Well it is over, it took 54 weeks to have 52 different pizza places. The pizzas were mostly good but there was some bad ones also. It was fun to try some new places but now I can go back to my favorite Vito and Nicks.

Final Six

#47 Total Sports- nice bar with plenty of TVs. Pizza was an individual special thin crust. It had bacon, sausage, pepperoni,onions and green peppers. Overall, a good bar pizza but nothing special. Just watch out when your waitress brings a full tray of beer.
2.5 pizza cutters

#48 Rosati Pizza. After attending Last Fling and seeing Robert Cray had a thin crust cheese pizza. Thought the crust was very good and better than the Rosati by my house. Maybe it was the beer in me that was being nice.
2.5 pizza cutters

#49 Salernos Went to see Lights Out Chicago - UFO tribute band at the Berwyn. Had a sausage pizza with a thick crust. The crust was very good, sausage was spicy and also very good. Needed more sauce but would like to try it again.
3 pizza cutters

#50 Boston Pizza Before Toby Keith's concert at the First American Midwest Amphitheatre. Nice national chain. Each had an individual pizza, Cathy a sausage with roasted peppers pizza, while I had the Venetian, pepperoni, ham, mushroom and green peppers. They would good pizzas but the crust was very basic
2.5 pizza cutters

#51 Barones Pizza
Sausage, Mushroom and Green Peppers deep dish. Typical deep dish pizza. Good crust and fresh veggies. The drawback was the sauce was too tart for my taste.
2.5 pizza cutters

#52 Beggars Pizza Had to go to a proud sponsor of the Chicago White Sox so we traveled to Plainfield. A dining room pizza joint but no BEER!. Plus TV not on White Sox game. Had Sausage, Mushroom and Green Peppers deep dish. Yes two in one week. The Pizza has a cornmeal crust which is one of mt favorite. Lots of veggies, spicy sausage and a good sauce. A very good deep dish pizza. Even better as leftovers.
3 Pizza cutters

#46 Pal Joeys

On a recommendation from our Cathy's sister and brother-in-law were went to Pal Joey in West Chicago. They even went with us so they had to be confident that it was going to be good pizza.
Started with Fried Match Stick Zucchini Strips with lemon and Onion rings. Both were very good with the highlight being the zucchini strips, they were very tender. Our pizza was a sausage, green peeper and black olives pan pizza. The crust was very light and crispy. The ends of the crust was especially crispy and had a nice flavor to it. The sauce was sweet, sausage had some spice to it and the veggies were fresh. Overall a very good pizza but I would have enjoyed more and larger pieces of sausage.

3 pizza cutters

#45 Buona Beef

Went for a quick lunch at Buona Beef. They have a good selection of gourmet thin crust pizzas. Cathy had the Verdura Misto solo pizza. How cute, solo instead of personal for the size of the pizza. See, I did say gourmet pizzas. I had the BBQ chicken solo pizza, sorry no fancy name.
We did share a slice of each pizza with each other, how sweet! The BBQ Chicken - Solo (Individual) consisted of tender pulled chicken, sweet barbecue sauce, sliced red onion, chopped tomato & cheeses. The Verdura Misto - Solo (Individual) was a mixture of roasted vegetables, black olives & cheeses. The crusts of both pizzas were a basic crust that was thin and crispy. It reminded me of the crust I buy from Traders Joe and bake at home. The other ingredients were fresh and good. Overall, a good lunch pizza if you don't want a sandwich.

2.5 pizza cutters.

#44 Ed & Joes Pizza

On a very rainy Sunday afternoon we traveled to Tinley Park To Ed & Joe's that is known for it's Thin crust pizza. Of course, we started with onion rings as our appetizer. They were crispy and very good. They came with a BBQ sauce with was a little to sweet for our taste. We had a sausage, mushroom and green pepper thin crust pizza. Overall, I thought the pizza was very good. The crust was very thin and crispy. The sauce was sweet, the sausage was spicy, veggies plentiful and big, and the cheese had a nice "burnt" top. Overall, not top 5 but was very very close, Top 10 for sure. While waiting for our pizza we watched rain delay theatre as the Cubs were being rained out and they showed a picture of my hero, Don Kessinger (see above)

3.5 pizza cutters

#43 Barraco's Pizza

A local family business with a south side of Chicago history. They have a carry out store in Lisle.

