Jim & Pete's Pizza

There used to be a pizza place called Jim & Pete's n Oak Park on North Avenue, right across street from the Mercury Theater. We used to go there as kids and I've never tasted any pizza quite like it.

I noticed recently that there's a Jim & Pete's pizzza place, still on North Avenue, but further north, near Kiddyland. Does anyone know if that's the same place and if it is, if the pizza is the same as it used to be?

Jim & Pete's is still around, although I've never known it to be in another location other than its current one in Elmwood Park. About 4 or 5 years ago, they expanded and remodeled the entire restaurant, complete with white tablecloths and standard Italian prints on the wall. This was a far cry from the Jim & Pete's of old days where a TV would blare at the bar and all the plates and glasses stuck to the red and white checked picnic tablecloths. In the handful of times I have been there, I have never had the pizza, mostly because I've never heard anyone rave about it. In a neighborhood filled with so many other pizza choices, I just never got around to it. Their pastas are standard Italian-American choices. They keep your table well-supplied with bread, olive oil and cheese (hardly authentic in any way but I just love the stuff). Compared to the competition on that stretch of North Avenue (Trattoria Peppino, Spizzico), I prefer Jim & Pete's for the overall experience. Skip desserts and go to Johnnie's Beef for lemon Italian ice.

Chicgail, tell us what was so memorable about the pizza you had there years ago? I am interested to know more.

Jim & Pete's Restaurant
7806 West North Avenue
Elmwood Park, IL 60707
708.453.5204

Johnnie's Beef
7500 West North Avenue
Elmwood Park, IL 60707
708.452.6000

Jim and Pete's has been around forever. The original location was near Harlem and North in a building that was where the pancake house presently resides. The pizza has always been a good thin crust made even better when ordered crispy. I particularly like the fact that Jim and Pete's uses thinly sliced onions instead of chopped on their pizzas. This makes for a more intense onion flavor. I am not talking Vito and Nick's or Candlelight thin when I talk about Jim and Pete's. But when a trip to either of these places is out of the question, Jim and Pete's will fill the bill nicely.

I can't imagine Jim & Pete's with table cloths. When I knew it it was a very old fashioned bare bones pizza joint where you could watch the cooks toss the pizza dough in an open kitchen.

Probably not the best pizza ever, but it was the first pizza I ever tasted. The crust was thin and crispy and the sauce had just a bit a tang and sweetness to it -- never cloying -- but a great complement to spicy sausage.

I live in the city now, and I'm looking forward to going out there some Sunday afternoon and indulging in some real nostalgia. I hope it fits my recollection of it.

Oh, and thank you for mentionning Johnny's -- only the best Italian beef and sausage in the city. The Italian lemonade may be good, but the smell of that juicy beef. mmmm.

Jim & Pete's seems to get left-out of recommendations when people ask about restaurants in the River Forest-Oak Park-Elmwood Park area. I've always enjoyed it - on and off for more than 25 years. Although pizza is still popular the focus has been on dinners and I think the restaurant does a very good job. Nice home cooking-style. I think the owners would be a bit miffed to be mentioned in the same paragraph with Johnnie's - a fast food place where quality has been on the decline.

Jim & Pete's Restaurant
7806 W North Ave
Elmwood Park, IL 60707-3536
(708) 453-5204
Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat.

wow! thanks for the memory flash..I forgot all about that place..also Golden Bear pancake house was right near there..
I personally liked Amato's better (north & austin) but as a kid we used to go to Jim and Petes quite often