I love Damenzo's I live in Pilsen but have had them deliver to as far as 55th and Loomis and Lake/Pulaski love them for that.....but the food is very good and consistent. The Calzone is humungous and delicious and I love their cheesy beef and the container it comes in. Friendly fast service (if the delivery guy can find your address, ha ha).
(5)
Irene Z.
Not only are the jumbo slices enough to feed a family, but they are goooood. Quick dinner Friday night with the family. This is one of my hubby's fave local spots...he used to stop in regularly after work during the week. Great neighborhood pizzeria, friendly staff and tons of space in the dining room (complete with televisions and nice granite topped tables). Cheese and pepperoni are our faves, along with the fries, which seem to be double-fried or something...they're that perfect medium of soft-to-crispy consistency and they're delicious! 2 jumbo slices, a side of fries, 2 bottled waters all under $12. Go Damenzo's.
(4)
Michelle R.
The pizza tasted delicious and it's huge! They have a good selection of food like pastas, pizza, even turkey burgers lol. I will be coming back, but just remember to bring cash because they do not accept credit cards!
(4)
Adam K.
This is a place that I eat at frequently because of the proximity to my work vendors pick this up and bring it for me & my staff like they are doing me a favor, they think they are getting some secret pizza place only "insiders" in Chicago know about. Not even close G fresh honey suckle. Not at all my favorite pie, they are very nice customer service wise and also the inside of the restaurant is OK. Their gigantic badonkadonk pizza puff makes me full for 3 weeks when I eat it. I like their cheese, but the crust? Damn yo, work on that crust holmes, the shit is like a cracker, and not the racial epitaph. Talkin straight up saltine style crust on the west side AKA the best side AKA the honey BBQ chicken breast side. Love this hood, but man, Damenzo's step that game up. Straight cornered the market on hard tack pizza.
(2)
William Wesley M.
Awesome Chicago Style Stuffed Pizza! Out local go to pizza joint... not great atmosphere, a total delivery or carry out place, but the food is awesome!
(5)
Maria G.
Wow! Big slices and great tasting. Ordered two jumbo slices of sausage and a drink and my total was only $9!
(4)
Dmitri G.
Took them 2 hours to deliver a sandwich and half chicken three blocks away! The chicken definitely was not grade A meat. Italian beef was pretty good, but damn, 2 hours?!?!?!
(1)
Bree M.
Love this place! Everything is delicious including the Mexican food and the portions are huge!
(4)
David B.
I love this place Open late, good prices, good food. Atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but thats par for the course in this neighborhood. Their pizza is huge/cheap but not my favorite. I get the burritos a few times a week: gigantic burrito with tonsss of steak and beans and rice on the side... all for a shade over 8 bucks. Guys who work here arn't overly friendly, but pretty decent overall.
(5)
Damian P.
Just plain great food! Ask for extra sauce! Its one of the places on Taylor Street that serves those big slices of goodness and than some. They remodeled a little over a year ago and it was the best thing they could of done. Food is just awesome, but may be too filling.
(4)
Kim C.
The beef & pizza is good! However service is everything to me & I was told by one employee they never accept credit cards for delivery (which is a lie) & the delivery guy will not get out of the car to deliver. Also if you order pickup; you are courteous & wait to be asked "how may I help you?" Forget about it. The rudest person with the biggest mouth gets served first. The customer service leaves much to be desired.
(3)
Diana S.
I can only review the steak torta. I actually went in today because I had an obscene craving for churros (which they don't carry) and so instead ordered a steak torta. It was seasoned well, the bread was toasted and yum and the filling was perfect. But the stars of the show were the salsas- the red (orange?) and green that came in teeny tiny little cups in the bottom of the bag-- I could drink those things! I can't believe I've lived here for 5 months and not had it before. Will def be back.
(4)
Julie A.
I really really really really liked this pizza. On a Sunday night it was delivered in 40 minutes! I thought it had enough sauce and flavor - and I am happy to say that this is in the rotation. I enjoy thin-crust, and am constantly on a mission to find pizza like what I grew up with in E-Town. Oh, Two Brothers. Move to the city! Anyway, they were a little gruff on the phone, but I can deal with that! As long as the pizza doesn't start sucking, which seems to be the case whenever I find a place I like, I'm a happy girl.
(4)
Alli E.
I don't know, Damenzo's is cool because it's right down the street from my place and the pizza is decent although I have definitely had better. I think the food could be AMAZING if they got some good employees rather than the apathetic hoodrats that they have working there currently.
(2)
Taeler H.
The pizza puff (calzone) is like getting an actual pizza pie. It is HUGE, and so is the flavor. I went half or 1/3 on a sausage pizza puff (delivered) with some co-workers and I was very full... My portion was just enough to get me full and satisfied. Some of my other co-workers got slices of pizza, which were also HUGE. This place is good, and I will return!
(4)
Francesca G.
Where do I start? It's not just about the pizza at this place! The pasta is also fresh and delicious! My favorite is the shells and broccoli with shrimp, it's flavorful and delicious and they use FRESH broccoli and shrimp. If you haven't tried the chicken panini sandwich or the other new sandwiches on their menu you are missing out. The Eggplant Parmesean and Cheese Beef are also really, really good. Large portions of delicious fresh food at a reasonable price...this is my new favorite spot!!
(5)
Sunny M.
I've gone past this place a million times and tried the food for the first time last night. What have I been missing!? Had the "everything" stuffed pizza. AMAZING! I'm a Chicago native and love me some good pizza-- this stands with some of the finest in town. Go figure, this unassuming little neighborhood place will surprise you. I can't say anything about the wait, delivery or dining area as I wasn't the person who picked up the food (I was the one lazily waiting at home while my partner picked it up for me!). When it comes to the pizza itself, however, YUM! Two thumbs up!
(4)
Jack P.
On my way here for lunch, I thought to myself, I thought; "self, you may want to get two slices instead of one, 'cause you're pretty hungry." Then I saw the slices as I passed through the dining room. Yikes! They are huge. So I ordered a slice of sausage and a coke. Five bucks. The pizza is what I would describe as "deep thin crust" or a cross between thin crust and deep dish. The crust is fairly thick and bready, and on the under-cooked pale side. But good. And the sauce, which is tasty, is also on the heavy side, along with the cheese. Because of its thickness, you can't really fold it like a New York slice. I would recommend bringing your own rolling slicer and cutting in half lengthwise. And maybe some real utensils, because there is no eating it with the teensy plastic fork and knife they give you. SNAP! But I enjoyed it and it sure was a good value. I loved the big globs of sausage. Tasty! As it turned out, I couldn't even eat the once slice, along with downing the big Coke. This is one of those ma and pa Taylor Street places that just has inherent charm and friendliness (and America's Funniest Videos on the TV at lunch time.) It's self-service. You order at the counter with a nice legible menu above you. There is even a dedicated Vegetarian section. Sub sandwiches, pasta, regular Italian entrees, and of course pizza, most items below $10.00. After you order, you wait on a bench, and take your grub to a table in your choice of dining rooms. Wish I had a more informal, inexpensive Italian like this in my neighborhood. It's just a very comfortable spot.
(4)
Cristina T.
The jumbo pizza is incredibly large, cheap and delicious. I came in on Saturday night and received my jumbo slice of sausage pizza in less than 3 minutes. So happy that this place is a hop, skip & a jump away from where I live!
(4)
Mary M.
The pizza is great! It is spiced differently than most. Every time I have friends try Damenzo;s pizza, they often say without me mentioning anything, "This pizza is delicious!" I would not come here to eat nor bring anyone out to eat, but if you are looking for good carry-out pizza..go here! The customer service is not great as the guys are not friendly. But, I will continue to come here for the great pizza!
(4)
Jeff M.
Great pizza, was looking for something different than the standard Chicago super pizzas. Tried it and don't regret it but it is still no Lous, Unos. or Ginos. Good pricing and great employees
(3)
William S.
I love the pizza but I would change the crust. If they do that, the pizza will be perfect.
(4)
David K.
Damenzo's I feel becomes overshadowed by their competition across the street, Bacci's. Sure they have $5 jumbo slices with "pop". But the quality of Damenzo's pizza is better in my opinion. They also have large size pizzas as well. Damenzo's also has this one dish, Linguini and Clam sauce. This dish is so flavorful! One order gives you two take out container-fuls. SO MUCH FOOD! I always end up getting the cheesesteak or the buffalo wings. Great stuff right there. One gripe I have about this place is that the fresh cut fries are always hit or miss. Either they are perfect and great, or they are soggy or undercut. More times than not, the fries disappoint. All in all, this place has good quality food, huge portions, and cheap prices.
(3)
Mr. P.
So the reviews here are good. I've avoided this place for almost 2 years and decided to finally give it a go since I had been everywhere on Taylor street. I had some warnings from some people, but I figure why not. First of all, no one knew where to place their order. I stood there until someone decided to help me. 2 people ended up taking my order. I tried to order a fountain drink and the 1st person taking my order said ... "I think you should get the CAN of lemonade." So I did. I really wanted a pizza puff, but not for $7.99, of which then I found out was a whole calzone, not a pizza puff at all. Misleading. I ordered the "Jumbo Burger" with cheese, and an order of small cheese fries. I noticed a lot of fries just sitting in the baskets behind the counter looking hardened from the grease from sitting there. At this point I was told "It's going to be 15 minutes for the burger." It took me a while to decide on that, so I decided to wait it out and burn a large chunk of my lunch hour. Then you walk over to one of two rooms to wait for your food. The floors are DIRTY. The last room appears to be part of the taco place but they merged. Different people kept appearing out the back to bring food out, and also deliver the food to the incorrect tables, making customers very angry. I noticed someone waiting for their food when I got there, and when I was done, she was still waiting for her food and very angry. The place was not packed, and they seemed very disorganized and out of control. One of the people bringing out the food, a customer had addressed a complaint to him. I didn't hear what the customer had asked, but loudly the Damenzo's employee said "I'm just trying to do my *explict word* job". This set a bad tone... not to mention the show "Cheaters" on the television adding to the negative experience. First my burger arrived. It was large. The bun was greasy. The burger patty was charred to a crisp. I also noticed the lettuce had very little color and was limp (old) and the tomato was old looking as well. Hardly any ketchup. I bit into the burger, only to experience a charred rubbery "this burger is old and has gone bad so we better over cook the heck out of it" flavor. I was very hungry too, but I had to force down what I had. 5 minutes later, the plate of fries arrive. The small fry was on a large plate and probably was equal to about 4 orders of fries to feed a family. The cheese was dumped on top of it - and the cheese was visually unappealing - and a metal fork stabbed into the middle of it standing up. I took a bite of a fry with the cheese on it. I'm sorry, that's not cheese. It didn't taste like cheese. It looked off-yellow, but had no flavor and just stuck to my mouth making me panic and grab my can of Brisk lemonade. I gave it a go without the sauce and the fry was inedible - it was a miniature grease-trap with potato somewhere in it, and should have not been served. I dug in to find a better looking fry and the same thing - a mini grease trap of old grease flavor. INEDIBLE. Not feeling to well as I write this after eating there. I've had better food from a food truck/roach coach. Service, atmosphere and food get an "F-". FAIL. They do have an award on the wall for "Best Burrito in Chicago" from FOX in 2005. Well, it's 2011. Based on the old reviews I've read, things have changed. The west-end of Taylor St. by Western Ave. is a tough spot, but Damenzo's fails to even come up as "safe" or slightly below average.
(1)
Jermaine H.