Ordered a deep dish special (the norm - sausage, mushrooms, green pepper and onions). Being a Friday night and planning on having a pizza and watch a baseball game, we needed beer. Guess what! Right next door to the pizza joint is a liquor store! So pay for pizza, run next door and get beer, come back and be handed a piping hot pizza and off home we head. Let's get right to the pizza, it was good but not top 5. Done. Well I guess I should go in more detail. The crust was crispy, light and was very tasty. The rest of the ingredients were also good but nothing special. the sausage was bland and not spicy. I would recommend more spices to be added to the sauce.

2.5 pizza cutters

#42 Ledo

I am afraid I am seeing a trend in the restaurant business, no wait service. We went to Ledos in Countryside and the hostess stand simply said "seat yourself". No wait staff in sight. Oh No! this is one of those places! I have go to the counter and order and bring my own beer back to the table. I do not enjoy this trend, when I go out I want someone to bring me my beer. I need someone to bring me my beer. Well I will to get off my soapbox and get to the review of their pizza. Their menu shows the prices for thin crust but they do offer a thicker crust so we went with a thick (would be considered a meduim crust at most places) crust with sausage, mushrooms and green peppers. Of course, we had to go and retrieve the pizza from the counter when our number was called (they dont even use your name). The pizza was very good with a nice crispy crust. the sausage was not spicy but was still tasty. The veggies and cheese were fresh. However, the best part was the the sauce as it was sweet but not overpowering the pizza.
Overall, the pizza was very good, not top 5 but probably top 6. Of what I would I would consider "neighborhood pizza places", not the deep dish or famous chains, this would be #1. If I lived nearby I would have this pizza again.

3.5 pizza cutters

#41 Ricobene's

For part two of our lunch we went to Ricobene's for a slice of pizza. Now I must say that they are known for a breaded steak sandwich, so went in not expect a great slice of pizza. Decided on a slice of a deep dish sausage pizza. It had a cornmeal crust covered with chunky tomatoes, cheese and sausage. The chunky tomatoes were a little too tart for my taste. However, the pizza was ok but seem to remind me of another pizza. It was as if I was eating a copy of a Gino's East. So I will have too deduct a half of a pizza cutter for copying. A good pizza but needed to be hotter and a more mild tomato sauce.

2.5 pizza cutters.

#40 BACCI Pizza

Time for lunch so we decided to go to BACCI pizza for a slice of pizza. They have a huge sign that says "Home of the huge slice and a free pop." We the intention of hitting another pizza place for lunch we agreed to share the huge slice. It was a huge slice and a small cup for the pop, all for $5.00. Went with a slice of sausage. To review the pizza I can be quick and to the point. A typical thin crust with a little oregano, tomato sauce, sausage and a good amount of cheese. It was a good value, would be a good quick lunch but just an OK pizza.

2 pizza cutters.

#39 Nonnies

Nonnies is on 75Th st with their parking in the rear. It always appears that no one is there so we decide to go on a Friday Night. We were surprised that it was packed! Hopefully a good sign as a lot of pizzas were being ordered. Ordered a thin sausage pizza. The pizza was good with the crust being crispy, maybe a little too crispy. The sauce was a basic tomato base with a a hint of basil and oregano. I believe the spice was a little too much. The cheese was good but not enough of it. Overall, a good pizza but too crispy need more cheese and less oregano. However, I did learn something, I should have included a rating of how the pizza tastes the next day as this pizza's taste improved the next day.

