esther A.
Best pizza in Chicago, but mediocre service. Get the pan pizza AND the thin crust. Also get the lou malnati salad. Writing this is making my mouth water. I'd recommend ALWAYS getting carry out. Nothing beats ambiance like the comfort of your own home. This is a good place to grab food for an evening in with a movie.
(4)Paul A.
Try the signature pizzas: The Lou and the Chicago Classic. How can a deep dish-pan pizza actually be light and fully satisfying at the same time? They do it. Perfectly.
(5)Amanda O.
Actually dined in this time. Got my favorite sausage pizza with butter crust but this time I got a medium instead of a personal so I could share. Very oddly the pizza's crust came out much crunchier which I figured was due to the longer cook time it took to cook a medium versus the personal. I figure from now on I will only order the personal because I like the crust softer. We also got a "family size" salad thinking that since it was twice as much money as the side salad it'd be twice as large. NA UH! It was MASSIVE and we'll be eating salad for the next few days! Since my birthday is coming up next week and I'm signed up for emails from the restaraunt they sent me a coupon for a free desert. So my cousin and I tried the chocalate chip cookie pizza. It took a while to actually find the cookie under the massive amounts of ice cream and whip cream. But when we did it was like striking gold. Very very good. Total tab with tip for two people and lots of left overs was $42.00. Not bad considering we took half a pie home and more than half that salad.
(4)Nic T.
So far, of all the Lou's, this is my favorite Lou's. You need to order it properly though and prep it right when you get home. Here is the process in simple, easy to follow steps on how to order and prepare the BEST Lou's Pizza ever. 1. Order your pizza by phone 45 minutes before you plan on eating. *Make sure you order it UNCUT!* Don't slice it, dice it or anything else. You want a WHOLE UNCUT PIE! I recommend sausage, spinach and mushroom on butter dough. 2. Just before you leave your house (or have your assistant stay home), preheat your over to 350. 3. Arrive in parking lot and park at the bank side. 4. Go inside and eat the free pizza they set out for the people waiting for pizza. You will now be even MORE hungry. Pay for your pizza and go to your car. 5. Drive as fast as safety and the law allows while maintaining pizza integrity. Do not do any high G turns that will make the pizza slosh around. Straight line speeding is fine. Just don't do any abrupt acceleration or deceleration. The goal is to make it home in one piece. The pizza, not you. I can guarantee whomever is at home is more concerned about the pizza than you at this point. 6. Arrive home and make a beeline for the kitchen. Unwrap the box and enjoy the smells that is the pizza. But do not EAT! 7. Place pizza NAKED on the middle rack, and wait 10 minutes @ 350 degrees in the oven. This waiting time is TORTURE, I understand. Use this time to set the table, or prepare a salad or just simply stare at your oven window with the light on while counting down the seconds. I swear I've never done the last one before... 8. Remove pizza and slice it into 6 equal slices( assuming a Large or bigger pie. if you need any smaller, you should order a large anyway). 8 equal slices if there is a need to. Any more than that is EPIC FAIL and you deserve to be shot after being tried for TREASON to the Pizza Nation. 9. Savor every bite of this fine work of ART! Do not disgrace the pie with any addition of your own other than cheese sprinkles or red pepper flakes. Most of all, DO NOT EAT IT NEW YORK STYLE. Those NYC folks don't know pizza, at all. That is your guide to the perfect Lou's Pizza.
(5)steph n.
This place never disappoints! If you want the gem of all deep dish pizzas, this is IT! They use the sweetest most ripened tomatoes for their savory pizza sauce. It is like no other. When you ask for the sausage deep dish, boy do they cover every inch of that pizza with supreme sausage. The cheese is unlike those other chain pizzarias that taste waxy and fake. Their cheese is smooth and purely wholesome. Last but definitely not least, this is the only pizza place where I do not throw away the edge of the crust. It is actually the "icing to the cake". When I think of this pizza, I reminisce of a farmer picking the ingredients straight out of their farm. Yes, the pizza tastes THAT fresh!
(5)Ingrid P.
Best Pizza on the North Shore, hands down. Try "The Lou" with Pepperoni! Sooooo good :) My husband dreams of pizza night...
(5)Geoff D.
The best deep dish pizza I have ever had! The thin crust is not bad, but the deep dish is the way to go.
(5)Lisa S.
i prefer their thin crust which is top notch. crust is amazing, very buttery. what i really like is their malnati's salad. something in the dressing that makes it so tasty. i've gone here just for their salad which is also reasonably priced. sometimes they put too much bacon but you can always take it off.
(4)Bill W.
Chicago's best pizza! Gotta have it...!
(4)John D.
This is a carry out only location. I ate here A LOT when I worked in Skokie and it's good to see nothing has changed. This is the location where I REALLY appreciated Lou's. This was a location where my order had been messed up (it happen's) and the manager on duty (I believe it might have been a Malnati) realized my order got mixed up with someone elses. Free dish the next time around. Over a 14 month period, I only had 2 wrong orders. Considering I ate there 1 to 2 times/week, those are very good averages. During the peak times, the quarters can get a little tight but that's probably the only "problem" I had. Solid people, solid service all around. Pretty fast adn set proper expectations as it relates to actual order times (if they say 15-20 minutes, that's the case).
(5)Mark D.
As an out-of-towner who is not a fan of deep dish pizza and does not regularly eat it, my opinion of this place might not be in line with the rest of the reviews. Still, the pizza was good. Lots of toppings. Well prepared. Pretty tasty. I've had better. But I would eat there again.
(3)Billy M.
Ok pizza. Too thin for me, but good pepperoni.
(3)John D.
I think that Lous is the most overrated pizza in Chicago. People go nuts for the watery pizza that gets soggy very quick. Lou's dominates this area because Rick Malnati was a gym teacher and coached the local highschool's basketball team for over a decade and often rewarded students with free pizza. This is probably the reason that the Wilmette location beats the other locations(which are dine in locations) in sales every month. Wilmette is a carryout only location and is operated by burnout college students and high schoolers. Needless to say this is not a place I carry out from often. Even Malnatis offspring does a better job at Pizano's in Glenview. Go to Uno's & Due's, Giordano's, or Gino's East if you want to try the best Chicago style pizza.
(2)Ryan O.
Best pizza ever, always good. Need to make sure you get your pizza uncut, so it doesnt get soggy on the ride home/delievery ride. Deep crust is obvioulsly the way to go.
(5)Annie S.
I grew up eating Lou Malnati's and now that I'm home for break, we decided to get some for dinner. We ordered a thick crust sausage with low-fat cheese and extra tomato sauce. I've never actually had sausage at Lou's but it was really good! It took about 30 min for the pizza to be ready. I like the carry-out restaurant because they are pretty efficient and the staff are nice (seems like everyone is a high schooler). Anyways, I recommend everyone to try Lou's at least once and they have more than 20 locations in Illinois! btw- the restaurant was just in a Food Network show with Bobby Flay.
(4)Paul H.
This is a solid 4-star place. I just finished off a sausage and mushroom thin crust, and it was good. The crust is great, it's a little different than most other thin crusts around town. You'll definitely get the olive oil/buttery crust flavor too. The toppings were well-seasoned and cooked (I hate getting raw/undercooked veggies on top of my pizza). And for $16.37, the large made for a great family (of 3) dinner. One note of interest - they have free pizza samples! FREE PIZZA SAMPLES. Also, parking can be tough in that lot (blame the Japanese restaurant next door). But, if you go later in the evening, you should be able to find parking in the bank's lot.
(4)Sasha D.
Hands down the best deep dish pizza in Chicago!!
(5)Steven K.
Deep Dish Pizza is how Chicago earned its winning reputation and Lou's Lincolnwood & this little express carry-out location lives up to this outstanding distinction. Always a great fan of anything with vegetables on it. My personal favorite is deep dish with, Spinach, Mushroom, extra cheese, and sliced Tomato on top. Dine In not a big fan, but there is a convenient location for carry out to make you & your friends the envy of ANY Ravinia Lawn Concert as you have easy access for jumping on the Highway taking you there. Once you are a regular & know how the crust SHOULD taste you may come across an occasional older crust uncooked for too long and put in the necessary complaint. If possible, don't settle for less and return your unfinished Pizza , if convenient. The Sausage Pizza is only 1 star , as there is a giant full frisbee loaf of sausage roll under the cheese...overload ;-(
(4)Eric M.
