La Gondola

Excellent Italian food, especially for the price. Have only gotten takeout.

2914 Ashland AVe.
chicago, il 60657

I was just at La Gondola tonight for dinner with my family (5 of us - 3 from the neighborhood and 2 parents down from Milwaukee). We made reservations for 5pm, and are glad we did - the restaurant is very tiny (it's a storefront in the strip mall with the Jewel on Ashland and Wellington) and has 5 or 6 tables. There were other tables reserved when we came in, but we were the first ones there this evening.

The dinner was definitely enjoyable. Nothing that was blow-you-out-of-the-water, but good Italian food. We got five different dishes (a veal dish, the lobster ravioli special, rigatoni vodka, chicken vesuvio, and penne arribata), and everyone enjoyed their choices. Portions were huge, so everyone has leftovers (except the veal eater, who nearly licked his plate afterwards). Prices were reasonable (especially for the portion sizes); in the $12-18 range.

For a Sunday night, especially a cold one like tonight, the place was busy. Every table was taken, a couple people ended up not wanting to wait, and the take-out service was in constant business (mostly pizzas but some meals). Our waiter was knowledgeable and prompt without being nosy, which was great considering there was only the one waiter.

The menu proudly proclaims that the restaurant was a stop during one of Rachel Ray's "Tasty Travels" shows in 2007, and it's Zagat rated. I would highly recommend reservations.

So it was a great pick for the five of us to get together, and I know I'll be back - especially since it's right down the street.

Glad to see La Gondola is still in the neighborhood, I thought they were long gone. In the early '80's La Gondola was a personal favorite of mine. They served a killer linguine and clams as well as a decent pizza and occupied a small, frame building on the SE corner of of Ashland and Montana.
Over time as the neighborhood changed the frame building was bulldozed and La Gondola was reborn in a shinny new building as an "upscale" Italian destination complete with valet parking and white shirted waiters.
The food was still good but the atmosphere in the new place just wasn't the same.
Wasn't long before the new place was torn down and something else (condos?) was built there.
Anyway, sounds like they have come full circle and judging by your glowing report I need to rediscover La Gondola once again.

Yep, La Gondola is still here although it is now in the shopping complex on Ashland opposed to Fullerton Ave. I would have made a post about the extra thin crust I got from here last summer but it seems to have changed since that one delivery. I hadnt tried it in forever until last summer when I got a pie delivered as described above and it was really good and really thin and really crispy. Im talking crispy to the point where you couldn't fold a piece in half without it cracking at the bottom, the kind of thin and crispy that produces the perfect end pieces with the airhole's. They used chunks of sausage cooked crisp with fennel and it was delivered piping hot. Unfortunately I have tried it again a few times since and it has never been as thin and crispy as it was that one summer day. Im not saying I dont like it because those other times it was still good, just not as good as my other experience. Its still good for thin crust delivery in the area, maybe just ask for "extra-thin" if you like it this way.

La Gondola
2914 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657

I have only been to La Gondola once and had a great experience. It is a very small space but made to be warm and comfortable with a nice atmosphere the service was great and every one was very friendly. I loved the warm crunchy bread they brought to the table I ordered spaghetti and meatballs it was very good but the real surprise was when the Chef/owner came out to see how everything was and I told him I had also contemplated getting the gnocchi with pesto he asked if I had a minute and returned with a dish of the gnocchi so I could see how I liked it .. he said everything was home made and to order. The gnocchi were like little pillows and the pesto was fresh and full of flavor.. all very good..We have also ordered pizza from La Gondola thin pepperoni and sausage it was generously covered with toppings and had a crunchy crust it was tasty pizza id recommend eating in or the thin crust pizza.

On the way home from work Friday evening, I was behind a car with a hand-drawn "Delivery" sign in the rear window. As I got closer, I noticed it was from La Gondola. I recalled reading here about the pizza and my wife and I had just spoken on cell that we wanted to stay home and order pizza. Seemed like a message from the Gods of pizza to me...

Really good pizza, great sauce, very homemade tasting. Wonderful fennely sausage. We got the thin, not the extra thin and it was just right. Delivered hot right about at the hour mark they promised. We'll be ordering from there again.

Funniest part was my wife asked me how I heard about La Gondola. I told her I read it here. Her reply: "Those weirdo’s sure know their food!"

