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You are here: Home / Trips / ORD Spring 2024 / TRIP REPORT: Surprise, Surprise! Chicago Classics – Giordano’s Deep Dish Pizza

TRIP REPORT: Surprise, Surprise! Chicago Classics – Giordano’s Deep Dish Pizza

02/05/2024 by Kevincm

Chicago Classics – Giordano’s Deep Dish Pizza
Surprise, Surprise!

Chicago Spring 2024 Trip Cover Image

Time for a classic Chicago Dish – Deep Dish Pizza. Yes. Again. This time, it’s by a real Chicago Classic, Giordano’s. 

Is it still one of the best entry points into Deep Dish Pizza out there? 

In this surprise-laden adventure

  • We all know the drill by now… don’t we?
  • The early morning road to nowhere (and Heathrow Terminal 3 first thing in the morning, with an equipment change shock)
  • Morning Lounging at the Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges
  • AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare – Main Cabin Extra
  • Into the USA and The Crowne Plaza O’Hare
  • Hyatt Regency O’Hare
  • Airplane Art Special from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
  • Various nibbles around Chicago
  • An Instagram Trap? Coffee at Brü
  • Chicago Classics: Giordano’s Deep Dish Pizza
  • Enjoying a Chicago River tour… in the rain
  • Back to O’Hare and the British Airways lounge
  • BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow – Club World (Club Suites)
  • Racing across Heathrow… but where’s the coach?
  • To onward surprises

It’s time for this trip reports “Chicago Classic”, and yes, we’re going to Giordano’s. Why?

Why not. It’s one of the more popular Chicago Deep Dish Pizzas. 

a building with red awnings and neon signs

And Deep dish pizza haters…. Click off now, so the rest of us can enjoy this. 

Still here? Let us continue. 

I could have gone to the branch near the airport – but where’s the fun in that? I headed to the big one downtown, just off North Michigan Avenue.  I was walking in the area in the evening, stretching my legs after catching up with people. 

Sunday evenings are best done with as few voices that I know, so I can spend time in my own little happy world. And sometimes that world needs to be fed. 

Heading in, I was fully expecting to be sat at a bar – but thankfully I was assigned a table.

a building with a sign on it

a building with a awning over it

a sign on a wall

people standing at a counter

a group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant

Whilst I arrived around 8:30, I knew that deep-dish pizza takes 40+ minutes to cook. As such, I ordered some cola and some french fries as a starter. 

a hand holding a menu

a hand holding a menu

a menu of a restaurant

I could have skipped the french fries, but my eating patterns were odd during the weekend, and decent carbs were needed at this point of the game.

For the Pizza, I chose one with “Pepperoni, salami, sausage & bacon.”. To cut through the fat, and add bite, I added some giardiniera.

I’ve found it also adds a nice spicy bite to the pizza too. 

 

a group of people sitting at a bar a group of people sitting at a table

So first up is the fries. Or rather, Garlic Parmesan Fries for the few cents extra they charged. 

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The fries were crispy and fresh, with a good dusting of parmesan and garlic, with a quantity of ranch dressing. That’s one thing you don’t see too in Europe (to the point I bring a bottle back with me on most trips… even if it’s basic Target Ranch Dressing). 

a plate of french fries with sauce

To fill in the time, I hopped onto the local wi-fi network. I almost wish I didn’t.

a screen shot of a computer a screenshot of a phone
What is the point of 1 MB data caps in a restaurant?

The pizza finally arrived. As usual – I got a large one, as I would be consuming it for a few days after at home. Again – a Chicago home comfort after a long flight.  As well as tasty edible memories. 

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As always with a freshly baked pizza like this, it’s full of cheesy goddesses, with the perfect amount of crunch. 

Invalid request error occurred.

Unless you’re a magician good luck folding a deep-dish pizza – it’s food for use with a knife and fork when hot, as opposed to fold and shove. 

As for me? It’s a chance to slow down and enjoy the food. The weekend in the city, is fast-paced, so having those physical moments to say “stop” and “enjoy” sometimes has to be forced on me

 The pizza choice was a good one – I normally go for a “classic” style one, with meat feast living up to expectations Having the giardiniera as a topping was an excellent move – I suspect just having the meat pizza would have finished me after one slice. At least I could enjoy two slices of pizza without feeling like I was also an imposition on the staff, given it was now 21:30 in the evening, and it was nearing closing time. 

Because only a narcissistic idiot stays beyond closing time in any venue. 

You can’t tell I worked in the catering industry at all, can you? 

With my Pizza boxed up and ready for long-distance travel, I paid the bill – even with Chicago City prices – and headed out. 

Overall:

I had no issues with the bill and to be honest, it was nice just to do my own thing when it comes to food in Chicago. For a traditional style deep dish pizza, Giordano’s ticks all the boxes I like – a lovely warm pie, excellent toppings and a comfortable atmosphere to relax after a busy weekend.

It’s still an excellent entry point into Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza (along with Uno). For those who want something a little more fun Peaquods is one way to go.

Next time, I’m planning to go a way of piste. You’ll have to hang around till October for that.

Next:

Time to get wet on the Chicago River, with an architectural boat tour of the city.


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Filed Under: ORD Spring 2024, Trip, Trip Reports, Trips

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