Hello! We will be arriving around 8:30 p.m. into Midway airport and then we'll probably take the subway into town. We're staying at the Hotel Allegro and I'm looking for some feedback about a good place near our hotel to get some of that authentic chicago pizza I keep reading about. Thanks!

You're probably only a 15 min. walk north over the river (reasonably safe area) or $5-7 cab ride from Lou Malnati's or Gino's East. Giordano's and Pizzaria Uno not much farther away.

Tara -

There is a Giordano's literally one block West of your hotel on Randolph - you don't have to go nearly as far as Cub fan is suggesting.

Sorry but IMHO it's not the same as the one on Rush. But you are right. It is closer. It's like not going to the original Billy Goat Tavern while you're there.

Um, Cub fan, -

Your snotty comment would make some sense, I suppose, if the location on Rush were the original - which it isn't. Working on the assumption that the Rush Street area is the epicenter of Chicago and home of all things original is usually a mistake.

Cub,

Every pizza place you recommended is a branch of a chain and NOT the original location. The original Lou Malnati's is in Lincolnwood and the original Gino's East is closed (the one at Wells and Ontario is very new). There is nothing wrong with any of these places, but I don't get why you're implying that these are original locations that should be sought out - they simply aren't.

My only question would be whether that Giordanos (on Randolph) is open on weekends, because a lot of things around there aren't.

There's also a Giordanos in the Prudential building on Stetson...

Oh, and to the OP -- you won't be taking a subway from Midway. The train is elevated. Only portions of the North/South and O'Hare lines are subway. All of it, regardless of its relationship to ground level, is called the "El," pronounced "L."

HTH,
Racy

What's wrong with Rush St?

Chicago -

I don't think anyone here suggested that something is wrong with Rush St. - but don't get me started.

This sounds like someone here thinks it's a problem: "Working on the assumption that the Rush Street area is the epicenter of Chicago and home of all things original is usually a mistake."

What happened to "cubfan" a.k.a Fan of Original Locations in Chicago? He got awfully quiet.

Getting back to the original topic of discussion ... I'd recommend Giordano's. Yes, it's a chain, but the atmosphere is good and the pizza is incredible. This place should expand nationwide!

Tara -

Any of the places mentioned, regardless of location, would be great. Don't worry about what Cub said about having to go to the "original" - as someone else pointed out, every place he listed is not an original location, even though he seems to have convinced himself otherwise.

I'm sorry I didn't have time that day to respond to some replies. First of all, I thought by saying "IMHO" the comment was not supposed to be taken as "snotty". It was not intended to be snotty, just my opinion. As for the "original" comment, I never said the Rush St. location was the "original" location. I thought the Rush St. location was the better downtown location for Giordano's. The 2 other Gio locations mentioned seemed pretty sterile to me and set up for "business people"" versus the Rush St. location and a better "Chicago experience". But, once again, it's just my opinon. Yes, the other 2 are closer to The Allegro. If you went to the Billy Goat Tavern out by Wrigley Field, would you get the same experience as going to the original one? OK. Where IS the original Billy Goat Tavern located? If you go to the Berghoff at O'Hare can you say you actually ate at Berghoff's? And what is wrong with Rush St? And how do you know I'm a "he"?
Tough board!

Cub, you're actually making it worse. Read your first post - it CLEARLY implies that you believed that Giordano's on Rush was the original - otherwise the Billy Goat comparison makes no sense at all. To make things worse, you reiterate the comparison again in your next post.

Also, asking "where IS the original Billy Goat?" makes you sound like a pouty child. We're all very glad that you allegedly know where it is, but quizzing others in just makes you look silly.

Finally, if you think that Rush St. is the best place to get a "true Chicago experience," well, let's just say this. There is not anything inherently terrible about Rush St - but Rush St and the Ontario St corridor in River North have a well known reputation amongst locals for being very touristy - AND sterile. This isn't exactly a secret.

Nina Thank you for your very snotty reply, IMHO. If my explanation doesn't meet your expectations, too bad.
I'm worried that it concerns you so much that you feel the need to prove me wrong and "correct" my reply like an English term paper based soley on your opinion. As for "sterile" and "Chicago Experience", it's ALL a matter of opinon. Maybe your opinion is just a lot better than my opinion? I guess Tara will be the final judge on the pizza and the "Chicago Experience".
You sure read a lot into my replies. Are you sure you are not projecting yourself into my responses? Maybe you should go see Oprah and Dr Phil while you're in Chicago? In the meantime, maybe you'd like to enlighten us as to the difference between implied and inferred? I'd rather sound like a pouty child than an self-righteous, condescending school teacher like you. IMHO.

Cub - You keep referring to the original Billy Goat Tavern as if it were still open for business. The original location, which was on Madison just east of Damen closed its doors awhile back - nearly 3 DECADES AGO in 1964. This is where the owner of the Billy Goat put his legendary hex on the Chicago Cubs. I would think that someone who refers to themselves as a "Cubs Fan" would know this.

Would you two grow up and shut up please. BTW, Dr. Phil now has his own show - keep up on stuff if you're going to refer to it.