I ordered delivery from Damenzo's Pizza and, as usual, the person I spoke to on the phone rushed me through my order and wasn't very customer friendly. They have good food no doubt, but they should have a more friendly and welcoming person doing their phone orders. In addition to this annoyance, the delivery driver calls me to let me know that he is outside with my order. I go to the door and there he is sitting in his vehicle. This is unacceptable to me considering it cost me $4.50 for delivery. I am under the impression that a delivery driver delivers your food to your doorstep, an thus also earning a tip. So, here I am outside with my socks and a t-shirt on in the cold paying for my food. I engaged in a discussion with him about my displeasure at having to come outside to get my own food. He was apologetic and cited that they don't get out of their vehicles because of safety concerns. Are you serious? Give me a break. If there is a concern for driver safety, then it would probably be a good idea to not be open until Midnight. Try only allowing delivery hours during the day. I had to laugh as I neglected to provide a tip to this guy. The food is pretty good, but the management and employees are unprofessional morons. Probably the last time I will order from here again. And take note Damenzo's-- I have been a loyal customer there for several years.
(2)
Vanessa A.
great pizza, and beef, very good, a lil hard to get service, but understandable.
(4)
Lori S.
The pizza here is solid. the prices are good, it feeds a crowd. I had my birthday party in their space last year, and they were great about (I hadn't called ahead and said there would be about 20 people in for over two hours). It wasn't the fastest service, but were there to enjoy. We also get the burritos here, which are ok, but nothing compared to what you can get down in Pilsen. If you are ordering take out, call ahead, or else you could wait for a while.
(4)
Jimmy M.
2 words: Pizza Puff! They're not the generic (but still delicious) deep-fried patties you get at hot dog stands, no. They're more like calzones on steroids. And cheap as hell too! Edit Remove
(5)
Stephanie C.
The pizza is good and they offered us a discount for my class when we had a class pizza party. They own a lot of businesses in the neighborhood and they seem to care about the people who live here.
(4)
Scott A.
I used to get a slice when I would come here, but since the price has gone up I have figured out what will keep my business here instead of Bacci's - the almighty pizza puff. I know what you're thinking - how can a simple pizza puff be described as "almighty" when it is just a pizza puff? This is no ordinary pizza puff. This is an entire small to medium sized pizza loaded with toppings and then simply folded onto itself. That's right, for $6 you're eating the most cost-effective and delicious pizza puff you've ever strained to carry home. Sure, a slice is good now and then, the rib tips are large and tasty, and the sandwiches look promising... but how can anyone say no to a pizza puff that feeds like 3 meals? Try it once, I swear you'll go back for more.
(4)
Arlene G.
My girlfriend's mommy came into town today so we decided to have great pizza for dinner and Damenzos did it again! We always get a pepperoni and spinach pizza. It seemed as if this pizza was extra good tonight! I always like it but I liked it even more today! There was more cheese than usual and it was very flavorful! Yaaaaay Damenzos!
(4)
Reid C.
3 Stars for the food, -1 for using nothing but disposable Styrofoam and plastic for eat in customers. The four star rating at this place -- wow -- where does that come from? Nostalgia? The pizza was OK, but just OK. The crust felt food service--too round, too uniform--although the spinach on top was fresh not frozen. Let's talk about the Pizza Puff. It's $6.99 and it's on the starter menu. First, yes, it was tasty but it's basically just a calzone. The only difference is that a calzone is typically folded over and looks like a half moon where the pizza puff is a second crust on top of the first -- looks like a full moon. The service was excellent. I enjoyed the neighborhood.
(2)
Tien N.
Food here is a hit and miss. The pizza is good but not great. The mexican food is beyond disgusting. I got sick from eating it here. The fries are greasy and soggy. I would only stick with the pizzas here. Everything else on the menu is either average or dissapointing.
(2)
Ron R.
Havent been here in years...but this place stayed in my mind. If you throw a pizza puff at someones head you can get locked up for attempted murder. Bowling ball sized puffs of pizza to the dome aint cool.
(4)
Quineasha D.
DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS PLACE! If you enjoy quality food delivered to you, DO NOT order from here. My family and I ordered from this place and most of what we got was crap. The Italian beef was good but that was the only thing that was. They gave us a small brown paper bag of fries that was entirely soaked by the grease! And they gave us a large cold greasy slice of pepperoni pizza in a paper bag that was stapled to the other bag! The cheese fries were bland and half cooked. The worst food that has ever been given to me. They are terrible! I will never order from them again!
(1)
Natalie R.
I don't personally care for the pizza - it's very thin and tastes like cardboard, but it's also very cheap and incredibly oversized so it's perfect for the UIC crowd. So my review is for the one item I do faithfully order over and over and over again: the pannini. You see, when it's good it is very, very good. And when it is not so good, it's still very good. Sometimes it's the size of my hand; sometimes it's the size of my head. Sometimes it's the perfect blend of meat, cheese, and veggies; sometimes it's just an oozing mess of dressing and loaded with enough onion to ensure you will never, ever get that first kiss no matter how many years lapse from the time you ate the sandwich to the time you parted your lips in expectant ecstasy. Regardless, when it is spot on, it is so good that it's worth the risk every time.
(3)
Marcia T.
Many times...my job has treated us pizza from here...and it's always been good...very big slices of pizza...actually a lil too big for me...and the crust would be so much better if it was a lil more thick...other than that very good pizza =)
(3)
Esteban P.
I recently decided to do a taste comparison with the local pizzerias in my old hood. I must say that between the local joints, Damenzo's is the better pizza and the better bargain hands down. The pizza has a nice "cracker" flavor to it, which blends nicely with the tangy sauce. The cheese looks and tastes nice and fresh, and melts beautifully onto the slice. I remember walking into the restaurant to order a slice, and I would see them preparing a sausage pizza. They had a huge mound of freshly mixed sausage stuffing. The cook would grab a hand full at a time and pinch away chunks which were systematically placed all around the pizza. I always enjoyed watching the artistry in motion. At times I even changed my order to a sausage slice rather then pepperoni. The only other thing I've ever eaten here is the pizza puff. This thing is a monster. The first time I ordered one, I actually ordered two. The order taker looked at me and said that I think I only want one. I asked how big it was and he said one was big enough. I agreed and when he charged me $5.50 I freaked out; though once they handed me the heavy pizza box containing my puff I was taken aback. This thing weighed a ton! I quickly opened the box and could not believe my eyes!!! This pizza puff was ginormous!!! I finished it all, which is damn impressive. From that day forward, whenever the guys would get together, we'd all order our pizza puffs. I liked the chicken puff myself, but it seemed as if the sausage and pepperoni were equally popular with my boyz. In fact, we made it a right of passage and the new guy always had to finish his own puff. All in all, I'm glad I did the taste test. I always knew I favored Damenzo's the most, but I never knew how much better it was. And trust me, it is!
(4)
Andrew J.
Ok. It's all about the pizza puff. The most glorious misnomer in all of pizza-dom. It is not a mere puff, but a hulking behemoth of pizza-ness. Back in the day, I'd eat off of one of these for a week. For $5? Um, yes please.
(4)
Ken M.
The wait sucked but the stuffed Chicago pizza was awesome!
(4)
John L.
I did not discover Damenzo's. My friend Matt introduced me to Damenzo about 12(?) years ago when I was visiting him at UIC. Damenzo has since been stuffing me with pizza slices and calzones ever since. Sure, the prices have gone up a little bit, you can't get a gargantu-slice and pop for $2.50 anymore, but it's still completely cheap for Chicago prices. Damenzo runs a no-frills, no fuckin' around institution. You simply walk in the corner entrance, order your slice or calzone to go and are on your merry way. Calzones might take a few minutes, so have a beer while you wait. Calzones come with 2 fillings (sausage, mushroom, etc.) and are about the size of a football. Basically, it's a medium pizza folded in half. $5.50, and it'll feed you for 2-3 meals. The atmosphere: Chicago....and thankfully there are still neighborhoods here, like where Damenzo's is, that are still....like....Chicago.
(5)
Terrance H.
Damenzo's has been a staple for me since high school. Some 15 years now. damn that sucks! anyway i can remember the joys of piling 6 or 7 deep in a tiny nissan pulsar and making the trek from the HS parking lot over to Damenzo's. the trip back to the parking lot didn't always happen thus the reason for summer school which appears below. back then $2.50 made a kid feel like a king. Go ahead and order a slice and an order of fries I dare you to eat it all by yourself and not have to unbutton, and even unzp your pants (a la Al Bundy style). now on to the food. Damenzo's can't be beat with the beef's hands down, Al's down the street is good and so is the other place other yelper's mentioned but come on. "give me a jumbo beef with cheese, mushrooms, hot peppers, dipped" mmmmmm, just writing about it makes me want to call and place an order.... So I'm back actually my girlfriend is going to pick one up on the way over tonight! Ok getting back to the review. they've changed the decor within the last few months. the front door has been moved but the food is still the same. I don't eat there often because I want to be able to walk down the street not waddle but here's a tip... In the summer get a slice or a beef. When your finished slide down to mario's and get a lemon ice beverage. ah, such memories of high school. yeah i know i said summer... so i had to spend 1 year in summer school so what. you wanna make something of it!!
(5)
ryan w.
Damn it. Being around UIC (or any college neighborhood) makes me feel like a decrepit old man, like the kind of guy who plays harmonica for a living, bounces from one SRO hotel to another, and blew his last chance a decade ago. When I look at all those happy, fresh-faced collegiate pukes I feel such animosity, such resentment, such longing for a second chance. In other words, I want to shake the kids who are living it up a bit too much and warn them of the drab workaday realities lying in wait. As for the kids who will be successful, I mainly want to drink their blood, ingest their organs, consume their flesh, devour their souls, etc. Fuckers. Take THAT! Damenzo's is the great equalizer of UIC, as it adds a weighty dose of tragedy and failure to an area saturated by Good Times (bro). Thanks to its boarded windows, dilapidated patio, surly clientele, careless servers, lack of A/C, and steady flow of meth-craving beggars and legless locals, just about anyone can walk into this joint and feel like a million bucks. Thank god the pizza is delicious, because I'd feel lame coming down here once a week simply to gawk at all the fuck-ups. Read the other reviews for needless details of the cheese, the sauce, the toppings (zzz...)
(5)
Nycole H.
I wanted to update my review, because last time I mentioned a mistake made. I've had pizza from here about ten more times since then and never another mistake.
(4)
Ameer G.
Im actually writing this review for the tacos, not sure if its a different restaurant or what, but the carne asada steak tacos are good. cant really talk about the other food, but those are good. call ahead, because this place is slow as heck.
(4)
Mark A.
This would be the best thin crust in the city, as far as I'm concerned - except for the fact that 90% of the time I order for delivery, it's ALWAYS cold! The sauce is fantastic, kind of sweet, and the crust is good too. You can get meatballs on the 'za if you want them too! And their good meatballs. But it takes forever to get here (we don't live that far away) and it's always cold. It's obviously good since I keep ordering from them and put up with warm pizza. Never tried anything else from the joint, but I may have to order carry out from now on.
(3)
Kea K.
Damenzo's Pizza is good...in fact, it's very good...But since discovering their Italian Beef, I have no desire for pizza when going or ordering from there! This is definitely a two fisted, two meal sandwich...piled high with only the best beef...get it topped with cheese and some gardinara...and dipped until it's soggy with gravy...then eat the first half with a fork and hide the other half in the fridge for lunch tomorrow!
(5)
Beken P.
The staff does not communicate with each other. I saw the cook come out and ask the people waiting what their orded was. The food is good at times, it's not consistently good. It's would be a while before I'll go back again.
(2)
Paige R.
