Paterno's is a great local restaurant & bar! The ominous of the place makes you feel right at home and like the Cheers show, where everybody knows your name. Food is fantastic, staff friendly and professional. The owners of the bar Jo and Kurt are outstanding. read more

The lady in this picture is horrible. She saw us waiting to order a beer and m mumbles something to some guy in front of her and goes right past us. The people in the kitchen and behind the register today super friendly. The bartender I have nothing nice to say I'll just leave it that... read more

Paterno's Pizza - Horrible bartender.... - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sending love to bartenders Tom and Lynette for keeping us sane this year. Angie and the rest of the kitchen staff are awesome. Great pizza. Great everything. Seriously, Paterno's has the best ranch dressing I've ever had, they make it themselves! Wanted to thank Jojo and all y'all for staying open during COVID-19. read more

quite disappointing....many reasons......since covid, their kitchen (even though it's the same people for years) just have not gotten their act together and does not look like it will. ordered a tuna salad, with the tuna steak medium rare which means pink to red in the middle, needless to say, it came out medium well to well done, not a pink spot in it, which if i wanted tuna done like that, i would have gotten a garden salad and threw a can of chicken of the sea on it... very dry, and when you add they mix old lettuce with good lettuce and the cucumbers and tomatoes are far from fresh, it just ruined my to go meal. the pizza slice i ordered was the same, it stunk to high heaven, the piece was folded in the box, the veggies were at least from a few days before--and yes, i know the difference between fresh pizza veggies and ones that hung around a few days...i truly wasted 25 bucks for old food that was overcooked...... another guy in our office ordered a sandwich and pizza earlier in the day, which came out a bit, shall we say, stinky.... the moral is 1. for the prices you increased to (and boy did they increase prices ALOT on food and drinks), and considering Paterno's now sells cut rate low quality food and has done nothing to make the place have some atmosphere to match the pricing, the Paterno family has a lot of nerve serving non fresh items cooked wrongly. I SAY, GO TO BRANDY'S DOWN THE STREET AND EAT AND SEE WHAT A FRESH MEAL IS AND WHAT IT IS MADE OF, and i CAN UNDERSTAND WHY JET'S PIZZA OPENED A BLOCK AWAY AS THEY FIGURE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PATERNOS GOES OUT OF BUSINESS, go UP MILWAUKEE AS THERE ARE A FEW DIVES WITH COMPARABLE ATMOSPHERE THAT CHARGE LESS 2. if you are going to charge market prices for drinks, get some atmosphere in the joint, quit being cheap money grubbing owners and spend a few bucks to improve the atmosphere, you should be ashamed of yourselves for the furniture you have and that back room is pure restaurant horror. 3. Quit nickel and diming everything. everything you ask for is extra, and that 3% credit card charge is really stupid when you increased pricing substantially AND YOU serve substandard food along with not putting money back into the business--i'm not talking about the repairs, the bug man payments, the city licenses, i'm talking about updating, making it appealing essentially make people feel when they come, they are in an inviting space fairly priced...DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT CHARGE JUST A FLAT 3%? BY LAW FOR USING CREDIT CARDS? YOU CAN ONLY CHARGE EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY, AND YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY SALES TAX ON THAT, AND BETWEEN YOU AND I, YOU KNOW IT IS LESS THAN 3%. THE PATERNO FAMILY IS BANGING US FOR THE 3% LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK. I can't figure out the costs the 3% is going towards (as their sign says) considering the price increases and they obviously don't put anything into the restaurant... the reason for one star: 1. ruining what should have been a fresh properly prepared salad 2. using non fresh veggies on the pizza 3. dramatic price increases while charging 3% for using a credit card 4. not putting any thing back into the place....yes, it is a throwback in time, but pleeeeeeeease....if that is your claim to fame and what you are doing, do it with class, don't throwback to a dive or a dump, do better....get some new furniture 5. overcharging for the type of dump it is and yes, it used to be good, at least it used to have good food, well prepared, but now the owner's greed kicked in read more

