Gino's North - perfect

I've dined at some of the finest restaurants in Chicago. I've consumed "lavender air" and been told a fairy tale of it's origin - it took me away from my world and to one of make believe, in a wonderful way. I've eaten smoked rib tips on the trunk of my car at 69th and Calumet - was I charmed by the environment? Far from it, but the environment was appropriate for the food I enjoyed, and it worked. I've gazed out crystal clear windows 100 stories up in the air, sipping an appropriately priced drink in a martini glass thinking "this is nice", my view spanning the rooftops and streetlights of one of the largest cities in the world. Was the drink magical? no, but the view was - it made sense. Chicago has a broad range of culinary delights, most of which offer a good selection of food - but the best "experiences" pair good food with interesting/appropriate atmosphere. Dining out isn't just about a well cooked meal, it's about the entire experience.

Gino's North, a small, but not divey, old school Chicago bar and pizzeria serves up great pizza (and other classic Chicago/Italian food) with an extra helping of nostalgia.
The front of this non-descript location, boasts this classic neon sign - and a simple piece of paper on the door labeling it "Gino's Pizzeria and Bar".

Genuine hospitality, water and wine refilled without request, suggestions provided and requests accommodated without hesitation, all directed by a strong sense of old "Italian Grandmother" style cooking in the kitchen. Wooden walls, maroon U shaped booths, fresh flowers on the table...this place just screams "classic". Head chef, Peggy, 83 going on 43 - provides a strong identity for this brand: old school service with enthusiasm reborn daily.

Upon arrival, the Bar Keep (and I use that title with respect for this man, as he kept the bar very well), introduced himself - asked our names and poured us a few glasses of water. After small talk, he inquired about drinks - and while the wine/beer menu is small, he was happy to make me a sazerac without asking me what it was or what was in it. It was perfect. My wife ordered a glass of red, which I switched over to after that first nice ol' fashioned cocktail. We ordered a Gino's special, which is Chicago to a C. Fennel infused sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms, all covering a delicious thin crust pizza dusted lightly with cornmeal on the underside. I know Chicago is known for deep dish, but I've always been a thin crust guy - and Chicago definitely has its own distinct style of this pizza.
While waiting for our pie, we soaked up the classic setting - the statue behind the bar:

Fresh flowers on the table in our classic U Shaped booth, and clean seasonal decor:



And finally, our piping hot pizza:

Check out the chunky fennely italian sausage...just delicious!



We almost finished an entire 16" pie between the two of us, after salads/appetizers (and a few bottles of pinot noir)

During dinner, the bar (which was about 1/2-3/4 full the whole time we were there on a Monday) was watching - with fully audible sound - wheel of fortune. I felt like I was at my Grandma's house for dinner, in a good way.
Keeping with the "old school" theme, the kitchen help is two guys in their 50's/60's wearing bandanas....not a single 20something latino to be found (no disrespect, they are just the hardest working guys found in almost every kitchen). Nope, not here. Old white biker dudes washing dishes and prepping all the food. Really cool.
All in all, I love this place. The food is great, the atmosphere makes you forget about the outside, current decade, world for a few hours...and that's what dining out is all about: an enjoyable evening to help you forget about the taxes, parking tickets, and screaming babies. I appreciate (which is better than loving) Gino's North, thanks for staying the same for over 70 years!

Gino's North
1111 West Granville Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60660
(773)465-1616
http://www.ginosnorth.com

I can't believe I don't know this place! I'll be rectifying that as soon as possible, thanks for posting on Gino's.

This is the kind of place everyone wishes they had in their neighborhood among the forests of soul less chain land restaurants. Thanks for posting.

rub-

Great post! Gino's North has been around for years, but the storefront got a clean-up in the last few years with the revitalization of Granville. I walked past recently and made a mental note that it was time to stop in. Your post moved it higher on the list. Thank you!

They call themselves "Chicago's Best Kept Secret" on their website and if the pizza (and atmosphere) are as you posted rubbbqco, then they may very well be. Pizza looks good.

Man I haven't eaten pizza from here in a long while, but I really liked it back when I lived out there. Due to my diet I rarely eat pizza, so when I do, I usually go for deep dish. I might change that up after seeing these pics.

Awesome!

