Rosati's Pizza

Hi all,

I know Rosati's Pizza has been around for years, and it's a very good thin crust pizza (in my opinion), although it rarely gets mentioned. I think it compares favorably to Aurelio's, another multi-location thin-crust primarily carry-out specialist (wow, I strung THAT together well!), and I think both of them set the tone for their niche, putting the national franchises to shame.

A few years ago when I happened to make a trip to AZ and was hungry for pizza, I just happened to drive by a Rosati's and practically broke my neck to see if that's what it was. It was, I ordered, took it back to the hotel and enjoyed.

Ok, here's the question...Google Rosati's and you'll get 2 separate websites:
http://www.myrosatis.com/
http://www.rosatispizza.com/

THe first one lists close to 100 locations in 11 states and the second one lists 46 locations in 3 states. Thre is some overlap between them but it is not complete. Both look official and have very similar graphics but both bear some disclaimers. Anyone know the story? Is it a family squabble issue? I know the Aurelio's the "mother ship" (Homewood) is considered the best, but what about Rosati's? Are they pretty consistent within the Chicago area and across the states?

I don't have an answer for you but if something is up it would explain a lot of things. Every Rosati experience I've ever had has been good. So when I moved to Niles I noticed I now lived right down the street from a takeout location. I was excited until I tried it. No good. I kept trying. No good. SO now I'm thinking maybe it's not actually affiliated with the "real" Rosatis!

JeanneBean wrote:I don't have an answer for you but if something is up it would explain a lot of things. Every Rosati experience I've ever had has been good. So when I moved to Niles I noticed I now lived right down the street from a takeout location. I was excited until I tried it. No good. I kept trying. No good. SO now I'm thinking maybe it's not actually affiliated with the "real" Rosatis!

Well I've only tried 2 of them. The one in River Grove was pretty good. The one in Elk Grove Village was pretty bad. Neither is listed on rosatispizza.com but both are listed at myrosatis.com.

The following is from the RosatisPizza.com website

Although Rosati’s discontinued franchising in 1998, there are various Rosati family members that continue to operate fine Rosati restaurants throughout the country. This website is sponsored by one of the Rosati groups, led by Rick Rosati. Only those Rosati restaurants which are affiliated with this group are listed on this website.

According to whois, RosatisPizza.com is registered to a Jeff Rosati from Lisle, whereas myRosatis.com is registered to Creative Pizza Marketing Inc. in Niles.

In my opinion, Rosati's went straight downhill in the early 90s when they started their massive expansion. They changed their sauce recipe and generally downgraded the pizza to almost a Domino's level.

We did their lunch buffet at one of the NW suburban locations a couple years ago, and it was terrible-- enough to put us off Rosati's for good.

caribiner23 wrote:We did their lunch buffet at one of the NW suburban locations a couple years ago, and it was terrible-- enough to put us off Rosati's for good.

You are probably talking about the one in Carpenterville, a buffet olace that is generally pretty bad. The one in Crystal Lake can be pretty decent at times.

Personally, I would pass.

RSMBob wrote:Hi all,
A few years ago when I happened to make a trip to AZ and was hungry for pizza, I just happened to drive by a Rosati's and practically broke my neck to see if that's what it was. It was, I ordered, took it back to the hotel and enjoyed.

...I had the same experience fairly recently while in an Albertson's shopping plaza in Scottsdale, AZ... there it was, Rosatti's... it looked identical.. To Q me off that it really was the same, I think there was a "Chicago style deep dish" sign in their window...

Not sure if it tastes the same, didn't try it. ...as far as why they're in arizona... I assumed it was because a lot of people move from Chicago to that area to retire. The two web sites... it could be that one is the real deal family ran operation (though too many locations for that maybe...), and the other a franchise. who knows.

As far as consistancy of Rosati's within Chicago... Glad you asked.. ...Rosati's makes one of my favorite deep dish and/or stuffed pizzas in Chicago. I used to live by the one in Uptown on broadway, and would regularly indulge. When I moved to River North, I was glad to hear one was opening (this was 2 years ago) on Grand/Lasalle. I immediatly tried it. It was nowhere NEAR the same.

One of my favorite parts of the one in uptown was the sauce... I think it has nutmeg or something in it. The one on grand didn't taste close to the same. I asked the one on grand about their sauce, they insisted they had never heard of anything nutmeggy in rosati's sauce and didn't know what I was talking about.

