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Best Group Dining Pizza Restaurants in Chicago

50 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: February 2026

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Our Top Pick
Pequod's Pizza
Signature caramelized-crust pan pizzas that define Chicago deep-dish for many.

Notable Picks

$ Lincoln Park Pizza
Pequod's is the Lincoln Park deep-dish institution where pan pizzas come with a signature caramelized cheese crust and serious heft. Crowds, waits, and a busy bar underscore how essential this spot is for both locals and out-of-towners chasing classic Chicago pan pizza.
Must-Try Dishes: Sausage pan pizza with caramelized crust, Pepperoni deep-dish pan pizza, Pequod's house salad
What Makes it Special: Signature caramelized-crust pan pizzas that define Chicago deep-dish for many.
$$ River North Italian, Pizza
Since 2005, Quartino has operated as River North’s all-purpose Italian enoteca, turning out housemade pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and antipasti in a loud, always-busy room. Enormous multi-platform review volume and steady crowds at nearly all hours make it a default choice for groups wanting shareable Italian without formality.
Must-Try Dishes: Margherita pizza, Tagliatelle bolognese, Salumi and cheese board
What Makes it Special: High-volume Italian small-plates house with hand-cut pasta and late hours.
$$ Near North Side Pizza
Robert Garvey's certified pizzaioli credentials shine through in this riverfront Streeterville destination, where a 20-year dough development journey yields thin-crust artisan pies with perfect crunch-to-chew ratio. Named #1 Artisan Pizza in Chicago and ranked among Top 100 Pizzas in the World.
Must-Try Dishes: Fennel Sausage with Hot Honey, Pepperoni with Calabrian Chiles, Acorn Squash Seasonal Pizza
What Makes it Special: Award-winning brick-oven thin crust with anatomically perfect dough developed over 20 years
$$ Uptown Italian, Pizza
A Neapolitan-focused pizzeria where the crust is the headline—soft center, blistered edge, and toppings that stay disciplined. Locals come for classic pies and a steady rotation of Italian imports, and it’s one of the most reliable “pizza night, no regrets” rooms in this part of town.
Must-Try Dishes: Margherita pizza, Prosciutto e rucola pizza, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: Neapolitan technique that stays consistent at very high volume.
$$$ West Loop Italian, Pizza
A West Loop Italian room built around house-made pastas, wood-fired pizza, and share-first ordering that keeps the table moving. The strongest play is one pasta lane plus one wood-fired starter, then stop before the order sprawls. It’s best for a dress-up dinner that still feels lively and current.
Must-Try Dishes: Rigatoni alla vodka, Wood-fired meatballs, Ricotta dumplings
What Makes it Special: House-made pasta plus wood-fired pizza in a modern West Loop room.
$$ Mid-North District Pizza, Italian
This 1972 Lincoln Park icon invented the pizza pot pie—a theatrical bowl of Wisconsin brick cheese, homemade sauce, and Sicilian dough inverted tableside. The Mediterranean Bread alone has cult status, and the historic brownstone sits across from the site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
Must-Try Dishes: Pizza Pot Pie, Mediterranean Bread, Oven Grinder Sandwich
What Makes it Special: The original pizza pot pie, served nowhere else, created by attorney Albert Beaver
$$ River North Pizza
A South Loop deep-dish anchor built around buttery crust, bright tomato sauce, and a dependable bake that rewards planning ahead. It’s one of the neighborhood’s most reliable late-night sit-down options when you want classic Chicago pizza with a full-service rhythm.
Must-Try Dishes: Malnati Chicago Classic (deep dish), The Lou (deep dish), Thin crust sausage & giardiniera
What Makes it Special: A butter-crust deep-dish standard that stays consistent at massive volume.
$$ Andersonville Italian, Pizza
A long-running Andersonville institution that’s best when you treat it like a classic Chicago Italian night: big portions, familiar recipes, and an easy-going dining room. The strength is consistency at scale—great for groups, celebrations, and repeat takeout orders that need to hit the same every time.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicken Vesuvio, Lobster ravioli, Calamari fritti
What Makes it Special: A true neighborhood Italian anchor with proven, high-volume reliability.