Worst. Buritto. Ever. Seriously. Where do I start? I was a little hesitant to order mexican food from a pizza place, but I figured, what the heck. What a mistake. I am not a picky eater by any means. But really, I need more from my buritto than grease in a tortilla shell. The buritto is HUGE. So if you like large amounts of food, then thats a plus. But once you take a bite, I'm sure you'll no longer want it to be so big. There was so much grease. The meat had abn extremely weird taste, when I gave it to my mom she described it as "medicinal". My two year old daughter took a bite and then headed straight for her potty. I didn't even have to ask her. It was like some kind of potty training conditioning was inspired by this food. There doesnt seem to be much more in the buritto besides grease and meat. The shell was soggy. The a la carte sauce had an awful smell. Perhaps it'd been sitting out. Like I said, I'm not a picky eater, and I'm usually a pretty positive person. But this food is unacceptable. I'm debating rather it'd be worth it to walk back up there and ask for a refund. I have a neighbor who has two dogs that bark all night and all day. Perhaps if I throw the buritto over the fence it'll take care of that problem.
(1)
Mrs. I.
You can't beat the price for what you get. I used to live kitty corner to this place and the line would be out the door at times. Cheap, tasty, fast.
(3)
Amy M.
I'm only basing my review on their slice of cheese pizza - but I find it to be so damn good. Absolutely HUGE slice (verging on ridiculously-oversized), but a perfect combo of cheese (good amount, nice and golden brown), sauce (great tomato flavor and not a ton of sauce - I'm not a big fan of a lot of sauce) and a fantastic crust. The crust has body and a great chewiness, but still remains pretty crunchy overall. Not a cracker-thin crispy crust, btw. I get a slice to go - they throw it in a paper bag, and you're out the door. YUM.
(5)
Camille O.
Damenzo's, on the west side of W. Taylor street, is a popular neighborhood spot, especially at lunch time. In addition to pizza, there's a wide selection of Italian specialties such as ravioli, eggplant parmigiana, linguini and clam sauce, and lasagna. And as a reflection of the neighborhood's demographics, you can also enjoy tacos, enchiladas, and burritos! Take-out service is fast and furious at lunch time but for those who have a bit of time to relax, there's an ample dining room. Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00AM - 12:00AM Friday and Saturday 10:00AM - 1:00AM Sunday 10:00AM - 12:00AM
(3)
Katrina H.
Love these Italian Stallion Owners!! They are always good to me! Every single time I walk in there. It's like they knew I was new to the neighborhood or something... Their food is Very good. the Pizza is Delicious!! Interesting that they have combined their foods with the Papi's Taco's from Western but ok.. I eat at Papis as well so it's a one stop Shop!! They deliver so it's a PLUS but make sure that you tally up your check correctly before you get off of the phone (Check the menu at grubhub.com if you don't have one in hand) as the cashier may overcharge).. They can get pretty busy however it's well worth it and the wait is never that long. Their Italian beef is GREAT!! so is the FISH.. YUM YUM
(4)
Maria C.
Talk about a huge slice of pizza. I go there when I have taste for a calzone but they call it pizza puff there. It's a medium pizza folded in half. I can never eat one of these by myself but I like to take the leftovers for lunch, and it's cheap. I don't necessarily like to eat here though because it does not look as clean.
(3)
kina r.
I often order delivery with my co-workers, and remind everyone to not order pizza. The pizza is very very thin and has no taste. When you order please try the pizza puff, (sausage, black olives and mushrooms)it cost about $6.00 and can feed 3 people. The steak tacos are great also, just tell them to add sour cream and avocado.
(3)
Natatia O.
In high school, I used to be able to order a slice and a soda for $2.25. If that weren't enough to make me love them, the slices are HUGE!! In my opinion, they're more like personal pizzas, and the price can't be beat.
(4)
Claudia D.
Yummy Nachos!
(5)
Ellen M.
Slice is so big it's bigger than a 12 inch pizza and takes 2 hands to manage, Yes better than bacci, Thee biggest slice in Chicago, As far as taste..... Pronto za is close but I'll pick Damenso's if I had to. And yes the beef is good but not even close to the best, Sloppy too, Bring a fork.
(4)
Joe C.
TOTAL WASTE OF TIME. I just got off the phone, after talking to a lady with a bad aditude, THEN I talked to a manager, who couldnt tell me about HIS OWN MENU! He also had a difficult time speaking English.I can't tell you what the food tastes like, because I wasn't able to order. I was told to call Ricobenes, when I asked him how the breaded steak was made and how it compared to theirs I would NOT waste my time or efort ever with a restuarant like this. i ran a restuarant for over 9 years. I NEVER had a customer post any bad reviews about MY place!
(1)
Jonathan C.
I have to say, I like this pie a little bit more than Bacci's across the street. The crust is a little airier and not as dense (its not what I would call a light crust though). The sauce has a little more flavor. That said, I go to both about equally. Why's that you ask? What's the difference between this place and Bacci's across the street? Prices are about the same. Service is a little more, well brusque (not rude), but ordering at Bacci's is usually less chaotic. I'm in and out of Bacci's faster. There less of a choice in pizza's at Damenzo's, actually there are less food options in general, unless you count the Mexican food place that is connected to Damenzo's. Which is pretty good. Also the take out bag, does not travel nearly as nicely as the box they give you at Bacci's, its not as convenient or as easy. But that pie is better. So, if your not in a hurry, or you want to eat the best slice available, right there. Damenzo's is the place. The chicken wings are a good bet as well, and they deliver.
(4)
Joshua A.
My girlfriend took me to this here the other day, she said they had the best beefs she ever had, and her taste buds were lying to her...I mean the beefs weren't bad, but it wasn't the best....It was like the beef was missing some seasoning or something....Also when there's ten other people eating inside the restaurant it's best to take the food with you because it's too crowded
(3)
Sara O.
Screw going to the Bacci across the street - Damenzo's fo life. They offer the same type of menu - greasy & cheap, but it is definitely better here. Also, they have a very wide delivery area, so even if you live in wicker park they'll bring you a pie. I am rating this based on the fact that it's a greasy pizza joint - and it is good for what it is. It's not some spectacular 5 star dining, so come here if you want some hangover food, to gain a few pounds, really like pan pizza, or need to end your life early through eating. :)
(5)
Nino M.
I used to eat at Damenzo's all the time during my lunch break from work. I could easily catch the UIC shuttle bus and get off right at the front door of Damenzo's. Then the place burned down. Well, not really all the way down. But the original location was destroyed because of a kitchen fire. They remodeled and now the new Damenzo's location is located right next door in what used to be the Damenzo's part hall. My brother actually held two family parties there. I like the taste overall over Bacci's. Yeah Bacci ain't bad but in my opinion Damenzo's is a better tasting Pizza, and the slice is just as big as Bacci's portions. I have only been back like twice since they re opened their newly remodeled location. I had to stop eating pizza and fried chicken because of my diabetes and high cholesterol. I recommend people check this pizza place out. Beside the Pizza, they have the most insane pizza puff EVER! It's actually just a small little pizza folded over with toppings. That's what I call a pizza puff. There is free parking on the street if you can find it. If you are a worker, or student at the UIC east or west side campus, the Uic shuttle bus will drop you ff right in front of the place. and you can catch the shuttle back at the same location you get off. Not really that expensive. Check it out.
(4)
Mike L.
Ive had both their pizza and pizza puff (calzone). I think the ingredients they use can be a bit better, but everything is good. Why did I rate this place 4 stars? Have you ever seen the calzone??? For less then 10 bucks you receive a Calzone that is twice the size of your head. Everytime I order it I need to take a picture, Im amazed by it. Last time I got it I was starving and it held over me and my gf for dinner and lunch the next day.
(4)
GLORIA J.
i have only tasted the combination at damenzo's. it was excellent!! a two day meal, loved it. 5 stars
(5)
Sean M.
I consider myself a pizza connoisseur so my review should carry some weight. When I moved to this part of the city first thing I had to do was find some good pizza. After messing around with leonas and giordanos I finally found this place. The reviews are pretty accurate- its good most of the time with an occasional bad pizza. I notice that the cooks at night are better than the day time- in the day time they put too much cheese on. I would also order the sausage pizza rather than just cheese- the sausage is delicious and tops off the pizza well. Overall you aren't going to find much better pizza around here give it a chance. Oh and the paninis are great too- hand cut fries come with them and they are awesome.
(4)
Matt H.
Better than Baci's usually. I like to call it inconsistent pizza. Sometimes it is great while at other times it is slightly sub par to Baci pizza. It is conviently next to my friends apt and I always choose it over it's top competitor.
(3)
Maxxy C.
Damenzo's Pizza has a soft place in my heart. They delivered pizza for my nursing group for over 15 years. Always wonderful pizzas and deliveries. Nowadays, I purchase their pizza's for my birthday parties. Just absolutely delicious pizza. I highly recommend this business!
(5)
Michael H.
The best pasta in town. My bf and I lived right up the street from here and we'd have dinner here quite a bit. The pasta is delicious, the portions are huge! So be prepared for left overs. Try the chicken Alfredo, that's our favorite!
(5)
Chris W.
This place has some pretty decent food, but their customer service is TERRIBLE. Last night was the 3rd time that I made an order, waited at least 20-30 minutes for a pizza, only to get to the car only to see they made my order wrong. The other 2 times they did this, I just gave it back to them and ordered a slice of cheese pizza, that they still made me pay full price for. You'd think after them making you wait for something you didn't ask for that they'd cut you a break on something else for the time you spent waiting. Nope. Not at all. Last night was the last time this place gets my business. I asked for a refund. It's like you tell them what you want on your pizza and they put whatever they want on your pizza. Terrible service. The employees are terrible as well. The act like you're bothering them by coming in to their establishment for service. I refuse to give Damenzo's another dollar and I wish I could personally resolve this matter with the owner. THREE times I've waited for a pizza only for it to be something I didn't order!!
(1)
Mark M.
Definitely a better choice than the bland tasting Bacci's Pizza from across the street. Pricing on their huge slices of pizza is a better deal than Bacci, too. Their pizza bread is priced low and it is tasty. The regular crust on a fresh ordered whole pie is a little thick for my tastes so I order extra thin... and it still ain't thin enough for me. They could be a little more consistent with how their pizzas are churned out. That said, I still dig this place.
(4)
Angela G.
I used to work within a few blocks of this place and I was addicted to the pizza. Damenzo's was responsible for +20 lbs back in the day LOL! If you want a great, quick slice of pizza the size of a place mat check them out. I also had a little crush on Dom back then so that added to the experience! Nice people, good comfort food at a great value.
(5)
Bride T.
I love this place. They have a variety of food choices. From tacos, pizza, sandwiches it's great!!! The Cheese beef is to die for!!! Get it with hot peppers and dipped.
(5)
James L.
This is some amazing homemade tasting, old school Chicago thin crust pizza. One of the original 'giant slice' places, their quality is head and shoulders above their imitators. Damemzos is the perfect definition of a real deal Chicago neighborhood joint and that 'hood is west-taylor street/UIC/medical-law-triangle-zone-area. Sometimes they can be insanely busy with long wait times but that goes for any good pizza place. Discovered them while going to UIC and have been ordering from them for 15 years. Hands down one of the best old school pizza places and a prime example of Chicago style thin crust.
(5)
Morganne B.
Ordered lunch delivery from here for the office. 8 different orders and the food was here in under 30 minutes... That's pretty much unheard of so if you're looking for fast delivery and live within a couple miles, this is your spot. I had a grilled chicken salad which came with a ton of fresh mozzarella cubes and ripe tomatoes. The chicken was well seasoned and a large portion. They didn't put salad dressing in with the order but we had some in the fridge so it's all good. Also tried a bite of veggie pizza which was awesome. It was still plenty hot which you can't always count on if you get delivery. Everyone who got them also seemed to love their beef sandwiches. They have a bunch of vegetarian options as well. Would definitely order from Damezo's again.