2.5 pizza cutters

Nancy's Pizza

Picked up a large sausage stuffed pizza. First I must say I am not a fan of the stuffed pizza. There is always soooo much cheese, I can feel an artery closing as I eat. So I am now down to 2 arteries. The pizza is crust,cheese,sausage,cheese,cheese and tomato sauce and topped with more cheese. The crust was very good but everything else was good, The sasuage was mils and crumbled style, but not spicy enough for me. I need that kick. Overall, for a stuffed crust pizza it is a good pizza just not top 5 for me. I do have to give them extra brownie points for having the best box. That has to be worth at least a half a pizza cutters.

3. pizza cutters,

Pizza Fusion

Decided to go to Pizza Fusion on a Sat. afternoon. It is in a strip mall next to Meat heads, a good fast food burger place, so we expected a fast food pizza joint. We were surprised that it is a sit down restaurant. Of course we sat a the bar so we could watch the Cubs game(they lost). Our next surprise, no Miller Lite! as it is NOT organic. What the hell is organic? Is a rabbi involved? Or does it have something do letting the wheat grow in the natural sunshine. Is there fake sunshine?
So I had to have organic beer, micro brew or should I say 3. The pizza is served as individual pizzas. They have two types of crusts, white and whole wheat. We decided to try 2 different kinds of pizza to get a good overview of the pizzas. Cathy had a sausage with tri-colored peppers on whole wheat, while I had the BBQ chicken on the white crust. In our true tradition, Cathy enjoyed the whole wheat crust while I enjoyed the white crust better. The crust is thin and crispy. Overall the pizzas are very good with nice fresh ingredients, or should I say organic. The pizza menu reminds me of California Pizza Kitchen, but better. The place is not cheap so should fit in well in Naperville. So expecting a fast food joint and end up spending $50.00.

3 pizza cutters

Main St Pizza

Went to the downers grove Heritage Fest to see a grate band 7Th Heaven and a hair band named Night Ranger. Beautiful night, music, beer and a slice of pizza. In between the two bands was able to find a downtown Downers Grove pizza place selling on the sidewalk. Along with the cheeseburger and fries from Roundheads, we spilt a slice of a thin crust sausage pizza. The pizza was a basic thin crust pizza. Doughy crust, tomato sauce, mild sausage and cheese. Nothing special but good. Would I go back? If in the neighborhood but every neighborhood has that pizza.
7Th Heaven is a very good band that plays a great variety of music.

2.5 Pizza Cutters

#35 Old Tavern Pizza

Needing to stay on schedule we ordered a pizza from a carryout pizzeria in Lisle. Had a sausage and mushroom thin crust. Things looked promising as when I got home, as it was hot, a well constructed with a nice rolled crust and overall, looked very appetizing. Boy could looks be more misleading. The crust was thin ,crispy, and bland. Did I mention crispy? because it was too crispy. The sauce, cheese, sausage and mushrooms are hard to review as there just was not enough of it to build an opinion. All you could taste was the bland extra crispy crust. That's not good.

Even the dogs were not happy with the box as there was no taste to it

2 pizza cutters

#34 Phillies Pizza

The last time we were at Phillie's Pizza in Willowbrook was 21.5 yrs ago at our wedding rehearsal dinner. I said I would be back and we were, man of my word. Sat in bar, watched White Sox, had pizza and beer. Our typical outing! The bar is small, dark and everyone was over 40 and regulars. Service was OK to poor. Started with breaded mushrooms, which were OK. Then came the Phillie's Special, double decker with sausage, mushroom, onion and green peppers. The best part of the pizza were the vegtables which were fresh and large cut. However, the sausage and cheese tasted the same that can be found at millions (give or take a million) of small pizzerias. The crust also was a typical double decker crust found throughout Chicago. So in conclusion, an OK pizza but nothing special, no WOW, and the service was slowwww!

2.5 pizza cutters.