$$ Loop Pizza
The iconic Chicago stuffed pizza institution since 1974, Giordano's delivers a towering double-crust pie with Wisconsin mozzarella and slow-baked flaky pastry crust. Steps from Willis Tower, this location draws downtown workers and tourists seeking the definitive deep-dish experience with full bar service.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicago Classic Stuffed Pizza, Pepperoni Deep Dish, Cheesy Garlic Bread
What Makes it Special: 50+ years perfecting the stuffed double-crust pizza with six artisans building each pie
$$ Little Village Pizza
The original Home Run Inn location for tavern-style thin crust, built for groups who want a classic Chicago pizza night with a full-service dining room. Order a sausage-forward pie and keep the rest of the meal simple—this is a high-volume, institutional neighborhood stop that runs on consistency and familiarity.
Must-Try Dishes: Xlarge Sausage Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Italian Beef
What Makes it Special: The original Home Run Inn tavern-style thin crust institution (serving since 1947).
$$ Near North Side Pizza
A flagship Gold Coast stop for Chicago-style deep dish with a butter-crust profile and a dining room built to handle volume. It’s at its best when you commit to one signature pie, keep toppings classic, and let the long-running system do what it does reliably.
Must-Try Dishes: Deep Dish Pizza, Lou Malnati's Original, Malnati Chicago Classic
What Makes it Special: Flagship Chicago deep dish with a butter-crust signature and proven consistency.
$ Logan Square Pizza
Paulie Gee's Logan Square turns out wood-fired pies and Detroit-style "Logan Squares" from a lively corner room on Milwaukee. Owner Derrick Tung’s menu layers classic Neapolitan technique with creative toppings and a strong vegan program, making it a go-to for serious pizza fans and mixed-diet groups alike.
Must-Try Dishes: US Pizza Cup Winner Detroit Square, Carnivore: Prohibited Pepperoni, The Fungus Among Us
What Makes it Special: A destination for wood-fired and Detroit-style pies under one roof, run by an award-winning pizzaiolo.
$ Roscoe Village Italian, Pizza
A destination-worthy pizza shop known for doing both deep dish and thin crust with real seriousness. It’s the kind of place where a simple plan wins—commit to one style, add one salad or appetizer, and let the pie be the whole point.
Must-Try Dishes: Deep dish pizza, Tavern-style thin crust, Italian beef + giardiniera pizza (specialty pie)
What Makes it Special: A serious Chicago pizza house for both deep dish and thin crust.
$ Wrigleyville Pizza
A Southport Corridor staple built around coal-fired pies with char and chew, more sit-down than slice-joint. The best experience is one signature pie for the table and a single supporting dish—everything else is diminishing returns.
Must-Try Dishes: Margherita pizza, Prosciutto arugula pizza, Sausage and giardiniera pizza
What Makes it Special: Coal-fired crust with reliable char and structure.
$$ Near North Side Pizza
The Malnati family legacy lives on in this Wrigley Building location, featuring the legendary Buttercrust recipe that helped define Chicago deep dish since 1971. Wisconsin mozzarella, vine-ripened California tomatoes, and exclusive sausage blend remain unchanged.
Must-Try Dishes: The Lou, Chicago Classic Deep Dish, Malnati Salad
What Makes it Special: Signature Buttercrust dough and 50+ years of family recipe perfection
$$ Old Town Pizza
Ranalli’s Lincoln Park is a high-volume pizza bar known for tavern-style pies, game-day energy, and one of the neighborhood’s largest dog-friendly patios. Guests treat it as a go-to for watching sports, grabbing pitchers and wings, and sharing late-night pizza on the sidewalk café with dogs in tow.
Must-Try Dishes: Tavern-Style Pepperoni Pizza, Buffalo Wings, Skillet Cookie
What Makes it Special: A tavern-style pizza bar with a sprawling, TV-lined patio that explicitly welcomes dogs alongside pitchers and pies.