Visited La Gondola for the first time last night. We wanted to try somewhere new, TAC Quick was closed and I had a $10 off certificate from Restaurant.com I wanted to use anyway. My expectations for strip mall Italian food were really low so I was pleasantly suprised at how nice the place was. I had the Agnelotti Mezzaluna, a stuffed pasta with Romano, Ricotta and Spinach, topped with fresh Basil. It was perfectly prepared, well seasoned and nicely plated. My wife had the half chicken, browned and baked with rosemary, potato wedges and mushrooms. She loved it and felt it was exceptionally well seasoned. The real highlight was the Stracciatella Soup, which was a clear broth spinach soup with a hint of Garlic and some bits of cheese, most likely parmesean. It was really delicious, although it seemed like they used frozen spinach. The prices were really reasonable, particularly for the amount of food you receive. Thanks to meelo for recommending making reservations. Since were five minutes away, I called at 6:50pm for 7:15 pm reservations; when we got there all seven tables were occupied and we had to wait another 15 minutes to get seated. The service was friendly and professional and the atmosphere was charming; far beyond urban strip mall expectations. We'll definitely be going back! I also hear the Pizza is quite more than just servicable. I'm still looking forward to trying TAC Quick though......

Years ago, my friend and I used to order fettucine alfredo from La Gondola when were were hungover (we had it delivered). It is not something I would normally eat but it was delicious. I recall the sauce having a touch of nutmeg in it.

La gondola does a very respectable extra-thin crust and is a good delivery option in the LP/Lakeview area. Not quite as good as Pat's but cheaper and a better overall menu aside from thin crust pizza.


medium extra-thin with sausage

La Gondola
2914 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 248-4433
http://www.lagondolachicago.com

Da Beef wrote: Its still good for thin crust delivery in the area, maybe just ask for "extra-thin" if you like it this way.

When you order, let 'em know you want it "East Coast" thin. Andy, the owner, always makes it for me this way (pie cut, of course) when I have guests from NYC and they are always very impressed with the crust. The Puttanesca and Chicken Alfredo versions are especially good.

radiator wrote: The real highlight was the Stracciatella Soup, which was a clear broth spinach soup with a hint of Garlic and some bits of cheese, most likely parmesean. It was really delicious, although it seemed like they used frozen spinach.

I used to travel for business constantly, on the road 4-5 days a week, brutal schedule. I'd order from La Gondola in my cab on the way home and I always got the Stracciatella, I swear this stuff has mysterious healing powers. I'm pretty sure Andy uses fresh spinach in it, he makes as much stuff from scratch as he can.

As others have mentioned, reservations are highly recommended, the place is silly tiny. It's great for delivery too, www.foodler.com usually has coupons. Although I'm out of their delivery range now, Andy is a doll and keeps sending me food (much to the chagrin of one of his drivers who hates coming into my neighborhood ). I eat there so often that I just call up and tell him how many people need to be fed, any dietary restrictions, and let him select what he's going to send to us. I've never been disappointed.

Great place, very friendly (and open to feedback) owner, and reasonably priced. Give it a shot if you haven't been in, it's a rather pleasant surprise.

To my surprise, I was told tonight La Gondola wouldn't deliver to my area. After pushing for delivery, I was told it would take 1.5 hours to deliver a pizza to my home on Fullerton and Kedzie from La Gondola at Wellington & Ashland...a 15 minute drive in heavy traffic. They wouldn't guarantee it would be remotely warm. Oh, and by the way, we're charging you $17 for a $10 pizza. Who, besides myself would get screwed? The driver and his tip. I KNOW they deliver to Irving & Sheridan. I KNOW they delivered to North & Wells. And that takes less time???

I have been a loyal customer for 10 years, referred people to them ie., "if you like Fox's on the Southside or Candlelight on the Northside...here's the place in the middle." No longer.

I asked for the owner/manager...too busy. How far west do they deliver? California...4-6 blocks east. I didn't waste time with North/South areas.

So foodies everywhere...I hope you all start boycotting. A key part of the restaurant biz is service. When you have a 6 table restaurant, great pizza and mediocre entres and appetizers (including the soggiest calimari I've ever tasted and couldn't eat), I don't know what they are thinking. Especially in this economy.

All I know is they burned a very big bridge tonight. I would certainly like to hear other's input.

I've apparently been boycotting this place my entire life, but what they did to you was the last straw! I'm off to torch the joint.

