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Bongiorno's Italian Deli & Pizzeria
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Delis Restaurants Italian Pizza, Delis, Italian [Edit]
405 N Wabash Ave(between Kinzie St & Hubbard St)
Chicago, IL 60611
Neighbourhood: Near North Side
(312) 755-1255
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand-red (Red Line)
State/lake (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Lake (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
Jonathan T. said: "I still haven't been here for dinner, but it's my favorite brunch in the city. The food is great and for $20 you get an entree with bottomless mimosas, bellinis and kir royales. The service is excellent and they never rush you out of…" read more »
27 reviews for Bongiorno's Italian Deli & Pizzeria
27 reviews in English
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Review from Ted K.
Oak Park, IL
1/16/2012 1 photo
I'm sitting in Bongiorno's now, half-way through my sandwich and I had to write this review because I couldn't give them
5 stars fast enough.
I am on my quest: "Eating Streeterville" and I was in the mood for something fresh so I picked this deli. Boy am I glad I did! A quick look at the menu and I knew that the Stuzzicoso sandwich was for me: fresh baked roll with a crunchy crust, fresh flavorful tomato, arugula and tomato, and an excellent prosciutto.... Devine! It's truly one of those foods that is exactly what it should be.
The staff is very friendly and brings your food out to you. The pizza smells heavenly and if I weren't (trying to) watch my figure I'd dive into the gellato.
I'm not just coming back here: I'm excited to share this lucky find with anyone who will join me! -
Review from Anne D.
5/11/2012
I am so pleased that this place replaced Pie Guys! One of my very favorite things to do during nice weather is to eat my lunch by the river right near this place (what is this little plaza called? I usually just say "behind Trump Tower.") I've come to Bongiorno's a couple of times to grab a salad - the Saporita is delicious with its goat cheese, mushrooms, and roasted peppers.
To celebrate the return of spring weather, I decided to finally try a pizza from here and sit by the river to enjoy it. I have to point out that this place is pretty disorganized - they don't seem to have plastic silverware for to-go orders and sometimes don't have lids for their drinks. I think that perhaps they just don't have their ordering down pat yet since they are still pretty new. The restaurant is small, so it can be pretty chaotic between people waiting in line to order and people waiting for their number to be called. I got the $5.50 personal size cheese pizza so I figured it would be a pretty simple order, but I waited for a looooong time for my pizza to be ready. They had a bunch of pizzas sitting out on a heater, but they were all sausage and pepperoni. I though that it was good that there was no cheese sitting out because mine would be fresh! Yes and no...it was indeed fresh, but it was so hot that when they took it out of the oven, the cheese started sliding off all over the place before they were even able to cut it! I finally got to a bench and was about to dig in, only to realize that the cheese was so messy that it was going to be really difficult to eat with my hands (remember, no plastic silverware to be found.) It's Italian-style super thin crust, so it's a little messy to begin with. I managed to fold each piece NYC-style and somehow not get sauce and cheese all over me. Victory!
Despite the various little issues, the pizza and salad here are amazing, and their other dishes look great. I'm hoping that they can work out some of the ordering and timing problems, and perhaps I'll just start coming at off-peak times to avoid the crowds. This place is definitely going to be a go-to lunch spot for me, especially during the summer. What a wonderful addition to River North! -
Review from Arlene A.
5/3/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Depending on how much/little time you have Bongiorno's can get the job done.
They have a small selection of personal sized (10") already made, so all you do is order and it's boxed up and you're done. Although there are times when there is a substantial lag in gettting the pizza in the oven :-( However, the pizza itself is quite tasty. The crust had a good chew and almost had a nyc foldable quality to it. The sauce was fresh and they were generous with additional toppings (pepperoni for myself, thanks). The pasta, while tasty isn't the quickest meal in the world. My ravioli with vodka sauce was very nicely done, but takes a little bit longer, so save it for a lazy afternoon. -
Review from Sylvia G.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2012
I had the vegetarian sandwich. It was mixed roasted vegetables with pesto sauce and melted mozzarella and like a bucket of olive oil. Don't get me wrong. I love me some good olive oil and good bread but this sandwich was SOAKED and dripping with oil. I couldn't even eat the vegetables with so much oil on them which is a real shame because my first couple of bites of the sandwich were great! The bread is wonderful (I wonder if they bake it themselves?). The eggplant pieces were so tasty (but slathered in oil). I'm definitely going again and trying something else.
I saw a few salads coming out to other guests and they looked really good. I also want to try every flavor of gelato!!
Not too expensive. I think it was less than $10 for soda and sandwich. -
Review from Jen S.
