Deep Dish, Make Way For Pizza Pot Pie
By Hanna Aronovich in Food on Feb 21, 2006 5:59PM
Chicago is well known for its pizza and mafia activity. Delightfully, the two converge on the 2100 block of north Clark. At street level of a brownstone building, behind a wrought-iron fence, Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co., has been serving its signature pizza pot pies since 1972. Located at 2121 N. Clark, the den-like restaurant is across the street from the site of the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
Today, pine paneling and dim lights give Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder a hunting lodge feel. The restaurant does not take reservations, so the cave-like entrance is often crowded with patrons waiting to be seated. When Chicagoist stopped by it was no different, and we waited about 30 minutes before being seated in a cozy wooden booth.
Our waitress brought us menus, but they were unnecessary. We were already decided on the Mediterranean bread appetizer and pizza pot pie. Round and flat, the Mediterranean bread could be a light meal in itself for carb-loving Chicagoist. The warm bread topped with garlic and spices was perfectly satisfying. So much so, we barely had room for our half-pound pizza pot pie. Baked in a bowl with cheese on the bottom and the crust on top, the pie was flipped right-side up on to a plate by our waitress. Generous on the cheese, we could barely finish our serving. For those with heartier appetites, a full-pound pot pie is also available.
True to its name, Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder also has a variety of oven grinder sandwiches – a large Italian bread loaf stuffed with meats, cheeses and vegetables, and based with garlic oil. For those keeping it light, salads are available either before the meal or as an entrée, accompanied by sour cream garlic, sweet and sour poppy seed and Italian dressings. Dressings are so popular, they are available to take home in 12-ounce bottles. No meal is complete without dessert, and Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder offers its exclusive Tortoni ice cream: an Italian frozen cream flavored with rum and crushed macaroons.
Seating is limited, so in addition to our wait, the service was on the slow side. The cash-only policy was inconvenient for debit-card-reliant Chicagoist. But, the valet parking makes up for the lack of spots in the otherwise unparkable neighborhood.
Open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight on Friday and Saturday, we recommend finding a time to stop by this unique pizzeria.
Chicagoist loves a haunted tale, and the ties to the historic mafia scene makes dining at Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder even more delicious.