The weather was cold, the air was crisp, and our stomachs were ravenous after my family's first annual holiday pickleball tournament. We needed a couple of cold brews and a few good pies to celebrate the rest of the night. Not only did Professor Pizza leave us impressed, but this establishment might have became my new spot for pizza. While the food was amazing, we were also beyond impressed with our waitress who greeted us with a smile and made our night seamless and enjoyable. As an Eastern European food connoisseur new to the Chicago area, I have carefully constructed a rating system that reflects my personal thoughts, feelings, and experience. Food 10/10 *QUICK SIDE NOTE WHILE ORDERING PIZZA* the cracker crust is amazing, the quickest made, and my top choice. The cracker style is cut into thin squares, like tavern style pizza. The cracker crust has a corn meal covered undercarriage (I think) which was delightful. The cornmeal undercarriage stimulates the tongue as if you swallowed sandpaper on accident, but in the best way possible. Trust me here.... The Grandma Crust is rich and decadent. While it was great, it's important to note that you can probably only eat one slice of this pizza before feeling full. Professor Wings (Garlic Parm) - We got these as a starter amongst 6 of us while we sipped on some brews. There was a great mixture of drums and flats. The sauce was kicking, and the wings were tender. They were very good, but not something you need to order. I would focus more on the pizza. Vodka Pizza with Sausage (Cracker Crust) - A very elaborate vodka sauce that explored the depths of creaminess while offering a tanginess that made you wanna snap your fingers. We added sausage to the pie to add some protein. I feel like the sausage was a well needed addition to the thinner pizza, and I would highly recommend it. This was the table favorite. Mushroom Leek (Cracker Crust) - this was the most unique pizza we ordered and probably my favorite. Concerningly, I think I would eat unlimited slices of this pie if allowed. It has a very rich and creamy mushroom taste but was light and delicate. It has been over a week since I've had this pie and I'm still smiling just thinking about it. Deluxe Pepperoni (Grandma Crust) - This was well done with a perfect flavor profile. The Grandma crust only allowed me to try a little bit of the pie, but what I had was pure gluttony. The cupped pepperoni was plentiful and the whipped ricotta offered complimentary creaminess with whispers of sweet "hellos" I would love to try this on the cracker crust next, so I could eat more of it. This easily could've been my favorite. Drinks 6.8/10 As a beer snob, I would say that the selection of beer was good but not great. Beer is the perfect drink to have with pizza, and I think their selection should be more widespread and diverse. Put more unique lagers and craft IPAs on the menu and the score would be higher. They carry pepsi products over coke products which is a major point on controversy for many people, but I won't go down that path in this review. Atmosphere 9.3/10 It was a great, casual atmosphere that would be perfect for an intimate dinner or a casual hangout spot. I don't watch much football these days, but it seemed to be a spot that people were coming to watch the Bears. Obviously, the bar scene would be better with a more diverse selection of beers. Regardless, it seemed like the perfect place to watch a game and have a few too many slices of pizza. Our waitress is what made the atmosphere the go from a 7 to a 9.3. She was kind and very sweet. She explained the menu to us and was patient with us. Everything came out perfectly and she seemed very happy to have us and be there. Everyone in the family made comments about how great she was. Whoever served my family in far back left booth on Saturday, 12/20/25 deserves some recognition. Likelihood of Return 9.5/10 This is where I will be coming for pizza from now on. Maybe it will just be takeout because the beer selection could be improved, but the dine in experience was phenomenal. The establishment has a great vibe to it and our waitress went above and beyond, Thanks so much, George Clydesdale read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - deluxe pep on grandma crust - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm having a hard time deciding on a rating for this place. For me the food is a 4.5/5 but the service was more of a 2/5. On one hand I was really impressed. I was pleasantly surprised that the gluten free sicilian crust was soft, fluffy, and not dry. I really liked the balance of the pepperoni, ricotta, and hot honey. The other people I went with tried a variety of other pizzas and really liked them as well. The portions are large and great for sharing with a group. But oh my, the service! It was pretty near terrible. Our waiter was nice but I waited 45 minutes for a cup of water. He refilled half of our party's waters a few times but never the whole table at once even when the opposite side was out of water as well. One person I was with ordered a pizza without cheese due to a dietary restriction which doesn't seem like a complicated request but they messed it up not once but twice. The location is great and there is more seating than I expected. It wasn't terribly loud when we were there either which I appreciate. However, as other reviews mention, the prices are a bit steep. I would be willing to go back on food alone but the lack of service makes it hard to justify. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Deluxe pepperoni - 18" x 12" SICILIAN (gluten free) - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 41/50 Month tried: July Favorite dish: Vodka Sauce Pizza Professor Pizza was a happy surprise! I like that you can order any pizza in any style. We split a vodka sauce pizza and a margarita pizza and both were loaded with toppings and very good. The sauces were really delicious. I will say, it was very expensive. Definitely a place to go with people who have similar tastes so you can share a pizza. Otherwise, you'll be stuck with a huge bill for your own orders. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Margarita pizza - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pizza was great but we mistakenly got the cracker crust and it was too thin and dry for our liking. We would try a different style next time! The salad was also a little too (bleu) cheesy. And the wait time was insanely long. Hoping to try the other location! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Shoutout my brotha Tony and everyone else going for a dream in food! Love the story and the passion behind the dedication to the profession. Pull up, stay eatin and eat even more for me! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Heatahhh of a roni-za - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been a longtime fan of Professor Pizza and used to recommend it all the time, which makes this really disappointing to write. We ordered two pizzas (one gluten-free deluxe pepperoni) and both were a letdown. There was barely any sauce, and some slices were basically just bread and cheese. For ~$70 before tip and delivery, the quality didn't come close to what it used to be. Additionally, I ordered the gabagool pizza, and while the menu didn't list olives, it showed up covered in both green and black olives. Unfortunately, olives are pretty much the one food I don't eat, so that pizza ended up being completely inedible for me. Hoping this was just an off night, but the drop in quality compared to past experiences makes us not want to go back anytime soon. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been here a few times. Finally had the cracker crust. So crispy and yummy. Excellent servers. Pretty quick for pizza. Lots of beverages and appetizers to choose from. Outside seating is nice and entertaining as we can see the Starbucks patio with lots of interesting characters. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pizza is 10/10, worth the price. Chill vibes inside. Took a reasonable time for them to make them entire pizza. And whipped ricotta is very good. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - nyc style margarita pizza - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