Chicago, IL
5/11/2012
Great Pizzas for an office party! Delivery timely made to Loop during lunch hour.
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Review from Andrew A.
Chicago, IL
4/30/2012
I work in the area and have found this place to be my go-to lunch spot. The food is spectacular and the owners are delightful. It is one of the most authentic italian eateries that I have found in Chicago. A must go.
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Review from Meghan M.
Charlotte, NC
4/26/2012
Just got back from Bongiorno's and had to write a review due to the huge smile on my face the whole way home. I didn't know about this place, but someone recommended it to my fiance, and I'm so glad. I guarantee this will be one of our new staples. We each had the melanzane parmigiana sandwich, which is baked eggplant parmesan, and it was perfect. After that, I could NOT resist the gelato, as it looked so incredibly delicious (it was). I felt like I was back in italy with the stracciatella gelato. This restaurant is a laid back ambiance (think pizzeria), but it also serves wine (along with sandwiches, pizza, pasta, etc). Try it out!
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Review from D. B.
Chicago, IL
4/18/2012
My girlfriend and I love this place. I spent a good amount of time in Rome and fell in love with the pizza there. Since then I have been looking for a place with pizza that is similar to what they have in Italy. I found a couple at best, Spacca Napoli (on the other side of the city), and this place. The pizza is awesome. Great selection of types, toppings, and they deliver! Unless you wanted Chicago style pizza, there really wasn't any good places that deliver around the River North/Near North until these guys came around. You're paying an extra buck or two then you would at your typical pizza joint, but you're getting far more in quality. I would reccomend this place to anyone looking to get an authentic Italian style pizza in Chicago.
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Review from Lori G.
Morton Grove, IL
4/12/2012
After reading some of the previous reviews I wasn't sure what to expect, but since it is across the street from my office and was featured on channel 7s Hungry Hound, I decided to try it.
All I ordered was a personal size plain cheese pizza for $5.50. It was very good and had more cheese than I needed, but my mother would have loved it. For those who complained that the slices were too soggy, they no longer seem to offer slices, perhaps in response to the complaints. Now the 10 inch personal pizza stands in for a slice and there is nothing soggy about it! It has a firm, chewy crust that undoubtedly can hold all the toppings a person could want. The personal size comes in four varieties, including cheese, sausage, pepperoni and veggie.
The tables and chairs look much more comfortable than they were at the previous place in the same location. The owners sound old world Italian, which I found rather pleasing. Who doesn't want Italian food from real Italians?
I think the only complaint I might have is that it seems a bit disorganized. If I was given a receipt I apparently lost it immediately. This could pose a problem because from what I could gather your number is on the receipt so if you don't know your number, it can be difficult knowing when your food is ready. You order and pay at the counter then when it's ready they call your number and someone brings it to you.
There were cookies to sample and when a new patron asked what I consider to be a ridiculous number of questions as the line grew longer, she was treated with patience and kindness.
Finally, the gelato looked fabulous and on a nice warm day I will definitely try some. -
Review from Gena T.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2012
I can't believe I just found this place! I have walked by many times, and work a few blocks away. I had the eggplant rollatini, which was as good as anything I have ever had anywhere. The personal pizzas looked delicious. I will definitely be going back. Also extremely reasonably priced especially for this part of town. Lots of folks eating there from nearby offices. It is in a great location just off Michigan Avenue, and Wabash, tucked behind the Trump Tower near the river.
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Review from Faith H.
Chicago, IL
3/10/2012
I live in the building and decided to give Bongiorno's a try when my friend came over the other night. We ordered the Tarfuto pizza (mozzarella, mushrooms, truffle oil) and went downstairs to pick it up. When we got there, our order got lost because there was a change in shift. It was a little annoying at first -- but they more than made up for it by upgrading our pizza to a larger size and given us free gelato! The pizza and gelato were both super tasty and the staff is super friendly. Way better than Pie Guys, which used to occupy the space. I'll definitely be back!
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Review from Kyle P.
Chicago, IL
3/5/2012
great bread......good size but needed more seasoning or flavor or something....think I would have gotten some hot peppers or more salt and pepper at least in the sauce. I had half of the chicken parm which was better but still could use some more seasoning
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Review from Joe W.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2012
Love this place! We've ordered twice now for delivery, and both times, their phone guy was great to deal with. Any question I had for him, he took the time to give me a full answer, not just rushing me to order.
The delivery? I don't think I had put down the phone before the doorman was calling me to tell me my food had arrived. Delivery guy was great to deal with.