(4)
Ty N.
The pizza slices are tasty and absolutely huge!!! The establishment provides a large variety of different foods to eat. I don't recommend eating at the restaurant, the decor isn't very inviting, but the food is fantastic. It's an excellent spot for take-out orders. I recommend the pizza, one slice will have you full for hours. It is the largest slice of pizza that I have ever eaten. I definitely recommend trying their food for the experience.
(4)
Passhon J.
Best Cheesy Beefs in the city hands down. Try them, and you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Lin H.
I put four stars because of the behemoth of a sandwich I got from here! I ended up with the Damenzo Sandwich (#1), which had mortadella, salami, and something else that I can't remember right now... I watched the entire time they made the sandwich, and the veggies were so fresh and so clean clean! And oh my god are they GENEROUS! I ate a quarter of the sandwich and was stuffed. I did not eat anything else for the remainder of my six hour drive home. What a pleasant surprise! I guess the only negative thing I can say is about myself, which is that I did not try any pizza :)
(4)
C H.
I've been coming to Damenzo's for years!!!! My father introduced me to the place when I was a little girl. He'd bring us here for the biggest slice of pizza and Italian beefs. I've never had a bad issue with the service it's usually pretty good. The food is always HOT and fresh! You can watch them make the food also!!! I remember as a kid coming in here watching the guys flip the pizza dough in the air. Today I called my order in after my younger cousin had them deliver her a small pizza. I was unaware that they delivered so I immediately jumped on the phone to place an order. The delivery charge is $4.50 so I ended up just coming in and picking up my food. Great food!!!
(5)
Vanessa G.
This banquet hall is just hands down amazing!! I just attended a wedding there this past Saturday. Although I never even knew this place existed because it is well hidden between other buildings, the inside is just gorgeous! It brings a chicago urban vibe along with gorgeous architecture plus intimacy. The bar was big, although they probably should have had two bartenders. The fettuccine alfredo and chicken parm were soooo good too. Loved the layout and brick walls. Friendly staff, great for a wedding or party, awesome mezzanine level for a dj so they aren't in the way.
(5)
Matt P.
This is a disgrace to the tradition of Chicago Pizza. I was up late at my hotel while in town and opted to try Damenzo's since it was open late and delivered. As a former Chicagoan, I love and miss genuine Chicago pizza. I ordered a deep dish pepperoni. Such a disappointment: flavorless crust with no body or depth, mediocre sauce and cheese. It was more like a NY-Style pizza jammed into a pan and then baked. Not worth the $20 I paid for it. Do yourself a favor and choose another pizza place in town: almost any option would be better.
(1)
Rod D.
I've been going here since my days living across the street while a student at UIC. Their pizza slices are HUGE...and that's an understatement when I say that. For just over $3 a slice, you can feed about 3 people with that same slice! Not the best pizza I've ever had but worth the money especially if you are in the area.
(4)
Gina S.
Italian joint with some Mexican fare. Tacos and tostadas or pizza and pasta...and so much more. The hubs was treating because he is always craving pizza. It's $4 total (including tax) for a jumbo, and I mean JUMBO, slice of pizza. The pizza by the slices only come with one topping; pepperoni, sausage or plain ol' cheese. We each got our own. It is such a big slice that I ended up sharing a fair amount of mine with the two little fur babies and I was still pretty full afterwards. The crust is damn near amazing, better than the place down the block's crust IMHO. It's hand tossed thin crust and baked to perfection. The crust held up all on it's own, I could eat it one handed without a mess. I only wish they offered more by-the-slice topping variety. I love my pizzas topped with lots of veggies...but I'd still choose this over the place down the block.
(5)
Chris C.
Great place, my brother brought me here for a pizza puff that has kept me coming back ever since... Nice pizzeria with a New York feel that is nestled in Chicago's west loop.
(5)
Faithe M.
Pizza puff game is crazy. It's HUGE. I like the steak nachos, mozzarella sticks, and Italian beef mmmmmmm
(5)
Mike S.
Placed order for delivery, on time, was still hot. Pizza was so good, loved the sauce. Toppings were very generous.
(4)
Erika A.
Ordered a.veggie pizza yesterday after Taylor st failed...it was super cheesy and sooo delicious. I also added garlic salt at home and it was even better.
(4)
George F.
Great calzones- I mean they are HUGE and filled with all sorts of ingredients- meats, sauces, cheeses all fire baked in a wood burning oven. All of this for about 7 bucks. The kids love getting these pizza clouds and so do we. Pick up the phone, call one in and go get it (takes about 15 min to make).
(4)
Lupe D.
I've had a taste for pizza - so I decided to get a slice at lunch. You would think that good pizza is a given in Little Italy - uh, no. Any place around here that sells slices makes mediocre pizza - at best. I had not been to Damenzo's in YEARS so I figured I would go back for a slice see if it was any good..now I know why I had not been back. This place is a friggin zoo at lunch - no system, order, of even a hint that anyone cares about the chaos of just trying to order. Friggin' disaster. It's was damn free for all! U can't tell who ordered from who was waiting for their food. Two huge menus - neither lists slices of pizza as an option, but they did have a Mexican Food section ?? so I had to ask whether they still sold slices. No clear indication of whether there was a line somewhere - can't figure out where to pay - let alone where the hell do I wait for my food?? As far as the pizza - ew. Yes, it's a big slice - but bigger isn't better, it's just bigger - and this big slice of cheese pizza was a waste of $4. As I waited for my food, I see a guy walk over to the oven with a pizza box and pull out a nasty old slice of pizza and threw it in the oven - yep, you guess it - I got a nice big slice of reheated pizza Not even a slice that was sitting under a heat lamp - this looked like it was the last slice from last night's frat party. So after the counter person yells at me that my slice was ready - I received a brown paper bag, with my reheated slice of pizza sitting on a piece of wax paper - obviously folded in half to fit in the bag...which it barely did - the tip was protruding from the bag. Now, I know I shouldn't be too picky about packaging, but it's getting chilly out, and I have to walk to my office with this paper bag. Of course - you guessed it - pizza was cold by the time I get back to the office. And the clincher - it tasted worse than a frozen pizza. UGH...NEVER AGAIN! I guess if I want good pizza I should venture anywhere BUT Little Italy.
(1)
Whitlee H.
Service is fast and food is amazing. I'm originally from Chicago and I always come here when I visit to get my beef. I have also tried their pizza too. If you are in Chicago and looking for some good food definitely stop by here.
(5)
Tamera B.
I have to say this pizza was pretty awesome! We stopped here on a late night after a Christmas party......so the late hours are super nice! The staff was friendly. The french fries and pizza were very good and nicely priced. The pizza isn't the best I've had, but definitely worth coming back for. Their menu is extensive as well, they have everything from traditional Italian dishes to tacos. The pizza slices are humongous......enough for 3. We would definitely stop by Damenzo's again if we're in the area.
(4)
Marc V.
If you are looking for authentic Italian cuisine that is just like mom used to make, then Damenzos on Taylor street is your place. Outstanding meatballs the size of a softball and KILLER lasagna are just a few of the choices you will find. With great service and great value as "bookends" to your experience, you can not go wrong at Damenzos. I was truly blown away. Thank you Dominic and your crew for a delicious and enjoyable eating experience.
(5)
Isaiah F.
I only come here for the jumbo pizza and I've never been disappointed. I think it puts Bacci to shame. The slices are just as big but they have more meat, more sauce, and more flavor. Drunk or sober this pizza is still delicious. They stay open late so they can enable my bad decision making. I appreciate that, haha. The people are a little gruff but I'm not there for the ambiance or the personalities, I'm there for amazing pizza and that's what they give me, every time.
(4)
Federico C.
I have been coming here for several years now, thanks to the close proximity to my job.. This place has become our go to spot when the hospital cafeteria has bored our tastebuds. When the conversation of giant pizza slices comes up.. this is the first place that comes to my mind... What is funny, is that when we mention mexican food in my office, this is probably the first place we think of as well, lol.. How can this be you ask?? well let me tell you that Damenzo's was initially an Italian staple here on Taylor street, offering giant pizza slices, yummy pastas, sandwiches and salads. A few years ago, the owner opened up a taco joint around the corner "Papi's Tacos" on Western Ave... If I am not mistaken, I think he earned best burrito in chicago honors from one of the local newspapers at one point (don't quote me on that).. Anywho.. a couple of years later, the two restaurants are now merged at the recently remodeled Damenzo's location on Taylor St. Now when I dine here, I wrestle over what I want to eat.. Do I want a giant slice of sausage pizza or a burrito?? A steak torta or a giant calzone?? Good thing is that everything here is pretty damn good, so regardless of my choice, my stomach will thank me! The owner and staff are very friendly and eager to get your order taken and served. The restaurant is clean, and has plenty of seating in the two dining areas and the outdoor patio. Must have: I say try the one fo the giant pizza slices or the giant calzone.. Both are very tasty and very big, so keep that in mind. You can easily share a calzone between two people and a pizza slice is almost too big for one person. Prices are very reasonable, $5 for a slice and a pop, About $6 for the calzone.. Fugettaboutit!
(4)
Juliann S.
This review is actually for Damenzo's Banquet hall around the corner (741 S. Western). They're owned by the same family. After a site visit, we were hooked. It's hard to imagine how beautiful this tastefully remodeled church is from the outside. Beyond that, it's very well laid-out for a seated party of 100 people - or more for cocktails. We held our office holiday party here, and everyone raved that it was the best ever. The food was good, the staff were AMAZING - attentive, professional, patient. It was the most effortless event our organization has ever had. The mezzanine was great for our DJ (we brought one in), and the acoustics were perfect for both dinner and dancing. They even let us do a pre-party tasting lunch so we could make informed menu choices, and adapted their offerings to our needs. If you're looking for a place to host a reception, holiday party, large family event, or corporate luncheon, this place should make your short list.
(5)
Luis B.
The era of pizza places that offer huge single slices is disappearing. So I'm glad places like Damenzo's still exist. My first encounter with a Damenzo's pizza slice will be forever memorable. It was cut up and put on a plate for me and it literally looked like a half a pizza was served. I loved it. I've also tried their famous pizza puff, but to me, it seemed a tad too big and bready for me. I did love the tomato sauce it came with, it was great for dipping. Everything we ordered seemed fresh and delicious. They get a big thumbs up for their cheese fries, I'd definitely get them again. Overall, Damenzo's will be my goto spot to scratch my itch for huge pizza slices. It's great for groups and families so definitely give them a try if you haven't already. Bon apetit!
(4)
Kevin S.
Awesome pizza slices. Been coming here since I was 6 all the way from Little Village whenever my dad fixed TVs here. They have tasted the same after all these years. A one of a kind flavor that nobody can mimic. This is the spot to gobble down on great pizza.
(5)
Kristen M.
Don't know what happened to Damenzo's. Ive been coming here for 11 years and it's always been great. Yesterday got the worst slices ever from there. Not that much cheese and it was like they were sitting there the entire day.. Not fresh at all. Really disappointed.
(2)
Rebecca B.
Like, the pizza is pretty good but not GREAT. However, customer service sucks. Sergio is a liar he should be fired. Asked to speak to manager and spoke to someone posing as the manager. Delivery guy tells me manager isn't in till Monday. 3 HOURS for a pizza! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! And no discount for their tardiness. Never ordering, eating, or calling this place again. I guess this is what I get for trying something different, huh? If I could rate this as no star I would. FALCOS PIZZA 4 LIFE!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
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Nilda G.