You can't go to Chicago and not have some pizza. Ambiance here seemed super chill. They have plenty of seating at the bar, booths or tables. My family and I really enjoyed the Sicilian style gluten free pizza here last Saturday. The pizza bread was so fluffy and scrumptious. So heavenly! The sauce and over all flavor it had of basil and garlic was so mouthwatering. We also had some honey hot wings that were gluten free and they did not disappoint they were finger licking good. Even the celery was so fresh and crunchy. Needless to say we left feeling complete. The service was very friendly as soon as we came in we were greeted and our server was prompt about getting everything we wanted. He offered us to order with him or they also have a barcode you can scan and put in the order yourself. We decided to just go ahead and order with him. It wasn't too busy that day and we already knew what we wanted prior to stepping in. Highly recommend this pizza spot to everyone because they are so inclusive and delicious! This is another spot on my list to come back to! read more

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After some less than stellar volleyball performances, my friends and I were pretty hungry. Professor Pizza absolutely hit the spot. They have several celiac-safe gluten free options that are absolutely delicious. The ordering is completely online and you can easily mark that you have a gluten allergy. I wish I lived closer to the Professor because it's such a convenient and tasty option. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - 12" GRANDMA (gluten free) - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Decent pizza spot! Located in the heart of Old Town by a ton of other bars, shops, and restaurants. The vibe inside is cool and looks like a fun place to go to with friends. I really liked the food but the only thing I would've done different is get all our pizza thin crust. We ordered one pie grandma style and one Detroit style. The grandma style is considered "thin" but it was so thick... Just having 2 very thick pizzas was so filling. The overall flavor of both were really good though. My fav was the white pie. The mozz onion rings are a must! read more

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What can I say? The deluxe pepperoni on New York style crust left me speechless. Perfect size slices, amazing flavor that was elevated by the whipped ricotta delicately arranged on the pie, and the thick crust was cooked to perfection. You can't go wrong with pepperoni and hot honey. The night got better when I saw Professor Pizza himself in the iconic sweatsuit, sunglasses and chain! Deduction on a 5th star due to challenges with the online ordering system. The concept is great: scan a QR code to place orders, split checks, and close out at your leisure. BUT it wasn't intuitive to use and I think it's still fairly new, as a few servers were also unsure on how to navigate it. The QR code ordering takes away the opportunity for a more personable experience, but staff did a nice job still checking in. Maybe adding in an option to let staff know you'd like a box and are ready to go would be helpful? I'd absolutely come back here again! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went for lunch to Professor Pizza. The ambiance was good. The food was good too, a bit pricey though. The place did not have many vegetarian/vegan options. Also a feedback, the menu does not have 'V= Vegetarian/Vegan' or 'GF= Gluten Free' written in their menu against those options. It could be confusing for customers who do not eat meat. Honestly, I was not very happy with the service. There was only one server during our visit. Although the restaurant wasn't very busy--with just two other tables occupied--the service was still lacking. The server seemed new. She greeted us politely, but when it came to taking our order, she appeared confused and was unable to answer our questions. After each question, she would ask us to wait while she went inside to check with someone, which left us feeling quite confused. When it was time to pay, we asked to split the bill three ways--as any group of friends would normally do at a restaurant--but she struggled with the system. She stood there for 10 minutes trying to figure it out, and then took our cards inside, presumably to ask someone for help again. She was gone for over 15 minutes, and we had no idea what was happening. My feedback would be to ensure that staff are thoroughly trained before handling customers on their own. If they are still undergoing training, it would be helpful if they politely informed customers that they are new and still learning. That small acknowledgment would go a long way in setting expectations and improving the overall customer experience. read more