I moved across the street from Gino's North early this year, popped in one time and found myself a new watering hole and happy munching place. As I'm not a big football fan, I get bribed by the fiance to go to Gino's while he watches da Bears at home. This helps sustain family harmony so he doesn't have to answer my 'is it over yet?' question every time there's a commercial. Also, since the charms of Gino's North are lost on him, its a win-win for us. I ring up a buddy that lives on the same block, let her know I've got the bribe money in hand, and we meet at Gino's for beer and pizza and industry gossip.

I'm in the same boat with rubbbqco- I've eaten fancy and non-fancy foods in their appropriate environments and enjoyed both. I'm also in the industry, and when I go out to eat, I'm constantly attuned to FOH and BOH service and running the floor in my head, etc. This can be either entertaining for me or frustrating, but impossible to turn off. At Gino's North, all of that goes out the window. Here, I'm just some random chick in sweatpants and a hoodie, opening my mail and leafing through a magazine while I wait for my buddy. By the time she arrives, pretty much in the same uniform as me, I already have a beer in front of me and a glass of 'holy crap, I didn't know a single neat of whatever brown I chose to take the edge off was going to get me four fingers worth.' The bartenders are all friendly and try to be as quick as possible. This can vary as they get busy. My friend has been frustrated a time or two with one gentleman in particular. If he's slammed, he simply forgets. I just shrug it off. I know he'll get to us. No biggie. Maybe that's why they pour the drinks so heavy. And they really are such sweethearts, how can I get mad? I know he's not slow on purpose, he just got a bit weeded. Some could say they should have more staff. But my industry brain says no, its not worth it to have another person come in on an otherwise slow night just for the pizza pick-up call bump. We'll get through it. And they have more staff on busier nights.

To the pizza- they have a dine-in special only. Its a thin-crust personal pizza (8"?) with one topping for $5.50. You can add toppings for $1.00 each. Don't quote me on that. It may be less but its not more than a dollar per extra topping. I always get sausage and mushroom. I think its very delicious, every time. The crust comes out just the way I like it, crispy. The sausage is wonderful, as mentioned above. I don't eat deep-dish so I can't speak to that.

I've also had an Italian beef here, nothing to really report on that. Pretty run of the mill. I've also had their ravioli in garlic sauce which I liked a lot. Lots and lots of garlic, delicious. From my little forays into the short menu, I know I don't need anything other than the thin-crust pizza.

I personally love the atmosphere. Lots of Edgewater regulars, you tend to see the same people in there, depending on the time of day they frequent the place. I often see a regular with the remote in their hand, flipping channels at their whim. The bartenders were great this summer about putting on Sox games for me, no comments whatsoever about how this is the North Side, etc. I don't think they care much. I have seen more 'Wheel of Fortune' in there than since I was a kid. Pat Sajak's hair is looking weird, Vanna is still beautiful, fyi.

So anyway, I'm glad someone brought up Gino's North. I'm comfortable there and feel welcome on my own or with friends. I take it easy there and I don't ask Gino's North to be more than what it is. Cold beer, Maker's and a delicious pizza make for a really nice weeknight break.

During dinner, the bar (which was about 1/2-3/4 full the whole time we were there on a Monday) was watching - with fully audible sound - wheel of fortune

Coincidentally, this also was the background sound for one of the most memorable meals of my life at Ristorante La Mea outside of Lucca, Italy. A Mom and Pop place with hams hanging all over the walls, Nonna in the kitchen and the rest of the family working the front. And "Wheel of Fortune" in Italian at full volume the whole time. We drank I don't know how many bottles of their home made red, enjoyed crispy fried polenta and the only creamy-sauce version of penne alla arabbiatta I've ever been able to find, with home made Limoncello and panne cotta for the dolce.

But I digress. Gino's North sounds like my kinda joint. It now tops my list of pizza destinations when I am next in the city.

Davooda

Top notch place. I live about a 5 minute walk away. As noted earlier the storefront was completely rebuilt earlier this year with the Granville station renovation. A dingy translucent glass block front has been replaced with full height clear glass windows giving the Art Deco interior a whole different feel. Can't blame CTA for wanting to improve their properties, but I liked the old entrance experience better.

Oh, and the thin crust pizza is indeed excellent. Just keep in mind that Peggy is the sole pizza chef back there and pizzas come out on her timetable.

Chicago Hokie wrote:...
Oh, and the thin crust pizza is indeed excellent. Just keep in mind that Peggy is the sole pizza chef back there and pizzas come out on her timetable.