Lou Malanati's is like the city of Chicago served in pie form. Not only does their delicious pizza embody the definition of 'deep dish,' but it also personifies the city that deep dish was first created in. Lou's starts with great ingredients, real quality stuff. How can you tell? Because they don't process to death. Thick cuts of tomatoes, buttery crust that isn't dough but isn't crispy (Goldilocks crust!), top notch cheese that you can pull into long strings, and big meaty slices of whatever topping you choose to get. Just like Chicago, you've already got a good collection of quality bits from all different places that are thrown together. Add the 'Chicago fire' of cooking, and the pie comes out of the oven like the city rose from the ashes of the fire...that much more delectable and ready to take on the culinary delights of anyone you dare cross it! Order your pie uncut, so when you get it to your table, it will still be piping hot. Take a big wiff and enjoy the symphony of smells. Take a slice, be civilized and use a fork and knife please, and let the party in your mouth begin! This pizza is like ambrosia brought down from the heavens. Plus, you never have to worry about ordering too much because Lou's makes GREAT leftovers. Overall, Lou's is just the best Chicago-style Deep Dish pizza. The Wilmette location only delivers, but that is just as well since you can enjoy this pie anywhere.
(5)Denise B.
I grew up on this particular branch of Lou's. My family ordered take-out here pretty much every Friday for the eight years or so we lived in Wilmette, not even counting the summers I was home from college. We tried other pizza places in the area, but none of them ever compared. For both deep dish and thin crust this restaurant can't be beaten. Even though I've found other pizza I've liked in my new home in California (even giving some 5 stars!), I've never found anything that is quite as amazing as Lou's pizza. My personal favorite is a The Lou pan pizza. I also like their thin crust quite a bit and love that they have the option for low-fat cheese on all their pizzas. If you come to the Chicago area you definitely owe it to yourself to eat this pizza! Run, do not walk, to the nearest location.
(5)Jovia F.
Oh, Lou's. I love you so. With your buttery crust, your just-perfect pepperoni, and your ability to absolutely COVER a pizza with toppings. And that cheese! So gooey-tasty. I had to try the mozz sticks, like I do just about anywhere that offers...and they did not let down. Only been to Lou's once and I'd love to be back to see if its just as good as memory serves.
(4)Liz O.
Consistent goodness and great delivery -- order is never wrong or late.
(5)Rosalind C.
The buttery light crust, makes me crazy. If my tongue had an ass, it would want to shake it, not break it. But then I would have an ass tongue and that would just be weird. The pizza is amazing.
(5)Laura V.
Ok, do not even waste your time on those other Chicago pizza joints. Lou's is simply the best. Having grown up in the Chicago area, I've tried them all and honestly, Lou Malnati's is heads above the rest. Every time I make it home to visit, I make sure that the visit includes a trip to get some deep dish veggie pizza. I've even bought the frozen ones and created inventive ways to bring them back to DC with me. The crust is perfectly light, the sauce sweet and yummy - all tomatoes. If you like sausage, then this is the one for you. Big old sausage patty right on top. Of course, there's tons of cheese. It all bakes together to form what I call "A little piece of Chicago delight."
(5)Ann Y.
I heart Lou's and it is BY FAR the best deep dish pizza in Evanston. I have also grown fond of their thin crust as well over the years. So hot, so much flavor (ask for butter crust) and just a Chicago tradition. Hell, Lou's been out Bobby Flay for best deep dish (was there really even a competition). If you haven't tried Lou's and are in Chicago you need to go now (you aren't a true Chicagoian until you have). My brother and best friend who both live out of Chicago make this their staple stop when they come into town. My only reason for four stars is that it isn't my favorite deep dish pizza, but it is up in the top 10 for me.
(4)Annie Y.
I can see why people would give this place five stars, but I just can't get into the crust. I find it simultaneously too doughy and too crunchy. They always load the deep dish with way too much cheese and not enough tomatoes. I only live five minutes away, but delivery usually takes 1-1.5 hours. I haven't tried anything other than their deep dish and thin crust pizzas, so I can't comment on the quality of their other food.
(3)Kent B.
Lou's is a great place for thick or thin crust pizza. However, I prefer their thin crust. Until about a year ago, the sauce or crust had a strong olive oil aroma/flavor, which I loved. I don't know if they went to a different brand of olive oil or if they cut back, but it's definately not the same. I usually order a salad with house dressing--a vinagarette--which is tastey and sweet. It's best to arrive a few minutes earlier than your scheduled pick up time. That way you can sample the pizzas they setup for waiting patrons. Parking is tough in this strip center's lot. You may have to drive around for awhile to secure a spot. This is a carry-out only location.
(4)Scott J.
You want some of the best Chicago style pizza in town?! YOU'VE FOUND IT! Don't waste time with those high profile pizza chains. And when you go in to pick up your delicious, mouth watering, pizza...don't forget to snag some free samples by the door. Tell em Scott sent you...it won't get you anything and they will probably ask you, "Who the F%& is Scott?" But you can say it anyway. Might I suggest the thin crust "Lou's" and then a pan style "Deluxe" with crumbled sausage...oh yeah...they can give you a layer of sausge if you choose. They also deliver all over the US. For you NoCal folks...it's Hella good and 100 times better than Zach's.
(5)anthony M.
Hands down best deep dish pizza in Chicago. The "Lou" is great for all veggies, but the sausage is also a classic. I also love the Malnati chopped salad.
(5)Maria W.
I LOVE Lou Malnati's pizza and think it is the best in Chicago by far! We picked up a deep dish from here (it's not a sit down location) and we were blown away. Mind you - we regularly pick up from the Lincolnwood location as well as the Lincoln Park and Wells Street - but this pizza was perfection...not too salty, not overcooked, and good distribution of toppings.
(5)Rob G.
Favorite is deep dish spinach with onions and black olives. Best around.
(5)Alan R.
This particular location is carry out only, but dine in or carry out, Malnati's is the best deep dish pizza. I love the traditional layer of sausage and my wife loves the Lou's special (tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach with cheddar cheese) The salads are also great, make sure to ask for the house dressing. I am not a huge fan of thin crust, but I like their's a lot. If you desire desert (which after a few pieces of Lou's and a salad is hard to do), they have Eli's Cheesecake. A Chicago tradition and a must if you have out-of-towners unfamiliar with Chicago visiting.
(5)Tamim J.
While I have not been to this restaurant, we always get delivery from here. Every time family gets together, this place is one of the options given for delivery! The reason? Wonderful pizza! These people know what they're doing, whether it comes to Chicago style deep dish, or your standard run-of-the-mill slice. With toppings or not, this place is absolutely wonderful and should be at the top of your pizza delivery list every time!
(5)Bennett M.
Just ate my usual, thin garlic, extra sauce well done. Always good and reliable.
(4)Jen C.
Delicious~ tastes the same every time, extra well done (comes crispy), golden butter crust, uncut. Fast delivery for cooking deep dish and driving time considered. Worth the 45-60 min delivery time. They didn't delivery to Skokie in the past. Glad they changed that!
(5)Sherry Y.
I've been to a few different Lou Malnati's now and have come to expect a buttery crust, long stretching mozzarella cheese and a yummy tomato sauce topping covering the whole pizza. That was what I expected when ordering from this Wilmette location for the first time. I got the original Lou's large pizza. First, despite ordering ahead of time, I had to wait awhile. Second, when I opened up the pizza back home, there was a big chunk of sauce and toppings missing. What happened? I haven't checked my pizzas before leaving the location before, but now I know should start doing so. 5 star food, 2 star service. EDIT: After being contacted by Lou Malnati's regarding my experience, they have assured me that one experience was just a one time thing and have given me an opportunity to try it again. The service at the main Lou Malnati's headquarters is great and I have upgraded my review to 5 stars due to that fact.
(5)Courtney K.
This place is a chicago institution! Now that I have moved to NYC, I crave The Lou probably once a week. They ship pizzas which is awesome, but a bit too expensive for my budget. The buttery crust, plethora of toppings, tomato sauce, and cheese make this pizza truly better than any pizza I have ever had.
(5)Summet H.
What can be said about Lou's other than it being the best pizza in the world. Thanks for being so close to home. And always being quick on your delivery.
(5)Deniz B.
Today is the first time I have tasted pizza here. I got delivery it was fast. I loved deep dish pizza you can create your own pizza here
(5)Scott P.
I have to say the way the Daily Show dealt with Deep Dish pizza is exactly how I feel about it- it is generally terrible and some sort of weird casserole more than a pizza... but Malnati's is not your average deep dish place. It's really the only pizza place I will even go to in the area. Your average deep dish is a total mess- way too much sauce, ingredients strewn about randomly, the crust designed by ISIS to collapse and spew burning hot magma all over American consumers. You have to eat it on a plate, if not a bowl, and use a fork which totally defeats the purpose of a pizza. Malnatis certainly doesn't lend itself to walking around eating it the way a NY slice would, but you can at least eat it with your hands like a human being. The contents of the pizza itself are actually artfully done, not dumped in wantonly with a shovel and then doused in inferior sauce. The sauce always tastes fresh and is perfectly balanced. I went to pickup at this location and my order was a little late- they would not let me out the door without loading me up with free stuff to make up for having to wait an extra few minutes so you know the customer service is good.