$ Niles Pizza
A long-running tavern-style institution where the payoff is the thin-crust pie: crisp edges, steady bake, and toppings that stay balanced instead of heavy. Best ordered in classic lanes (sausage, pepperoni, simple veg) and eaten hot, this is built for repeatable group pizza nights more than novelty chasing.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin crust sausage pizza, Thin crust pepperoni & mushroom pizza, Mixed thin crust (sausage, mushrooms, green pepper)
What Makes it Special: Legacy tavern-style thin crust with a reliably crisp, classic Chicago-area bite.
$$ Lower West Side Pizza
A Pilsen counter-service shop built around its signature “Pilsen-style” crust—foldable like New York, but with a puffed, bubbly edge that eats closer to a hybrid of styles. It’s strongest when you commit to one specialty pie and let the dough do the talking, especially on higher-contrast combinations that show off the bake.
Must-Try Dishes: Pickle Pizza, Korean BBQ Chicken Pizza, Spinach Pesto & Stracciatella Pizza
What Makes it Special: Beer-in-the-dough “Pilsen-style” crust with a distinctive puffy edge.
$$ West Town Pizza
Coal-fired thin crust with a charred edge and topping combinations that lean modern without losing Chicago comfort. The move is to build the table around one white-leaning pie and one red-sauce classic so the crisp, blistered bake stays the headline. It’s casual, busy in the middle, and most rewarding when you eat it hot.
Must-Try Dishes: White Pizza, Pepperoni & Whipped Ricotta Pizza, Pistachio Pesto Pizza
What Makes it Special: Coal-fired thin crust that delivers blistered char with creative, balanced topping builds.
$$ Edgewater Pizza
A modern deep-dish specialist built around a focaccia-leaning, fermentation-forward crust that lands crisp at the edges and airy through the middle. It’s best when you commit to one flagship pie and keep toppings intentional so the bake stays structured and the slice holds clean.
Must-Try Dishes: Deep dish pizza, Halas Classic deep dish, Ricotta add-on
What Makes it Special: A deep-dish style that trades heaviness for a crisp, airy, focaccia-like crust.
$$ Magnificent Mile Pizza
The Boglio brothers' 1974 creation features double-crusted stuffed pizza with roots tracing back 200 years to their Italian grandmother's Easter pie recipe. This Gold Coast flagship delivers maximum cheese pull and the signature flaky upper crust.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicago Classic Stuffed, Meat & More Meat, Giordano's Sampler
What Makes it Special: Double-crusted stuffed pizza with fluffy layers of mozzarella
8.4
$$ Lincoln Park Pizza
Homeslice is a high-energy pizza-and-patio hangout near DePaul, built around playful toppings, cocktails, and a crowd that treats it as a standing meetup spot. With a big all-season patio and shareable pies, it functions more as a social hub that happens to serve solid, crowd-pleasing pizza.
Must-Try Dishes: The 312 pizza, Clay Bacon pizza, Goat cheese marinara with bread
What Makes it Special: High-energy pizza bar with creative pies, a big patio, and playful service.
$ Lincolnwood Pizza
The original Lou Malnati’s location is still the most dependable late dinner in the deep-dish lane: butter-crisp crust, heavy mozzarella pull, and a sauce-forward finish that holds up even when you’re ordering late. It’s busiest on weekends, but the kitchen is built for volume and keeps the pies coming until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Must-Try Dishes: Sausage deep dish (Malnati Chicago Classic), Thin crust sausage & giardiniera, Chopped salad
What Makes it Special: The original Lou’s deep-dish workflow stays reliable even late-night.
8.4
Uptown Italian, Pizza
A laid-back room with serious execution—Roman-leaning pizzas plus house-made pastas that keep it from being a one-trick pizzeria. It’s strongest when you split one oblong pizza and add one pasta, letting the kitchen show range without over-ordering.
Must-Try Dishes: Diavola-style pizza, Mezze maniche alla carbonara, Squid ink spaghetti with clams
What Makes it Special: Bib Gourmand-caliber pizza and pasta in an unfussy neighborhood room.
$$$ North Park Italian, Pizza
An upscale kosher-dairy dining room where wood-fired-style pizzas and pasta come out built for sharing, making it an easy family dinner that still feels like a night out. The move is to order one pizza for the table, add a salad or appetizer, and let the service pace things so kids aren’t waiting forever between bites.