#33 Grumpy Bulldog

On a Sat night we decided to head to downtown Naperville to have a few beers and watch the White Sox. We Had Matt drop us off and headed to the Grumpy Bulldog. A small bar that has over 80 different kinds of beers. We sat at the bar, drank beer and watched the White Sox beat the lowly Royals. The people at the Grumpy bulldog were very nice and friendly. We had Gravy Fries and a medium crust sausage pizza that said the crust was homemade. First the gravy fries are exactly as it says, fries covered with cheese and a lot of gravy. Healthy? No! Good? Of course! Anything covered in gravy is good, think of the possibilities. Second, the pizza was a basic pizza with cheese and sausage and had a nice crust. The crust was not crispy, but still was good. The other topping were good but nothing special. Overall a good pizza for a bar, but not worthy of a top 10. I believe I had over 5 different types of beers (yes, I did have more than 5 beers) and a great time. A fun little bar in downtown Naperville. To cap the night off, we walk outside an a cab was waiting, so home James! or was it more like home, Ahmed!

2.5 pizza cutters.

#32 Suparossa

Happy Memorial day!. Order a thin crust sausage pizza from Suparossa in Woodridge. Pure and simple the pizza was good, not bad and not great. The crust was firm and crispy, the cheese was good, sausage ok and the sauce was just OK. Overall, the taste was similar to a slice of pizza I would get at a mall. I expected more! So like the pizza this entry will be ok and bland. That reminds me I need to go to the mall. Bye.

2 pizza cutters

#31 Hone run Inn

Had a taste for a pizza that I knew was good and had not had for awhile, so off we went to Home Run Inn. We have a tendency to want to sit in the bar area, I wonder why. Unfortunately, the last time we went to Home Run Inn and sat in the bar we ended up walking out. It was late on Friday (9 pm) and the bartender did not want to come over to our table and take our order so after about 10 min of him talking to the wait staff, we left. Of course, I mentioned something to the girl at the host stand and I expected them to fire him. Well, they didnt as he was still there and of course he was our server. We had the Cheesy garlic bread and it was HUGE! It was very good, lots of garlic and butter. We had a couple of slices and was full! For the pizza we had a basic sausage pizza. The pizza was what we were expected, very good. The sausage was spicy, cheese a high quality but the best part is the crust. It is very unique and tasty. The only problem is that the sauce is bland and there seems to not be a lot of it on the pizza. Unfortunately, the sauce keeps this pizza from the top 5. Now the bartender was ok, even though he did come by and see our beer glasses empty and did not ask if we wanted another, until I stopped him.

3 pizza cutters

#30 Fox's Restaurant and Pub

Decided it was time for a little road trip for some pizza, OK not too far. Traveled to a place in Orland Park that was not too far in miles but seems to be years back in time. First, it must of been kids night as there was 2 million of them that were getting their face painted or a balloon hat made. Note, Cathy would not allow me to get a balloon poodle. Maybe I see my next career!

We sat in a room with chairs that I swear were on the Brady Bunch. I believe the room and majoring of the patrons have been hear since the 1950's. There was even a one man band playing, Kris Benson. How many times do you hear a performer play Billy Joel's Piano Man on the guitar only?

We started with an appetizer of bruschetta, which was very good! Expectations are getting very high for a good pizza. It was a thin crust pizza with sausage, mushroom, onion and green pepper. After one bite, we were disappointed. The crust was bland and a little too crispy. However, the worst part was the sauce, as it was weak and seem to be a watered down tomato sauce with a ton of oregano, and I do mean a ton, literally. The other ingredients were good but could not save the pizza. I even had a piece of it as I wrote this (morning after) and it was not good. Maybe it was a bad night for them as a lot tables were having pizza, but you only get one shot to impress Gar and sorry, I was not impress. Cathy did not even feel good on the way home.

2 Pizza Cutters

#29 Aurelios Pizza

Brought home a pizza from Aurelio's Pizza in Woodridge. Now I must admit that I have always enjoyed Aurelio's pizza from some of their other locations. We had a thin crust sausage pizza.

The new location did not disappoint. The crust was crispy, sausage spicy, a nice tomato sauce and plenty of cheese. Cathy even thought it was very good. Enough said, now where do I put it in the top 5?

Bye! Bye! Connie's! My choice is number 4.

4 Pizza cutters