(5)Gary S.
Ordered the thin crust pizza with sausage and mushroom very good My wife ordered the Caesar salad also very good Will come back again may try the deep dish next time
(4)Kim P.
Love this place!! 3 trips to the area and this is a must stop for real deep dish pizza and the Malnati salad. Great Everytime!
(5)G R.
This is a pickup location only, order ahead for fresh hot pizza, or pick out something from the case. Used to be a regular place for us when we lived up here. It's staffed by friendly neighborhood college kids.
(4)Sherry Y.
I've been to a few different Lou Malnati's now and have come to expect a buttery crust, long stretching mozzarella cheese and a yummy tomato sauce topping covering the whole pizza. That was what I expected when ordering from this Wilmette location for the first time. I got the original Lou's large pizza. First, despite ordering ahead of time, I had to wait awhile. Second, when I opened up the pizza back home, there was a big chunk of sauce and toppings missing. What happened? I haven't checked my pizzas before leaving the location before, but now I know should start doing so. 5 star food, 2 star service. EDIT: After being contacted by Lou Malnati's regarding my experience, they have assured me that one experience was just a one time thing and have given me an opportunity to try it again. The service at the main Lou Malnati's headquarters is great and I have upgraded my review to 5 stars due to that fact.
(5)Scott P.
I have to say the way the Daily Show dealt with Deep Dish pizza is exactly how I feel about it- it is generally terrible and some sort of weird casserole more than a pizza... but Malnati's is not your average deep dish place. It's really the only pizza place I will even go to in the area. Your average deep dish is a total mess- way too much sauce, ingredients strewn about randomly, the crust designed by ISIS to collapse and spew burning hot magma all over American consumers. You have to eat it on a plate, if not a bowl, and use a fork which totally defeats the purpose of a pizza. Malnatis certainly doesn't lend itself to walking around eating it the way a NY slice would, but you can at least eat it with your hands like a human being. The contents of the pizza itself are actually artfully done, not dumped in wantonly with a shovel and then doused in inferior sauce. The sauce always tastes fresh and is perfectly balanced. I went to pickup at this location and my order was a little late- they would not let me out the door without loading me up with free stuff to make up for having to wait an extra few minutes so you know the customer service is good.
(5)Lisa S.
i prefer their thin crust which is top notch. crust is amazing, very buttery. what i really like is their malnati's salad. something in the dressing that makes it so tasty. i've gone here just for their salad which is also reasonably priced. sometimes they put too much bacon but you can always take it off.
(4)Bill W.
Chicago's best pizza! Gotta have it...!
(4)John D.
This is a carry out only location. I ate here A LOT when I worked in Skokie and it's good to see nothing has changed. This is the location where I REALLY appreciated Lou's. This was a location where my order had been messed up (it happen's) and the manager on duty (I believe it might have been a Malnati) realized my order got mixed up with someone elses. Free dish the next time around. Over a 14 month period, I only had 2 wrong orders. Considering I ate there 1 to 2 times/week, those are very good averages. During the peak times, the quarters can get a little tight but that's probably the only "problem" I had. Solid people, solid service all around. Pretty fast adn set proper expectations as it relates to actual order times (if they say 15-20 minutes, that's the case).
(5)Mark D.
As an out-of-towner who is not a fan of deep dish pizza and does not regularly eat it, my opinion of this place might not be in line with the rest of the reviews. Still, the pizza was good. Lots of toppings. Well prepared. Pretty tasty. I've had better. But I would eat there again.
(3)Billy M.
Ok pizza. Too thin for me, but good pepperoni.
(3)John D.
I think that Lous is the most overrated pizza in Chicago. People go nuts for the watery pizza that gets soggy very quick. Lou's dominates this area because Rick Malnati was a gym teacher and coached the local highschool's basketball team for over a decade and often rewarded students with free pizza. This is probably the reason that the Wilmette location beats the other locations(which are dine in locations) in sales every month. Wilmette is a carryout only location and is operated by burnout college students and high schoolers. Needless to say this is not a place I carry out from often. Even Malnatis offspring does a better job at Pizano's in Glenview. Go to Uno's & Due's, Giordano's, or Gino's East if you want to try the best Chicago style pizza.
(2)Ryan O.
Best pizza ever, always good. Need to make sure you get your pizza uncut, so it doesnt get soggy on the ride home/delievery ride. Deep crust is obvioulsly the way to go.
(5)Annie S.
I grew up eating Lou Malnati's and now that I'm home for break, we decided to get some for dinner. We ordered a thick crust sausage with low-fat cheese and extra tomato sauce. I've never actually had sausage at Lou's but it was really good! It took about 30 min for the pizza to be ready. I like the carry-out restaurant because they are pretty efficient and the staff are nice (seems like everyone is a high schooler). Anyways, I recommend everyone to try Lou's at least once and they have more than 20 locations in Illinois! btw- the restaurant was just in a Food Network show with Bobby Flay.
(4)Paul H.
This is a solid 4-star place. I just finished off a sausage and mushroom thin crust, and it was good. The crust is great, it's a little different than most other thin crusts around town. You'll definitely get the olive oil/buttery crust flavor too. The toppings were well-seasoned and cooked (I hate getting raw/undercooked veggies on top of my pizza). And for $16.37, the large made for a great family (of 3) dinner. One note of interest - they have free pizza samples! FREE PIZZA SAMPLES. Also, parking can be tough in that lot (blame the Japanese restaurant next door). But, if you go later in the evening, you should be able to find parking in the bank's lot.
(4)Sasha D.
Hands down the best deep dish pizza in Chicago!!
(5)Steven K.
Deep Dish Pizza is how Chicago earned its winning reputation and Lou's Lincolnwood & this little express carry-out location lives up to this outstanding distinction. Always a great fan of anything with vegetables on it. My personal favorite is deep dish with, Spinach, Mushroom, extra cheese, and sliced Tomato on top. Dine In not a big fan, but there is a convenient location for carry out to make you & your friends the envy of ANY Ravinia Lawn Concert as you have easy access for jumping on the Highway taking you there. Once you are a regular & know how the crust SHOULD taste you may come across an occasional older crust uncooked for too long and put in the necessary complaint. If possible, don't settle for less and return your unfinished Pizza , if convenient. The Sausage Pizza is only 1 star , as there is a giant full frisbee loaf of sausage roll under the cheese...overload ;-(
(4)Jessica M.
Lou Malnati's is by FAR the best deep dish pizza in all of Chicago. To me it is the "true" Chicago deep dish, crust is amazing, ingredients are always fresh and they are always generous with their toppings. Please don't compare this to NY style thin crust, Lou's is in a league of their own. I'm very passionate about my pizza, in all my years I've never had another slice of deep dish that came close to the quality and amazing flavor of Lou's. Lou's is the BEST, if I could give 6 stars I would!
(5)Eric M.
Lou Malanati's is like the city of Chicago served in pie form. Not only does their delicious pizza embody the definition of 'deep dish,' but it also personifies the city that deep dish was first created in. Lou's starts with great ingredients, real quality stuff. How can you tell? Because they don't process to death. Thick cuts of tomatoes, buttery crust that isn't dough but isn't crispy (Goldilocks crust!), top notch cheese that you can pull into long strings, and big meaty slices of whatever topping you choose to get. Just like Chicago, you've already got a good collection of quality bits from all different places that are thrown together. Add the 'Chicago fire' of cooking, and the pie comes out of the oven like the city rose from the ashes of the fire...that much more delectable and ready to take on the culinary delights of anyone you dare cross it! Order your pie uncut, so when you get it to your table, it will still be piping hot. Take a big wiff and enjoy the symphony of smells. Take a slice, be civilized and use a fork and knife please, and let the party in your mouth begin! This pizza is like ambrosia brought down from the heavens. Plus, you never have to worry about ordering too much because Lou's makes GREAT leftovers. Overall, Lou's is just the best Chicago-style Deep Dish pizza. The Wilmette location only delivers, but that is just as well since you can enjoy this pie anywhere.
(5)Denise B.
I grew up on this particular branch of Lou's. My family ordered take-out here pretty much every Friday for the eight years or so we lived in Wilmette, not even counting the summers I was home from college. We tried other pizza places in the area, but none of them ever compared. For both deep dish and thin crust this restaurant can't be beaten. Even though I've found other pizza I've liked in my new home in California (even giving some 5 stars!), I've never found anything that is quite as amazing as Lou's pizza. My personal favorite is a The Lou pan pizza. I also like their thin crust quite a bit and love that they have the option for low-fat cheese on all their pizzas. If you come to the Chicago area you definitely owe it to yourself to eat this pizza! Run, do not walk, to the nearest location.
(5)Jovia F.
