Whether it’s Chicago style, New York style, stuffed, thin, or thick, everyone has a favorite style of pizza, and we are no strangers to pie here at Aronson Advertising. That’s why we jumped for joy when we learned that National Pizza Day is to be held on February 9th in 2017. To celebrate everyone’s favorite meal, we’ve decided to highlight some of our favorite pizza places in the Chicagoland area in no particular order.
But before we get into the meat of this article, here are a few facts about pizza.
- On average Americans consume 251,770,000 of pepperoni a year
- 93% of Americans have eaten pizza in the last month
- Pizzerias are expected to purchase more than $4 billion worth of cheese annually
- Pizza accounts for more than 10% of all food service sales
- Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza a day or about 350 slices a second
- 36% of people consider pizza the perfect breakfast
The Favorites
Gigio’s – 1001 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
During the days of my youth, romping around the streets of downtown Evanston, the brightest shining light in the entire area was Gigio’s pizzeria and their slices. Now, I understand that this is the unpopular opinion amongst Chicago natives such as myself, and I’m pretty sure admitting this will shun me from an entire city’s worth of people, but, I prefer New York style pizza to Chicago Style. Wait! Before you get out your pitchforks and torches and come running to my apartment, know that pizza is my number one favorite food and I love all of its incarnations, including the very filling Chicago style of deep dish pizza. So, you can trust me when I say that Gigio’s has one of the best slices in the Chicagoland area.
Lou Malnati’s – Any Chicago Location
It almost goes without saying that this Chicago staple makes this list. No matter which part of Chicago you are from, I can almost guarantee you’ve had a slice of heaven from Lou Malnati’s. While Lou is most famous for his deep dish, those without the appetite to eat several pounds of pizza will fall instantly in love with their thin crust. Light and flaky, pizza aficionados that crave crunch will have no issue plowing through a 16-in. pie with friends.
Marisa’s – 4175 E Dundee Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062
I know what you’re thinking. “The Suburbs?! Is he insane?! There’s no pizza in the ‘burbs! How dare he call himself an aficionado!”
Today, my friends, I am here to put that stigma to rest. First off, their white pizza is unlike anything you’ve experienced on this plane of reality. But their true marvel, their piece de resistance if you will, is their slices of plain cheese pizza. Yeah, that’s right, I said it. Using pure mozzarella that melts in your mouth and some of the freshest ingredients you’ll find in any restaurant, there is no reason to sully your slice with needless meat and vegetable toppings. Marisa’s is the perfect spot for pizza purists.
Sbarro – 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173
“Ugh, another suburban place? A Mall?! Where is this guy from, I mean, really?”
I can hear the wheels turning in everyone’s head. But rest assured, were it not the only place to get a single slice of pizza in a 20 mile radius of our office, I’d probably consider going somewhere else. And, hey, it’s not so bad. There’s a good reason they’ve been in business for close to 50 years. That said, if you happen to be in Schaumburg, IL, I highly suggest going to Sbarro on a Monday or Wednesday, as the chef that works on those days has a better feeling for what a pizza can and should be.
If you would like to chat with us about your favorite slice of pizza or plan your next digital advertising campaign, contact Aronson Advertising in the Chicagoland area through our website or by calling us at (847) 297-1700.
