A colleague and I have been coming here for roughly two years for pizza and margaritas. Unfortunately during our last visit a few weeks ago we learned that the margarita special is no more. The pizza, of which we would usually get the thin crust with Gino's special or spinach toppings, has always been fairly average - the toppings seemed to be fresh and good quality but the crust never really grew on me. That said, I'm not sure if we'll return but the margarita special would definitely make that decision a lot easier! read more

This is another neat little hole-in-the-wall bar in Edgewater. In fact, this is sort of THE hole-in-the-wall bar, as the distinct lack of exterior decor (a plain sign reading Gino's North, bars over the windows) belies the mid-twentieth century charm inside. As has been said by the other reviewers, the bar takes up half the space (the other half being filled with small intimate booths), and what a bar it is! I'm not entirely sure how to describe the behind-the-bar area, but there are a lot of mirrors and a statue. Drink prices are typically cheap, as they are for an off-the-beaten-path Edgewater bar; Old Style is $2, and comes to you with a bottle and 8 oz. glass. The bartenders are old folk and friendly; they'll often give you a second whether you asked for it or not, so if you don't want more than one, you need to be quick to decline. It's also cash-only, so be advised; going to the 'L' stop and paying ATM fees is a drag. read more

We had a very bad first experience at Ginos. We walked in and there were 2 other patrons there, one was eating and the other person was at the bar. Sat at the bar with the intention of eating and drinking. It took almost 5 minutes for the waitress/bartender (I believe her name was Bess) to come out and recognize us to take our drink order. I saw many bottles of wine, so I asked for a wine list. She stated we have all of the usual flavors. I asked for a Montepulciano, and they did not have a very basic Italian wine in my book, I switched to a Manhattan. I then asked what size of a pizza she would recommend for 2 people. We had a quick and sharp response of I don't know, it depends how hungry you are. Fair enough, my next question was how many slices are in one of the slices.....I don't know as they are cut in squares. At this point I felt she was really put out by very basic question. Fair enough I gave her professional feedback on her unfriendly approach and she apologized, but then wanted to talk small talk. I requested the check and we left without eating. We went to Antica in Andersonville and had fabulous food with great service. Sounds like from the other reviews on this place validates my experience. Time for Bess to find her happy place. read more

Love this place. Peggy makes the best pizza in the city. We've also enjoyed the antipasti salad and the sandwiches; all delicious, especially on garlic bread. When you get the right server/bartender, the experience is fantastic. Get the wrong ones, and you'll still enjoy it, but it will take a while longer to get drinks and food. Enjoy the old school charm and amazing pizza - these things take time. read more

Haha, I accidentally left a one-star review for the wrong pizza place (across the street). This place rawks. Old school food, old school service, and really cheap sammys. read more

Go here to experience some original Chicago pizza. Both the deep dish and thin crust represent some of the best in Chicagoland. Drinks and foods prices are reasonably priced. The service is decent and atmosphere dark, but warm. I almost passed by the place, tucked almost under the Granville El stop. I don't recommend going here with a big group, as the rounded booths cater better to small groups (4-5). Any bigger, and you'll have to split up between tables. read more

I've always been a fan of Gino's and prefer it over Giordano's. My daugher was in town and stayed near here - so we popped in the first night since it was convenient. I wanted to take her and her boyfriend from France to Lou Malnati's - but this was more convenient, so we settled on it instead. It is literally downstairs from the Granville stop on the Red Line, so quite convenient to transport. Also, the Sheridan 147 bus runs around there, as well as others. The place is VERY tiny. Therefore, I cannot even imagine going there on a weekend. It must be a madhouse. We went on a Wednesday night and the place still seemed full. It took around an hour for the pie to get done, but it was worth it and a hit with our French visitor, who had never had Chicago deep dish before. The waiter was pleasant, service nice and intimate. Great for a neighborhood place that still has a stellar pizza pie reputation -- and seems to live up to it. read more

Went here on a Sunday night around 7pm for pizza. There was only one bar tender working and he was slammed. There are only 5 tables and about 15 seats at the bar. All of the seats in the place were full and there was no waitress. We waited a while for our drinks (30 minutes) and 1 hour for our pizza. The food was delicious and it was worth the wait. Tips: 1. Do not go here with more than 4 people, as the booths can't fit more than 4. Actually it was cramped with 3 people. 2. Do not go here if you are starving, want your food fast, and are ordering a deep dish pizza. read more

