Savor a Slice of Pizza from a Top Rated Pizza Restaurant — Pequod’s
On a recent day trip to Chicago, we had the opportunity to explore and try a new place for lunch. Asked if we liked Chicago-style pizza, we were recommended to check out a local pizza spot and avoid the chains.
We really didn’t plan to offer up a review of the pizza restaurant we visited that day. But a few days after our visit, the list of the best pizza restaurants in the country came out. And to our surprise, Pequod’s Pizza Chicago was selected as the top place in the US for pizza.
Local Vibe, World Class Pizza
Pequod’s is a locals type restaurant, which we find appealing. Nothing against chains, but supporting local restaurants when possible is our approach. The decor at Pequod’s Chicago location could be described as gritty. It is certainly not slick and uniform like you might find at other well known Chicago pizza restaurants. The Chicago location for Pequod’s is at 2207 North Clybourn, about 3 miles south of Wrigley Field.
We were there for lunch on a Saturday, arriving at 11:30AM. We thought we had a reservation but inadvertently made it for the wrong day. They were able to get us in without a reservation, but it is safe to say you want to have one if possible. Within 30 minutes of our arrival, the restaurant was very busy. Because of the nature of Chicago-style deep dish pizza, the wait time from ordering to getting your food is typically 35+ minutes. That means a wait for a table can also be longer. They offer reservations through their Google business page, available via a simple Google search.
Tasting Pequod’s Pizza Chicago
Our order started with an order of garlic cheese bread. They use hoagy buns for their bread, and load it up with plenty of mozzarella cheese and garlic. It also had an ample amount of oregano sprinkled on top, which detracted from the overall taste. The garlic bread was so-so, and something we would skip next time.
There is no fear of walking away hungry at Pequod’s Pizza Chicago. Because of our differing tastes, we ordered two pizzas. The typical party of three would still likely have leftovers if you only ordered one pizza.
The first pizza brought to us was a thin crust cheese only pizza. Thin crust might be a misnomer, as the crust is still plentiful. On the thin crust pizza, they twist the dough which rises and creates a nice visual when served. The pizza dough is very light and flakey, almost tasting like a breadstick.
As good as the cheese pizza was, it is the Chicago-style deep dish that Pequod’s is known for, and has received the national recognition. Pequod’s is known for their crust, and they live up to that reputation. It is a lot of bread, almost too much but still delicious. What sets their pizza apart from the others is the caramelized crust on their deep dish. All that cheese caramelizes as your pizza bakes in their ovens. It is delivered to your table with a dark rim of cheese that is unlike their main competition in Chicago.
Pequod’s Pizza Menu
The menu gives you a base price for the deep dish pizza, and then they allow you to build your own. We selected sausage, mushroom and garlic for our pizza. They stack the pizza with plenty of ingredients, so we ended up carrying home a box full of pizza for another meal at home. Worth noting, this pizza reheats really well.
Beyond garlic bread, Pequod’s offer several other appetizers to consider. They also have soup and salads to choose as well. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, they also have a selection of pasta dishes for main dishes. They also have a full bar.
Pequod’s Pizza Chicago original location is in the suburbs, Morton Grove. They’ve been around since the early 1970s. They added the Chicago location we visited in 1992. Should you want to give them a try, or if you are a Chicago transplant somewhere else in the country you can order online. They offer nationwide shipping of their deep dish creations.
This is a legendary establishment. Pequod’s has been featured on several food TV shows, including Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil.
What is the best pizza in the country is very subjective question. There are several styles of pizza, from New York, Chicago, Detroit, California and many others. The Yelp review of the nation’s top rated pizza restaurants is a great guide as you travel around. Pequod’s is very good, and deserving of being on that list, though they would not sit atop our list.
We were able to find on-street parking at the Chicago location. But keep in mind, we were there late on a Saturday morning. Parking could be an issue, but it is worth the hassle to give it a try. They are open at 11AM seven days a week, and offer late night dining options throughout the week.
Planning a trip to the windy city? Check out some of our other Chicago restaurant reviews.