Oh, Lou's. I love you so. With your buttery crust, your just-perfect pepperoni, and your ability to absolutely COVER a pizza with toppings. And that cheese! So gooey-tasty. I had to try the mozz sticks, like I do just about anywhere that offers...and they did not let down. Only been to Lou's once and I'd love to be back to see if its just as good as memory serves.
(4)Liz O.
Consistent goodness and great delivery -- order is never wrong or late.
(5)Rosalind C.
The buttery light crust, makes me crazy. If my tongue had an ass, it would want to shake it, not break it. But then I would have an ass tongue and that would just be weird. The pizza is amazing.
(5)Laura V.
Ok, do not even waste your time on those other Chicago pizza joints. Lou's is simply the best. Having grown up in the Chicago area, I've tried them all and honestly, Lou Malnati's is heads above the rest. Every time I make it home to visit, I make sure that the visit includes a trip to get some deep dish veggie pizza. I've even bought the frozen ones and created inventive ways to bring them back to DC with me. The crust is perfectly light, the sauce sweet and yummy - all tomatoes. If you like sausage, then this is the one for you. Big old sausage patty right on top. Of course, there's tons of cheese. It all bakes together to form what I call "A little piece of Chicago delight."
(5)Ann Y.
I heart Lou's and it is BY FAR the best deep dish pizza in Evanston. I have also grown fond of their thin crust as well over the years. So hot, so much flavor (ask for butter crust) and just a Chicago tradition. Hell, Lou's been out Bobby Flay for best deep dish (was there really even a competition). If you haven't tried Lou's and are in Chicago you need to go now (you aren't a true Chicagoian until you have). My brother and best friend who both live out of Chicago make this their staple stop when they come into town. My only reason for four stars is that it isn't my favorite deep dish pizza, but it is up in the top 10 for me.
(4)Annie Y.
I can see why people would give this place five stars, but I just can't get into the crust. I find it simultaneously too doughy and too crunchy. They always load the deep dish with way too much cheese and not enough tomatoes. I only live five minutes away, but delivery usually takes 1-1.5 hours. I haven't tried anything other than their deep dish and thin crust pizzas, so I can't comment on the quality of their other food.
(3)Kent B.
Lou's is a great place for thick or thin crust pizza. However, I prefer their thin crust. Until about a year ago, the sauce or crust had a strong olive oil aroma/flavor, which I loved. I don't know if they went to a different brand of olive oil or if they cut back, but it's definately not the same. I usually order a salad with house dressing--a vinagarette--which is tastey and sweet. It's best to arrive a few minutes earlier than your scheduled pick up time. That way you can sample the pizzas they setup for waiting patrons. Parking is tough in this strip center's lot. You may have to drive around for awhile to secure a spot. This is a carry-out only location.
(4)Scott J.
You want some of the best Chicago style pizza in town?! YOU'VE FOUND IT! Don't waste time with those high profile pizza chains. And when you go in to pick up your delicious, mouth watering, pizza...don't forget to snag some free samples by the door. Tell em Scott sent you...it won't get you anything and they will probably ask you, "Who the F%& is Scott?" But you can say it anyway. Might I suggest the thin crust "Lou's" and then a pan style "Deluxe" with crumbled sausage...oh yeah...they can give you a layer of sausge if you choose. They also deliver all over the US. For you NoCal folks...it's Hella good and 100 times better than Zach's.
(5)anthony M.
Hands down best deep dish pizza in Chicago. The "Lou" is great for all veggies, but the sausage is also a classic. I also love the Malnati chopped salad.
(5)Maria W.
I LOVE Lou Malnati's pizza and think it is the best in Chicago by far! We picked up a deep dish from here (it's not a sit down location) and we were blown away. Mind you - we regularly pick up from the Lincolnwood location as well as the Lincoln Park and Wells Street - but this pizza was perfection...not too salty, not overcooked, and good distribution of toppings.
(5)Rob G.
Favorite is deep dish spinach with onions and black olives. Best around.
(5)Alan R.
This particular location is carry out only, but dine in or carry out, Malnati's is the best deep dish pizza. I love the traditional layer of sausage and my wife loves the Lou's special (tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach with cheddar cheese) The salads are also great, make sure to ask for the house dressing. I am not a huge fan of thin crust, but I like their's a lot. If you desire desert (which after a few pieces of Lou's and a salad is hard to do), they have Eli's Cheesecake. A Chicago tradition and a must if you have out-of-towners unfamiliar with Chicago visiting.
(5)Courtney K.
This place is a chicago institution! Now that I have moved to NYC, I crave The Lou probably once a week. They ship pizzas which is awesome, but a bit too expensive for my budget. The buttery crust, plethora of toppings, tomato sauce, and cheese make this pizza truly better than any pizza I have ever had.
(5)Summet H.
What can be said about Lou's other than it being the best pizza in the world. Thanks for being so close to home. And always being quick on your delivery.
(5)Deniz B.
Today is the first time I have tasted pizza here. I got delivery it was fast. I loved deep dish pizza you can create your own pizza here
(5)Gary S.
Ordered the thin crust pizza with sausage and mushroom very good My wife ordered the Caesar salad also very good Will come back again may try the deep dish next time
(4)Kim P.
Love this place!! 3 trips to the area and this is a must stop for real deep dish pizza and the Malnati salad. Great Everytime!
(5)Tamim J.
While I have not been to this restaurant, we always get delivery from here. Every time family gets together, this place is one of the options given for delivery! The reason? Wonderful pizza! These people know what they're doing, whether it comes to Chicago style deep dish, or your standard run-of-the-mill slice. With toppings or not, this place is absolutely wonderful and should be at the top of your pizza delivery list every time!
(5)Bennett M.
Just ate my usual, thin garlic, extra sauce well done. Always good and reliable.
(4)Jen C.
Delicious~ tastes the same every time, extra well done (comes crispy), golden butter crust, uncut. Fast delivery for cooking deep dish and driving time considered. Worth the 45-60 min delivery time. They didn't delivery to Skokie in the past. Glad they changed that!
(5)Clay P.
My Godfather used to send me box of 5 frozen Malnati's pies at Xmas that were great. Out of the oven live and in person so much better. Chicago Special - simple basic and fantastic. Only problem - ate 4 slices and couple days later was hungry again.
(4)Julianne G.
This is the best place for carry out pizza and my favorite baked pasta. The food is always on point however, 4 stars for the fact that they need an upgrade in establishment it still looks like it is from the 70 with no new up keep. Be prepared for long order times on Sunday evenings.
(4)A P.
Lou's is my go to pizza joint when back home in Chicago. I ordered a couple deep dish pies on this trip and was very disappointed. All crust very little cheese. Not the Lou's I know and love. I'll post a profile picture of one of the slices. You can do better than this, I know you can.
(1)Kathy L.
Always excellent! I order the large deep dish pepperoni and a Malnati's salad and it feeds our family of five no problem. Even better for breakfast the next morning! They recommend getting it uncut so if you do use a large knife to cut not a pizza wheel. This is deep dish!
(5)Jack S.
Best deep dish pizza ever put in my mouth. Nothing can top this place. Best pizza ever!!
(5)John H.
My personal favorite Chicago style pizza. I like pizza the best with sausage and hot giardiniera.
(5)Joe H.
The best deep dish in Chicago, period. This location has always made delicious pizza, both deep dish and thin crust, and has been consistent through the years. The staff are always on top of things and you can count on getting your pizza as you ordered it, on time every time.
(5)Christi K.
Best deep dish in Chicago. Hands down. There are a few locations scattered throughout the Chicago-land area. This one is take out or delivery only. There are some secrets to getting the best experience possible. The biggest one is get the pizza UNCUT! Otherwise, the juices will seep all over and you'll have a big soggy mess when you get home. You want that butter crust to be as crispy as possible to get full enjoyment! I highly recommend the Lou's. Perfect balance of toppings and flavors. You can always add pepperoni or sausage to it if you want some meat. I'm personally not a fan of the Malnati Chicago Classic. But if you are a sausage lover then this is your pie. The thin crust is pretty good too. I love how crunchy and buttery the crust is.
(5)Michelle B.
Food is great, but EVERY SINGLE TIME we order from this location they mess something up. Asked for no blue cheese in salad it came with blue cheese EVERYWHERE. Wrong salad dressing too. Driver very nice but whoever is making or putting together order needs to be replaced.
(2)Peter K.
I grew up in Chicago but now live in NYC. I don't know if I've totally converted to NY style pizza but every time I go back home, I'm a little disappointed in that Lou's just doesn't seem to be as good as I remember it was when I was younger. Have the ingredients changed? There's nothing particularly bad about this location. I called in my order for "The Lou's", it was ready for pickup when they said it would be.
(3)Patricia T.