Hokie-

I wonder if Peggy and Burt know each other....

The GP wrote:

Chicago Hokie wrote:...
Oh, and the thin crust pizza is indeed excellent. Just keep in mind that Peggy is the sole pizza chef back there and pizzas come out on her timetable"

Except Sunday/Monday when she's off. If you want the full experience, with Peggy- visit Tuesday through Saturday. Just an FYI

I was going through a Gino's phase for a while. The pizza is pretty good and the pasta is worth the price. Thing is, there are only 3 booths. And the seating at the bar is tight, often full. And the service can be a bit off-putting, or rather, one of the bartenders is a bit, let's say, remote. And the bartender the times I've been there is your server and order taker, even if you manage to get one of the 3 booths. So its a charming place on the right night when you get a booth, and it isn't too busy, and you aren't in a hurry. I would not show up with a group larger than 3-4 and expect it to work out. And depending on what's on the TV, who is sitting in the bar, if the people at the bar decide to start caroling drunkenly [seen it!], it can also be an annoying place.

In some ways it is oddly similar to Kuma's, before anybody knew about Kuma's. The food is better than you'd expect. The environment can charm you or annoy you. The servers can have an attitude and approach that put you off. But most importantly: if it gets above a certain capacity of occupation the whole effect is ruined and it just becomes impossible. I would say that for Gino's, if there are more than about 10 customers inside there, or if one of the 3-4 booths isn't open, I'd skip it. The paradox is that it is only cool and viable provided it remains unknown, unpopular and a little intimidating to enter.

Marco wrote:Thing is, there are only 3 booths. And the seating at the bar is tight, often full. And the service can be a bit off-putting, or rather, one of the bartenders is a bit, let's say, remote. And the bartender the times I've been there is your server and order taker, even if you manage to get one of the 3 booths.

If you're expecting convenient seating on demand and attentive service, then dining in here is not for you (indeed, most of their pizza business is carryout). With that caveat, every single person I've brought here has loved it. And while the staff is not TGIF-friendly, I have never found them to be rude or surly but rather no-bones straightforward. I'm there for the pizza and decor.

At first I read this as Gino's East, which caused me to question if we had been to the same place. Then I see it was Gino's North. Let's just say my one (and only) visit to Gino's East left much to be desired. Glad to know about THIS version.

On a fluke I am here now. Sitting at the bar and totally get the vibe report. So far very charming. It's my kind of place when I look around and see 80% of the customers drinking martinis. And I'm one of them. Will report back on the pizza.

Pizza was good but it's the vibe that wins the day. This restaurant is a kind of neighborhood "Cheers "restaurant with a very friendly neighborhood feel. Really cozy. I would rate the pizza an 89 out of 100 in that it was perfectly fine but not particularly special. It was quite enjoyable and it's really the vibe the wins the day which would bring me back. I would come back if I were in the neighborhood but I probably wouldn't make a particularly long trip as the pizza is just very good but not more.

DutchMuse wrote:Pizza was good but it's the vibe that wins the day. This restaurant is a kind of neighborhood "Cheers "restaurant with a very friendly neighborhood feel. Really cozy. I would rate the pizza an 89 out of 100 in that it was perfectly fine but not particularly special. It was quite enjoyable and it's really the vibe the wins the day which would bring me back. I would come back if I were in the neighborhood but I probably wouldn't make a particularly long trip as the pizza is just very good but not more.

Agreed. This is a 5 minute drive for me...so lucky for me, it's convenient, comfy, and puts out a pretty good pie with a side of charm. Do I recommend you drive in from Naperville to eat here? No, the charm/buzz would be far worn off by the time you arrived home. Stop by when you are near, or if you live close by...appreciate it for what it is: classic

rubbbqco wrote:I appreciate (which is better than loving) Gino's North, thanks for staying the same for over 70 years!

Nice report on a place that probably should be better known. I say probably because I share the concerns voiced by Marco above. I give the new owners a lot of credit for their sensitive remodeling but I actually liked Gino's better ten years ago, before it got fancy. It used to be Chicago's most atmospheric dive bar.

The tavern has undergone many changes since it opened in 1940. For most of its 70 years it wasn't even Gino's; until the late '70s it was known as the Snow Drop, also the name of the nude statue that stands behind the bar. And it wasn't all pizza and Wheel of Fortune back then; the Snow Drop served steaks and lobster tails and featured classical records on the jukebox. "If you don't like them, don't play them, and if you don't want to hear them, don't come in," said the original owner. If, God forbid, you'd say something uncomplimentary about Snow Drop, he'd pour out your drink, refund your money and throw you out. "They have to learn that it is a work of art."