Okay, I'm back. Why didn't anybody tell me it's really, really cold outside?

All I know is they burned a very big bridge tonight. I would certainly like to hear other's input.

Don't take this sitting down ! Get up off your very big (and now smoking) bridge, pick up that pizza and give 'em hell!!

I'm supposed to start boycotting a restaurant because they have a policy that you don't agree with? That seems even less fair.

They said they don't deliver to your location. They tried to set realistic expectations so as not to disappoint you about the temperature of the pizza or the speed of arrival. You pushed, so they agreed to do deliver to you for a modest, extra fee.

This sounds like an especially accommodating, customer-focused restaurant. It was completely off my radar before, but I might just give 'em a try now.

Wow, La Gondola has no idea who they are messing with.

Well, they say all politics and pizza is local.

La Gondola still delivers to me (great pizza and I love the anti-pasta salad and soup. Tuesday is pasta fagioli)

Sorry, I'm always looking for a good food fight but I can't climb on board.

Now if you can get Tarintino's to re-start delivery, I'm there for ya!

To all...

Let me clarify...They used to deliver to me at North & Wells and at my current place in Palmer Square. I recognize with gas prices, delivery services have cut back...but gas prices have dropped significantly. This is about a regular customer, living 4 blocks from their new "cut-off area". I don't want carry-out...I want delivery on a cold winter night...and I TIP WELL. I GO TO restaurants...I DON'T do carry-out.

I also know they have delivered to "their area" many a cold pizza so it says to me it's all going downhill.

As far as their "small surcharge"...try DOUBLE the price!!! And who gets screwed? The delivery people.

Might I add, Evanston Food Guy (do I know you?) is right...they DID screw with the wrong person. And now that Restaurant Gal has learned they are serving at the Yelp party, watch out! Can Grubhub, Check Please, Timeout & Chicago Mags not read my wrath? XOXO, Gossip, sorry Restaurant Gal

I shall now go shopping for fish at Whole Foods. I am forced to cook!!!

Restaurant Gal wrote:To all...

As far as their "small surcharge"...try DOUBLE the price!!! And who gets screwed? The delivery people.

The regular delivery price is $3. They were willing to deliver out of their stated delivery area for an extra $4. I'd call that a relatively modest surcharge. But yes, you are right, it is more than double the usual delivery charge.

Regardless, thanks for drawing the place to my attention. I checked out the website and it sounds quite nice.

KennyZ...$9 pizza would have been $17. Bon Appetit. I suggest the soggy calamari!

Restaurant Gal wrote:KennyZ...$9 pizza would have been $17. Bon Appetit. I suggest the soggy calamari!

The minimum order for delivery is $10. Regular delivery price is $3. So if you order the cheapest thing on the menu, it costs $13 including delivery (a bit more, I suppose, after you add tax in). You would have paid $17 instead of the usual $13 for them to deliver out-of-area on a cold, snowy night during Monday Night Football, probably one of their busiest times.

They didn't screw with anybody. For all you know they've been robbed too many times going west. Or they had to cut back because Cousin Felix, who did the delivery, moved to California. Or who knows what. But they are a small business and they made a choice that has to do with their abilities at the moment. To get hysterical and vengeful about that is absurd.

Mikey G...

Talk about hysterical...have your doc check your testosterone levels. What next? A Michael Vick pitbull?

I live in a VERY safe neighborhood...primarily a mix of whites and hispanics...lots of kids...lots of neighbors vigilant about keeping the neighborhood safe. Toss in some impeccable gay men too. YOUR comments are racist. And inappropriate. My former delivery man knows my dog by name. Hachi's Kitchen isn't fearful of delivering here. You SIR, are out of line. The subject is service, quality and trying to rip off the consumer.

Restaurant Gal wrote: You SIR, are out of line.

Keith? That you?

Yes, "Mikey's" hypothetical insulted everyone that's part of the "west" race.

I'm hereby boycotting everyone in this thread. You're all on notice!

Restaurant Gal strikes me as the kind of customer that restaurants are happy to lose.

Hope that's not racist.

I'm a bit impressed.

I definitely would have lost the "I bet you can't include 'impeccable gay men', 'pitbull' and 'racist' all in one post" wager.

Interesting choice for a first post and first impression. There's an unwritten rule that first posts be either informative or introductory, not incendiary. I'm guessing the guy who answers the phone at La Gondola knows RG and the new delivery policy was bespoke.