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Went here for a weekend lunch with family on a Saturday and it wasn't super busy. Started off with the spinach artichoke dip and that was delicious but I felt like there wasn't enough bread for the amount of dip. We got the pepperoni and deluxe pepperoni both Sicilian style. Very crunchy and saucey and fluffy! I prefer thin crust but these thicker pieces will definitely fill you up! We got two pizzas for a group of three adults and two kids and we probably could've done just one pizza. Service was great, our waitress was nice and our waters were never empty. read more

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I got delivery from here, and we got one Mushroom Pizza (Detroit style) and a pepperoni pizza (tavern style) as we have a pepperoni lover at home. The mushroom pizza had truffle oil on it and it took over the entire taste of the mushrooms and the dough. Definitely a choice. The pizza was extremely thick, huge, and it was hard to eat honestly. I tried a fork and knife but even my cheap steak knife could not cut through it. And it was too big to bite. It was good, the cheese was intense, very thick mozzarella. The pepperoni pizza was a traditional tavern style, less cornmeal than I like but it had good reviews by the family. We also got mozzarella onion rings, they were very tasty, and came with marinara, although we got a side of ranch as well I feel they should have come with both. Definitely order less than you normally would from a pizza place because the Porto s are big. read more

Saw this place on tik tok and it looked good so i figured i would give it a try! I started off with an espresso martini which was okay. I felt like there were too many ingredients which made it more chocolatey than espresso. Then we got the garlic knots which were amazing! Both sauces on the side and the butter drenched knots were a solid 8/10. For the main course we got the small Detroit style pepperoni deluxe pizza. Being from Detroit we were not a huge fan of the crust. It was way too crunchy and hard to chew. The rest of the pizza was phenomenal and large portions. 1 piece filled us up! Overall this place had really high quality ingredients and was decent. The only thing that we didn't like was the price. The pizza alone was $40 which is insane to me for 6 pieces. If you want good quality pizza and are okay with paying the price this is the place for you! read more

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Solid pizza spot!! I loved it for all the pizza styles it offers (and its cute professor pizza mascot). They offer several different kinds of pizza based on crust thickness, from thin tavern style, all the way to thick (Detroit I think). All the pizzas we saw arrive at other people's tables looked so good and it appeared that Detroit and grandma style were really popular. I appreciated that the server told us up front that the wait time for pizza depends on the thickness (style), and she estimated 30-40 min for the first 3 (from thin to thicker) and I think 45-60ish min for the thicker ones. You choose the style of pizza and then the toppings. We ordered the tavern style and it actually came out much quicker than estimated! Which is great because they set our expectations to wait a bit longer. It maybe took like 15-20 minutes so not bad at all. We got the Humboldt pie which has pepperoni, pineapple, roasted red peppers, onion, and ranch on top. It was actually quite tasty! The tavern style crust was perfectly thin and crispy and had good structural integrity to hold all the toppings. My only feedback is that I wish the pineapple was a bit softer/juicier. I think maybe it was canned or not ripe enough. But the flavor was still good! I want to come back to try the Detroit and grandma style! It's in a great location in Old Town/near North Ave beach, so whether you're out drinking or wrapping up a beach day, it's a great spot to grab a pizza with friends. read more

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I swear I've ordered from here when he rented out kitchen space and it was a pop up where you had to reserve your pizza days in advance and it was amazing a decade ago. So, when I saw this next to 2nd city we had to stop in after. I was surprised the place was pretty empty on a Friday afternoon with 2nd city shows, but it was also the day after Thanksgiving. We did not order with the QR code we had a waitress, who was extremely friendly. We ordered the garlic knots, Mexican cokes and the pepperoni deluxe on thin crust. It just wasn't as good as I remembered it. It was definitely still good but I wouldn't go out of my way. I think it was too burnt on some of the ends for my liking. The garlic knots were great and my 4 year old devoured them. Our bill was around $60 for the smallest pizza available with the drinks and appetizers so not a cheap pizza place but a great place for a special pizza treat. read more

