Chicago’s Best Pizzerias Near the Summit

Chicagoans love their pizza. City or suburbs, you don’t have to go far to find a slice. The suburb of Rosemont is no exception. Because there are so many places to get pizza near the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont, I thought it’d be helpful to get the lowdown from a lifelong Chicagoan: me. I recommend three restaurants. All are known for pizza and have won coveted awards. All three serve Chicago-style pizza. That’s the pizza served in a pan and loaded with thick, gooey cheese. The crust is thick and flavorful. The tomato sauce is often thickened with chunks of tomato. It’s absolutely delicious. Whether you prefer deep dish, stuffed, or thin crust, these three places are sure to please. Giordano’s (1 mile from the Hyatt Regency) 9415 W. Higgins Road Rosemont, IL

• Serves Chicago-style stuffed and thin-crust pizza.
• If you eat here, try the stuffed spinach pizza. Chicagoans rave about it.
• Every time I drive by this place, the parking lot is crowded.

Gino’s East (1.6 miles from the Hyatt Regency) 8725 W. Higgins Road Chicago, IL

• Serves Chicago-style deep dish and thin-crust pizza.
• This is my favorite. Gino’s definitely has the best crust and the best sausage in town.
• Travel + Leisure magazine selected Gino’s East as having one of “America’s best pizza pies.”
• Great outdoor patio.
• Private rooms for parties of 6 to 80.
• Chicago microbrews on tap, including Half Acre’s Daisy Cutter (when they can get it) and Goose Island’s Green Line.

D’Agostino’s Pizza and Pub (2.1 miles from the Hyatt Regency) 742 W. Higgins Road Park Ridge, IL

• Serves Chicago-style deep dish, stuffed, and thin crust.
• This location has rooms for private parties.
• This is a family-owned business, and the owners take pride n being family operated and family friendly.

Even if you can’t break away from the Summit, you can still enjoy some of Chicago’s best pizza. All three will deliver to the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont. If you want to dine at one of these restaurants but are pressed for time, I recommend ordering ahead of time. Chicago-style and stuffed pizzas take 30 to 45 minutes to prepare. If you have time to relax, you can enjoy a glass of wine or a cold one and get to know your dining companions better. Paula Ludmann is a member of the STC Chicago 2012 Host Committee and a senior technical writer at the American Academy of Dermatology.