Dinner on a Pizza
The unique pizza restaurant Chicago needs
I have a friend whose eye's widened and jaw dropped as soon as she set eyes on the pizza at Dimo's Pizza. This place is unlike any other pizzeria in Chicago, and not just because they don't sell deep-dish pizza. Meals that you would normally find on a dinner plate are served on a pizza crust in this oddly memorable restaurant.
As we walked up to the front counter where you order your food our server greeted us with a friendly smile spread across his face. He was polite and helpful; he explained the toppings on the pizza since some of my friends hadn't been to Dimo's before. The first slice that grabbed my attention was the chicken and waffles. The thin, white crust was covered with freshly fried chicken pieces and bits of waffle, and the syrup that topped it all glimmered in the light. The next slice that caught my stomach's attention was the chicken alfredo. The slice about three times the slice of a regular pizza started with an oozing base layer of mozzarella, topped with long penne noodles and chunks of grilled chicken. The mixture of noodles, chicken and cheese tasted like a fresh dish of pasta, and the Parmesan cheese that topped of the pizza added just a bit of kick that this slice needed. Dimo's most popular slice by far is the Mac n' Cheese topped pizza. I tried this one with hesitation after my wonderful experience with the chicken alfredo, and as I expected, it wasn't anything special. If you are looking for something bland tasting, and something you could probably make yourself at home I would go for it. My friend tried the BBQ Chicken Bacon Cheddar Ranch, which she said was heaven in her mouth. The blend of BBQ chicken and BBQ sauce is mouth watering and the drizzle of ranch dressing to top it off explode all the flavors together in your mouth.
Adding to the uniqueness that is Dimo's is their drink options. They carry uncommon beverages such as Boxed Water, and Old School Mexican Coke. The most interesting and entertaining drink is Leninade, and the only place to get it is Dimo's. A brightly colored orange, carbonated, lemonade drink contained in a clear glass bottle, Leninade is unique and entertaining just like the restaurant that houses it. With a hammer and sickle on the front, in yellow print the bottle says, "Get hammered and sickled!" This notable drink has communist jokes written all over the bottle that will make you laugh with your friends and make you keep the bottle.
While the drinks and pizza are fulfilling, the dessert is lacking. There are only two options, which are surprisingly basic for a restaurant that specializes in the uncommon. The options include a chocolate brownie and a vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. I expected more from an out of the ordinary restaurant to serve more than just brownies and cookies.
All the other pizza restaurants in Chicago easily overshadow this pizzeria, but it stands out on its own. The atmosphere of Dimo's is laid back and full of laughter, there are no waiters, you pick up your meal about 7 minutes after you order and enjoy your time with friends. Even though the restaurant is small, and it's always filled, there is seating plenty of seating with large wooden tables. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Dimo's. Good food, and good company make a mixture that can't be beat. read more