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Friday evening spent with dinner and drinks at Professor Pizza. We sat at the bar and were greeting by the bartender that gave us great service all night. We ordered the Marg. The cocktail was delicious. Started off with garlic Parmesan wings which were meaty and the flavor was great. Being born and raised in Chicago, when we dine out for pizza, we opt for pan pizza instead of traditional thin. We waited the extra time for the Detroit style pizza and it was worth the wait. The flavor was amazing and the dollops of whipped ricotta tied it all together. The crust was thick and crispy. We had the deluxe sausage and pepper and added pepperoni to one side. This was the best pan pizza I've ever had! The owner, Anthony, was around and introduced himself and thanked us for stopping in. We will definitely be coming back to enjoy more pizza and try the other styles. Thank you, Professor Pizza! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Deluxe Sausage & Pepper- Detroit Style & Mozzarella Onion Rings - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Service isn't fast but the food is pretty good--compared to Roots! We've dined here once and taken out twice and the food is never hot (for whatever reason) but it's pretty decent--compared to Roots. The NY pizza is pretty good although we've had it over-cooked on one occasion. read more

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Great pizza!! We got by the lice at happy hour and I enjoyed the deluxe pep, husband got pep. Absolutely delicious and great service! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Deluxe Pepperoni - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We typically have had good experiences here, but we haven't been in a few months and when we ordered our pizza tonight - we were appalled. It was sitting in a pile of grease, causing it to be extremely soggy and hard to eat. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yum!! I've been wanting to check out Professor Pozza for a while now and having out of town guests was the perfect excuse to make it happen! We got a cracker tavern pistachio and mortadella. It was heavy on the mortadella, and I don't think that's my fave, but I liked everything else about it. This was the first time I ever enjoyed a tavern crust. We also got a small detroit white pizza. The crust was a little bit overcooked for my liking (compared to Jets, so take me with a grain of salt lol), but the toppings were perfect. We also had the onion rings as an appetizer. Overall, entirely too much food for 3 people, but great for leftovers lol. I loved it, I'll be back. Pro tip: make a reservation! They're very busy, for good reason! read more

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We stopped in for appetizers and pizzas and really enjoyed this place. The carrot appetizer was a bit small but still pretty good. The garlic knots were awesome, and I liked the variety of dipping sauces. The highlight was the white pie, made Detroit-style. This pizza stayed true to its Detroit roots with a crispy crust and thick bread. It was heavy and cheesy but perfect for an indulgence. It did take 45-50 minutes to cook, which they warn you about ahead of time. My only complaint is the lack of vegan options! No specialty pizzas for vegans or vegan cheese. My vegan friend wasn't left with many options here. read more

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This is the kind of spot you go to for the location. Right in Piper's Alley so super convenient for Second City shows. I had been very excited to try Professor Pizza after my sister raved about an evening at Tetto's, but my experience at the brick and mortar in Old Town was only slightly better than average. The place was pretty busy on a Saturday night so the service wasn't the best, but our waitress was friendly so we didn't mind. We started with garlic knots which were pretty good and then opted for a tavern style pizza which was just fine. I love a good crispy tavern style so my bar might be too high. This pizza just wasn't thin enough or crispy enough to be advertised as such. Otherwise it wasn't bad! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Deluxe Pepperoni - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We sat on the patio and the pizza was very good -- it was also huge! The wedge salad was a classic wedge, but with the dressing on the bottom. There are many varieties of crust, which I found somewhat confusing. I recommend reading reviews and looking at pictures in advance so you can get a lay of the land so to speak. The service was a bit slow, but it was also a busy summer night on one of the first warm evenings, so it was busy! read more