When this place is described as being small, you better take that into consideration. Take your typical neighborhood bar size (1 storefront width x the length of the bar on one side) now put 5 booths on the other side. I foolishly went here with six people. Anyway, 3 at the bar and 3 in a booth... and I have to give props for the staff doing their best to occomodate us. FOOD: Didn't want to wait the hour for the deep dish so we got regular crust. Also take note that it is Lent so we got a veggie. These two aspects made the pizza just ok, but I know I din't give the proper room to judge. My friend got pizza bread which was 5 stars in itself. I will most likely do carry out in the near future. I can tell the deep dish will be awesome. DRINK: No taps. Major bummer. Stuck to bottles. They had quite a few bottles to choose from. Then a shot of Whiskey and we left. No Sailor Jerry ATMOSPHERE: This place was extremely friendly. Had the Black Hawks game on and they lost, boo. If you look at the old fountain behind the bar it resembles the Rainbow Club on Division or maybe even the front area of the Green Mill. Dim light which was relaxing. Juke box didn't come on until we left, but they had one of those computer ones where you can download any song. In all, it was a good experience. Great staff. I wont go back with more than 3-4 people. I will be getting some take out soon. read more

We went here after a day at the Gold Coast Arts Festival and I could not have asked for a better end of day meal. Wade was working that day and the amazing Peggy was in the kitchen. Wade prepared us some Delicious margarita's in pint glasses, not too sweet and very refreshing. The antipasto appetizer was fresh, huge and delicious, perfect for three people to split. We also ordered our favorite pizza, the thin crust with extra garlic and sausage. The definitely understand the concept of extra garlic, I do not have to worry about vampires for a few days. The sausage is fresh, and the crust is thin but VERY crisp and crunchy. Overall an amazing find right by the (currently being renovated but soon to be completed) Granville station on the red line. The only drawback used to be that this was a cash only joint, but they now accept credit cards. They have daily drink specials and the people are fantastic. A perfect local pizza joint with the best pizza in the area. read more

Gino's North is the kind of hole-in-the-wall place that helps make city living so enjoyable. Their pizza is great, service is friendly as long as you're not a jerk, and the decor, oh, the decor is SO unexpected. Think Roaring 20s, except in a single-lot-width storefront. If I lived closer, I'd be there very often. read more

Simply put, it's a solid pizza. The food prices are fair, and you almost can't beat the drink prices as well. The crust is flakey, the cheese is not too salty, and there are just enough toppings. The cheesy garlic bread had a nice flakey texture, and the right amount of cheese. Do not expect to get super quick service, since the bartender is the only front of house staff, but the bartender was friendly and gave good service. Just a good, solid neighborhood bar and pizza place. read more

It's simple, really. Gino's North is just not worth the wait for deep dish. We just moved to Edgewater, and I was excited to try this place. On a Saturday night, it was actually pretty calm, so I was eager to get a booth before it potentially filled up. The menu is not ornate, but this is by no means a complaint. I liked the simplicity of it (See my review of a pizza place in Evanston whose menu was out of control long). The service, for a hole in the wall joint, was actually pretty decent. My main concern was the pizza we ordered. In an effort to order the crown jewel of the place, we decided on the Gino's Special (sausage, mushroom, peppers, onions)--it seemed like a great combination. Our server informed us it would take about 40-45 minutes. No big deal, we expected it, so we ordered the antipasto salad to start. The salad was great! Italian meats, cheeses, greens, artichokes, etc. The combination worked well and it was priced reasonably. However, after more than 45 minutes, our pizza finally came. I was disappointed with it. There was too much cheese and not enough saue. The crust was not good, in my opinion. I like a real flaky doughy crust. This one was thin and bland. I'm not really sure what they were going for, but it really didn't work. Had I based this experience solely on the pizza, I would have given this place one start. However, the antipasto salad was great, and the rest of the menu seemed to offer some hearty Italian fare. Perhaps I'll go back and update this review, but for now I'm leaving it as is. read more

To sum it up: solid pizza, slow service... Their pizza is really good. If you get the thin crust, then minimize your toppings, or else it can get soggy though. This place can get very crowded and they rarely have more than 1 guy working the bar and the tables, so if it is crowded expect and overwhelmed and slow staff. Hard to blame the guy though as he has so many orders he is responsible for. read more