I love Damenzo's I live in Pilsen but have had them deliver to as far as 55th and Loomis and Lake/Pulaski love them for that.....but the food is very good and consistent. The Calzone is humungous and delicious and I love their cheesy beef and the container it comes in. Friendly fast service (if the delivery guy can find your address, ha ha).
(5)Irene Z.
Not only are the jumbo slices enough to feed a family, but they are goooood. Quick dinner Friday night with the family. This is one of my hubby's fave local spots...he used to stop in regularly after work during the week. Great neighborhood pizzeria, friendly staff and tons of space in the dining room (complete with televisions and nice granite topped tables). Cheese and pepperoni are our faves, along with the fries, which seem to be double-fried or something...they're that perfect medium of soft-to-crispy consistency and they're delicious! 2 jumbo slices, a side of fries, 2 bottled waters all under $12. Go Damenzo's.
(4)Michelle R.
The pizza tasted delicious and it's huge! They have a good selection of food like pastas, pizza, even turkey burgers lol. I will be coming back, but just remember to bring cash because they do not accept credit cards!
(4)Adam K.
This is a place that I eat at frequently because of the proximity to my work vendors pick this up and bring it for me & my staff like they are doing me a favor, they think they are getting some secret pizza place only "insiders" in Chicago know about. Not even close G fresh honey suckle. Not at all my favorite pie, they are very nice customer service wise and also the inside of the restaurant is OK. Their gigantic badonkadonk pizza puff makes me full for 3 weeks when I eat it. I like their cheese, but the crust? Damn yo, work on that crust holmes, the shit is like a cracker, and not the racial epitaph. Talkin straight up saltine style crust on the west side AKA the best side AKA the honey BBQ chicken breast side. Love this hood, but man, Damenzo's step that game up. Straight cornered the market on hard tack pizza.
(2)William Wesley M.
Awesome Chicago Style Stuffed Pizza! Out local go to pizza joint... not great atmosphere, a total delivery or carry out place, but the food is awesome!
(5)Maria G.
Wow! Big slices and great tasting. Ordered two jumbo slices of sausage and a drink and my total was only $9!
(4)Dmitri G.
Took them 2 hours to deliver a sandwich and half chicken three blocks away! The chicken definitely was not grade A meat. Italian beef was pretty good, but damn, 2 hours?!?!?!
(1)Bree M.
Love this place! Everything is delicious including the Mexican food and the portions are huge!
(4)David B.
I love this place Open late, good prices, good food. Atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but thats par for the course in this neighborhood. Their pizza is huge/cheap but not my favorite. I get the burritos a few times a week: gigantic burrito with tonsss of steak and beans and rice on the side... all for a shade over 8 bucks. Guys who work here arn't overly friendly, but pretty decent overall.
(5)Damian P.
Just plain great food! Ask for extra sauce! Its one of the places on Taylor Street that serves those big slices of goodness and than some. They remodeled a little over a year ago and it was the best thing they could of done. Food is just awesome, but may be too filling.
(4)Kim C.
The beef & pizza is good! However service is everything to me & I was told by one employee they never accept credit cards for delivery (which is a lie) & the delivery guy will not get out of the car to deliver. Also if you order pickup; you are courteous & wait to be asked "how may I help you?" Forget about it. The rudest person with the biggest mouth gets served first. The customer service leaves much to be desired.
(3)Diana S.
I can only review the steak torta. I actually went in today because I had an obscene craving for churros (which they don't carry) and so instead ordered a steak torta. It was seasoned well, the bread was toasted and yum and the filling was perfect. But the stars of the show were the salsas- the red (orange?) and green that came in teeny tiny little cups in the bottom of the bag-- I could drink those things! I can't believe I've lived here for 5 months and not had it before. Will def be back.
(4)Julie A.
I really really really really liked this pizza. On a Sunday night it was delivered in 40 minutes! I thought it had enough sauce and flavor - and I am happy to say that this is in the rotation. I enjoy thin-crust, and am constantly on a mission to find pizza like what I grew up with in E-Town. Oh, Two Brothers. Move to the city! Anyway, they were a little gruff on the phone, but I can deal with that! As long as the pizza doesn't start sucking, which seems to be the case whenever I find a place I like, I'm a happy girl.
(4)Alli E.
I don't know, Damenzo's is cool because it's right down the street from my place and the pizza is decent although I have definitely had better. I think the food could be AMAZING if they got some good employees rather than the apathetic hoodrats that they have working there currently.
(2)Taeler H.
The pizza puff (calzone) is like getting an actual pizza pie. It is HUGE, and so is the flavor. I went half or 1/3 on a sausage pizza puff (delivered) with some co-workers and I was very full... My portion was just enough to get me full and satisfied. Some of my other co-workers got slices of pizza, which were also HUGE. This place is good, and I will return!
(4)Francesca G.
Where do I start? It's not just about the pizza at this place! The pasta is also fresh and delicious! My favorite is the shells and broccoli with shrimp, it's flavorful and delicious and they use FRESH broccoli and shrimp. If you haven't tried the chicken panini sandwich or the other new sandwiches on their menu you are missing out. The Eggplant Parmesean and Cheese Beef are also really, really good. Large portions of delicious fresh food at a reasonable price...this is my new favorite spot!!
(5)Sunny M.
I've gone past this place a million times and tried the food for the first time last night. What have I been missing!? Had the "everything" stuffed pizza. AMAZING! I'm a Chicago native and love me some good pizza-- this stands with some of the finest in town. Go figure, this unassuming little neighborhood place will surprise you. I can't say anything about the wait, delivery or dining area as I wasn't the person who picked up the food (I was the one lazily waiting at home while my partner picked it up for me!). When it comes to the pizza itself, however, YUM! Two thumbs up!
(4)Jack P.
On my way here for lunch, I thought to myself, I thought; "self, you may want to get two slices instead of one, 'cause you're pretty hungry." Then I saw the slices as I passed through the dining room. Yikes! They are huge. So I ordered a slice of sausage and a coke. Five bucks. The pizza is what I would describe as "deep thin crust" or a cross between thin crust and deep dish. The crust is fairly thick and bready, and on the under-cooked pale side. But good. And the sauce, which is tasty, is also on the heavy side, along with the cheese. Because of its thickness, you can't really fold it like a New York slice. I would recommend bringing your own rolling slicer and cutting in half lengthwise. And maybe some real utensils, because there is no eating it with the teensy plastic fork and knife they give you. SNAP! But I enjoyed it and it sure was a good value. I loved the big globs of sausage. Tasty! As it turned out, I couldn't even eat the once slice, along with downing the big Coke. This is one of those ma and pa Taylor Street places that just has inherent charm and friendliness (and America's Funniest Videos on the TV at lunch time.) It's self-service. You order at the counter with a nice legible menu above you. There is even a dedicated Vegetarian section. Sub sandwiches, pasta, regular Italian entrees, and of course pizza, most items below $10.00. After you order, you wait on a bench, and take your grub to a table in your choice of dining rooms. Wish I had a more informal, inexpensive Italian like this in my neighborhood. It's just a very comfortable spot.
(4)Cristina T.
The jumbo pizza is incredibly large, cheap and delicious. I came in on Saturday night and received my jumbo slice of sausage pizza in less than 3 minutes. So happy that this place is a hop, skip & a jump away from where I live!
(4)Mary M.
The pizza is great! It is spiced differently than most. Every time I have friends try Damenzo;s pizza, they often say without me mentioning anything, "This pizza is delicious!" I would not come here to eat nor bring anyone out to eat, but if you are looking for good carry-out pizza..go here! The customer service is not great as the guys are not friendly. But, I will continue to come here for the great pizza!
(4)Jeff M.
Great pizza, was looking for something different than the standard Chicago super pizzas. Tried it and don't regret it but it is still no Lous, Unos. or Ginos. Good pricing and great employees
(3)William S.
I love the pizza but I would change the crust. If they do that, the pizza will be perfect.
(4)David K.
Damenzo's I feel becomes overshadowed by their competition across the street, Bacci's. Sure they have $5 jumbo slices with "pop". But the quality of Damenzo's pizza is better in my opinion. They also have large size pizzas as well. Damenzo's also has this one dish, Linguini and Clam sauce. This dish is so flavorful! One order gives you two take out container-fuls. SO MUCH FOOD! I always end up getting the cheesesteak or the buffalo wings. Great stuff right there. One gripe I have about this place is that the fresh cut fries are always hit or miss. Either they are perfect and great, or they are soggy or undercut. More times than not, the fries disappoint. All in all, this place has good quality food, huge portions, and cheap prices.
(3)Mr. P.
So the reviews here are good. I've avoided this place for almost 2 years and decided to finally give it a go since I had been everywhere on Taylor street. I had some warnings from some people, but I figure why not. First of all, no one knew where to place their order. I stood there until someone decided to help me. 2 people ended up taking my order. I tried to order a fountain drink and the 1st person taking my order said ... "I think you should get the CAN of lemonade." So I did. I really wanted a pizza puff, but not for $7.99, of which then I found out was a whole calzone, not a pizza puff at all. Misleading. I ordered the "Jumbo Burger" with cheese, and an order of small cheese fries. I noticed a lot of fries just sitting in the baskets behind the counter looking hardened from the grease from sitting there. At this point I was told "It's going to be 15 minutes for the burger." It took me a while to decide on that, so I decided to wait it out and burn a large chunk of my lunch hour. Then you walk over to one of two rooms to wait for your food. The floors are DIRTY. The last room appears to be part of the taco place but they merged. Different people kept appearing out the back to bring food out, and also deliver the food to the incorrect tables, making customers very angry. I noticed someone waiting for their food when I got there, and when I was done, she was still waiting for her food and very angry. The place was not packed, and they seemed very disorganized and out of control. One of the people bringing out the food, a customer had addressed a complaint to him. I didn't hear what the customer had asked, but loudly the Damenzo's employee said "I'm just trying to do my *explict word* job". This set a bad tone... not to mention the show "Cheaters" on the television adding to the negative experience. First my burger arrived. It was large. The bun was greasy. The burger patty was charred to a crisp. I also noticed the lettuce had very little color and was limp (old) and the tomato was old looking as well. Hardly any ketchup. I bit into the burger, only to experience a charred rubbery "this burger is old and has gone bad so we better over cook the heck out of it" flavor. I was very hungry too, but I had to force down what I had. 5 minutes later, the plate of fries arrive. The small fry was on a large plate and probably was equal to about 4 orders of fries to feed a family. The cheese was dumped on top of it - and the cheese was visually unappealing - and a metal fork stabbed into the middle of it standing up. I took a bite of a fry with the cheese on it. I'm sorry, that's not cheese. It didn't taste like cheese. It looked off-yellow, but had no flavor and just stuck to my mouth making me panic and grab my can of Brisk lemonade. I gave it a go without the sauce and the fry was inedible - it was a miniature grease-trap with potato somewhere in it, and should have not been served. I dug in to find a better looking fry and the same thing - a mini grease trap of old grease flavor. INEDIBLE. Not feeling to well as I write this after eating there. I've had better food from a food truck/roach coach. Service, atmosphere and food get an "F-". FAIL. They do have an award on the wall for "Best Burrito in Chicago" from FOX in 2005. Well, it's 2011. Based on the old reviews I've read, things have changed. The west-end of Taylor St. by Western Ave. is a tough spot, but Damenzo's fails to even come up as "safe" or slightly below average.
(1)Jermaine H.
