When it comes down
to deep dish pizza there is no messing around. You should want the best
location, inviting atmosphere and tasty delightful goodness in every bite.
Where I decided to go out to each an early dinner with some friends was Lou
Malnati's Pizzeria. According to multiple online rating sites Lou's is ranked
number one amongst all other competitors. With their rather exceptional
reputation, I just had to check them out and give them a try. After just one
visit I was sure and set on my all-time new pizza place palace. It is truly spectacular
that I could feel so welcomed and at peace just from dining in a restaurant. I like to believe that the reasoning behind
all of their success lies in their outstanding service, decor and warmth in
their staff. As Lou Malnati’s thrives in many locations such as Chicago, the one
I went to was the Lou Malnati’s Naperville - Downtown Location at 131 West
Jefferson Avenue.
Immediately when my
three other friends and I arrived, we were greeted with smiles and head nods as
we waited only ten seconds to be seated. The just right dimming of the lights, “firehouse”
décor, and aroma in the air smacked me in the face all at once. As I was
literally breath taken on this journey I was about to embark on, I had
difficulty daydreaming and conversing with my friends due to the noise. I
understand that a restaurant like Lou’s is meant to be family oriented and
warm, however to go out with a couple friends or on a date would not be
recommended. Moving along, once we were seated, we were given menus and napkins
by our very generous waitress named Lindsey. What was truly refreshing is the
follow up just about every ten minutes to see if we needed refills or had any
questions. It was safe to say Lindsey was on her "A-game" that
evening and she wanted to ensure the best experience possible for us all.
We were seated at a
cute red leather booth with dimmed centerpiece lighting and thoroughly cleaned
tables. With much consideration and hard thinking, the time finally came for us
to order. We decided upon a Medium Thin Crust Cheese and Pepperoni (mmmm) and
then a Small Deep Dish Cheese and Sausage (mmmm-er). The wonderful Miss Lindsey
let us all know that the pizzas would take about thirty minutes and if we
needed anything or had any concerns to just let her know. Again, to make sure
we all felt cared for and paid proper attention to, Lindsey would check up
every ten minutes to see how we were holding up.
Finally, when the
two circle pans of heaven arrived (right on time may I add) at our table, I was
ready to dig in. However, rather than us helping ourselves, our slices were cut
for us and placed on our plates! No work required! With little to no room on my
plate I was ready. Allowing just the right amount of crushed red pepper and
parmesan cheese, nothing more could have complimented this dish. After going
through the whole “Oh man, I’m so full” and “Yep, that hit the spot” process,
it came time to use the ladies room.
Once my lady
friends and I entered, I wasn’t sure if I was entering a death zone or a place
to take care our business. There was water puddles scattered everywhere as if
there had been a Rainforest down pour. The sinks and toilets were a little
filthy and there were cleaning tools just sitting about. One rather strange
thing I had noticed was a glass of grape juice in a kiddie cup on the ledge of
the bathroom. Bottom line, bathrooms say a lot about the staff and perhaps I
was just being too harsh. But when looking for an all-around impressive and
everlasting impression, everything should be aligned and in check.
Overall, despite
the noise and lack of cleanliness the pizza was on point. With a total bill
rounded to $26.00, we all left feeling full and satisfied. Lou Malnati’s holds
the number one reigning position in my eyes and doesn’t seem to losing the
title anytime soon. I just might have to take my family up here for a trip, because
pizza this delicious can’t be enjoyed just by me! (Or can it?)
Just for a brief rundown, here is my evaluation of my
experience:
STAFF- *****
CLEANLINESS-**
FOOD-*****
ATMOSPHERE-****
WAITING TIME-****
ATTENTIVENESS- *****