This is my best friends favorite pizza place! The thin crust is delicious and crisp. The delivery driver today was also very nice and on time. Great soup, pizza and service! read more

Ever had their soup? Well, have you? It is so good! My wife and I absolutely INSIST on getting their cream-of-chicken every Monday and Thursday. It is absolutely fantastic. Oh, but this is a pizza place, right? Honestly, I can't help but order some every now and then, and believe me, you can't go wrong with their extra-thin crust! I also love the friendly, but no-nonsense vibe about this place. Every good thing Chicago has to offer you can find at Paterno's! read more

My buddy recommended Paterno's for their Italian beef, explaining how they use garlic bread and melt cheese on top (called an incredible on the menu). I usually request provolone on my beef anyway, so this made ordering easier. They did not disappoint. I got about 8 of 'em for around $55, which is a good price. Everyone was very pleased. I can't speak on the pizza, but if you're looking for a different take on a traditional Italian beef sandwich, definitely come here. I recommend the Incredible Beef, with hot peppers on it, and au jus on the side for dipping. read more

Paterno's Pizza - Incredible beef sandwich, hot peppers on it, au jus on the side. Don't think, just order. (Corona sold separately) - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been going here for years. The food is quality, fresh,tasty and made to order. From the Tuna salad to the pizza and everything in between. We love our pizza cracker thin,and slighty well done. The pizza chef Romero nails it everytime. The other guy Salso does now too. We do order it that way tho. Otherwise it would be thicker. Not bad, just not our preference. Angela,the young lady whom tends to be the one at the window taking order, is consistently friendly and very efficient. When we have forgotten our coupon ( you can find the coupon in the TV Facts guide,I pick mine up at the wallgreens there on Milwaukee ave) steps up and providing we met the minimum requirements she applies it for us. I truly appreciate that ,for it is good business and helps keep us coming back! you can have the best food with the worst service and we will not spend any money with you. This is not the case here. There is a woman JoJo whom is one of the family members,she makes all the specialties like the green pepper and egg sandwich on Sundays and the meatloaf and even chop suey! She is a fantastic cook. She also bar tends with her husband. They are both wonderful, welcoming, and very friendly. Always greets you with pleasantries. We have also hung out a bit there to have a few night caps. It is a older crowd with many regulars. most are very friendly and accepting . It tends to be a sports bar and therefore the jukebox is on a limited schedule. Also they will not allow for it to be turned on until 7pm to accomadaite some of the regulars whom do not like the jukebox on. I have mixed reviews on that pratice. But it isn't a deal breaker for us. This isn't your cookie cutter place. It is family owned and has been around for generations. It is a safe place with seemingly very little drama. No high spirited ,misbehaving, unruly patron's. We truly enjoy that fact. There is a pool table and a large back room with tables. A nice spot to have a beer and a family dinner (early hours 3-8). Gets packed on weekends! We have been there while families with children are doing just that. It can get a bit annoying when the parents are not monitoring their children, and the children are attempting to play pool and run into the bar area.Lets face it, this is not Chuckie Cheese! Control your kids people, not everyone thinks they are as cute as you do! All in all a great place for food, song (after 7 of course) take out and a good meeting spot. Would recommend it for homecooked food,fun &camaraderie. read more

Raw chicken tenders. They voided my sale and kept the cash tip. Will not return here. I am going to miss their honey mustard. read more

Paterno's Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The inc beef are great love they Ruben sandwiches and great BBQ chicken pizza.. The kitchen staff's are wonderful great costumers services

Get the incredible. It is by far my favorite. Roast beef sausage WITH hot peppers. You can't lose with this sandwich. The beef is equally good always with the hot. Shrimp is also a winner. read more

Neighborhood Dive bar that happens to have great food and a decent size menu. Resaonably priced. Beer is cold and also reasonably priced. Not many tv's and all smaller sized a couple are 24". read more

