Lou Malnatis Pizzeria

I recently visited Lou Malnati's Pizza with my son, and we split the Combination Platter for an appetizer. It included fried cheeses, mushrooms, and zucchini, which were all very tasty. But, we should have ordered a Caesar salad as an app. The fried foods before the pizza were a bit too heavy. For our main course, we ordered a small Classic Chicago pizza, which was plenty for the two of us, especially after that appetizer. While the pizza was good, it didn't blow our minds. We had been told by a local that Lou's was the way to go. I would rate our experience at around 3.5 stars because the pizza wasn't piping hot when it arrived. It had already cooled down a bit. One thing to know: our server mentioned that it would take 40 minutes for the pie to come out and it did. I'm glad she said something and an app will help if you're really hungry going in. Overall, Lou Malnati's Pizza was a decent dinner, but I was expecting a bit more. The service was good, and the restaurant had a nice atmosphere. If you're in the area and looking for a solid pizza option, Lou's is worth a try, but it didn't quite live up to the hype for me.

The pizza was very delicious. The suave was the right consistency and flavor. The cheese was stringy and thick. Make sure to get the butter crust and crumble the sausage or it will be a flat sheet. The service was very good with really nice staff. I order a chicken breast sandwich too and it was good. We also ordered the family salad and it was very fresh with tasty dressing.

We went to the Michigan Avenue location first which is a tourist heavy area. Since there was a 30 minute wait there, we walked over to this River North location. We walked in and were seated immediately. The service was good and the food was great. We ordered the combo appetizer plate and a Lou Malnati small sausage pizza for the two of us. There is a relaxed vibe here. I highly recommend this location. This is my second time visiting this location with great experiences both times.

Heard a lot of great things about deep dishes in Chicago and had to try it. Ordered the small “Lou” with pepperoni on top to share with a friend. It was delicious but I think sausage would have been better instead of pepperoni. A small was a little too much for my friend and I so if I were to come back I would probably share a personal size. WARNING: because of the nature of this dish, we waited over one hour for our dishes to arrive (the server said it would be a 45 minute wait). I would recommend ordering an app to snack on while time passes. My other 2 male friends ordered a medium Malnati Chicago classic with green peppers on top. I personally liked the Lou more because it tasted lighter.

Most likely the best deep dish chain. The cheese layer underneath strategically protects the crispy dough from getting soggy. They take closer to a half hour to bake, but it's so worth it. Look at the size of these pies. Pepperoni or sausage, these monsters serve a person per slice. Best part is they freeze perfectly and the leftovers can be warmed in a skillet or oven for restaurant-level crisp. I've even ordered a whole pie to go on my bus stop through Chicago, took top priority. This has been my gold standard for thick ones.

You can't come to Chicago and not stop in for the best Deep Dish Pizza in the city. The cheese pull in my picture should tell you all you need to know. We were able to call ahead and reserve a spot while we were walking up to the location, and they had a table ready for us by the time we got there. Great food, good service, cold beer. This is our favorite location (the same can't be said about the Michigan Ave location). We'll always come back.

The dine-in experience was great. The atmosphere was cozy and the staff was friendly. The original mule they have on the bar is one of the best I’ve ever had. We had a pepperoni deep dish with some garlic bread as appetizers. The food was delicious, although it was a bit much for two people to finish. I’d definitely visit again and try a different dish of pizza.

First time in Chicago and first time at Lou Malnati’s- absolutely AMAZING. Our server tonight (12/11/22) was Luis M. Luis was very attentive and welcoming; he made our experience so much better. The food. OH MY GOD THE FOOD. We got a spinach loaf for an appetizer and it was superb, 9/10! The pizza on the other hand. I. can’t. explain. how. good. it. was. The pizza was impeccable; the perfect balance of ingredients, fresh and high quality ingredients, hot, and mouthwatering. The drinks were also wonderful.The pizza took about 25 minutes, but I honestly would’ve waited 2 hours for even a slice. Absolutely a must-visit place if you’re visiting or haven’t tried it yet. Thank you guys for the experience!