Snow Drop Tavern (closed)
1111 W Granville Av
Chicago
ROGers Park 3380

The tavern has undergone many changes since it opened in 1940. For most of its 70 years it wasn't even Gino's; until the late '70s it was known as the Snow Drop, also the name of the nude statue that stands behind the bar. And it wasn't all pizza and Wheel of Fortune back then; the Snow Drop served steaks and lobster tails and featured classical records on the jukebox. "If you don't like them, don't play them, and if you don't want to hear them, don't come in," said the original owner. If, God forbid, you'd say something uncomplimentary about Snow Drop, he'd pour out your drink, refund your money and throw you out. "They have to learn that it is a work of art."

LOVE IT! Do you actually have an old matchbook, or is that just an old photo? I'm an appreciator of "old things with a story", so to me - that matchbook is cool. Interesting to know the history of the place, and the statue...thanks RENE

rubbbqco wrote:LOVE IT! Do you actually have an old matchbook, or is that just an old photo? I'm an appreciator of "old things with a story", so to me - that matchbook is cool. Interesting to know the history of the place, and the statue...thanks RENE

I got the matchbook several years ago because of my interest in Gino's North. It's probably from the 1940s, judging by the format of the phone number. You might be interested in seeing the inside (though it's in poor condition). I guess that's supposed to be Snow Drop herself.

DutchMuse wrote:

Perhaps Snow Drop's successor is in the background?

Cathy2 wrote:Perhaps Snow Drop's successor is in the background?

That is Snow Drop hovering over the martini in Dutch Muse's excellent photograph. The statue, created by a Swedish sculptor, based on the woman who later became his wife, has been the centerpiece of the bar from its earliest days. Snow Drop was not replaced or renamed when the tavern became Gino's.

That is really something, because if you don't like it. It is not just an insult to the artist, it is an insult to the owner and his wife! I now understand better his reaction when people commented.

Thanks!

DutchMuse wrote:

I see what you did there.

I was in the area tonight to see a cousin of mine playing a gig, so my uncle and I decided to try Gino's North for a couple of pizzas before the show. It was smaller than I expected, but kind of a cozy place. As we were walking to our table, an older couple were sucking each other's faces really slowly. Yeah, that's just what we want to see. Booth was the "please replace my cushions already as I've been sat on way too times" type. But overall, I liked the atmosphere. Definite old school vibe. Anyway, it took about 40 minutes for our two thin cheese and sausage pizzas to come out. Unfortunately for us, it wasn't worth the wait. The pizzas were a so-so version of a tavern style thin pizza. Sausage was decent, crust was fair, and the sauce was the weak link for me. I was really hoping this place would be another Marie's, but aside from the kitschy decor and loyal customers, the pizza is not even close to major league. Oh well, had to try it. I don't drink or live in the area, so there isn't really any appeal for me to return. But I will say again that it does deliver on the atmosphere and overall experience, so if you are looking for that - you'll probably enjoy it. And maybe there are other menu items that are really great. Maybe. I want pizza.

Deep dish pizza is the way to go there. I'm glad to hear they're still around and thriving.

Mr. X and I finally made it to Gino's North last week. We sat at the far end of the bar and soaked up the ambiance. On a Thursday night, it was 2/3 full. Maker's Manhattan for me, Coke for Mr. X. The Manhattan had a bit too much sweet vermouth for me, but not so much that I didn't enjoy it. We ordered an antipasto plate to start, with a large sausage/onion/mushroom pizza to follow. The antipasto plate came up quickly. Lots of meats (ham, salami, pepperoni) and cheese (provolone?), artichoke hearts and garlic bread all over a bed of mixed greens. The lettuce was completely unnecessary. The garlic bread was fantastic.

I don't know how long it took for our pizza to come out. I don't feel it was too long, but we had the antipasto to tide us over. We enjoyed the pizza. Good sausage, nice amount of the other toppings. It was good leftover the next day too.

We spent some time chatting with Bob, the bar keep. He said business is definitely up since they renovated the front. I can see why -- it took the renovation to finally get me to enter, although I've passed the spot for years. We'll be back.