My best friend Ken, and I went to Old Chicago on a Saturday around 4:00 in the afternoon, knowing full well the place would be packed by 6:00. With it's brick oven baked pizzas, calzones, sandwiches and large variety of libations, Old Chicago is a very popular hang-out spot for a lot of people. I even know a rather large group of co-workers who visit there every Friday night after work to relax, kick-back, enjoy the food, atmosphere and conversation. With its 'bar and grill" feel it lends itself to that kind of ambiance.
We started with a signature appetizer; the trio sampler. It consists of my favorite of all their appetizers; sumptuous, cheesy, tangy pepperoni rolls. It also includes their cheesy garlic bread and Italian Nachos- thin, crisp tortilla chips with spicy ground sausage, cheese and sauce. All three of these tasty appetizers were quickly devoured.
Having been to Old Chicago's a couple of times before I can tell you that they make great sandwiches, and calzones. I have even tried their shrimp basket, which wasn't bad. This time around I decided to have a go at something I had not tried before: The Chicago 7 Calzone. This dough pocket delight was stuffed full of Italian sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, green peppers, red onions, and cheese. This calzone is so huge, you have to eat it with a knife. It more than did its job of filling me up and appeasing my taste-buds. Ken opted for an individual sized pizza (about 8"). Overall, Ken liked the two-topping pizza, and enjoyed the unique flavor a brick oven gives an Italian pie. His one concern, however was that the sauce on his pizza was rather sparse and not quite tangy enough to his liking. The only real concern I had was that our server seemed a bit distracted and misinterpreted our communication a couple of times. As noted in a previous article, Ken and I appreciate a server who keeps our glasses full. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
Overall, though, it was a good dining experience, tasty and satisfying food, and worth our trip. We did have the manager stop by our table while we were eating, which made up for the server. And it was evident that she enjoyed visiting tables as she kept herself moving and managing about the restaurant. The prices are VERY reasonable, with the average for an entree around $10. So, we would definitely recommend giving Old Chicago a visit if you are hankering for some Chicago-style Italian comfort food.
To find more info about Old Chicago or find a location near you, visit their official website:
Wolf's Rating: * * * *
Ken's Rating: * * *
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