I ordered delivery from Damenzo's Pizza and, as usual, the person I spoke to on the phone rushed me through my order and wasn't very customer friendly. They have good food no doubt, but they should have a more friendly and welcoming person doing their phone orders. In addition to this annoyance, the delivery driver calls me to let me know that he is outside with my order. I go to the door and there he is sitting in his vehicle. This is unacceptable to me considering it cost me $4.50 for delivery. I am under the impression that a delivery driver delivers your food to your doorstep, an thus also earning a tip. So, here I am outside with my socks and a t-shirt on in the cold paying for my food. I engaged in a discussion with him about my displeasure at having to come outside to get my own food. He was apologetic and cited that they don't get out of their vehicles because of safety concerns. Are you serious? Give me a break. If there is a concern for driver safety, then it would probably be a good idea to not be open until Midnight. Try only allowing delivery hours during the day. I had to laugh as I neglected to provide a tip to this guy. The food is pretty good, but the management and employees are unprofessional morons. Probably the last time I will order from here again. And take note Damenzo's-- I have been a loyal customer there for several years.
(2)Vanessa A.
great pizza, and beef, very good, a lil hard to get service, but understandable.
(4)Lori S.
The pizza here is solid. the prices are good, it feeds a crowd. I had my birthday party in their space last year, and they were great about (I hadn't called ahead and said there would be about 20 people in for over two hours). It wasn't the fastest service, but were there to enjoy. We also get the burritos here, which are ok, but nothing compared to what you can get down in Pilsen. If you are ordering take out, call ahead, or else you could wait for a while.
(4)Jimmy M.
2 words: Pizza Puff! They're not the generic (but still delicious) deep-fried patties you get at hot dog stands, no. They're more like calzones on steroids. And cheap as hell too! Edit Remove
(5)Stephanie C.
The pizza is good and they offered us a discount for my class when we had a class pizza party. They own a lot of businesses in the neighborhood and they seem to care about the people who live here.
(4)Scott A.
I used to get a slice when I would come here, but since the price has gone up I have figured out what will keep my business here instead of Bacci's - the almighty pizza puff. I know what you're thinking - how can a simple pizza puff be described as "almighty" when it is just a pizza puff? This is no ordinary pizza puff. This is an entire small to medium sized pizza loaded with toppings and then simply folded onto itself. That's right, for $6 you're eating the most cost-effective and delicious pizza puff you've ever strained to carry home. Sure, a slice is good now and then, the rib tips are large and tasty, and the sandwiches look promising... but how can anyone say no to a pizza puff that feeds like 3 meals? Try it once, I swear you'll go back for more.
(4)Arlene G.
My girlfriend's mommy came into town today so we decided to have great pizza for dinner and Damenzos did it again! We always get a pepperoni and spinach pizza. It seemed as if this pizza was extra good tonight! I always like it but I liked it even more today! There was more cheese than usual and it was very flavorful! Yaaaaay Damenzos!
(4)Reid C.
3 Stars for the food, -1 for using nothing but disposable Styrofoam and plastic for eat in customers. The four star rating at this place -- wow -- where does that come from? Nostalgia? The pizza was OK, but just OK. The crust felt food service--too round, too uniform--although the spinach on top was fresh not frozen. Let's talk about the Pizza Puff. It's $6.99 and it's on the starter menu. First, yes, it was tasty but it's basically just a calzone. The only difference is that a calzone is typically folded over and looks like a half moon where the pizza puff is a second crust on top of the first -- looks like a full moon. The service was excellent. I enjoyed the neighborhood.
(2)Tien N.
Food here is a hit and miss. The pizza is good but not great. The mexican food is beyond disgusting. I got sick from eating it here. The fries are greasy and soggy. I would only stick with the pizzas here. Everything else on the menu is either average or dissapointing.
(2)Ron R.
Havent been here in years...but this place stayed in my mind. If you throw a pizza puff at someones head you can get locked up for attempted murder. Bowling ball sized puffs of pizza to the dome aint cool.
(4)Quineasha D.
DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS PLACE! If you enjoy quality food delivered to you, DO NOT order from here. My family and I ordered from this place and most of what we got was crap. The Italian beef was good but that was the only thing that was. They gave us a small brown paper bag of fries that was entirely soaked by the grease! And they gave us a large cold greasy slice of pepperoni pizza in a paper bag that was stapled to the other bag! The cheese fries were bland and half cooked. The worst food that has ever been given to me. They are terrible! I will never order from them again!
(1)Natalie R.
I don't personally care for the pizza - it's very thin and tastes like cardboard, but it's also very cheap and incredibly oversized so it's perfect for the UIC crowd. So my review is for the one item I do faithfully order over and over and over again: the pannini. You see, when it's good it is very, very good. And when it is not so good, it's still very good. Sometimes it's the size of my hand; sometimes it's the size of my head. Sometimes it's the perfect blend of meat, cheese, and veggies; sometimes it's just an oozing mess of dressing and loaded with enough onion to ensure you will never, ever get that first kiss no matter how many years lapse from the time you ate the sandwich to the time you parted your lips in expectant ecstasy. Regardless, when it is spot on, it is so good that it's worth the risk every time.
(3)Marcia T.
Many times...my job has treated us pizza from here...and it's always been good...very big slices of pizza...actually a lil too big for me...and the crust would be so much better if it was a lil more thick...other than that very good pizza =)
(3)Esteban P.
I recently decided to do a taste comparison with the local pizzerias in my old hood. I must say that between the local joints, Damenzo's is the better pizza and the better bargain hands down. The pizza has a nice "cracker" flavor to it, which blends nicely with the tangy sauce. The cheese looks and tastes nice and fresh, and melts beautifully onto the slice. I remember walking into the restaurant to order a slice, and I would see them preparing a sausage pizza. They had a huge mound of freshly mixed sausage stuffing. The cook would grab a hand full at a time and pinch away chunks which were systematically placed all around the pizza. I always enjoyed watching the artistry in motion. At times I even changed my order to a sausage slice rather then pepperoni. The only other thing I've ever eaten here is the pizza puff. This thing is a monster. The first time I ordered one, I actually ordered two. The order taker looked at me and said that I think I only want one. I asked how big it was and he said one was big enough. I agreed and when he charged me $5.50 I freaked out; though once they handed me the heavy pizza box containing my puff I was taken aback. This thing weighed a ton! I quickly opened the box and could not believe my eyes!!! This pizza puff was ginormous!!! I finished it all, which is damn impressive. From that day forward, whenever the guys would get together, we'd all order our pizza puffs. I liked the chicken puff myself, but it seemed as if the sausage and pepperoni were equally popular with my boyz. In fact, we made it a right of passage and the new guy always had to finish his own puff. All in all, I'm glad I did the taste test. I always knew I favored Damenzo's the most, but I never knew how much better it was. And trust me, it is!
(4)Andrew J.
Ok. It's all about the pizza puff. The most glorious misnomer in all of pizza-dom. It is not a mere puff, but a hulking behemoth of pizza-ness. Back in the day, I'd eat off of one of these for a week. For $5? Um, yes please.
(4)Ken M.
The wait sucked but the stuffed Chicago pizza was awesome!
(4)John L.
I did not discover Damenzo's. My friend Matt introduced me to Damenzo about 12(?) years ago when I was visiting him at UIC. Damenzo has since been stuffing me with pizza slices and calzones ever since. Sure, the prices have gone up a little bit, you can't get a gargantu-slice and pop for $2.50 anymore, but it's still completely cheap for Chicago prices. Damenzo runs a no-frills, no fuckin' around institution. You simply walk in the corner entrance, order your slice or calzone to go and are on your merry way. Calzones might take a few minutes, so have a beer while you wait. Calzones come with 2 fillings (sausage, mushroom, etc.) and are about the size of a football. Basically, it's a medium pizza folded in half. $5.50, and it'll feed you for 2-3 meals. The atmosphere: Chicago....and thankfully there are still neighborhoods here, like where Damenzo's is, that are still....like....Chicago.
(5)Terrance H.
Damenzo's has been a staple for me since high school. Some 15 years now. damn that sucks! anyway i can remember the joys of piling 6 or 7 deep in a tiny nissan pulsar and making the trek from the HS parking lot over to Damenzo's. the trip back to the parking lot didn't always happen thus the reason for summer school which appears below. back then $2.50 made a kid feel like a king. Go ahead and order a slice and an order of fries I dare you to eat it all by yourself and not have to unbutton, and even unzp your pants (a la Al Bundy style). now on to the food. Damenzo's can't be beat with the beef's hands down, Al's down the street is good and so is the other place other yelper's mentioned but come on. "give me a jumbo beef with cheese, mushrooms, hot peppers, dipped" mmmmmm, just writing about it makes me want to call and place an order.... So I'm back actually my girlfriend is going to pick one up on the way over tonight! Ok getting back to the review. they've changed the decor within the last few months. the front door has been moved but the food is still the same. I don't eat there often because I want to be able to walk down the street not waddle but here's a tip... In the summer get a slice or a beef. When your finished slide down to mario's and get a lemon ice beverage. ah, such memories of high school. yeah i know i said summer... so i had to spend 1 year in summer school so what. you wanna make something of it!!
(5)ryan w.
Damn it. Being around UIC (or any college neighborhood) makes me feel like a decrepit old man, like the kind of guy who plays harmonica for a living, bounces from one SRO hotel to another, and blew his last chance a decade ago. When I look at all those happy, fresh-faced collegiate pukes I feel such animosity, such resentment, such longing for a second chance. In other words, I want to shake the kids who are living it up a bit too much and warn them of the drab workaday realities lying in wait. As for the kids who will be successful, I mainly want to drink their blood, ingest their organs, consume their flesh, devour their souls, etc. Fuckers. Take THAT! Damenzo's is the great equalizer of UIC, as it adds a weighty dose of tragedy and failure to an area saturated by Good Times (bro). Thanks to its boarded windows, dilapidated patio, surly clientele, careless servers, lack of A/C, and steady flow of meth-craving beggars and legless locals, just about anyone can walk into this joint and feel like a million bucks. Thank god the pizza is delicious, because I'd feel lame coming down here once a week simply to gawk at all the fuck-ups. Read the other reviews for needless details of the cheese, the sauce, the toppings (zzz...)
(5)Nycole H.
I wanted to update my review, because last time I mentioned a mistake made. I've had pizza from here about ten more times since then and never another mistake.
(4)Ameer G.
Im actually writing this review for the tacos, not sure if its a different restaurant or what, but the carne asada steak tacos are good. cant really talk about the other food, but those are good. call ahead, because this place is slow as heck.
(4)Mark A.
This would be the best thin crust in the city, as far as I'm concerned - except for the fact that 90% of the time I order for delivery, it's ALWAYS cold! The sauce is fantastic, kind of sweet, and the crust is good too. You can get meatballs on the 'za if you want them too! And their good meatballs. But it takes forever to get here (we don't live that far away) and it's always cold. It's obviously good since I keep ordering from them and put up with warm pizza. Never tried anything else from the joint, but I may have to order carry out from now on.
(3)Kea K.
Damenzo's Pizza is good...in fact, it's very good...But since discovering their Italian Beef, I have no desire for pizza when going or ordering from there! This is definitely a two fisted, two meal sandwich...piled high with only the best beef...get it topped with cheese and some gardinara...and dipped until it's soggy with gravy...then eat the first half with a fork and hide the other half in the fridge for lunch tomorrow!
(5)Beken P.
The staff does not communicate with each other. I saw the cook come out and ask the people waiting what their orded was. The food is good at times, it's not consistently good. It's would be a while before I'll go back again.
(2)Paige R.