If you're willing to put up with inept waiters and stay for the pizza, you'll love this place. it hasn't always been this way and what's happening here saddens me because Gino's used to be a top-notch joint. Saturday night. Ten o'clock at night. Three people working front of house - bartender and two waiters. Yes it was crowded, but it's a small place, maybe 800 square feet at the most. The staff is constantly tripping over themselves not because it's crowded but because none of them seem to know who is doing what. It's not the first time I've been there and it's been like this and each time I go back (because I love the pizza) I think they'll have figured it out. They haven't. If it is crowded there will be a wait for the food because the kitchen is small. But somehow Peggy makes it work and the pizza is worth the wait. Take out is an option if you call ahead, though part of the fun of Gino's is the space. It is neighborhood joint with a cast of characters that's almost always at the bar. read more

Arrived hungry around 915pm after a long day of driving! Ordered the garlic bread-- amazing!! Very buttery and has a real garlic taste. Ordered the Chicago style Ginos special with pepperoni, very yummy as well! Def rec'd getting an app cause the pizza takes about 50-55 min to bake. Two tvs to watch while you wait. Ordered a ten inch pizza for two people... And had a slice leftover to bring home. read more

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The interior of the place is very cozy and inviting. (and that has nothing to do with the people running it; the place is an antique inside) But beyond the atmosphere, there's not much value. The people giving the pizza high ratings must like crust that is made from Bisquick and generally low quality ingredients. I could go on, but there's not much good to eat or drink there, just atmosphere. Now speaking of the interior, it is all vintage original stuff. The space is actually owned by the CITY and when new lessees have come in, like the most recent one of a few years ago, they got to have all of the original interior which likely dates back to the 1930's. As a matter of course, the city regularly puts their rental properties up for bid and allows the public to come in to view, make a bid, etc... (all via an outside agent) Recently that was the case again with this space. I was told by a direct outside bidder (a close friend) that when he went in to bid on the place, the current lessee actually had a FIT and said that if anyone else won the bid that he'd go nuts are rip out all of the antique interior, the bar, the booths, etc... Keep in mind, the CITY owns that interior and "new" lessees have had the privilege of operating their business within that cozy antiquity. It is disgusting to think that legitimate bidders would have to put up with the threats of a psychopath, one that would destroy a little piece of history all for their own greed. read more

Cute little happenin' pizza bar on the edge of Roger's Park and Edgewater. From the outside, it looks so run down that it's easy to be intimidated to go in. Inside, you're greeted by a vibrant man/owner/bartender and feel right at home. On one TV: the Cubs game (I'm learning to love them coming from California); on the other TV: the TV guide channel (odd?). I was lured in with daily drink specials. I had a long day of work and just wanted a cheap drink to take some edge off. Yesterday (Wednesday) was $3 Margarita night -- typically not my drink, but what the hell. I order one (you can choose salted or unsalted rim on the martini glass) and the bartender pours me a strong glass, probably picking up that I was there to do my business. I take that as a friendly gesture and decide to order a Cocktail Pizza ($5), which is dine-in only. I talk to one of the other patrons sitting at the bar and he welcomes me to Chicago and tells me he's been coming here a while and that everyone there is genuinely nice; if they're anything like him, I believe him. My food came out, and unfortunately for me, the quality of the Cocktail Pizza is somewhere between an awesome Bagel Bite and a cheap slice of pizza at the Airport. At least the portion wasn't bad for $5 -- it did manage to satisfy my hunger at the time. I made out with a strong cocktail and a filling meal for $10 after tax and tip, which is hard to do (I find) in Chicago. I wasn't too happy with the food, but I'm sure it's the product of me not ordering one of their 'real' pizzas. If I'm ever in the area again, I'll be sure to drop by again for a drink a deep-dish. read more

After pondering where to meet up, a friend suggested Gino's North, which turned out to be an outstanding suggestion. It is located steps away from the Granville Red Line stop. Not only does the ambiance and decor have a "Scarface or Sopranos" movie feel, but there was a jukebox with an amazing array of old school selections. The service was great and the other customers were friendly as well :). The pizza has to be the best pizza I have had since my move to Chicago! Good Food + Good Company + Good Music = A wonderful Night! read more

Cozy neighborhood place, good pizza and strong drinks. The lady that makes the pizza is an 80 something year old lady that makes killer Hawaiian pizzas! read more

It was just OK. When I first walked in the door, no one greeted me or told me where I could sit. Another customer had to tell me that I could sit anywhere and then it took the waiter 20 minutes to actually come over and give us water. The food itself took AT LEAST an hour to get to our table and it was just OK. It wasn't even hot. The staff was nice but they were not efficient. read more