Must-Try Dishes: Build Your Own 12" Cheese Pizza, Neapolitan-style specialty pizza (goat cheese + basil), Mozzarella sticks
What Makes it Special: Upscale kosher-dairy Italian where pizza night can feel polished.
8.4
$$$$ Logan Square Pizza, Italian
Pizza Lobo is a New York–style slice and pie shop with a large patio, fire pits, and a full bar that stays busy with families, groups, and fans of The Bear. Long-fermented dough, creative topping combinations, and counter-service ordering make it an easy, high-energy choice for parents who want good pizza and room to spread out.
Must-Try Dishes: Borgata pizza with pepperoni, basil, and Calabrian chile honey, Bye Felicia pizza with pepperoni, ricotta, and hot honey, Spicy chopped salad
What Makes it Special: NY-style pies, slices, and a big patio that’s as popular with families as with bar crowds.
$$ River North Italian, Pizza
Perched along the riverwalk, Pizzeria Portofino focuses on hand-stretched pizzas, coastal-leaning salads, and spritzes with a strong patio-first mentality. The combination of waterfront views, shareable pies, and approachable pricing makes it a go-to for casual Italian lunches and group dinners in warm weather.
Must-Try Dishes: Margherita pizza, Charred pepperoni pizza, Mediterranean salad
What Makes it Special: Riverfront pizza and spritzes with a resort-like patio setting.
$ Harwood Heights Pizza
A high-output neighborhood pizzeria that leans into Chicago-area comfort: crisp-edged thin crust, hearty pan options, and classic Italian-American plates that travel well. It’s a reliable group order when you want a mix of pizzas plus a pasta side that feels like a full meal.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin crust sausage pizza (tavern-cut), House specialty pan pizza, Gnocchi in vodka-style sauce
What Makes it Special: A deep bench of thin-crust and pan pizzas backed by classic Italian-American staples.
$$ Ashburn Pizza
A classic South Side tavern-style institution built around a cracker-thin, party-cut pizza with a balanced sauce-to-cheese ratio and a reliably crisp bake. The move is to keep it simple—sausage, pepperoni, or a half-and-half—because the texture is the feature and it travels better than you’d expect for a thin crust.
Must-Try Dishes: Sausage pizza, Tavern style pizza, Italian beef pizza
What Makes it Special: Old-school tavern thin crust that stays crisp and topping-forward.
$$ Harwood Heights Italian, Wings
A tucked-in Italian café-ristorante where the payoff is classic red-sauce comfort done with care—thin crust comes out balanced, pastas stay properly sauced, and the menu reads like a greatest-hits list without shortcuts. It’s at its best when you commit to one pizza or one pasta and add a single starter, keeping pacing tight and textures sharp.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin Crust Sausage, Mushroom & Sweet Pepper Pizza, Chicken Parmesan, Calamari
What Makes it Special: Old-school Italian comfort with pizza-and-pasta consistency in a low-key room.
$$ Portage Park Pizza, Wings
A modern neighborhood pizzeria that’s quietly one of the more dependable wing stops in the zip when you want classic sauce options and a sports-bar rhythm. Treat the wings as the anchor, then let pizza or a burger play second—this place holds up best when you keep the order in two lanes, not five.
Must-Try Dishes: Buffalo Wings, Honey Sriracha Wings, Salt & Vinegar Wings
What Makes it Special: Wings with a straightforward sauce lineup in a game-day beer-garden setting.
$$ Near South Side Italian, Pizza
A loud, high-energy South Loop tavern where thin-crust pizza is the default and Polish comfort dishes make it easy to feed a mixed-age table. It works best when you keep the order tight: one pizza for the table plus one shared plate, then decide if anyone still needs a chicken parm or entrée.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin-crust pizza, Pierogi, Chicken parmigiana
What Makes it Special: A pizza-first South Loop room where Italian comfort overlaps with pierogi classics.
$$ Edgewater Pizza
A late-running Edgewater bar-pizzeria where the play is classic Chicago thin crust with a steady drink rhythm, not menu wandering. The room reads old-school neighborhood hangout, but the kitchen’s reliability is why locals keep it in rotation for weeknight dinners and after-hours slices.
