Biggest, juiciest, most delicious italian beef you'll ever eat. What I've always loved about Albanos is that they serve consistently great food. It isn't in the heart of the city, but if you don't experience their beef, you're missing out. Make it dipped with mozzarella and hot peppers on the side....if you're into that kinda thing.
(5)
Art M.
Dang, that's a huge pizza puff for how much? Not bad! Not bad at all, in fact it's cheap. This is a good deal, where is it at? Across the street from the crack houses? Order delivery. (-2*'s The pizza puff is deep fried. It tastes like a giant pizza donut. The toppings they use are of a lesser quality than the surrounding businesses. It is not a very great location to visit at night. I chained my bike near by once and my front tire was stolen.)
(3)
Michelle M.
Went there yesterday with my husband. The place is greasy, dirty and dark. The wings still had feathers on them! It was a horrible experience. The food made me sick. The pizza puff was not as good at all. It was big but it was not as full or flavorful as it seemed to be on the travel channel. The place didn't even look the same no table clothes and it was very dimmly lit. It must have new owners but they are clearly struggling to keep the resturant and idea that the former owner had alive which makes me real sad. Clearly the restaurant business is hard. The front door was gated up. All I can say is that they are in desperate need of a restuarant makeover. They need Robert Irvine to come and fix the place if they want to achieve success.
(2)
David O.
Don't judge this place by its cover, believe me I had my doubts too. Great portions here! The taste isnt the best I've had but it is pretty good. I've had their beef(good), pizza puff(really good) & cheese fries(suck). Sometimes they can be overwhelmed with service & won't answer the phone or take 1hr & 45mins to deliver your order. Be wise & try to call ahead, pickup only! If they dont answer, do like me & go elsewhere. Hunger doesn't wait for nobody!
(4)
Aruba R.
Overpriced, rude and very slow customer service and very greasy pizza. If I had relatives or friends who came here from out of town, I would definitely not take them here!!! I would rather go to Jewel and buy a pizza instead, especially if they were hungry! What makes it worse, the staff acts as though they do not care about how they treat the customers and they would rather argue than get out the food or correct the mistake they made. Would not recommend. I would rather go to Giordano's or Edward's Natural Pizza instead. And I will not be coming back here. Ever again!!!
(1)
Jean S.
So, it wasn't as bad as last time, but the chicken was over cooked, to the point where it was hard in some spots. So damn disappointed! That was my mother's day meal.
(1)
Ron S.
Ordered the famed pizza puffs - DISGUSTING. The crust was hard. Tasted like an old greasy donut. The best part was the sausage inside. The staff were inattentive. The location was small (only a few tables and chairs). Good thing we were the only ones there...WAIT....I should have known it wouldn't be good based on how empty the place was.
(1)
Hannah H.
Service was nice, but it does take about 30 minutes for them to make the 'largest pizza puff in the Chicagoland area.' Now, for all of your pizza puff lovers out there, it is not the typical awesome puff you get from Iltaco - it's actually just like a regular pizza, folded over, that comes out piping hot and barely sitting on the plate. I had the cheese, onions, sausages, and green peppers, and it tasted good. The crust itself was slightly crunchy, and the filling was pretty decent - tasted like a regular pizza with a good amount of tomato sauce. The price was decent (about $10), and dining in is an option. Don't expect to finish it, and you can probably share one between two people. They do have a lot by the side of the restaurant. +'largest pizza puff in the Chicagoland area'
(3)
Juliette G.
Delivery was about 30 minutes late, but once the pizza arrived it was a magical experience! We got sausage, mushroom, and onion deep dish pizza, and it was so delicious. Holy shit! I don't fancy sausage much, and even I didn't want to pick it off. Soooooo good!!!!!! Four stars for the delivery under estimate and the underhanded remark made when I called to check where it was. Everything else was fantastic.
(4)
-E -.
Meh. I've experienced better pizza puffs.
(2)
Brandi M.
Rude customer service especially for a family owned business. Ordered a few times once took over an hour and a half for my pizza. Tried to order again today the woman seemed bothered about taking my order. Will never order again hung up in her face. Be nice when people order from your restaurant.
(1)
Mary J. C.
Pizza puff was my go to here but recently it hasn't been as good as it used to... Which is a shame, it's alyways sad to see your favorite spots betray you.
(2)
Neal C.
The five stars is solely for the amazing Pizza Puff. Think of it as a gargantuan calzone (I ate 1/3 of it there, brought the remainder home, and the weight of the remainder was 2.1 pounds; so this thing is easily 3 pounds!) all for $7.50 plus $1 per topping. Even better: the exterior is a buttery, moist pie-type crust. Slightly sweet, it adds a great texture and balance to the salty fillings. I'd definitely get sausage, as that was my favorite filler. Stay away from the pizza. Bland, thick crust with no real identity. Interior has no ambience either-- but the pizza puff... Wow, really unique and so worth a visit to Cicero.
(5)
Patrice S.
This is the worst customer service Resturant on this side of town !!!!!!! I placed a order for delivery gave them my address which is stated on the mailing address because I'm new to this area the lady answering the phone was asking me like 20 questions about my address the direction how far it was etc!!!!!! I'm like do you have map quest I give you an address you find it I'm not going to waste time guiding you to me like really. So finally after being insulted about how far I was from Roosevelt lol I said never mind you can cancel my order they are just rude. The business is probably going under that need an update I'll just order portillos from here on out !!!!!!!