I like this place, generally speaking. $2 Domestic beers on Sunday, full menu including great pizza, an airy and roomy setting, pool table + a private room for parties. And, let's not forget the liquor store next door, parking lot and the many bus lines that stop adjacent to the place. They do not get 5 stars because of BS things - I asked about having onion rings instead of fries and instead of just saying No substitutions, I had to listen to a song and dance about how the register isn't set up for that and I can order the onion rings for regular price if I want to (huh?) yada yada yada. Onion rings are NOT an appetizer it's a freaking side dish like french fries. As I got ready to go, the couple next to me, who had been there a long time and had a tab going, asked the bartender for their bill. The bartender made the man say everything the couple had consumed and still, this guy overcharged them by $10. That's total BS. I recalled that I had money issues with this guy before as well...tall, foreign guy. So Paternos, get your act together and you'll make twice as much money in the future. A very cool category on the menu is their Incredible sandwiches: these sandwiches include melted cheese and are served on garlic bread! read more

Great dive bar spaghetti and pizza. They have the absolute freshest BUD on draft and prices are pretty reasonable. These guys have been cooking thin crust pizza for ever and season with lots of cheese and spices! Def a local favorite! Parking in the lot can be a little pain in the ass though. Better parking across the street. read more

Paterno's Pizza - Best shot inside! - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered the extra thin crust and it was SUPER GOOD!!! The service was excellent too. Certainly a dive, yet has that homey feel. Hung out with the kiddos in the side room and they were able to just be kids!!! Love this place for some local good food! read more

Paterno's Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was dying for a fix of pizza. Drove by Paterno's thought I would go in and get one since they were opened. I went up to the window where it says that you order and I stood there and stood there and stood there. There were two bartenders at the bar which is right there the one was serving drinks but the other one was just standing around chit-chatting and had to have seen me. Neither wanted to help me and neither went in to let the kitchen know that there was someone waiting. So I left. read more

The super thin crust is freaking good. I ordered a bbq chiken pizza it was freaking amazing and crunchy. Thin and crunchy at there best. Loved it. Definitely I would order one later on. Pizza crunchyness overpower read more

There is a dining room, but I've rarely seen anyone in there. Food is average 1970's take-out fare. Grease city. Characters galore after 10 pm. As in automatically harassing you at the jukebox. There could be 3 people in there, and two of them will have no qualms coming up to you if you dare put in $2 to override Deep Purple. If you're ok with cheap beer, people passed out on the bar at 12 am, and getting harassed by socially-awkward, bored regulars, then you may be comfortable here. read more

When I walked in I felt like Eddie Murphy when he walked into the red-neck bar in the movie 48hrs. A bunch of good old boys were sitting at the bar and couldn't have made me feel less welcome. I ordered a burger and it was dry and chewy. They use those cheap, frozen shoe string fries that I detest. I also ordered a slice of sausage pizza and it was so salty that I couldn't finish it. This place sucks @ss!! read more

Paterno's Pizza - So so......... - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When I am in the mood for an Italian Beef, in old Chicago style, I head to Paterno's Pizza, an old, family-owned and operated restaurant and bar in Jefferson Park. They do it right! Their Italian beef is served on a toasted garlic hoagie roll, stuffed with thin slice Italian beef with melted provolone (or mozzarella, your choice) cheese on the top. I like to ask for the au jus sauce on the side because then my bread doesn't get soggy as I eat. I treat it as a French dip and dip my sandwich in the sauce as I eat. Yum! Anyways, this place is always filled with the regulars. A bunch of crusty, funny, old guys, just sitting around shooting the sh*t. Always good for a laugh. Really, this place has character! The pizza is pretty good, too. But that Italian beef just calls my name! read more

I'm kind of torn... On the one hand: they have a huge menu (I love love love variety), great pizza, ah-mazing Italian beef, and for the most part all around good food! Most of the people there are really nice, the food is out fast and you get to watch a bit of tv while waiting. But on the other: They don't deliver which can be a bummer and it seems every time I order over the phone my food gets screwed up. They will honor and try to fix the screw up but I don't want to have to drive back and forth after working all day. (and one time I heard one of the (cooks?) talking S#!T in the back ground when I called. So I'm starting to wonder if the good food out weighs the crappy service..... read more