This location has friendly employees and good customer service, but they frequently overcook their deep dish pizzas. Our last deep dish from this location was burned on the top, had a tough crust, rubbery cheese and dried out tomatoes. Since this location is carry out only, we didn't know there was a problem until we got the pizza home (about a 15 minute drive). A phone call to their very nice manager got us an apology, a promise to talk to his kitchen staff, and a coupon for a free pizza mailed to us. So good customer service won the day!
(3)Barry M.
Great pizza even better service. I accidentally ordered the wrong pizza crust called back and ordered a new one because they had put the first one in the oven already. When I arrived they had the corrected pizza and didn't make me pay for both. Just a smile and a "we made it right for you"
(5)Reanna H.
Buttery crust, moist mozzarella cheese, a unique tomato sauce... My favorite pizza in the world. I like this location the most. It may not be a sit down location, but it's always faster than other locations I've been to.
(5)Nancy L.
Great deep dish in true Chicago style. The thin crust is nice too when you don't want a heavy meal or have bigger groups to feed. Salads are fresh and a nice addition - try the creamy garlic dressing - it's really nice! Delivery/take out only in Wilmette.
(5)Alex B.
My favorite pizza in the entire world! I look forward to getting Lou's every time I come home to Chicago.
(5)Mac P.
Pretty bland, didn't even finish my half of the pizza (their "signature one" too). The cheese was tough, the tomatoes watery, the crust tasted like it had been defrosted. Even though the pizza qualified as edible, it was clearly not worth the calories. Never again.
(2)Jennifer L.
This is not my normal location - but I was in the neighborhood, so we ordered pick-up. I believe they ONLY do pickup at this location... but I could be mistaken. Either way, it's the famous Lou Malnati's pizza and was delicious. You have to get the deep-dish, as that's what they're famous for, but I've also had the thin crust which is quite tasty in it's own right. :) Enjoy!
(5)arpan s.
lous is the best pizza in the world.....this location sucks... ive eaten at about 5 differnt lous, lincolnwood is the best, evanston, lincoln park, schaumburg, etc...this place is the worst. just the taste of the pizza here...and the fact that you can't relaly sit down
(2)Cynthia D.
Does this say it all? Every year for my birthday my husband offers to take me to dinner ANYWHERE I want, but I always choose "deep dish cheese pizza from Lou Malnati's, please!"
(5)Patrick O.
I order from them all the time they are great! On time and accurate orders every time. There pizza is great, i love the thin crust pizza. Only draw back is they dont open till 4pm on the week days. So I cant get a snack at lunch time. Good environment in the store as well.
(5)Rishi N.
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria is one of the *best* places you can visit for authentic, high quality Chicago style pizza. I spent many years in Chicago (and agree with other reviewers who wish they'd franchise out to other cities like the Bay Area) and always make it a point to visit Lou's at least once when I'm in the city visiting family. I've eaten Lou's pizza for probably ~10 years by now - despite trying other options in the area, most never compared to Lou's. This location is only carry out / delivery, so be prepared to enjoy your pizza at the location of your choice. Since I only order deep dish Chicago pizza (why order anything else when I'm in town?), I can only offer my (glowing) commentary on that. Lou's crust is deliciously crusty without getting too doughy, and they include only quality ingredients (lots of cheese, delicious fresh tomatoes, etc.). All of this is available at extremely reasonable prices (seemingly much cheaper than competing deep dish chains) with enough to feed plenty (most folks I know who love Lou's intentionally order bigger pies than needed in order to guarantee themselves leftovers =D). Definitely order the pizza uncut and take a moment to admire it before diving in. Most importantly, savor it ... some of us don't get the privilege of eating Lou's nearly enough =).
(5)Shawn B.
Lou Malnati's is par excellence for Chicago style pizza. I wish they would franchise in other cities (hello, San Diego!). Uno's Pizzeria can conceivably be considered Chicago style pizza, but Uno's is to Lou's as Lovie Smith is to Vince Lombardi. My family is from Chicago, and I visit grandparents here once every year or so. We always make it to Lou's. And we always order the sausage and peppers pizza before we leave the house (it takes 45 minutes, so it's THE way to do it). The last time I was here, I got up to use the ladies room. I was rounding the corner back to our table when I heard my grandpa on his cell phone to his doctor requesting a refill for his Viagra prescription. GAWD, Grandpa! I don't wanna hear that! Even that terrible image in my mind did not mar my experience at Lou's though. Their crusty is crusty, even with a lot of toppings it doesn't get doughy. Their salads are the best I've had at a pizza joint. The atmosphere is very family friendly (as long as your kids don't know what Viagra is), with lots of sports paraphernalia adorning the walls. We never have a problem with the service. If you are a tourist to Chicago, skip Uno's (you can get that anywhere, jeez). Go here.
(5)Michael S.
Excellent pizza and taste
(5)Esther A.
Best pizza in Chicago, but mediocre service. Get the pan pizza AND the thin crust. Also get the lou malnati salad. Writing this is making my mouth water. I'd recommend ALWAYS getting carry out. Nothing beats ambiance like the comfort of your own home. This is a good place to grab food for an evening in with a movie.
(4)Paul A.
Try the signature pizzas: The Lou and the Chicago Classic. How can a deep dish-pan pizza actually be light and fully satisfying at the same time? They do it. Perfectly.
(5)Amanda O.
Actually dined in this time. Got my favorite sausage pizza with butter crust but this time I got a medium instead of a personal so I could share. Very oddly the pizza's crust came out much crunchier which I figured was due to the longer cook time it took to cook a medium versus the personal. I figure from now on I will only order the personal because I like the crust softer. We also got a "family size" salad thinking that since it was twice as much money as the side salad it'd be twice as large. NA UH! It was MASSIVE and we'll be eating salad for the next few days! Since my birthday is coming up next week and I'm signed up for emails from the restaraunt they sent me a coupon for a free desert. So my cousin and I tried the chocalate chip cookie pizza. It took a while to actually find the cookie under the massive amounts of ice cream and whip cream. But when we did it was like striking gold. Very very good. Total tab with tip for two people and lots of left overs was $42.00. Not bad considering we took half a pie home and more than half that salad.
(4)Nic T.
So far, of all the Lou's, this is my favorite Lou's. You need to order it properly though and prep it right when you get home. Here is the process in simple, easy to follow steps on how to order and prepare the BEST Lou's Pizza ever. 1. Order your pizza by phone 45 minutes before you plan on eating. *Make sure you order it UNCUT!* Don't slice it, dice it or anything else. You want a WHOLE UNCUT PIE! I recommend sausage, spinach and mushroom on butter dough. 2. Just before you leave your house (or have your assistant stay home), preheat your over to 350. 3. Arrive in parking lot and park at the bank side. 4. Go inside and eat the free pizza they set out for the people waiting for pizza. You will now be even MORE hungry. Pay for your pizza and go to your car. 5. Drive as fast as safety and the law allows while maintaining pizza integrity. Do not do any high G turns that will make the pizza slosh around. Straight line speeding is fine. Just don't do any abrupt acceleration or deceleration. The goal is to make it home in one piece. The pizza, not you. I can guarantee whomever is at home is more concerned about the pizza than you at this point. 6. Arrive home and make a beeline for the kitchen. Unwrap the box and enjoy the smells that is the pizza. But do not EAT! 7. Place pizza NAKED on the middle rack, and wait 10 minutes @ 350 degrees in the oven. This waiting time is TORTURE, I understand. Use this time to set the table, or prepare a salad or just simply stare at your oven window with the light on while counting down the seconds. I swear I've never done the last one before... 8. Remove pizza and slice it into 6 equal slices( assuming a Large or bigger pie. if you need any smaller, you should order a large anyway). 8 equal slices if there is a need to. Any more than that is EPIC FAIL and you deserve to be shot after being tried for TREASON to the Pizza Nation. 9. Savor every bite of this fine work of ART! Do not disgrace the pie with any addition of your own other than cheese sprinkles or red pepper flakes. Most of all, DO NOT EAT IT NEW YORK STYLE. Those NYC folks don't know pizza, at all. That is your guide to the perfect Lou's Pizza.
(5)steph n.
This place never disappoints! If you want the gem of all deep dish pizzas, this is IT! They use the sweetest most ripened tomatoes for their savory pizza sauce. It is like no other. When you ask for the sausage deep dish, boy do they cover every inch of that pizza with supreme sausage. The cheese is unlike those other chain pizzarias that taste waxy and fake. Their cheese is smooth and purely wholesome. Last but definitely not least, this is the only pizza place where I do not throw away the edge of the crust. It is actually the "icing to the cake". When I think of this pizza, I reminisce of a farmer picking the ingredients straight out of their farm. Yes, the pizza tastes THAT fresh!
(5)Ingrid P.