Must-Try Dishes: Gino's Special thin-crust pizza, Hawaiian pizza, Cheesy breadsticks
What Makes it Special: A true neighborhood bar that consistently lands Chicago thin-crust pizza late.
$ Elmwood Park Pizza
A long-running Italian dining room where pizza is part of a bigger family-style night—apps, salads, and classic mains alongside multiple crust formats. Best for groups who want a comfortable sit-down pace with enough menu range to keep kids and adults happy at the same table.
Must-Try Dishes: Stuffed pizza (with sausage), Thin-crust pizza (with pepperoni), Pan pizza (with mushrooms)
What Makes it Special: Multiple pizza styles in a full Italian menu built for sit-down family dinners.
$$$$ Brighton Park Italian, Pizza
A no-frills neighborhood pizza-and-wings anchor where the move is classic Chicago comfort: a tavern-cut pie plus a wing order for the table. It works best as a group-friendly, game-on dinner when you keep the ticket focused and let the pizza be the centerpiece.
Must-Try Dishes: Tavern-cut thin crust pizza, Chicken wings, Italian beef sandwich
What Makes it Special: Old-school pizza-and-wings execution built for groups and game nights.
$$ Belmont Cragin Italian, Pizza
A neighborhood pizzeria that leans into Chicago comfort: thin-crust pies with a sturdy snap and a menu built to feed groups without overthinking it. It’s strongest when you treat it like a pizza-first operation—one signature pie, one classic, and a simple side to keep the table hot and focused.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin-crust sausage pizza, Football Pizza (thin-crust sausage), Chicken Caesar salad
What Makes it Special: Classic neighborhood Chicago pizza energy with dependable thin-crust execution.
$$ Uptown Italian, Pizza
A big, sports-bar-style Italian spot that’s built around tavern-cut pizza with a loyal local following. The best play is to keep it simple—one classic pie plus one side—so the kitchen stays in its most repeatable lane.
Must-Try Dishes: Tavern-style thin crust (square-cut), Buffalo wings, Sausage pizza
What Makes it Special: Tavern-cut pizza in a high-TV, neighborhood tavern setting.
$$ Morgan Park Pizza, Italian
A Morgan Park pizza-and-pasta shop that earns repeat orders on dependable crust, generous toppings, and a menu built for family rotation. It’s the kind of place where you pick your house pie, add one baked pasta, and everyone leaves satisfied—more function than finesse, in the best way.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicago-style deep dish cheese pizza, Thin crust pizza, Lasagna
What Makes it Special: A broad, family-order-friendly pizza-and-pasta menu that stays reliably on-script.
$$ West Loop Pizza
This full-service outpost of the original stuffed-pizza pioneer pairs heavy, cheese-laden pies with a neighborhood-bar feel and a broad menu. West Loop regulars use it for family dinners, game nights, and delivery when they specifically want that old-school Chicago stuffed style.
Must-Try Dishes: Sausage Chicago Stuffed Pizza, Pepperoni Chicago Stuffed Pizza, Spinach Stuffed Pizza
What Makes it Special: Legacy Chicago brand serving original stuffed pizzas in a casual room.
$ Gage Park Pizza
A long-running neighborhood Italian restaurant where the pizza program is the headline—thin crust for the classic table order, and stuffed when you want the full Chicago-style commitment. It’s built for families and groups, with a broad menu that supports the pizza rather than distracting from it.
Must-Try Dishes: Veggie Thin Crust Pizza, Stuffed Pizza, Xlarge Sausage Pizza
What Makes it Special: A neighborhood Italian dining room anchored by thin, deep dish, and stuffed pizza options.
8.3
$$ Loop Italian, Burgers
Pazzo’s @ 311 is a glass-roofed Italian restaurant and event space where handmade pastas, chicken Vesuvio and risotto come out under a soaring atrium. Office workers and wedding parties alike use it when they want classic Italian plates in a dramatic downtown room.
