Editor's Notebook

By Lorraine Swanson
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January 31, 2012

Pizza Playoffs: Who's the Best In Oak Lawn?

Patch is running a Best Pizza contest in the Southland, and Oak Lawn-Evergreen Park will face off against seven other area winners. But first, it's up to you to pick our best representative, preferably one from Oak Lawn.

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Vote for the best pizza in Oak Lawn.

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So what if the Bears aren’t playing in the big game this Sunday, at least we don’t have to watch the Packers play in it.

In honor of that-which-we-may-not-call-by-its-legally-trademarked-name, Patch is holding its own championship. We’re talking pizza here, and no one knows Oak Lawn’s pizza places better than our loyal readers.

In the next few days we’ll be pitting the best locally owned pizzerias against each other and Evergreen Park’s. And surely Oak Lawn’s pie can beat those wimpy pizzerias east of Pulaski Road to move on to the next round.

By locally owned, we mean our village’s independent, mom-and-pop owned, toss-the-dough-up-in-the-air kind of places. No franchises please.

Here’s how it works:

Nominate your favorite pizza place in the comments or on the Oak Lawn Patch Facebook page.
ONE winner will emerge from the Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park contenders so get ready to vote, vote, vote and talk some smack. I’ve seen the comments on this site. I know you’re up to it.
The winner from our bracket will go on to compete against seven other winners from Palos, Orland, New Lenox, Tinley Park-Oak Forest, Frankfort-Mokena, Homewood-Flossmoor and Chicago Heights-Olympia Fields.
Voting takes place from Feb. 2 until midnight Feb. 5.

In the meantime, read what you had to say about who makes the best pie in Oak Lawn:

Delivery or Pick Up: Which Local Place Dishes Up the Best Pizza?

So nominate your best locally owned pizza joint here on and on the Oak Lawn Patch Facebook page. Bragging rights—as well as contributing to our local tax base—are at stake here.

Related Topics: Local Business, Oak Lawn pizza, and Pizza Playoffs

Who makes the best pizza in Oak Lawn? Tell us in the comments.

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

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Margie Norris

6:42 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Phil's pizza

DLC DAVE

6:59 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Beggars wins hands down even better then Home run inn pizza

Kris Mazeika

10:14 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

They are both Franchises

Dennis W Sepessy Sr

7:01 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Grassano's

Patty Callahan

7:13 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Phil's Pizza on 88th and Ridgeland.

james eichorst

7:26 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Orlando's on a 103rd

David Jasudowicz

7:42 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Let me be the first of many to add Palermos to this list. There are a few really good pizza choices in and around Oak Lawn, but when we talk about the best…well, there really is only one! Can I get an Amen?

RobertS

8:36 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Amen!!!

Cori

7:44 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

AMEN!

CJM

8:09 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

From where I grew up in Oak Lawn, I could walk to Fox's, Palermo's, and the long-shuttered Romeo's. Vito and Nick's was barely a 5 minute car ride away, and does anyone remember Tafdes at 87th & Central?

When I lived on the North Side, Gullivers, Candelite, and Villa Palermo were my local haunts, rounding out an embarrassment of pizza riches to be sure!

Now I live in a city where the pizza options are largely forgettable. A lot of them advertise themselves as "NY Style", which to me is nothing but a limp shingle of grease. I have to travel about 20-25 miles to get a good Chicago-style thin crust. Good pizza is one of the things I miss most about Chicago...and Oak Lawn.

CJM

8:25 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Well, excuse me for waxing nostalgic. Living in a Florida pizza desert with very few oases prompted the ramble.

In the thin category, I vote Fox's best with Beggars a very close second.

BibbidyBobbidyBoo

8:41 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

CJM, I remember Tafde's well - that was a Sunday favorite with my Dad. He said the secret was "the rack", which kept the crust crispy.

RobertS

8:38 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Hands down, first is Palermos followed by Beggars and third would be Fox's. Palermos offers a consistent flavor and has the perfect blend between cheese and other ingredients.

BibbidyBobbidyBoo

8:45 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Palermo's is my number 1 (grew up on Phil's and Vito and Nick's and Tafde's). Just to play fair, can Beggar's be considered "one from Oak Lawn" as stated in the article? It's a chain and it didn't start in Oak Lawn. Delicious, yes (I live behind the OL location and that smell is intoxicating some nights). But not authentic to the village.

RobertS

8:46 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Does anyone remember Tu-Kynds? They were a 1/2 block east of Pulaski on 103rd on the south side of the street... we're going back at least 25 years but they had a really good pizza. I also remember when Nancy's was in the Arena on 103rd and when Connies was in Chicago Ridge Mall. Connies had a awesome spinach deep-dish!!! I miss that place!

Chris

8:52 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Phil's. Pricey but delicious everytime. Nothing like it... My bro in law, who lives in Chicago, comes over once every three weeks w his family, stops n buys Phil's and brings it over here, one block away, so he can eat it hit n fresh.

andy skoundrianos

3:35 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

agreed

John J. Gonczy

9:30 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Palermos!

Diane

10:23 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Love Phils, and my Son works at Palermos. He gets his pizza and brings it over, and I don't like it. Too sweet for my taste! My kids love Phils, Palermos, and Frankies.

Linda Stearns

11:36 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

GRASSANO'S IS ALREADY THE BEST IN THE MIDWEST. ACTUALLY I THINK IT'S THE BEST IN THE WORLD. GRASSANO'S HAS MY VOTE.

