Southwest Side Pizza memories?

I did search, but didn't find, a topic on the SW side specifically.
My favorite pizza joints growing up:
Bill's Pizza(71st and Kedzie), Pager's Pub(71sy and Rockwell), Prego's Pizza(79th and Western), Barnaby's(79th and Pulaski),Bo's Pizza(59th and Kedzie), Reagle Beagle(West 55th Street-80-81), Papa's Pizza(67th and California).........

CHESDANS!!!

Used to be on Archer, between Kedie and Pulaski on the south side of the street. It's now in Lemont or Homer Glen or some quasi-exurb. (Ok...lemme check...My Google-fu tells me it's at 15764 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen.) I still know people here in Archer Heights and Brighton Park that will make the field trip out there for the pizza. I haven't been there since the Brighton Park location closed down, so I cannot vouch for it, but
the original was pretty good.

My place of choice in these parts is Falco's. (2806 W. 40th). Easily the best pizza in the neighborhood. I occassionally get Paliermo's to mix things up, but their sauce tend to be on the sweet side.

And, ya know, for a quick grab-and-go slice, I must confess to enjoying Bacci Pizzeria on Archer & Pulaski.

Current Favs:
*Falco's at Archer & California
Pizza Castle at 55th Spaulding
Palermo's (the original on 63st)
Vito&Nick at 84th Pulaski

I was a loyal (at least once a week) Home Run Inn customer until about 3 years ago. NEVER AGAIN! Tastes absolutely nothing like the original. So bad the dog wouldn't even eat it.

*Falco's is very similar to the old Home Run. I've heard "rumors" over the years that some former HRI workers left there in a dispute and opened Falco's some time in the early 60's.

Pizza Castle and Bo's were a staple, but so where:

Doro's Pizza 59th and California (after moving from 59th and Albany)
Pizza Pete's on 59th and Lawndale, which became Geneo's Pizza before it moved to 59th and Sacremento (great italian beef pizza)

(can you tell I'm from 59th? )

How can you forget Onesti's on 71st and California!

Anyone remember a place called Bob's Pizza at 103rd and Pulaski? It had a thicker crust than normal thin pizza, but lighter than pan. It was fantastic. It was there from about 1969 to 1977.

Marija wrote:How can you forget Onesti's on 71st and California!

I didn't want to include places that are still open, but I still order Onesti's and Pizza Castle. I used to live two blocks from Onesti's!

Anyone remember the name of the place next to Izzy Rizzy's Trick Shop? It had huge heavy oak doors, and later became a Polish-style buffet place. (61 and Pulaski).

PizzaHolic67 wrote:Anyone remember the name of the place next to Izzy Rizzy's Trick Shop? It had huge heavy oak doors, and later became a Polish-style buffet place. (61 and Pulaski).

I want to say King Arthurs Pub, or something to that effect.

Its been Tatra Inn for so long, I forget.

Last time I was there was about 30 years ago or more.

Marija wrote:How can you forget Onesti's on 71st and California!

Onesti’s has a very cool sign:

. . . and very cheesy pizza:

The sign is the same but the pizza is most definitely not! It was cut into squares (at least until 1986 when I moved) and certainly not overly cheesy. Vito and Nick's is the closest I've come to the vintage Onesti's.

I can't believe I forgot these.

Little Joe's Pizzeria on 63rd street.

We used to go there all through the 70's

I have 4 white "X"'s on my chin from where I banged my head on a little Joes table, then off to Holy Cross for stitches.

Second favorite of the 70's was Shakey's Pizza on like 79th and Cicero where Annie Tigues set up after Shakeys was gone.

Laurel and Hardy shorts on the projector, with glass walls on the kitchen to watch pizza spinners.

Yeah, I can't believe I forgot Little Joe's too. I still go to their Tinley Park location. The pizza is pretty much the same.
Onesti has changed too. The slices are actually better than their whole pie. The pizza is too thick, less greasy, and not as much cornmeal used on the bottom to prevent sticking. I guess they changed according to the wants of the neighborhood, which is very different to what it was.
The closest thing to what was like Onesti's in the 70's and 80's is Fox's Pizza Pub. Give it a shot. Also, Phil's Pizza on 59th used to be just like Onesti's, but they closed down about 5 years ago.

Can't believe I forgot this one. Their pizza sucked, but we spent many a night of our youth sitting over at this place eating gravy fries

Anyone remember Russo Pizza on 59th and Trumbell?

Guy who ran it (Rich) was pretty cool allowing a bunch of kids to hang around all summer

Willkat98 wrote:Can't believe I forgot this one. Their pizza sucked, but we spent many a night of our youth sitting over at this place eating gravy fries

Anyone remember Russo Pizza on 59th and Trumbell?

Guy who ran it (Rich) was pretty cool allowing a bunch of kids to hang around all summer

Yeah, Russo's is still there, but diff. owners. It sold about 4 years ago. Pizza wasn't that great. At least toppings-wise. If I ordered, it was just with cheese. Now, they are nothing to write home about.

Does anyone else remember Santucci's on Cicero Avenue near 61st? It's claim to fame (pretty darn good) square pizza served directly off the oven rack?

alisonmackenzie wrote:Does anyone else remember Santucci's on Cicero Avenue near 61st? It's claim to fame (pretty darn good) square pizza served directly off the oven rack?

Sure do remember Santucci's. Practically next door to the old A&B Adult Book Store.

Both are now a parking lot for Midway Airport employees.

I bus'd table at one of the early Girodano's locations on 63rd off Kedzie.

It was in the basement of an office building, sandwiched between a Woolworths 5 and Dime (grew up at their diner counter, side story) and the old Marquette Sporting Goods store.

Marquette theater was on the "kiddy corner" or however you spell it.

Any old Bro. Rice alums would recall Mr. Marfice was a co-owner of the Marquette Sports store.

Oops. too far off topic of pizza

There was 2 candy stores on 59th between Christiana and Homan, across from Enrico Tonti public school. Jean's was one, and King's was the other.

"King" was an old WWII vet (he said) and was in a wheel chair. Many of my earliest (up to age 10) pizza memories where playing baseball at Tonti, then crossing the street and going to King's candy store. For a buck (circa 1975) he would throw a small Tombstone type pizza on a pizza oven, then tell stories for 20 minutes while they cooked. 4 guys, $.25 cents each, and you had pizza and stories.

Phil wrote:

alisonmackenzie wrote:Does anyone else remember Santucci's on Cicero Avenue near 61st? It's claim to fame (pretty darn good) square pizza served directly off the oven rack?

Sure do remember Santucci's. Practically next door to the old A&B Adult Book Store.

Both are now a parking lot for Midway Airport employees.

I grew up behind Santucci's, but we used to get our Pizza from Charcoal Pit, which was on 63rd between Kilpatrick and Knox. Between Santucci's and A&B was a place that used to have jello and mud wrestling. And the skanky-ass Airliner Motel was on the other side.