Chicago's Reference Deep Dish
Lou Malnati's on Wells Street is the flagship of the Malnati family pizzeria operation. The room that locals will defend as the most authoritative Chicago deep dish in the city. The format is the proper Chicago deep dish in its full expression: buttery pastry-style crust, sliced mozzarella laid first, sweet tomato sauce on top, the toppings tucked beneath.
The cooking is uncompromising Chicago deep dish. The crust is the dish's signature; the cheese is taken seriously; the sausage and pepperoni come from named Chicago producers.
What to Order
The classic Lou Malnati's deep dish with sausage. The dish the city argues over. The thin-crust pizzas exist for the diners who don't want deep dish; both formats are taken seriously. Salads and starters are the expected pizzeria sides.
The Format
The dining room is large, comfortable, and consistently busy. The bar absorbs walk-ins; the dining room handles parties. The pace is brisk; deep dish takes 35 to 45 minutes to bake, so order on arrival.
Best Occasion: Team Dinner
Lou Malnati's handles a Chicago team dinner naturally. The deep-dish format turns the meal into a shared event; the price point is honest; the bar absorbs late arrivals. Bringing visitors to the city's reference deep dish is the obvious move.