I give this 5 stars for the pizza. I've been in Chicago 30 years, and this is some of the best pizza I've had. Crust is nice and crisp even though it is not wafer thin. Not fancy pizza, but awesome tasting. I love that it is cheese and not very saucy. Had a slice at lunch. Just order one - but it is nice they cut a huge slice into two manageable pieces. Just to know what you're getting into however - the ambiance is severely lacking. Old, bad lighting, worn chairs, etc. Go for the food. read more

Paternos.. You get 2 stars for an EXCELLENT "Incredible Beef" Sandwich. Its one of the best Ive had. BUT... If it wasnt for that beef sandwich you would have ZERO stars. Everything else pretty much sucks. The pizza is semi OK.. but I would never go there for it. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM... The smoking law says that people have to be 15 feet away from the door. Well the smokers at Paternos, (and there are many seeing is tho its typically an old man hangout), they stand right IN FRONT of the door. When I see this.. I just drive away. I shouldnt have to walk through that. Someone needs to fix it. read more

it does not surprise me that they have to close due to lack of help on Sunday Monday and Tuesdays I worked there many years ago for about a year the family was HORRIBLE to work for especially JoJo such a shame cause they do have good food but in the end if u don't treat people good it will come back to bite your in the ass just saying karma is a bitch read more

A neighborhood hole in the wall literally. Lived in the area most of my life and just learned of this fabulous food joint bout 15 years ago! Delicious food, decent prices and wonderful service. Haven't had anything without good taste! Worth the parking inconvenience. Gotta go there! read more

Very chill place to pop tops in the Jeff Park area. Also home to my 2nd favorite bartender in the Chi. Nothing fancy, but the beers are cold, the prices are right, the food exceeds expectations, service is top-notch, and music is juke box. If you're there and Bri is working, tip the man well and he'll take care of you right. Doesn't get the full five-star blessing because the regulars are whack-jobs and the P to V ratio is usually absurd. read more

Paternos is great! We've use their catering for our work Christmas party every year now for the past several years. We change things up every year, so have tried a lot. Their fried chicken, beef, sausage, eggplant parmesan, meat and meatless lasagna, italian chicken, chicken vesuvio, to name a few, were always delicious and our company looks forward to the party and food every year. We get food for about 150 people, and the number is getting larger every year. The owner or manager is always very helpful and the food is always hot and ready. I am actually on my way there now, ready to put the order in for this year. read more

Love Paterno's pizza! Every time I come into town it's a must have. The pizza is always consistent, and they haven't changed their recipe which is huge. For me it's one of the best pizzas in town. read more

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Ok I am not the typical eat in diner at Paterno's but I don't care and neither do most of the old men sitting around the bar watching what ever sports game is on. I came here with a friend and seeing how I always need to eat I gave the menu a go. The food here is pretty dam good! I was shocked everything taste fresh and homemade. The spaghetti and meatballs are delisious as are most of the pasta dishes and the pizza is pretty good to. My friend typically enjoys the sandwhiches. Overall the food is great and I never feel like I'm getting a weird stare most of them are so friendly they are happy to start a conversation with you. The decor is so very old, so you'll need to either get over that or get your food to go. Also they give out a free slice of pizza during half time when you come in to see the Bears games! read more

Place is real divey but the pizza is AWESSSSSOOOOMEEE! granted it was a bit higher than what we usually pay for pizza but it was worth every penny. Only down side is i dont think they deliver. Maybe thats good or Id be 500lbs read more