Best Pizza on the North Shore, hands down. Try "The Lou" with Pepperoni! Sooooo good :) My husband dreams of pizza night...
(5)Geoff D.
The best deep dish pizza I have ever had! The thin crust is not bad, but the deep dish is the way to go.
(5)Michael S.
Excellent pizza and taste
(5)Billy M.
Ok pizza. Too thin for me, but good pepperoni.
(3)Sherry Y.
I've been to a few different Lou Malnati's now and have come to expect a buttery crust, long stretching mozzarella cheese and a yummy tomato sauce topping covering the whole pizza. That was what I expected when ordering from this Wilmette location for the first time. I got the original Lou's large pizza. First, despite ordering ahead of time, I had to wait awhile. Second, when I opened up the pizza back home, there was a big chunk of sauce and toppings missing. What happened? I haven't checked my pizzas before leaving the location before, but now I know should start doing so. 5 star food, 2 star service. EDIT: After being contacted by Lou Malnati's regarding my experience, they have assured me that one experience was just a one time thing and have given me an opportunity to try it again. The service at the main Lou Malnati's headquarters is great and I have upgraded my review to 5 stars due to that fact.
(5)Scott P.
I have to say the way the Daily Show dealt with Deep Dish pizza is exactly how I feel about it- it is generally terrible and some sort of weird casserole more than a pizza... but Malnati's is not your average deep dish place. It's really the only pizza place I will even go to in the area. Your average deep dish is a total mess- way too much sauce, ingredients strewn about randomly, the crust designed by ISIS to collapse and spew burning hot magma all over American consumers. You have to eat it on a plate, if not a bowl, and use a fork which totally defeats the purpose of a pizza. Malnatis certainly doesn't lend itself to walking around eating it the way a NY slice would, but you can at least eat it with your hands like a human being. The contents of the pizza itself are actually artfully done, not dumped in wantonly with a shovel and then doused in inferior sauce. The sauce always tastes fresh and is perfectly balanced. I went to pickup at this location and my order was a little late- they would not let me out the door without loading me up with free stuff to make up for having to wait an extra few minutes so you know the customer service is good.
(5)G R.
This is a pickup location only, order ahead for fresh hot pizza, or pick out something from the case. Used to be a regular place for us when we lived up here. It's staffed by friendly neighborhood college kids.
(4)Courtney K.
This place is a chicago institution! Now that I have moved to NYC, I crave The Lou probably once a week. They ship pizzas which is awesome, but a bit too expensive for my budget. The buttery crust, plethora of toppings, tomato sauce, and cheese make this pizza truly better than any pizza I have ever had.
(5)Summet H.
What can be said about Lou's other than it being the best pizza in the world. Thanks for being so close to home. And always being quick on your delivery.
(5)Deniz B.
Today is the first time I have tasted pizza here. I got delivery it was fast. I loved deep dish pizza you can create your own pizza here
(5)Gary S.
Ordered the thin crust pizza with sausage and mushroom very good My wife ordered the Caesar salad also very good Will come back again may try the deep dish next time
(4)Kim P.
Love this place!! 3 trips to the area and this is a must stop for real deep dish pizza and the Malnati salad. Great Everytime!
(5)Tamim J.
While I have not been to this restaurant, we always get delivery from here. Every time family gets together, this place is one of the options given for delivery! The reason? Wonderful pizza! These people know what they're doing, whether it comes to Chicago style deep dish, or your standard run-of-the-mill slice. With toppings or not, this place is absolutely wonderful and should be at the top of your pizza delivery list every time!
(5)Bennett M.
Just ate my usual, thin garlic, extra sauce well done. Always good and reliable.
(4)Jen C.
Delicious~ tastes the same every time, extra well done (comes crispy), golden butter crust, uncut. Fast delivery for cooking deep dish and driving time considered. Worth the 45-60 min delivery time. They didn't delivery to Skokie in the past. Glad they changed that!
(5)Clay P.
My Godfather used to send me box of 5 frozen Malnati's pies at Xmas that were great. Out of the oven live and in person so much better. Chicago Special - simple basic and fantastic. Only problem - ate 4 slices and couple days later was hungry again.
(4)Julianne G.
This is the best place for carry out pizza and my favorite baked pasta. The food is always on point however, 4 stars for the fact that they need an upgrade in establishment it still looks like it is from the 70 with no new up keep. Be prepared for long order times on Sunday evenings.
(4)A P.
Lou's is my go to pizza joint when back home in Chicago. I ordered a couple deep dish pies on this trip and was very disappointed. All crust very little cheese. Not the Lou's I know and love. I'll post a profile picture of one of the slices. You can do better than this, I know you can.
(1)Kathy L.
Always excellent! I order the large deep dish pepperoni and a Malnati's salad and it feeds our family of five no problem. Even better for breakfast the next morning! They recommend getting it uncut so if you do use a large knife to cut not a pizza wheel. This is deep dish!
(5)Jack S.
Best deep dish pizza ever put in my mouth. Nothing can top this place. Best pizza ever!!
(5)John H.
My personal favorite Chicago style pizza. I like pizza the best with sausage and hot giardiniera.
(5)Joe H.
The best deep dish in Chicago, period. This location has always made delicious pizza, both deep dish and thin crust, and has been consistent through the years. The staff are always on top of things and you can count on getting your pizza as you ordered it, on time every time.
(5)Christi K.
Best deep dish in Chicago. Hands down. There are a few locations scattered throughout the Chicago-land area. This one is take out or delivery only. There are some secrets to getting the best experience possible. The biggest one is get the pizza UNCUT! Otherwise, the juices will seep all over and you'll have a big soggy mess when you get home. You want that butter crust to be as crispy as possible to get full enjoyment! I highly recommend the Lou's. Perfect balance of toppings and flavors. You can always add pepperoni or sausage to it if you want some meat. I'm personally not a fan of the Malnati Chicago Classic. But if you are a sausage lover then this is your pie. The thin crust is pretty good too. I love how crunchy and buttery the crust is.
(5)Michelle B.
Food is great, but EVERY SINGLE TIME we order from this location they mess something up. Asked for no blue cheese in salad it came with blue cheese EVERYWHERE. Wrong salad dressing too. Driver very nice but whoever is making or putting together order needs to be replaced.
(2)Peter K.
I grew up in Chicago but now live in NYC. I don't know if I've totally converted to NY style pizza but every time I go back home, I'm a little disappointed in that Lou's just doesn't seem to be as good as I remember it was when I was younger. Have the ingredients changed? There's nothing particularly bad about this location. I called in my order for "The Lou's", it was ready for pickup when they said it would be.
(3)Patricia T.
This location has friendly employees and good customer service, but they frequently overcook their deep dish pizzas. Our last deep dish from this location was burned on the top, had a tough crust, rubbery cheese and dried out tomatoes. Since this location is carry out only, we didn't know there was a problem until we got the pizza home (about a 15 minute drive). A phone call to their very nice manager got us an apology, a promise to talk to his kitchen staff, and a coupon for a free pizza mailed to us. So good customer service won the day!
(3)Barry M.
Great pizza even better service. I accidentally ordered the wrong pizza crust called back and ordered a new one because they had put the first one in the oven already. When I arrived they had the corrected pizza and didn't make me pay for both. Just a smile and a "we made it right for you"
(5)Reanna H.
Buttery crust, moist mozzarella cheese, a unique tomato sauce... My favorite pizza in the world. I like this location the most. It may not be a sit down location, but it's always faster than other locations I've been to.
(5)Nancy L.
Great deep dish in true Chicago style. The thin crust is nice too when you don't want a heavy meal or have bigger groups to feed. Salads are fresh and a nice addition - try the creamy garlic dressing - it's really nice! Delivery/take out only in Wilmette.
(5)Alex B.
My favorite pizza in the entire world! I look forward to getting Lou's every time I come home to Chicago.
(5)Mac P.
Pretty bland, didn't even finish my half of the pizza (their "signature one" too). The cheese was tough, the tomatoes watery, the crust tasted like it had been defrosted. Even though the pizza qualified as edible, it was clearly not worth the calories. Never again.
(2)Jennifer L.
This is not my normal location - but I was in the neighborhood, so we ordered pick-up. I believe they ONLY do pickup at this location... but I could be mistaken. Either way, it's the famous Lou Malnati's pizza and was delicious. You have to get the deep-dish, as that's what they're famous for, but I've also had the thin crust which is quite tasty in it's own right. :) Enjoy!
(5)arpan s.
lous is the best pizza in the world.....this location sucks... ive eaten at about 5 differnt lous, lincolnwood is the best, evanston, lincoln park, schaumburg, etc...this place is the worst. just the taste of the pizza here...and the fact that you can't relaly sit down
(2)Cynthia D.
Does this say it all? Every year for my birthday my husband offers to take me to dinner ANYWHERE I want, but I always choose "deep dish cheese pizza from Lou Malnati's, please!"