Does any of that matter if the food isn't tasty and as advertised? Honestly, no. Lucky for us, the food is fantastic. The pizzas, red or white, are great. Crispy/chewy crust, not too loaded up with toppings, and flavorful. The potato and rosemary pie was just like we had in Rome.
Pastas are excellent. A lot of times when you get delivery pasta, it ends up sitting in a pool of water because they don't drain it and sauce it properly. Not here. Perfect both times. And the gnocchi in pesto! You'll want to hoard these.
The best part was dessert. We got an order of cannoli. Bite into it expecting a soggy shell from it sitting around all day. Nope. Crispy shell like someone had filled them to order. I could be wrong, but then again, I wasn't there to watch.
You can also order online from grubhub, but why not call the store and get to know the people making your food? -
Review from John C.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
Only tried their slice pizza. I thought I was going to Pie Guys, and was about to walk out until I saw some familiar faces behind the counter. I decided to give it a try and ordered a slice of the veggie pizza.
The crust was decent, but everything else just made me gag a little in my mouth. The slice is big, and wish they cut it in half like Pie Guys used to. All the toppings quickly came to gather at the middle of the slice and the cheese was barely holding things together. While eating it the toppings just fell off the slice since the only way to eat it is to fold it.
I do not even want to try their other food there, as they disappointed with the pizza.
Please do not go here, they need to run out of business so a real pizza place opens. -
Review from Steve B.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2012
Great pizza place. I live in the building and have seen this location rotate owners pretty frequently over the past few years - mostly due to overpriced mediocre pizza. Bongiorno's pizza is great if you are looking for thin crust. I wouldn't call it new york style, buts its definitely a classic italian spin on NY pizza. Great chewy crust, well prepared, and big slices (2 slices = half a pizza).
I haven't tried their deli meats or other food, but this is my new go to for thin crust in the area. Owners are also very nice - and it seems like the whole staff speaks Italian to each other, which cant be bad thing at an italian deli. -
Review from Giuseppe S.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2012
I have eaten here about ten times and I will be back soon for more pizza. Coffee and gelato for dessert was awesome. The only thing that could have made it better is if I was in Italy. Not their fault. Mille Grazie. Ciao
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Review from Karl K.
Oswego, IL
1/17/2012
As others have noted, the pizza pales in comparison to Pie Guys who previously occupied this space. They give you a full quarter of a pizza and do not cut it, so it is difficult to eat. The sauce is sparse and has a bright red color that tells you before your first bite how flavorless it will be. The outer half of the crust was dry and tough, and had a cardboardy texture. I couldn't even bite through it - I had to tear it with my teeth. The inner half of my slice was actually soggy - not just floppy but soggy (like wet cardboard, I guess). Very disappointing.
I haven't tried the other food, and at this point I most likely won't. If you do go in, stay away from the pizza. -
Review from Shels R.
Chicago, IL
2/11/2012
I live in the building and can promise anyone who tried the pizza slices in the first few weeks after they opened and was disappointed by them - please try again. This place is amazing and a true italian pizzeria and deli.
They've stopped making the small slices, as the genuine italian-style thin pizza base they use is different from the thicker Chicago-style crust Pie Guys used, and was unsuited to the type of oven in the restaurant. So yes, the base was drying out. But they noticed, listened to their customers, and are worth another try,
They now make small personal-sized pizza (10") for just $5.00-6.50 dollars. The base is light, crispy, and fluffy at the edges - and the ingredients are top quality and plentiful. They're about the same size, or bigger, than the old slices and are cut into 4 pieces so the ingredients don't all gather in the middle. Yes they make a very different type of pizza to Pie Guys' terrific Chicago pizzas - but these are truly superb genuine italian-NY style.
The larger pizzas are equally as good, with real antipasti-style marinated toppings. Their pastas are nicely al dente and not soft and sloppy like other pizza-place pasta dishes, and their sandwiches are huge, with entire breasts of breaded chicken (milanese or parmesana), or piles of fresh bufala mozzarella and proscuitto/italian meats, sandwiched inside a fresh, crunchy bread roll. Tomatoes are ripe, fresh and the rocket is perfectly crisp and mildly spicy.
BonGiornos has genuine italian food and the owners have spent the first few months listening and adapting to get it just right. They've really done a great job. Scores of us of who live in the building wouldn't now keep coming here if they hadn't... -
Review from Astral R.