Another interesting difference was the "stuffed" versus "deep dish" thing. The one on Grand seems to have both. I don't remember the one in Uptown making such a distinction, so I really can't remember which it was. I tried both at the grand ave location, but neither "worked" for me. I tried it 3 times before giving up hope....

if one of those two web sites indicates the store is a franchise (the myrosatis.com one, perhaps), both the uptown and grand locations are on the myrosatis.com site...

We have a Rosati's in Addison. Addison is pizza heaven (or hell, depending on where you order) and I've not had Rosati's in some time because we have much better options. They used to be very good with a nice spicy tomato sauce on the thin crust, but then it changed and got very thick and sweet. Addison has a pizza contest every summer and I don't think they even bother entering.

The closest Rosati's to us is the on on Route 60 in Vernon Hills, and we think their pizza is consistently great.

Then again ...

We ordered pizza the other night from the Rosati's on 60 in Vernon Hills, and it was the first time I didn't like it. The sauce was different. It seemed like the marinara sauce that typically comes with cheese sticks, not the usual Rosati's pizza sauce.

Should I call the manager and ask what's up with that?

rosie wrote:We have a Rosati's in Addison. Addison is pizza heaven (or hell, depending on where you order) and I've not had Rosati's in some time because we have much better options. They used to be very good with a nice spicy tomato sauce on the thin crust, but then it changed and got very thick and sweet. Addison has a pizza contest every summer and I don't think they even bother entering.

Addison IS pizza heaven..i miss living there..used to alternate between Johns and Uncle Pete's

The Rosati's in Hampshire and Lakemoor are owned by the same people and are both AMAZING....!!!

The two different websites will tell you that there are actually two different Rosati's organizations.

The restaurants on rosatispizza.com use a higher quality cheese then the other ones. From a food stand point that is the main difference. They have also been more strict in their franchising and expansion moves. Generally 99% of the time run better restaurants.

I'm biased in the fact that I've been a long time friend of the side of the family of the restaurants on rosatispizza.com (and also ran a different concept for them for a year). I've also have had both and know the quality of the ingredients ordered and there is no comparison.

I've had some Rosati's pizza that will beat anything in the city I've ever had (including Pequods).

pizano345 wrote:I'm biased in the fact that I've been a long time friend of the side of the family of the restaurants on rosatispizza.com (and also ran a different concept for them for a year). I've also have had both and know the quality of the ingredients ordered and there is no comparison.

We appreciate your being up front about your association and biases.

Regards,

pizano345 wrote:The two different websites will tell you that there are actually two different Rosati's organizations.

The restaurants on rosatispizza.com use a higher quality cheese then the other ones. From a food stand point that is the main difference. They have also been more strict in their franchising and expansion moves. Generally 99% of the time run better restaurants.

I'm biased in the fact that I've been a long time friend of the side of the family of the restaurants on rosatispizza.com (and also ran a different concept for them for a year). I've also have had both and know the quality of the ingredients ordered and there is no comparison.

I've had some Rosati's pizza that will beat anything in the city I've ever had (including Pequods).

Yes, thanks for setting the record straight. Interesting that at least 2 of the Illinois locations (Woodridge and Tinley Park) are listed on both websites!

We've been ordering from the Rosati's on Roosevelt Road in Lombard for nearly 30 years. They offer thin, regular, double-dough & pan. We especially like the thin (we acually order it extra thin) or the pan. Their ingredients are fresh and plentiful. It's a carry-out or delivery shop and deliveries are always in a timely manner and arrive hot out of the box! Seems as if they have a very low turnover of employees and they truly seem to care about their customers. You don't find this too often in the pizza business these days!

pizano345 wrote: The restaurants on rosatispizza.com use a higher quality cheese then the other ones. From a food stand point that is the main difference. They have also been more strict in their franchising and expansion moves. Generally 99% of the time run better restaurants.

Thanks for the info - that explains why the one in Barrington doesn't taste good but doesn't explain why the Schaumburg one is not so good either - is it because the buffets just aren't good?

All I know is that I've had the exact same thing happen. I've greatly enjoyed Rosatti's for years...I move to Arizona and BAM! there it is. It made my week better.

I work in woodridge and we often order from...

Rosati's of Darien
8137 S Cass Ave, Darien
(630) 960-2520

... and while not on the website they do list rosatispizza.com on the menu.

We have lunch delivered about once a month and they are consistantly good.

Once of my favorites is the...

Pizza Valentino
Sausage, sliced italian beef, tomato, onion and hot giardiniera.