Stepping into Gino's North is like stepping onto the set of Goodfellas. We live in the neighborhood and love to stop in for pizza or just a beer at the bar. The thin crust is flakey and buttery beyond belief and the deep dish and just more of the same with more gooey cheese and toppings. Be ready to wait if you order the deep dish - it can be over an hour for a pie. But there are always drink specials and descent appetizers to keep you happy while you wait. The pizza is the real draw here and well worth the wait. Not a great place for a bigger group or someone in a hurry - but if you have the time to relax and enjoy a brew while you wait, this is the place for you. read more

Stopped in again for a pick-up order. Grabbed a couple of their $3 drink specials and got mystery shots on the house from a very engaging bartender while we waited for the pizza to come up. The thin crust was just as good and crunchy as ever, with that classic Gino's North almost orange crust and heavenly toppings. We got a pepperoni and black olive - no skimpy toppings here!! Awesome update - they take credit cards now. read more

Crust tasted frozen. Looking for a go-to pizza place in our new neighborhood and this is not it :-/

Great food and ambiance, as ever. The deep dish has a great flaky crust and everything is very reasonably priced. Had the Italian beef this time, and it was not the soggy mess I'm used to getting. Tasty. The renovated facade is much more inviting from the street. read more

Haven't eaten here yet but I will because they were so helpful. My car had over heated & was parked in front of this establishment. I felt stranded and the bar tender walked out with a pitcher of water! THERE ARE STILL GOOD HUMANS ON THIS EARTH!!! read more

The service was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. However, the most important part of any restaurant is the food and that is where this place failed. We ordered a pizza because this is a pizza joint and were very disappointed to say the least. The tasteless sauce was a total pie ruiner. I had to add loads or red pepper, Parmesan, salt and black pepper to give this a taste that I could finally handle. There are so many great pizza options in this city, you can do better. read more

Great old Deco room with lots of fun details. Excellent basic Italian in a supper club bar atmosphere. Love it read more

Gino's super secretly has both the best thing crust pizza and best deep dish pizza in town, bar none. With $2.50 drink specials every night, the murmur of of the Granville Red Line station in the background, and the most laid back atmosphere you can find there's really nothing you can say bad about Gino's North. Unless you are fancy and dislike dive bars, in which case the charm this place is wasted on you. read more

Best thin crust pizza in Edgewater IMHO! Great sauce, homemade crust and super inexpensive! Could eat here every night and be big as a house but it's very tempting! read more

Great neighborhood place! Love the cornmeal crust, perfect thickness not deep dish and not thin it's just right. I recommend calling ahead to order of you're planning to carry out, it will take about 45 minutes to cook. Well worth the wait. read more

It was my second time in Chicago, and a friend of the friend traveling with me happened to live not 2 blocks from Gino's North. I knew some of my friends, visiting at other times, had eaten at Gino's West, so I suggested we give the north branch a shot. It was a Wednesday night. Luckily for us that translates to "Margarita Night" at Gino's North. $2.50 for a nice margarita. No, there is no tap beer, but after a couple 'ritas, who cares? They have Old Style - which is all you really need in Chicago - and a pretty decent selection of other bottled beers. The food itself was perfect. It was my first time with "actual" Chicago deep-dish pizza, and I imagine Gino's is close to the standard: deep but not very bready, crispy crust around the edges, cheese so thick it'll choke you trying to chew it, and a good amount of herbs and toppings. We had two 10" pizzas: One vegetarian, though not the Gino's formula (it was a custom mushroom & spinach), and one Italian sausage. Both were excellent and I wish I would've had room for more! The sausage was not special, but it was plenty tasty and well-distributed. The veggie pizza was also a treat. One thing I will say is that the choice of TV programming was a little sketchy. I would expect to see a game or something on at a pizza/beer restaurant (although maybe they do things differently on 'margarita night'), but instead we got local news, followed by Wheel-of-Fortune, followed by whatever new series ABC was running that night (I think it was called "Better off Ted", co-starring Portia de Rossi of Arrested Development and being-Ellen's-legal-partner fame). But alas, I was there with friends and the choice of television show didn't throw us off at all. Kudos to our waiter, Wade, who was doing it all at the bar and at all 8-ish tables that night. Charismatic, friendly, and with a quick, biting sense of humor, he ensured our night went well. I will recommend Gino's North to all who inquire. read more