Worst. Buritto. Ever. Seriously. Where do I start? I was a little hesitant to order mexican food from a pizza place, but I figured, what the heck. What a mistake. I am not a picky eater by any means. But really, I need more from my buritto than grease in a tortilla shell. The buritto is HUGE. So if you like large amounts of food, then thats a plus. But once you take a bite, I'm sure you'll no longer want it to be so big. There was so much grease. The meat had abn extremely weird taste, when I gave it to my mom she described it as "medicinal". My two year old daughter took a bite and then headed straight for her potty. I didn't even have to ask her. It was like some kind of potty training conditioning was inspired by this food. There doesnt seem to be much more in the buritto besides grease and meat. The shell was soggy. The a la carte sauce had an awful smell. Perhaps it'd been sitting out. Like I said, I'm not a picky eater, and I'm usually a pretty positive person. But this food is unacceptable. I'm debating rather it'd be worth it to walk back up there and ask for a refund. I have a neighbor who has two dogs that bark all night and all day. Perhaps if I throw the buritto over the fence it'll take care of that problem.
(1)Mrs. I.
You can't beat the price for what you get. I used to live kitty corner to this place and the line would be out the door at times. Cheap, tasty, fast.
(3)Amy M.
I'm only basing my review on their slice of cheese pizza - but I find it to be so damn good. Absolutely HUGE slice (verging on ridiculously-oversized), but a perfect combo of cheese (good amount, nice and golden brown), sauce (great tomato flavor and not a ton of sauce - I'm not a big fan of a lot of sauce) and a fantastic crust. The crust has body and a great chewiness, but still remains pretty crunchy overall. Not a cracker-thin crispy crust, btw. I get a slice to go - they throw it in a paper bag, and you're out the door. YUM.
(5)Camille O.
Damenzo's, on the west side of W. Taylor street, is a popular neighborhood spot, especially at lunch time. In addition to pizza, there's a wide selection of Italian specialties such as ravioli, eggplant parmigiana, linguini and clam sauce, and lasagna. And as a reflection of the neighborhood's demographics, you can also enjoy tacos, enchiladas, and burritos! Take-out service is fast and furious at lunch time but for those who have a bit of time to relax, there's an ample dining room. Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00AM - 12:00AM Friday and Saturday 10:00AM - 1:00AM Sunday 10:00AM - 12:00AM
(3)Katrina H.
Love these Italian Stallion Owners!! They are always good to me! Every single time I walk in there. It's like they knew I was new to the neighborhood or something... Their food is Very good. the Pizza is Delicious!! Interesting that they have combined their foods with the Papi's Taco's from Western but ok.. I eat at Papis as well so it's a one stop Shop!! They deliver so it's a PLUS but make sure that you tally up your check correctly before you get off of the phone (Check the menu at grubhub.com if you don't have one in hand) as the cashier may overcharge).. They can get pretty busy however it's well worth it and the wait is never that long. Their Italian beef is GREAT!! so is the FISH.. YUM YUM
(4)Maria C.
Talk about a huge slice of pizza. I go there when I have taste for a calzone but they call it pizza puff there. It's a medium pizza folded in half. I can never eat one of these by myself but I like to take the leftovers for lunch, and it's cheap. I don't necessarily like to eat here though because it does not look as clean.
(3)kina r.
I often order delivery with my co-workers, and remind everyone to not order pizza. The pizza is very very thin and has no taste. When you order please try the pizza puff, (sausage, black olives and mushrooms)it cost about $6.00 and can feed 3 people. The steak tacos are great also, just tell them to add sour cream and avocado.
(3)Natatia O.
In high school, I used to be able to order a slice and a soda for $2.25. If that weren't enough to make me love them, the slices are HUGE!! In my opinion, they're more like personal pizzas, and the price can't be beat.
(4)Claudia D.
Yummy Nachos!
(5)Ellen M.
Slice is so big it's bigger than a 12 inch pizza and takes 2 hands to manage, Yes better than bacci, Thee biggest slice in Chicago, As far as taste..... Pronto za is close but I'll pick Damenso's if I had to. And yes the beef is good but not even close to the best, Sloppy too, Bring a fork.
(4)Joe C.
TOTAL WASTE OF TIME. I just got off the phone, after talking to a lady with a bad aditude, THEN I talked to a manager, who couldnt tell me about HIS OWN MENU! He also had a difficult time speaking English.I can't tell you what the food tastes like, because I wasn't able to order. I was told to call Ricobenes, when I asked him how the breaded steak was made and how it compared to theirs I would NOT waste my time or efort ever with a restuarant like this. i ran a restuarant for over 9 years. I NEVER had a customer post any bad reviews about MY place!
(1)Jonathan C.
I have to say, I like this pie a little bit more than Bacci's across the street. The crust is a little airier and not as dense (its not what I would call a light crust though). The sauce has a little more flavor. That said, I go to both about equally. Why's that you ask? What's the difference between this place and Bacci's across the street? Prices are about the same. Service is a little more, well brusque (not rude), but ordering at Bacci's is usually less chaotic. I'm in and out of Bacci's faster. There less of a choice in pizza's at Damenzo's, actually there are less food options in general, unless you count the Mexican food place that is connected to Damenzo's. Which is pretty good. Also the take out bag, does not travel nearly as nicely as the box they give you at Bacci's, its not as convenient or as easy. But that pie is better. So, if your not in a hurry, or you want to eat the best slice available, right there. Damenzo's is the place. The chicken wings are a good bet as well, and they deliver.
(4)Joshua A.
My girlfriend took me to this here the other day, she said they had the best beefs she ever had, and her taste buds were lying to her...I mean the beefs weren't bad, but it wasn't the best....It was like the beef was missing some seasoning or something....Also when there's ten other people eating inside the restaurant it's best to take the food with you because it's too crowded
(3)Sara O.
Screw going to the Bacci across the street - Damenzo's fo life. They offer the same type of menu - greasy & cheap, but it is definitely better here. Also, they have a very wide delivery area, so even if you live in wicker park they'll bring you a pie. I am rating this based on the fact that it's a greasy pizza joint - and it is good for what it is. It's not some spectacular 5 star dining, so come here if you want some hangover food, to gain a few pounds, really like pan pizza, or need to end your life early through eating. :)
(5)Nino M.
I used to eat at Damenzo's all the time during my lunch break from work. I could easily catch the UIC shuttle bus and get off right at the front door of Damenzo's. Then the place burned down. Well, not really all the way down. But the original location was destroyed because of a kitchen fire. They remodeled and now the new Damenzo's location is located right next door in what used to be the Damenzo's part hall. My brother actually held two family parties there. I like the taste overall over Bacci's. Yeah Bacci ain't bad but in my opinion Damenzo's is a better tasting Pizza, and the slice is just as big as Bacci's portions. I have only been back like twice since they re opened their newly remodeled location. I had to stop eating pizza and fried chicken because of my diabetes and high cholesterol. I recommend people check this pizza place out. Beside the Pizza, they have the most insane pizza puff EVER! It's actually just a small little pizza folded over with toppings. That's what I call a pizza puff. There is free parking on the street if you can find it. If you are a worker, or student at the UIC east or west side campus, the Uic shuttle bus will drop you ff right in front of the place. and you can catch the shuttle back at the same location you get off. Not really that expensive. Check it out.
(4)Mike L.
Ive had both their pizza and pizza puff (calzone). I think the ingredients they use can be a bit better, but everything is good. Why did I rate this place 4 stars? Have you ever seen the calzone??? For less then 10 bucks you receive a Calzone that is twice the size of your head. Everytime I order it I need to take a picture, Im amazed by it. Last time I got it I was starving and it held over me and my gf for dinner and lunch the next day.
(4)GLORIA J.
i have only tasted the combination at damenzo's. it was excellent!! a two day meal, loved it. 5 stars
(5)Sean M.
I consider myself a pizza connoisseur so my review should carry some weight. When I moved to this part of the city first thing I had to do was find some good pizza. After messing around with leonas and giordanos I finally found this place. The reviews are pretty accurate- its good most of the time with an occasional bad pizza. I notice that the cooks at night are better than the day time- in the day time they put too much cheese on. I would also order the sausage pizza rather than just cheese- the sausage is delicious and tops off the pizza well. Overall you aren't going to find much better pizza around here give it a chance. Oh and the paninis are great too- hand cut fries come with them and they are awesome.
(4)Matt H.
Better than Baci's usually. I like to call it inconsistent pizza. Sometimes it is great while at other times it is slightly sub par to Baci pizza. It is conviently next to my friends apt and I always choose it over it's top competitor.
(3)Maxxy C.
Damenzo's Pizza has a soft place in my heart. They delivered pizza for my nursing group for over 15 years. Always wonderful pizzas and deliveries. Nowadays, I purchase their pizza's for my birthday parties. Just absolutely delicious pizza. I highly recommend this business!
(5)Michael H.
The best pasta in town. My bf and I lived right up the street from here and we'd have dinner here quite a bit. The pasta is delicious, the portions are huge! So be prepared for left overs. Try the chicken Alfredo, that's our favorite!
(5)Chris W.
This place has some pretty decent food, but their customer service is TERRIBLE. Last night was the 3rd time that I made an order, waited at least 20-30 minutes for a pizza, only to get to the car only to see they made my order wrong. The other 2 times they did this, I just gave it back to them and ordered a slice of cheese pizza, that they still made me pay full price for. You'd think after them making you wait for something you didn't ask for that they'd cut you a break on something else for the time you spent waiting. Nope. Not at all. Last night was the last time this place gets my business. I asked for a refund. It's like you tell them what you want on your pizza and they put whatever they want on your pizza. Terrible service. The employees are terrible as well. The act like you're bothering them by coming in to their establishment for service. I refuse to give Damenzo's another dollar and I wish I could personally resolve this matter with the owner. THREE times I've waited for a pizza only for it to be something I didn't order!!
(1)Mark M.
Definitely a better choice than the bland tasting Bacci's Pizza from across the street. Pricing on their huge slices of pizza is a better deal than Bacci, too. Their pizza bread is priced low and it is tasty. The regular crust on a fresh ordered whole pie is a little thick for my tastes so I order extra thin... and it still ain't thin enough for me. They could be a little more consistent with how their pizzas are churned out. That said, I still dig this place.
(4)Angela G.
I used to work within a few blocks of this place and I was addicted to the pizza. Damenzo's was responsible for +20 lbs back in the day LOL! If you want a great, quick slice of pizza the size of a place mat check them out. I also had a little crush on Dom back then so that added to the experience! Nice people, good comfort food at a great value.
(5)Bride T.
I love this place. They have a variety of food choices. From tacos, pizza, sandwiches it's great!!! The Cheese beef is to die for!!! Get it with hot peppers and dipped.
(5)James L.
This is some amazing homemade tasting, old school Chicago thin crust pizza. One of the original 'giant slice' places, their quality is head and shoulders above their imitators. Damemzos is the perfect definition of a real deal Chicago neighborhood joint and that 'hood is west-taylor street/UIC/medical-law-triangle-zone-area. Sometimes they can be insanely busy with long wait times but that goes for any good pizza place. Discovered them while going to UIC and have been ordering from them for 15 years. Hands down one of the best old school pizza places and a prime example of Chicago style thin crust.
(5)Morganne B.
Ordered lunch delivery from here for the office. 8 different orders and the food was here in under 30 minutes... That's pretty much unheard of so if you're looking for fast delivery and live within a couple miles, this is your spot. I had a grilled chicken salad which came with a ton of fresh mozzarella cubes and ripe tomatoes. The chicken was well seasoned and a large portion. They didn't put salad dressing in with the order but we had some in the fridge so it's all good. Also tried a bite of veggie pizza which was awesome. It was still plenty hot which you can't always count on if you get delivery. Everyone who got them also seemed to love their beef sandwiches. They have a bunch of vegetarian options as well. Would definitely order from Damezo's again.