I know my Pizza

12:39 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012

SORRY, But Grassano's is really nothing more than a step above Little Ceasar's.

Donna Boetscher

11:40 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I would say for Cheese and Sausage - Palermos all the way. My husband is a die hard Phil's Fan. But when it comes to variety like BBQ Chicken and Brushetta - Fox's is the one.

Pat F

11:43 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Has to be Phils for regular pizza...Palermo at one time, but they've started to skimp or use something different and it's just not the same!! If you want very thin, Foxs is best at that!

diane

12:23 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I grew up in Oak Lawn, now after 40 years Palermo's is hands down the best pizza....I still will only eat their pizza and am so excited they deliver to Palos area.

Madeline McCalip

2:54 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

In my opinion Palermos has the best pizza in Oak Lawn. My favorite south side pizza is Joe's Italian Villa on 87th Harlem in Bridgeview. I would like to see a similar contest featuring best hamburgers.

andy skoundrianos

3:37 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Phil's is the best but grassano's is good if you are looking for a less expensive alternative

John O'Connell

3:44 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Palermos forever.

Russ Petrick

6:42 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

When I was a kid growing up in Oaklawn, Pizza Roma on 95th and 54th Ave next to Knies (spelling) ? grocery was #1 in my book for thin crust.

OL Resident

10:30 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

WOW! Pizza Roma thin crust. I remember. Knies? I think thats the spelling. Dude you are sooo showing your age. Thanks for the reminder

John Wakerly

2:58 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

Hey, thanks for the compliment! I worked there as a pizzamaker for a couple years, 1964-66, and on college vacations and holidays as an occasional delivery guy until 1969. The owner, Mike Fiorino, was a wonderful guy and taught me a lot. Here's a picture of Mike from 1999: http://www.wakerly.org/fiorino/photo010.html .

Kathy (Fiorino)Kordyak-Gallagher

11:13 am on Sunday, March 31, 2013

Pizza Roma was my life...so many memories! As Mike's daughter and former owner of this Pizza Place (1980-83) I thank everyone for their patronage. @ John Wakerly, you were the best!!! Thanks for sharing that great photo. :)

Susan Aiken-szafarczyk

7:37 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

GRASSANOS HAS THE BEST THIN CRUST MMMMMMMM

Sue Koonce

8:31 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Phils pizza yum

Jim Brison

9:57 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Grassanos

Dianne

10:32 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Grassano's is the best!!

Tina

10:42 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Grassano's

Nolan

10:38 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Best deep dish is Beggars-by far, but best favorite overall is Palermo's buffalo chicken.

DLC DAVE

11:13 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

move 50 miles out of Chicagoland and they are all great , sticking with Beggars

DLC DAVE

11:14 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

one no one mentioned is Nancys pizza also a great pizza

Kris Mazeika

10:16 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Also a franchise

Nikki P

2:31 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

GRASSANOS BY FAR HAS THE BEST PIZZA!!!!!

John Quinn Mucker

3:06 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Amen to Palermos!!!!

I too remember TAFDES - Thomas Alfonse Farone and Dennis Edward Sullivan. Great place to take the children.

Quinn Mucker,

OL Resident

10:39 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Tafde's... The family fave. I thought it was soo cool to go into a bar underage and pick up a pizza from the back window...I felt so grown up. Things were different back then. Sometimes if the order wasnt ready the bartender would give me a free coke and I would wait on the bar stool. If there was a Hawks game on I would have thought I was in Heaven.

Meanwhile dad was waiting in the car wondering what was I doing inside with his $10.

John

3:22 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Phil's!

John

3:23 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Is this comments section the place to vote? Or is there an actual voting area?

Oak Lawn Gal

3:23 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Palermo's hands down. We get the Palermo's Special with added pepperoni. Excellent crust, delicious sweet sauce and loaded with ingredients. Mmmmmmm

Ali

8:48 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Grassanos Pizza is by far the best! From the friendly atmosphere, to their great prices, and not to mention their excellent food!! They have my vote 100%

Johnny

9:05 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Aww man....EASY....Grassanos!!!! Their puffs are so incredibly delicious!! So worth the price!! And If you havn't tried one, you have NO idea what you are missing!!!!! (A whole lot thats for sure!!)

Kris Mazeika

10:18 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

GRASSANO'S is the best in the area!!!

Cheese

10:46 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Grassano's!!! they have the hottest delivery drivers!!

Kris Mazeika

10:29 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Grassano's for sure but not too sure about the hot pizza drivers.

Daniel

10:49 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Grassanos for sure, I love the stuffed pizzas, nom, nom, nom, nom.

Rob hall

12:23 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Beggars has been my fav ever since they opened on 127th n western. But id have to say Grassanos is # 2 on my list sorry Gino

Nicole Doyle

5:46 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Grassanos is the best and the people that work there are are just as great!!!

Regina Conti

7:14 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Grassanos pizza is absolutely yummy!!!

DLC DAVE

7:39 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

something funny here all of a sudden a lot of Grassanos people ringing in ,looks like the fix is in .

suzanne

7:50 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

GRASSANO'S!!!!

Valerie

7:51 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Grassano's on 87th street!!! Can't beat the prices, atmosphere, and That sweet sauce!! Yum!!!

Joyce P

9:07 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

Grassanos is a small family owned business and you have to try their pizza . It is the best I ever had. j Piet

DLC DAVE

9:31 am on Thursday, February 2, 2012

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