I really like this place. The pizza is great. It is made fresh on site. The restaurant is a throw back to the old speak easy supper clubs. The server is friendly and obviously loves her job. The only drawback is it is "cash only". I hardly ever carry cash, but it is worth a trip to the ATM. read more

My absolute favorite place in Chicago for pizza! Apparently, it's been as it is since the 1960s, and it shows. Inside, it's classic (restored), early-mid 20th century, rich (but homey) mahogany and marble...similar to the Green Mill. The kitchen makes the best deep dish I've ever had...the crust has an excellent flavor, flaky and light with a hint of sun-dried tomatoes...the cheese is rich and thick, and the toppings are generous (but limited to what you'd expect at a pizza parlour circa 1960). The thin is quite good too, as are their antipasto salad, their Italian beef and their ravioli...As for the bar, it's friendly with chatty bartenders and good specials. No surprises beer, wine or liquor-wise, though...selection-wise, it's typical for a classic American bar. The only legit complaint I've ever heard about Gino's North (other than, "how could this place have been here since my grandparents were my age, without my knowing about it?") is that it is a smaller restaurant...five booths for parties of four-to-six, depending on your party's girth (if you know what I mean) along a curved bar that might seat 20 (25 in a pinch). But, if the place were any bigger, anyone, even the miracle-working Peggy, the octogenarian chef (and original proprietress), would have difficulty keeping everything real. This isn't your party of eight, party of 12, party of 50 sort of place...but this is, most definitely, the perfect place for two couples or one couple to meet...in fact, it's almost down-right romantic without trying to be so...which well...makes it twice as so... read more

You know how some pizza restaurants smell good on the inside while you're waiting forever for them to cook your thin crust version but the taste doesn't exactly or really match the smell at all????? Well........................... read more

This place gets an extra star just for atmosphere. If you're in the neighborhood and haven't tried it, do! Don't bother with take-out--the pizza is much better when served hot at your table. The bar has some great 20's décor, and the bartenders and waiters all have charmingly ornery personalities. Peggy, the owner, sometimes make an appearance, but is usually "backstage" working on her signature orange-colored crust pizzas. The rest of the menu is hit or miss, but everything is great with a bottle of cheap chianti. There's also a jukebox, so you can impress the barflies with your music choices. Only drawbacks: there are a limited number of tables and it can get crowded, so don't be in a hurry. The booths are small, and fit 4 at the most, so large parties (or very large guests) may not fit. But there's usually seating at the bar. All-in-all a charming neighborhood joint. read more

This place has a solid pizza a little bland for my taste so I always get it with pepperoni. The decor is sort of classy in a 1960s ? kind of way. The bar seems to be all original from back in the day. Lighting is soft and unique. Half local bar half pizza place always good, warm, and friendly. Peggy is the name of the pizza maker and she has been doing it forever. If your looking for a good pizza and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere try this place you will not be disappointed. read more

Visiting the area with my family to celebrate Father's Day. Upon first entrance, I was like holy fuck, the seats are small. Don't come here if your father is a large man. After squeezing into this seat, we waited about 10 minutes until we were greeted. Dude up front was busy watching Jurassic Park or something but it's cool, pretty dope movie. Got some drinks, cheap glasses of wine so that's the biggest plus. Don't ask for water with your drinks because you won't get it. I ordered the margarita pasta with Italian sausage. What came out was margarita pasta. Then, after I acknowledged his error, he went back and cooked me up an Italian sausage log, very rare. Granted, the front man is all by himself, Gino out back doesn't do any help for him. Stay away. read more

Open til 2, arrived at 12:30. Kitchen closed, not entirely unreasonable. But the bartender? Really? If you don't want to work past 12, then don't. If serving drinks is accompanied by a heaping dose of I don't feel like dealing with people, then seek employment elsewhere. read more

Finally made it in here, after living a block away for 5 years! Thank you, fellow Yelpers. What a pleasant experience. Right upon walking in the door the smell of a real pizzeria hit, telling me we were in for a good thing. We came around 5:30 on a Friday night and had our pick of booths. The bartender/server was really friendly and likable, and made us feel really welcome. We decided to try both a thin-crust and a thick-crust. We all liked the thick-crust more, but both were great. Two pizzas plus drinks for three only came to about 45, with tax and tip. By the time we left at about 8 it had really picked up and the server seemed very busy, but he was still pleasant and friendly. How great to find such a gem so close by. Who knew? read more