Lou Malnati's Chicago pizzeria is known for its deep-dish pizza, which showcases the most iconic part of the city's food scene.
When I checked into the Ambassador Chicago hotel, one of the first questions I asked the front desk agent was: where is your favorite local cocktail bar and – most importantly – where is your favorite Chicago style pizza spot that served single slice or small pizzas? As my flight from Los Angeles departed at 6am and I checked in at the hotel in the early afternoon, I was in dire desire of both.
He thought for a moment and then said that a place called Lou Malnati’s was down the street. Once I settled in, I immediately set out on a light walk around the Gold Coast area of Chicago, in search of pizza.
Delightfully, Lou Malnati’s was a less than 10 minute walk from the hotel. Within a short amount of time, I was seated and enveloped in the delicious sights and sound of a classic Chicago style restaurant.
Browsing the menu, I couldn’t help but order the personal size of the THE MALNATI CHICAGO CLASSIC™ (sausage, cheese, tomato sauce on Buttercrust™ ). I also added HOT GIARDINIERA peppers for a little extra umph.
Now, the key thing about Chicago deep dish pizza is that it takes 30 minutes – at least – for it to be prepared.
When it arrived, I was ready.
With my first bite, I knew I needed a bit of extra salt to enhance the flavor. After a few shakes, the flavors of the dish hit just right. The peppers were mildly spicy, complementing the pizza. It was a solid choice.
My late lunch at Lou Malnati’s Chicago pizzeria was perfectly portioned to satisfy me until my dinner at Alinea, later that evening.
Lou Malnati's Chicago
1120 North State Street (at State & Rush)Chicago, Illinois 60610
