Lori,

I must disagree with you strongly on that point, because of their degradation of pizza quality. I've noticed the same with Gino's East. These chains get super popular because of their locations, get quick in-and-out business, and very few repeat customers. Thus, since their clientele is so rapidly changing, they seem not to care about making really good pizza like they used to, giving you watery and gooey pies.

I must say that Edwardo's seems to maintain a hearty pizza and hasn't seemed to have lost a step. I've never been to Lou Malnati's.

The most surprising pizza I have had in the city was at Beat Kitchen, on Belmont and Hoyne. They have this super-tasty goat cheese and sun-dried tomato pizza that'll make you angry.

Danny

Not to get on a pizza tangent, but blindfold me, give me one slice of Lou Malnati's pizza, and I will instantly transported to Chicago. Danny, much agreement with the degradation of Uno, Due, and Gino's East--nothing but disapointment. Edwardo's is good, but to many strange variations--wheat crust, spinach. The hidden gem in Chicago's pizza world, however, is MY PIE on Clark (near Fullerton). Has been around since the 70s, has almost no sign out front advertising it, but those who know, KNOW. Beat Kitchen is probably legit, as well--a newbie on the scene!

Maggie,
Hope you enjoyed your trip to Chicago. I was with the fodors group when you stopped by to say Hello. Do you think the Cafe Iberico is as great as I think it is?

Hi, Maggie -- hope you enjoyed your trip. I checked this post on Sun., when you are probably eating brunch and about to head home, so I have no more suggestions for you. But I do have a question: how did the walking distances strike you? I would have said 10 blocks is walking distance (=a mile, which for me is do-able in about 20-30 minutes) but for a lot of auto-bound Americans, it's out of the question. What did you and your group think?

It's Monday morning and we're back after a grueling 6 hour long drive in blustery snowy weather last night. But what great memories! I will do another posting on my trip report, but to answer your question Elaine, we LOVED Cafe Iberico and would go back again and again. There are so many things to try. The group of four of us each ordered two tapas and we couldn't finish everything. I did try Danny's excellent suggestions of Patatas Bravas (potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce) and Queso de Cabra (goat cheese in a tomato sauce with pesto toasts). It was so great to find the Fodor's crowd there. We were worried that we might not get there in time because our bus from Shedd's Aquarium took such a long time to get through traffic. It was a perfect weekend, I wouldn't change a thing! Thanks so much to everyone who helped!

To answer your question, Cass, walking the entire way from our hotel to Mag Mile and back would not have been a problem for me at all. Unfortunately, my friend sprained her ankle just before we left, so we took a cab from the hotel a few times ($6.00 inc. tip split four ways was a bargain). So many of the places we went were within less than a 10 minute walk from the Best Western on Ohio, i.e., Cafe Iberico, Lou Malnati's, House of Blues, Ed Debevic's, on and on. We couldn't have picked a more central location to what we wanted to see.

Danny, where were you? We were looking for you.

where was i when? i didn't know i was invited.

anyways, i'm glad you had a good time. if you ever come this way again, throw me a line and i'd be glad to help. i TOLD you iberico is solid.

jessica, i gotta try that pizza joint now. my pie. is it on clark or fullerton?

danny

Maggi...did you go to any pizza places while there? Going to Chicago first time in a couple of weeks...have enjoyed reading the responses to your post.

Deb, we went to Lou Malnati's because it got good reviews and it was within walking distance. I thought the pizza was very good, very cheesy, crust was a little drier than I am used to. It's a sports bar setting, kind of slow when we went - 9:30 Friday night. I'd try one of the other ones the next time hoping for a little livelier atmosphere.

Danny, I guess I thought you would be with the "Fodors crowd" at Cafe Iberico.

Maggi, I'm so glad you enjoyed Chicago and were able to stop by the gathering.

Deb, watch out for the sausage pizza at Malnati's, too much sausage for my taste, they put a slab of sausage on it.

Danny, My Pie is on Clark, just north of Fullerton on the east side of the street. Haven't been there for a few years but the pizza was very good.

a few years?!?!?!

it's THAT good huh?

hee hee