(5)Patrick O.
I order from them all the time they are great! On time and accurate orders every time. There pizza is great, i love the thin crust pizza. Only draw back is they dont open till 4pm on the week days. So I cant get a snack at lunch time. Good environment in the store as well.
(5)Rishi N.
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria is one of the *best* places you can visit for authentic, high quality Chicago style pizza. I spent many years in Chicago (and agree with other reviewers who wish they'd franchise out to other cities like the Bay Area) and always make it a point to visit Lou's at least once when I'm in the city visiting family. I've eaten Lou's pizza for probably ~10 years by now - despite trying other options in the area, most never compared to Lou's. This location is only carry out / delivery, so be prepared to enjoy your pizza at the location of your choice. Since I only order deep dish Chicago pizza (why order anything else when I'm in town?), I can only offer my (glowing) commentary on that. Lou's crust is deliciously crusty without getting too doughy, and they include only quality ingredients (lots of cheese, delicious fresh tomatoes, etc.). All of this is available at extremely reasonable prices (seemingly much cheaper than competing deep dish chains) with enough to feed plenty (most folks I know who love Lou's intentionally order bigger pies than needed in order to guarantee themselves leftovers =D). Definitely order the pizza uncut and take a moment to admire it before diving in. Most importantly, savor it ... some of us don't get the privilege of eating Lou's nearly enough =).
(5)Paul H.
This is a solid 4-star place. I just finished off a sausage and mushroom thin crust, and it was good. The crust is great, it's a little different than most other thin crusts around town. You'll definitely get the olive oil/buttery crust flavor too. The toppings were well-seasoned and cooked (I hate getting raw/undercooked veggies on top of my pizza). And for $16.37, the large made for a great family (of 3) dinner. One note of interest - they have free pizza samples! FREE PIZZA SAMPLES. Also, parking can be tough in that lot (blame the Japanese restaurant next door). But, if you go later in the evening, you should be able to find parking in the bank's lot.
(4)Sasha D.
Hands down the best deep dish pizza in Chicago!!
(5)Shawn B.
Lou Malnati's is par excellence for Chicago style pizza. I wish they would franchise in other cities (hello, San Diego!). Uno's Pizzeria can conceivably be considered Chicago style pizza, but Uno's is to Lou's as Lovie Smith is to Vince Lombardi. My family is from Chicago, and I visit grandparents here once every year or so. We always make it to Lou's. And we always order the sausage and peppers pizza before we leave the house (it takes 45 minutes, so it's THE way to do it). The last time I was here, I got up to use the ladies room. I was rounding the corner back to our table when I heard my grandpa on his cell phone to his doctor requesting a refill for his Viagra prescription. GAWD, Grandpa! I don't wanna hear that! Even that terrible image in my mind did not mar my experience at Lou's though. Their crusty is crusty, even with a lot of toppings it doesn't get doughy. Their salads are the best I've had at a pizza joint. The atmosphere is very family friendly (as long as your kids don't know what Viagra is), with lots of sports paraphernalia adorning the walls. We never have a problem with the service. If you are a tourist to Chicago, skip Uno's (you can get that anywhere, jeez). Go here.
(5)Esther A.
Best pizza in Chicago, but mediocre service. Get the pan pizza AND the thin crust. Also get the lou malnati salad. Writing this is making my mouth water. I'd recommend ALWAYS getting carry out. Nothing beats ambiance like the comfort of your own home. This is a good place to grab food for an evening in with a movie.
(4)Paul A.
Try the signature pizzas: The Lou and the Chicago Classic. How can a deep dish-pan pizza actually be light and fully satisfying at the same time? They do it. Perfectly.
(5)Amanda O.
Actually dined in this time. Got my favorite sausage pizza with butter crust but this time I got a medium instead of a personal so I could share. Very oddly the pizza's crust came out much crunchier which I figured was due to the longer cook time it took to cook a medium versus the personal. I figure from now on I will only order the personal because I like the crust softer. We also got a "family size" salad thinking that since it was twice as much money as the side salad it'd be twice as large. NA UH! It was MASSIVE and we'll be eating salad for the next few days! Since my birthday is coming up next week and I'm signed up for emails from the restaraunt they sent me a coupon for a free desert. So my cousin and I tried the chocalate chip cookie pizza. It took a while to actually find the cookie under the massive amounts of ice cream and whip cream. But when we did it was like striking gold. Very very good. Total tab with tip for two people and lots of left overs was $42.00. Not bad considering we took half a pie home and more than half that salad.
(4)Lisa S.
i prefer their thin crust which is top notch. crust is amazing, very buttery. what i really like is their malnati's salad. something in the dressing that makes it so tasty. i've gone here just for their salad which is also reasonably priced. sometimes they put too much bacon but you can always take it off.
(4)Bill W.
Chicago's best pizza! Gotta have it...!
(4)John D.
This is a carry out only location. I ate here A LOT when I worked in Skokie and it's good to see nothing has changed. This is the location where I REALLY appreciated Lou's. This was a location where my order had been messed up (it happen's) and the manager on duty (I believe it might have been a Malnati) realized my order got mixed up with someone elses. Free dish the next time around. Over a 14 month period, I only had 2 wrong orders. Considering I ate there 1 to 2 times/week, those are very good averages. During the peak times, the quarters can get a little tight but that's probably the only "problem" I had. Solid people, solid service all around. Pretty fast adn set proper expectations as it relates to actual order times (if they say 15-20 minutes, that's the case).
(5)Mark D.
As an out-of-towner who is not a fan of deep dish pizza and does not regularly eat it, my opinion of this place might not be in line with the rest of the reviews. Still, the pizza was good. Lots of toppings. Well prepared. Pretty tasty. I've had better. But I would eat there again.
(3)Nic T.
So far, of all the Lou's, this is my favorite Lou's. You need to order it properly though and prep it right when you get home. Here is the process in simple, easy to follow steps on how to order and prepare the BEST Lou's Pizza ever. 1. Order your pizza by phone 45 minutes before you plan on eating. *Make sure you order it UNCUT!* Don't slice it, dice it or anything else. You want a WHOLE UNCUT PIE! I recommend sausage, spinach and mushroom on butter dough. 2. Just before you leave your house (or have your assistant stay home), preheat your over to 350. 3. Arrive in parking lot and park at the bank side. 4. Go inside and eat the free pizza they set out for the people waiting for pizza. You will now be even MORE hungry. Pay for your pizza and go to your car. 5. Drive as fast as safety and the law allows while maintaining pizza integrity. Do not do any high G turns that will make the pizza slosh around. Straight line speeding is fine. Just don't do any abrupt acceleration or deceleration. The goal is to make it home in one piece. The pizza, not you. I can guarantee whomever is at home is more concerned about the pizza than you at this point. 6. Arrive home and make a beeline for the kitchen. Unwrap the box and enjoy the smells that is the pizza. But do not EAT! 7. Place pizza NAKED on the middle rack, and wait 10 minutes @ 350 degrees in the oven. This waiting time is TORTURE, I understand. Use this time to set the table, or prepare a salad or just simply stare at your oven window with the light on while counting down the seconds. I swear I've never done the last one before... 8. Remove pizza and slice it into 6 equal slices( assuming a Large or bigger pie. if you need any smaller, you should order a large anyway). 8 equal slices if there is a need to. Any more than that is EPIC FAIL and you deserve to be shot after being tried for TREASON to the Pizza Nation. 9. Savor every bite of this fine work of ART! Do not disgrace the pie with any addition of your own other than cheese sprinkles or red pepper flakes. Most of all, DO NOT EAT IT NEW YORK STYLE. Those NYC folks don't know pizza, at all. That is your guide to the perfect Lou's Pizza.
(5)steph n.
This place never disappoints! If you want the gem of all deep dish pizzas, this is IT! They use the sweetest most ripened tomatoes for their savory pizza sauce. It is like no other. When you ask for the sausage deep dish, boy do they cover every inch of that pizza with supreme sausage. The cheese is unlike those other chain pizzarias that taste waxy and fake. Their cheese is smooth and purely wholesome. Last but definitely not least, this is the only pizza place where I do not throw away the edge of the crust. It is actually the "icing to the cake". When I think of this pizza, I reminisce of a farmer picking the ingredients straight out of their farm. Yes, the pizza tastes THAT fresh!
(5)Ingrid P.
Best Pizza on the North Shore, hands down. Try "The Lou" with Pepperoni! Sooooo good :) My husband dreams of pizza night...
(5)Geoff D.
The best deep dish pizza I have ever had! The thin crust is not bad, but the deep dish is the way to go.
(5)John D.