Chicago, IL
12/21/2011
I ordered a slice of pizza from this place and it sucked. I actually ended up there by mistake. I had intentions on going to Pie Guys, but apparently they closed down and Bongiorno's recently opened up in the same location. The pizza was luke warm and the crust was burned from them reheating it in the oven. I was so disappointed. That's $5 down the drain!!!! :(
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Review from Parker R.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
If you want rich, authentic Italian food in a convenient location, this is your place. I have had the Parmesan Chicken, the Lasagna and now the Gnocchi with Pesto and would rate as follows: Chicken Parmesan: 5 Stars (two large pieces of chicken with a great sauce and tons of melted cheese); Lasagna: 4 stars (good lasagna with a lot of flavor but it wasn't as warm as I would have liked and I thought that it lacked what I am accustomed to with the amount of Ricotta cheese); and the Gnocchi with Pesto: 5 Stars (SUPER RICH Pesto, like I had in Cinque Terre! This was my favorite dish. Large Gnocchi covered in an incredibly thick and well balanced pesto). I really like this place and although it is a bit on the expensive side (for a take out place) I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting an authentic Italian meal. Definitely a go to place for me as my favorite food is Italian.
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Review from Barry S.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2012
I was downtown last week. I cut through the spot by the wrigley building to get to wabash. I spotted this Italian mom and pop type place. I was hungry so I went in. On display was a potato pizza. It looked interesting, but the thought of potato pizza didn't appeal to me. I asked if I could try it . I could not believe how good it was. The potato was seasoned perfectly and the pizza has to be the best thin crust in the city. Out of curiosity I asked how long they've been open. They said about a month. I really believe you'll be hearing about this place. If you're like me and like thin pizza this place is a must.
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Review from Adam C.
2/15/2012
When you walk into Bongiorno's, you immediately get the vibe that this place ain't kidding around. This is an Italian family using Italian ingredients to make Italian recipes that have probably been in their family for generations. It's not a large, fancy restaurant, but more of a casual lunch destination. Everyone who works there, from the cooks to the cashiers to the wait staff is just incredibly friendly and eager to please. I saw so many things on the menu that I wanted to try, from the many pizza varieties, to their pastas and sandwiches, it was a very tough choice to make. I ended up choosing the Chicken Parmigiana sandwich. They made this sandwich by hand, covered it with sauce and cheese and placed it in the brick oven. It came out toasted, with gooey melted cheese throughout. The chicken was slightly chewy for my tastes, but the flavor was excellent. As I sat there, I saw many people ordering the pizza and loving it. I can't wait to go back and try a pie next time.
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Review from Amber D.
Chicago, IL
3/8/2012
The Best New York Style Pizza out there!! Best Pizza anywhere for that matter. The owners are actually from Italy and lived in Brooklyn. Very authentic food and the prices are great for what you get. $5.50 for a 10 inch pizza!
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Review from Jocelyn H.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2012
Had a delivery of margherita pizza and it was amazing- just as it is in Italy! Thin crust with crunchy outside, chewy inside. Plum tomato sauce with chunks of buffalo mozzarella and whole leaves of basil! Like Spacca Napoli but closer to downtown! Also delivered 15 minutes ahead of schedule. Will be back!
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Review from Jessica G.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2012
I don't normally write reviews but I feel compelled because I found this place when looking up Pie Guys (I ordered from them before for a staff lunch). I was planning to order again from Pie Guys but was redirected to the Bongiorno's site. So, I have to share that our staff just inhaled four pizzas (can't recall all the Italian names but each was delicious - the Silvio was the best). There were no scraps. Not even crust. This pizza is crazy amazing. It reminds me of Spacca Napoli in the Ravenswood area. It's REALLY Italian pizza made with fresh ingredients.
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Review from Jana W.
Chicago, IL
2/14/2012
I did not like the food from this location when it was owned by...I don't even remember what it used to be called, but I was craving pizza so went anyway, I didn't realize it was a NEW pizza place. I tried the calzone, my friend had the mini-pizza (they don't sell pizza by the slice btw) and both were SO GOOD and not expensive. I'm originally from NY, and their food comes darn close to a lot of pizza joints where I'm from. I am so excited to have discovered this gem and will definitely be adding this to my lunch rotation!
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Review from June P.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2012
I used to go to Pie Guys for lunch with my coworkers pretty regularly. Pie Guys went out of business and is now replaced Bongiorno's. They have pizzas, pastas, antipastas, and sandwiches. For $5.50, I ordered a 10" thin crush sausage. Everything else on their menu was closer to $10. By the end of the meal, my jaw was sore from chewing the crust. I a fan of Pie Guys' pizza, but this was worse. The meal was not very filling so I had to stop by McD's afterwards. I'm not sure I'd be up for coming back to try their other offerings after my first experience. The employees were nice. The decor has gotten worse from the state of the previous owners. Overall, the whole place is rather "blah".