(4)Ty N.
The pizza slices are tasty and absolutely huge!!! The establishment provides a large variety of different foods to eat. I don't recommend eating at the restaurant, the decor isn't very inviting, but the food is fantastic. It's an excellent spot for take-out orders. I recommend the pizza, one slice will have you full for hours. It is the largest slice of pizza that I have ever eaten. I definitely recommend trying their food for the experience.
(4)Passhon J.
Best Cheesy Beefs in the city hands down. Try them, and you will not be disappointed.
(5)Lin H.
I put four stars because of the behemoth of a sandwich I got from here! I ended up with the Damenzo Sandwich (#1), which had mortadella, salami, and something else that I can't remember right now... I watched the entire time they made the sandwich, and the veggies were so fresh and so clean clean! And oh my god are they GENEROUS! I ate a quarter of the sandwich and was stuffed. I did not eat anything else for the remainder of my six hour drive home. What a pleasant surprise! I guess the only negative thing I can say is about myself, which is that I did not try any pizza :)
(4)C H.
I've been coming to Damenzo's for years!!!! My father introduced me to the place when I was a little girl. He'd bring us here for the biggest slice of pizza and Italian beefs. I've never had a bad issue with the service it's usually pretty good. The food is always HOT and fresh! You can watch them make the food also!!! I remember as a kid coming in here watching the guys flip the pizza dough in the air. Today I called my order in after my younger cousin had them deliver her a small pizza. I was unaware that they delivered so I immediately jumped on the phone to place an order. The delivery charge is $4.50 so I ended up just coming in and picking up my food. Great food!!!
(5)Vanessa G.
This banquet hall is just hands down amazing!! I just attended a wedding there this past Saturday. Although I never even knew this place existed because it is well hidden between other buildings, the inside is just gorgeous! It brings a chicago urban vibe along with gorgeous architecture plus intimacy. The bar was big, although they probably should have had two bartenders. The fettuccine alfredo and chicken parm were soooo good too. Loved the layout and brick walls. Friendly staff, great for a wedding or party, awesome mezzanine level for a dj so they aren't in the way.
(5)Matt P.
This is a disgrace to the tradition of Chicago Pizza. I was up late at my hotel while in town and opted to try Damenzo's since it was open late and delivered. As a former Chicagoan, I love and miss genuine Chicago pizza. I ordered a deep dish pepperoni. Such a disappointment: flavorless crust with no body or depth, mediocre sauce and cheese. It was more like a NY-Style pizza jammed into a pan and then baked. Not worth the $20 I paid for it. Do yourself a favor and choose another pizza place in town: almost any option would be better.
(1)Rod D.
I've been going here since my days living across the street while a student at UIC. Their pizza slices are HUGE...and that's an understatement when I say that. For just over $3 a slice, you can feed about 3 people with that same slice! Not the best pizza I've ever had but worth the money especially if you are in the area.
(4)Gina S.
Italian joint with some Mexican fare. Tacos and tostadas or pizza and pasta...and so much more. The hubs was treating because he is always craving pizza. It's $4 total (including tax) for a jumbo, and I mean JUMBO, slice of pizza. The pizza by the slices only come with one topping; pepperoni, sausage or plain ol' cheese. We each got our own. It is such a big slice that I ended up sharing a fair amount of mine with the two little fur babies and I was still pretty full afterwards. The crust is damn near amazing, better than the place down the block's crust IMHO. It's hand tossed thin crust and baked to perfection. The crust held up all on it's own, I could eat it one handed without a mess. I only wish they offered more by-the-slice topping variety. I love my pizzas topped with lots of veggies...but I'd still choose this over the place down the block.
(5)Chris C.
Great place, my brother brought me here for a pizza puff that has kept me coming back ever since... Nice pizzeria with a New York feel that is nestled in Chicago's west loop.
(5)Faithe M.
Pizza puff game is crazy. It's HUGE. I like the steak nachos, mozzarella sticks, and Italian beef mmmmmmm
(5)Mike S.
Placed order for delivery, on time, was still hot. Pizza was so good, loved the sauce. Toppings were very generous.
(4)Erika A.
Ordered a.veggie pizza yesterday after Taylor st failed...it was super cheesy and sooo delicious. I also added garlic salt at home and it was even better.
(4)George F.
Great calzones- I mean they are HUGE and filled with all sorts of ingredients- meats, sauces, cheeses all fire baked in a wood burning oven. All of this for about 7 bucks. The kids love getting these pizza clouds and so do we. Pick up the phone, call one in and go get it (takes about 15 min to make).
(4)Lupe D.
I've had a taste for pizza - so I decided to get a slice at lunch. You would think that good pizza is a given in Little Italy - uh, no. Any place around here that sells slices makes mediocre pizza - at best. I had not been to Damenzo's in YEARS so I figured I would go back for a slice see if it was any good..now I know why I had not been back. This place is a friggin zoo at lunch - no system, order, of even a hint that anyone cares about the chaos of just trying to order. Friggin' disaster. It's was damn free for all! U can't tell who ordered from who was waiting for their food. Two huge menus - neither lists slices of pizza as an option, but they did have a Mexican Food section ?? so I had to ask whether they still sold slices. No clear indication of whether there was a line somewhere - can't figure out where to pay - let alone where the hell do I wait for my food?? As far as the pizza - ew. Yes, it's a big slice - but bigger isn't better, it's just bigger - and this big slice of cheese pizza was a waste of $4. As I waited for my food, I see a guy walk over to the oven with a pizza box and pull out a nasty old slice of pizza and threw it in the oven - yep, you guess it - I got a nice big slice of reheated pizza Not even a slice that was sitting under a heat lamp - this looked like it was the last slice from last night's frat party. So after the counter person yells at me that my slice was ready - I received a brown paper bag, with my reheated slice of pizza sitting on a piece of wax paper - obviously folded in half to fit in the bag...which it barely did - the tip was protruding from the bag. Now, I know I shouldn't be too picky about packaging, but it's getting chilly out, and I have to walk to my office with this paper bag. Of course - you guessed it - pizza was cold by the time I get back to the office. And the clincher - it tasted worse than a frozen pizza. UGH...NEVER AGAIN! I guess if I want good pizza I should venture anywhere BUT Little Italy.
(1)Whitlee H.
Service is fast and food is amazing. I'm originally from Chicago and I always come here when I visit to get my beef. I have also tried their pizza too. If you are in Chicago and looking for some good food definitely stop by here.
(5)Tamera B.
I have to say this pizza was pretty awesome! We stopped here on a late night after a Christmas party......so the late hours are super nice! The staff was friendly. The french fries and pizza were very good and nicely priced. The pizza isn't the best I've had, but definitely worth coming back for. Their menu is extensive as well, they have everything from traditional Italian dishes to tacos. The pizza slices are humongous......enough for 3. We would definitely stop by Damenzo's again if we're in the area.
(4)Marc V.
If you are looking for authentic Italian cuisine that is just like mom used to make, then Damenzos on Taylor street is your place. Outstanding meatballs the size of a softball and KILLER lasagna are just a few of the choices you will find. With great service and great value as "bookends" to your experience, you can not go wrong at Damenzos. I was truly blown away. Thank you Dominic and your crew for a delicious and enjoyable eating experience.
(5)Isaiah F.
I only come here for the jumbo pizza and I've never been disappointed. I think it puts Bacci to shame. The slices are just as big but they have more meat, more sauce, and more flavor. Drunk or sober this pizza is still delicious. They stay open late so they can enable my bad decision making. I appreciate that, haha. The people are a little gruff but I'm not there for the ambiance or the personalities, I'm there for amazing pizza and that's what they give me, every time.
(4)Federico C.
I have been coming here for several years now, thanks to the close proximity to my job.. This place has become our go to spot when the hospital cafeteria has bored our tastebuds. When the conversation of giant pizza slices comes up.. this is the first place that comes to my mind... What is funny, is that when we mention mexican food in my office, this is probably the first place we think of as well, lol.. How can this be you ask?? well let me tell you that Damenzo's was initially an Italian staple here on Taylor street, offering giant pizza slices, yummy pastas, sandwiches and salads. A few years ago, the owner opened up a taco joint around the corner "Papi's Tacos" on Western Ave... If I am not mistaken, I think he earned best burrito in chicago honors from one of the local newspapers at one point (don't quote me on that).. Anywho.. a couple of years later, the two restaurants are now merged at the recently remodeled Damenzo's location on Taylor St. Now when I dine here, I wrestle over what I want to eat.. Do I want a giant slice of sausage pizza or a burrito?? A steak torta or a giant calzone?? Good thing is that everything here is pretty damn good, so regardless of my choice, my stomach will thank me! The owner and staff are very friendly and eager to get your order taken and served. The restaurant is clean, and has plenty of seating in the two dining areas and the outdoor patio. Must have: I say try the one fo the giant pizza slices or the giant calzone.. Both are very tasty and very big, so keep that in mind. You can easily share a calzone between two people and a pizza slice is almost too big for one person. Prices are very reasonable, $5 for a slice and a pop, About $6 for the calzone.. Fugettaboutit!
(4)Juliann S.
This review is actually for Damenzo's Banquet hall around the corner (741 S. Western). They're owned by the same family. After a site visit, we were hooked. It's hard to imagine how beautiful this tastefully remodeled church is from the outside. Beyond that, it's very well laid-out for a seated party of 100 people - or more for cocktails. We held our office holiday party here, and everyone raved that it was the best ever. The food was good, the staff were AMAZING - attentive, professional, patient. It was the most effortless event our organization has ever had. The mezzanine was great for our DJ (we brought one in), and the acoustics were perfect for both dinner and dancing. They even let us do a pre-party tasting lunch so we could make informed menu choices, and adapted their offerings to our needs. If you're looking for a place to host a reception, holiday party, large family event, or corporate luncheon, this place should make your short list.
(5)Luis B.
The era of pizza places that offer huge single slices is disappearing. So I'm glad places like Damenzo's still exist. My first encounter with a Damenzo's pizza slice will be forever memorable. It was cut up and put on a plate for me and it literally looked like a half a pizza was served. I loved it. I've also tried their famous pizza puff, but to me, it seemed a tad too big and bready for me. I did love the tomato sauce it came with, it was great for dipping. Everything we ordered seemed fresh and delicious. They get a big thumbs up for their cheese fries, I'd definitely get them again. Overall, Damenzo's will be my goto spot to scratch my itch for huge pizza slices. It's great for groups and families so definitely give them a try if you haven't already. Bon apetit!
(4)Kevin S.
Awesome pizza slices. Been coming here since I was 6 all the way from Little Village whenever my dad fixed TVs here. They have tasted the same after all these years. A one of a kind flavor that nobody can mimic. This is the spot to gobble down on great pizza.
(5)Kristen M.
Don't know what happened to Damenzo's. Ive been coming here for 11 years and it's always been great. Yesterday got the worst slices ever from there. Not that much cheese and it was like they were sitting there the entire day.. Not fresh at all. Really disappointed.
(2)Rebecca B.
Like, the pizza is pretty good but not GREAT. However, customer service sucks. Sergio is a liar he should be fired. Asked to speak to manager and spoke to someone posing as the manager. Delivery guy tells me manager isn't in till Monday. 3 HOURS for a pizza! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! And no discount for their tardiness. Never ordering, eating, or calling this place again. I guess this is what I get for trying something different, huh? If I could rate this as no star I would. FALCOS PIZZA 4 LIFE!
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