I think that Lous is the most overrated pizza in Chicago. People go nuts for the watery pizza that gets soggy very quick. Lou's dominates this area because Rick Malnati was a gym teacher and coached the local highschool's basketball team for over a decade and often rewarded students with free pizza. This is probably the reason that the Wilmette location beats the other locations(which are dine in locations) in sales every month. Wilmette is a carryout only location and is operated by burnout college students and high schoolers. Needless to say this is not a place I carry out from often. Even Malnatis offspring does a better job at Pizano's in Glenview. Go to Uno's & Due's, Giordano's, or Gino's East if you want to try the best Chicago style pizza.
(2)Ryan O.
Best pizza ever, always good. Need to make sure you get your pizza uncut, so it doesnt get soggy on the ride home/delievery ride. Deep crust is obvioulsly the way to go.
(5)Annie S.
I grew up eating Lou Malnati's and now that I'm home for break, we decided to get some for dinner. We ordered a thick crust sausage with low-fat cheese and extra tomato sauce. I've never actually had sausage at Lou's but it was really good! It took about 30 min for the pizza to be ready. I like the carry-out restaurant because they are pretty efficient and the staff are nice (seems like everyone is a high schooler). Anyways, I recommend everyone to try Lou's at least once and they have more than 20 locations in Illinois! btw- the restaurant was just in a Food Network show with Bobby Flay.
(4)Steven K.
Deep Dish Pizza is how Chicago earned its winning reputation and Lou's Lincolnwood & this little express carry-out location lives up to this outstanding distinction. Always a great fan of anything with vegetables on it. My personal favorite is deep dish with, Spinach, Mushroom, extra cheese, and sliced Tomato on top. Dine In not a big fan, but there is a convenient location for carry out to make you & your friends the envy of ANY Ravinia Lawn Concert as you have easy access for jumping on the Highway taking you there. Once you are a regular & know how the crust SHOULD taste you may come across an occasional older crust uncooked for too long and put in the necessary complaint. If possible, don't settle for less and return your unfinished Pizza , if convenient. The Sausage Pizza is only 1 star , as there is a giant full frisbee loaf of sausage roll under the cheese...overload ;-(
(4)Jessica M.
Lou Malnati's is by FAR the best deep dish pizza in all of Chicago. To me it is the "true" Chicago deep dish, crust is amazing, ingredients are always fresh and they are always generous with their toppings. Please don't compare this to NY style thin crust, Lou's is in a league of their own. I'm very passionate about my pizza, in all my years I've never had another slice of deep dish that came close to the quality and amazing flavor of Lou's. Lou's is the BEST, if I could give 6 stars I would!
(5)anthony M.
Hands down best deep dish pizza in Chicago. The "Lou" is great for all veggies, but the sausage is also a classic. I also love the Malnati chopped salad.
(5)Maria W.
I LOVE Lou Malnati's pizza and think it is the best in Chicago by far! We picked up a deep dish from here (it's not a sit down location) and we were blown away. Mind you - we regularly pick up from the Lincolnwood location as well as the Lincoln Park and Wells Street - but this pizza was perfection...not too salty, not overcooked, and good distribution of toppings.
(5)Rob G.
Favorite is deep dish spinach with onions and black olives. Best around.
(5)Alan R.
This particular location is carry out only, but dine in or carry out, Malnati's is the best deep dish pizza. I love the traditional layer of sausage and my wife loves the Lou's special (tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach with cheddar cheese) The salads are also great, make sure to ask for the house dressing. I am not a huge fan of thin crust, but I like their's a lot. If you desire desert (which after a few pieces of Lou's and a salad is hard to do), they have Eli's Cheesecake. A Chicago tradition and a must if you have out-of-towners unfamiliar with Chicago visiting.
(5)Eric M.
Lou Malanati's is like the city of Chicago served in pie form. Not only does their delicious pizza embody the definition of 'deep dish,' but it also personifies the city that deep dish was first created in. Lou's starts with great ingredients, real quality stuff. How can you tell? Because they don't process to death. Thick cuts of tomatoes, buttery crust that isn't dough but isn't crispy (Goldilocks crust!), top notch cheese that you can pull into long strings, and big meaty slices of whatever topping you choose to get. Just like Chicago, you've already got a good collection of quality bits from all different places that are thrown together. Add the 'Chicago fire' of cooking, and the pie comes out of the oven like the city rose from the ashes of the fire...that much more delectable and ready to take on the culinary delights of anyone you dare cross it! Order your pie uncut, so when you get it to your table, it will still be piping hot. Take a big wiff and enjoy the symphony of smells. Take a slice, be civilized and use a fork and knife please, and let the party in your mouth begin! This pizza is like ambrosia brought down from the heavens. Plus, you never have to worry about ordering too much because Lou's makes GREAT leftovers. Overall, Lou's is just the best Chicago-style Deep Dish pizza. The Wilmette location only delivers, but that is just as well since you can enjoy this pie anywhere.
(5)Denise B.
I grew up on this particular branch of Lou's. My family ordered take-out here pretty much every Friday for the eight years or so we lived in Wilmette, not even counting the summers I was home from college. We tried other pizza places in the area, but none of them ever compared. For both deep dish and thin crust this restaurant can't be beaten. Even though I've found other pizza I've liked in my new home in California (even giving some 5 stars!), I've never found anything that is quite as amazing as Lou's pizza. My personal favorite is a The Lou pan pizza. I also like their thin crust quite a bit and love that they have the option for low-fat cheese on all their pizzas. If you come to the Chicago area you definitely owe it to yourself to eat this pizza! Run, do not walk, to the nearest location.
(5)Jovia F.
Oh, Lou's. I love you so. With your buttery crust, your just-perfect pepperoni, and your ability to absolutely COVER a pizza with toppings. And that cheese! So gooey-tasty. I had to try the mozz sticks, like I do just about anywhere that offers...and they did not let down. Only been to Lou's once and I'd love to be back to see if its just as good as memory serves.
(4)Liz O.
Consistent goodness and great delivery -- order is never wrong or late.
(5)Rosalind C.
The buttery light crust, makes me crazy. If my tongue had an ass, it would want to shake it, not break it. But then I would have an ass tongue and that would just be weird. The pizza is amazing.
(5)Laura V.
Ok, do not even waste your time on those other Chicago pizza joints. Lou's is simply the best. Having grown up in the Chicago area, I've tried them all and honestly, Lou Malnati's is heads above the rest. Every time I make it home to visit, I make sure that the visit includes a trip to get some deep dish veggie pizza. I've even bought the frozen ones and created inventive ways to bring them back to DC with me. The crust is perfectly light, the sauce sweet and yummy - all tomatoes. If you like sausage, then this is the one for you. Big old sausage patty right on top. Of course, there's tons of cheese. It all bakes together to form what I call "A little piece of Chicago delight."
(5)Ann Y.
I heart Lou's and it is BY FAR the best deep dish pizza in Evanston. I have also grown fond of their thin crust as well over the years. So hot, so much flavor (ask for butter crust) and just a Chicago tradition. Hell, Lou's been out Bobby Flay for best deep dish (was there really even a competition). If you haven't tried Lou's and are in Chicago you need to go now (you aren't a true Chicagoian until you have). My brother and best friend who both live out of Chicago make this their staple stop when they come into town. My only reason for four stars is that it isn't my favorite deep dish pizza, but it is up in the top 10 for me.
(4)Annie Y.
I can see why people would give this place five stars, but I just can't get into the crust. I find it simultaneously too doughy and too crunchy. They always load the deep dish with way too much cheese and not enough tomatoes. I only live five minutes away, but delivery usually takes 1-1.5 hours. I haven't tried anything other than their deep dish and thin crust pizzas, so I can't comment on the quality of their other food.
(3)Kent B.
Lou's is a great place for thick or thin crust pizza. However, I prefer their thin crust. Until about a year ago, the sauce or crust had a strong olive oil aroma/flavor, which I loved. I don't know if they went to a different brand of olive oil or if they cut back, but it's definately not the same. I usually order a salad with house dressing--a vinagarette--which is tastey and sweet. It's best to arrive a few minutes earlier than your scheduled pick up time. That way you can sample the pizzas they setup for waiting patrons. Parking is tough in this strip center's lot. You may have to drive around for awhile to secure a spot. This is a carry-out only location.
(4)Scott J.
You want some of the best Chicago style pizza in town?! YOU'VE FOUND IT! Don't waste time with those high profile pizza chains. And when you go in to pick up your delicious, mouth watering, pizza...don't forget to snag some free samples by the door. Tell em Scott sent you...it won't get you anything and they will probably ask you, "Who the F%& is Scott?" But you can say it anyway. Might I suggest the thin crust "Lou's" and then a pan style "Deluxe" with crumbled sausage...oh yeah...they can give you a layer of sausge if you choose. They also deliver all over the US. For you NoCal folks...it's Hella good and 100 times better than Zach's.
(5)