We may have found our new local pizza place - hallelujah! The Paterno's special with mushroom, onion, pepper and sausage was really good. The sauce has good flavor and the cheese is melty and flavorful. The thin crust is light and crispy - delicious. But you must make an appointment with a cardiologist and then order their butter pizza. They spread a thin crust with garlic butter and then bake it with mozzarella. Sure it's bad for you - but not a bad way to go. Eat-in or carryout only - no delivery. read more

We tried Paterno's based on recommendations of family. It was a tweener pizza, 3.5 but I rounded down because I wouldn't drive there to pick it up. Still, it is a solid representation for that type of pizza, pub style I guess. So if you don't live around here stay home and order your favorite local pizza, as long as they don't have a commercial or locations in 50 states....the kiss of death for pizza. I'd come back as long as someone else is covering the bill. read more

I go here whenever I can, they have great food, and clean bathrooms! But the second reason why I go here to eat is to see the mix of unique people at the bar. The patrons at the bar range from under-employed, or un-employed people complaining how the "man" owes them more. The other extereme is the people who are medically "challenged" for example there is one old gent who smokes quiet a lot even though he has a stoma! This same person chugs a pitcher or 2 of beer and then gets into his automobile and drives away! There are also several people who sould be working and contributing to society, instead they are "working" the system. PS: It wouldnt hurt if the owner would smile once in a while! read more

Eck.. my boyfriend ordered some Alfredo, but I got a Polish (since it's on their menu, I assumed it would be at least decent), and fries. Theeeeeee worst polish I've ever had. It was actually just a fat hot dog, and the skin was worse than rubbery, it was crispy. And the bun was stale. The fries tasted like they were microwaved. He liked his Alfredo though, so they get a star for that, I guess. (Maybe he just said he liked it since it was his idea to order from there, lol). But don't have items on your menu if you don't know how to make them. *shrug* read more

This place has been around for years - even before I was born. The pizza is pretty good but the Italian subs are something else! It's a full-blown bar too with TVs and all. It's a nice spot to sit back and have a few beers with some friends. Noisy as hell though! There's also a convenience store too right next door - Foremost Liquor Center - every kind of alcohol you'd ever want...along with some munchies in the fridges! read more

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It's bar pizza, not a big fan of the thick crust style that they offer. The sauce and cheese were delicious though. I likely will stick to other local pizzerias but this place is defiantly worth a try if you want to go out and drink, THEN eat. Update: Dang it, I just read a review that they have extra thin crust. Okay I take it back. Maybe just maybe I'll try it again but this time it will be with beer! read more

Got a beef here, it was pretty good ( not chewy, the cheese worked, the garlic bread good but not very garlicky). However, I doubt I'm going back again since the person I was with just ran in quick and got a menu. Instantly, they were reeking of cigarette smoke smell. If I want that, in the process of getting something to eat-I prefer Korean BBQ smoke. Seems like your average neighborhood place. read more

Paternos is doubly awesome. First, if you are looking for great fast food, this is the place. Great pizza, the chicken parm dinner rocks, and the "incredible" beef sandwich??? Fuggettabouttit!! Simply amazing, juicy, cheese-smothered beef on a garlic bread roll...are you fricking kidding me? If this place delivered, I'd weigh 300 pounds and have been wheeled in for a triple bypass by now. But as a treat, you should try an Incredible...really lives up to the name. Second, it is a classic Chicago neighborhood bar. With all the local characters sitting around the dimly lit bar, and the bar tenders flipping up a shot glass every once in a while to signify that your next beer is on them. Great place to catch a game on the TV while having a few beers with friends. read more

I hate to have to drop a star, almost two. Let me explain the updated review. I went here for dinner and ordered the Incredible Beef with fries. I'll say the beef was great. The problem is Paterno's changed their fries. Oh Paterno's, why did you change the fries? The new fries are the crispy coated fries, which I can't stand. I don't like them enough, that I will limit my orders and go elsewhere. I really like the other food I've had here at Paterno's. I will not be ordering something with fries, which is unfortunate, I really like the Incredible Beef! read more

Never had a bad lunch....always clean and friendly .lots of specials fresh pizza..good chili