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Literally so delicious - this place is doing something right. While the spinach dip was a good starter, the pizzas are really heavy lol so maybe recommend a lighter appetizer. Quick wait on a Wednesday night also! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Spinach Artichoke - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great pizza in old town!!! They have 3 different crusts to choose from so there's something for everyone. Great vibe. Decent prices. We got the small thin crust with pepperoni. It was delicious. Good drink options. When I look at he picture I can still taste it. So so good! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Lambrusco - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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With all the hype and positive reviews, I was really looking forward to trying Professor Pizza. They have so many different styles and the buzz seems to be non-stop. Well, we tried the New York style sausage deluxe pizza. It was very good but nowhere near close to the best in the city. The end crust was crispy but the middle and front edge were so very undercooked. Flop city. I will say the service was excellent - our server was attentive and helpful. Two other beefs: the menu was overly confusing and didn't need to be. Just show the price of the different types side-by-side and not 'add-on'. Fifty/50 stop with the 3% service charge on credit cards. It's misleading and just tack it on to the price. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Deluxe Sausage & Pepper - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Back again with another TikTok recommendation! My sister was visiting me from New York and has been dying to try a "Chicago Style" pizza, so I figured now was the best time to try Professor Pizza. We decided to place an order to-go since we were planning on having a pizza night and watching Squid Game 2. Unfortunately, they do not deliver past Grand Ave, which puts me outside their downtown delivery zone. No worries though, this pizza was absolutely worth the drive. They have several different types of pizza crusts, but I HIGHLY recommend you try the "grandma style" crust. It is a thin, crispy, and slightly chewy pizza crust that is often baked in a rectangular or square shape. We initially planned to try their Pepperoni Deluxe pizza (grandma-style) but we were ready to customize it without the pepperoni since neither of us eats pork. Ironic, right? Here's the twist: they actually offer HALAL pepperoni! This was such a pleasant surprise and we were thrilled we could enjoy the pizza exactly as intended. It took about 45 minutes for our order to be ready after we placed it in-store. If you're short on time, I recommend calling ahead to save yourself the wait. While waiting, we sat at the bar and tried a non-alcohol beer recommended by our bartender. I am not usually a beer person, but this was surprisingly delicious. It tasted like sweet bread in a bottle. The service was honestly fantastic and the atmosphere was the perfect balance of fancy, yet comfortable. Now onto the star of the show : THE PIZZA! This was hands down one of the best pizzas I've ever had. The combination of halal pepperoni, whipped ricotta, and hot honey was a flavor explosion. A perfect combination of sweet and savory. The crust stole the spotlight with its perfect texture and the halal pepperoni sealed the deal. We were so excited to dig in when we got home that I completely forgot to take pictures, but that's just another excuse to go back. Next time, I'll make sure to update my review with plenty of photos. If you're ever in the area, I can't recommend Professor Pizza enough. They have several different locations (I believe they have a West Loop location), however, this Old Town location is open late. ~ Till next time! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After seeing Professor Pizza on Not Another Cooking Show, we had to visit. Really tasty pizza, cracker crust was delicious and crispy, plentiful toppings. Mozzarella onion rings were delicious and crisp. Happy hour had great drinks and specials - nice interior and staff. If you're looking for great pizza, come to professor pizza!! read more

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Great pizza and service! It takes them a bit of time to make the pizzas but they give you a warning when you order! They offer a handful of different kinds of pizzas. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the mood for pizza! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow!! Literally the BEST gluten free pizza I've ever had. The crust is insane! I ordered the GF "Grandma's" style crust, and while I normally don't like thick crusts, this crust is in a league all of its own!! It's perfectly crispy, crunchy, light, buttery, and absolutely delicious. This has just become my favorite pizza place in Chicago, hands down! read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Professor Pizza reached out and made it right. We did try their pizzas again and they were what we had expected from them. We were very happy with the recent order. read more

Honestly, really really disappointed. Had a roach crawl from my food and informed the manager and they didn't care and still made us pay for the meal that was infected. Then I had to sit there staring at the corpse. GROSS read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - A dead roach - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We ordered for delivery and waited over 2 hours for our pizza. It came with NO sauce. We got the pepperoni deluxe and there wasn't a drop of sauce on it. Had to go buy my own pizza sauce. What a rip off for $40 a pizza. Not ordering here again- save your money. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Deluxe Pepperoni (they forgot the sauce) - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Poor quality pizza. Ordered the pesto Margarita pizza and it was slathered in pesto sauce overwhelming the other ingredients. Simply could not eat it. Service was fine. Pizza, at best, unacceptable. read more

We went in on a Saturday evening after hanging out in the neighborhood. The bar was not overly crowded but it took forever to get a drink. As we ordered drinks, we also ordered a pizza. There are sooo many places you can eat pizza in Chicago--I would not suggest this one. read more

Pizza was alright (NY style over Detroit) Service is fine. Note that it takes awhile to get your pizza, but the servers told us ahead of time so it did not make a difference. Not great for eating there, unless you're outside and it's nice out. read more

Professor Pizza - Old Town - Detroit style - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I got the 12" Margherita pizza. The pictures tell you everything about it. Not good. My advice would be stick to a normal style pizza because other reviews look good. The place was pretty empty on Friday evening. I'm sure the pizza can be good but I ordered the wrong one for sure. read more

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