Must-Try Dishes: Chicken Vesuvio, Chicken Alonso, Rigatoni Bolognese
What Makes it Special: Atrium Italian dining that also functions as a full-scale event venue.
8.3
$$$ West Town Pizza
A focused, tavern-leaning pizzeria where the room feels like it’s built for long hangs and one-size pies done with intent. The crust runs cracker-thin and crisp, supporting Chicago-favorite toppings without turning soggy or heavy. Best results come from a tight order: one signature pie, one salad, and stop there.
Must-Try Dishes: Halal Pepperoni Pizza, Italian Beef & Giardiniera Pizza, Mushroom Pizza
What Makes it Special: Cracker-thin, tavern-style pies in a small, energetic, reservation-driven room.
$$ Edgewater Pizza
A Sicilian-leaning slice shop and cafe where the move is to treat pizza like street food: crisp-edged square slices, arancini, and a pastry finish. The best orders balance one savory slice with one fried or baked specialty so you get both crunch and depth without overload.
Must-Try Dishes: Sfincione slice, Arancini, Cannoli
What Makes it Special: Sicilian street-food approach where square slices and arancini are the core experience.
$$ Garfield Ridge Pizza
A high-volume, family-reliable pizza stop that’s best used for big group orders where consistency matters more than novelty. The move is classic Chicago-style comfort—one thin-crust for fast slices plus one heavier pie when you want the table to feel like a full meal.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin-crust pepperoni pizza, Stuffed pizza, Turtle cheesecake
What Makes it Special: A scale-proven, family-order pizza system that stays dependable on big tickets.
$$$ Lakeview Italian, Pizza
A classic Chicago pizza-and-pub operation where the move is thin crust, pitchers, and a steady game-day rhythm. It’s strongest when you treat it like a focused order—one pie, one appetizer, one drink lane—so timing and temperature stay on your side.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin crust pizza, Calzone, Italian beef sandwich
What Makes it Special: Wrigleyville staple for thin crust and pub energy.
$$ Niles Italian, Pizza
A full-service pizza-and-pub setup with the most dining-room energy in this ZIP, built for groups, sports, and an easy Italian comfort-food night. Best when you treat it as a big-order table: one signature pizza plus a couple classic sandwiches.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin-crust pizza, Deep-dish pizza, House-made meatball sandwich
What Makes it Special: Pub-style Italian comfort food with a built-for-groups dining room.
$$$ West Town Pizza
Dicey’s Pizza & Tavern is a West Town bar built around ultra-crisp tavern-style pies, cheap beer, and a busy patio that runs into the late evening. It’s a go-to when you want thin, square-cut pizza and a couple drinks without leaving the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes: Classic Pepperoni Tavern Pizza, Cacio e Pepe Tavern Pizza, Peppy Boy Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza
What Makes it Special: Tavern-style pies and cheap beer in a bar built for hanging out.
$$ Norwood Park Pizza
A long-running Norwood Park pizza-and-Italian institution with a big, family-paced dining room and a deep bench of classic Chicago-style options. The best move is to anchor with a thin-crust or stuffed pizza, then add one signature specialty if you’re feeding a mixed-age table.
Must-Try Dishes: BLT Pizza, Mexican Style Pizza, Dino's Pizza Pocket
What Makes it Special: Old-school Chicago pizza range (thin, pan, stuffed) with family-size pacing.
$ Brighton Park Italian, Pizza
A Brighton Park pizza standby that shines when you treat it like a straightforward neighborhood pie spot: one well-done thin crust and one side, then you’re set. It’s built for easy repeat visits—reliable for takeout or a casual sit-down when you don’t overcomplicate the order.
Must-Try Dishes: Thin-crust pizza (well-done), Calzone, Italian beef sandwich
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood pizza done in a consistent, repeatable lane.
$$$ Old Town Pizza
An Old Town Neapolitan-leaning spot where the pizzas read more chef-driven than basic, with a menu that invites a couple of shared plates alongside your pie. The best experience comes from ordering one signature pizza and one starter, then letting the table pace itself.
Must-Try Dishes: Margherita, Tartufata, Pistachio Pesto
What Makes it Special: Neapolitan-leaning pizzas with a more chef-driven topping play than average.