(1)
Zach J.
I would like to update to extend my sympathies to the wonderful family that runs this place. That scum bag that killed this owner needs to rot in hell, this place is fantastic and I hope it does not change in quality due to this tragedy. When I heard the news about a pizza place in Cicero, I said please do not be Albanos, please do not be Albanos, but when I found out it was Albanos I was pissed. Just sick and tired of "I am a cold blooded killer" gangbanger routine. How does it make you a man to kill an innocent person!!??? Also I would like to add another thing about the food, this is one of the only places I know that makes an Italian Beef with melted cheese and does not dry out the beef. It is extremely hard to have melted cheese on an Italian Beef without drying it out. I do not know how they it but they do it and it's amazing!
(5)
Kat T.
Placed my family pizza order at 6:10p. Told it would take an hour and a half for delivery. Okay. An hour later I'm told they ran out if 2 litters provided with family size pizza and they will only send a 1 liter. Oooookay. It's 8:30p and no pizza. I called earlier at 8p to find out status. Told pizza just left. The least this place can do is provide a courtesy call or show that they care that's it's been two hours plus and waiting. No one should wait close to three hours for a pizza delivery!!! Terrible customer service! Never again.
(1)
kathy e.
Will never order from this pizzeria again. We waited an hour and 50 minutes for our pizza to be delivered. The delivery person called our house when she arrived and said she was in front ( in the street blocking traffic). They don't deliver to the door? The pizza was cold. Called the restaurant and told they would resend the pizza or take money off our next order. We could have had a frozen pizza for a fraction of the cost.
(1)
Viktor C.
I have to say that I,ve been going here for three years and that alone says a lot. The pizza's are made to order, have it your way, crust thickness included. The Beefs are wet and juicy ..at times to wet..but I like it anyway. The Chicken parmesan is unreal and enough for 2 people. Very good basic ribs..fall off the bone..nice sauce, not to sweet or spicy. the jumbo pizza puff is a sight to behold and Deeelish as well. Almost always great delivery and to sum it up...I have not had a bad thing yet.
(4)
A T.
Pretty good pizza, just popped in to take some slices to go. Pizza I had was not really thin-crust, but more along the lines of DiNico's though not quite as thick/doughy and definitely not as thick as Freddy's Pizza. Slices are pretty huge with lots of cheese and toppings. Will definitely be trying their other menu items such as the famed pizza roll.
(4)
MeSean W.
Delicious beef/combination sandwiches. Huge tasty pizza puffs. Food here is very good.
(5)
Amy T.
Every time i try calling the number it says line busy i want to try their food. Is there another number you guys call? Thanks
(5)
Mike B.
Food is great but its time to get more lines in the building... I can never get through
(3)
Ronald M.
Tried it for the first time tonight with my family hands down one of the best pizzas on the west side
(5)
Shaina W.
I love the food at Albano's, however I feel they need to either update their menu's to reflect actual pricing or communicate the proper way to ring up items. I order from here fairly often; probably weekly since this is a regular spot for my co-workers and I to get lunch/dinner and my entire family loves their food. This evening, I ordered a large(14") sausage and cheese pizza and the menu price was $14.50, but total came out to $17.01. I initially figured we had an outdated menu, so I asked about it when I picked up my pizza, however they confirmed that the menus were current, so I tried showing the worker that I was basically being overcharged by a dollar. She tried to explain it away as taxes, but taxes were only $1.50. Once I checked out my receipt, I saw that they charged me the price for a cheese pizza ($13.00), then the price for additional toppings ($2.50) instead of the price specifically listed in their menu for a 14" sausage ($14.50). I paid the $17 instead of making a huge deal of it, however I still feel that I was overcharged and if I'm being overcharged every time I go there, even if it's by a dollar, it adds up and I'm a little discouraged about going as often as I do. If they want to charge the full price for each added ingredient, I've no problem with that, but it shouldn't show totally different pricing on the menus they're distributing. That is really my only grievance with Albano's. I do love their food: the pizza puffs, cheesy beefs, and pizzas are to die for. They would have 5 stars if it wasn't for the pricing issue. Please up date your menu or make sure everyone is ringing up orders properly and consistently.
(4)
Alvaro R.
I am basing this review solely on the food. We ordered a large pizza half sausage and mushrooms and the other half was just pepperoni. I have to say it wasn't great but it wasn't terrible either. I have definitely had better and I have had much worse. It's right in the middle of the pack as far as thin crust pizza in the Chicagoland area goes. I wouldn't mind ordering it again but it's definitely not a must have.
(3)
Charles G.
I ordered my food and they said it would take only 45 minutes to one hour and it took almost 2 hours for my food to get here I live nearby I called and asked when my food would be showing up and they said soon but we waited another half hour we ordered a pizza and calzone & the mozzarella sticks the pizza was cold the cheese was not melted on the inside of the calzone and the mozzarella sticks were cold. This place is close to my house there's no reason for them not to have my food here hot!!! The food could've been good just needs to be hot and they need to tell you when your food is going to Arrive no reason to have cold pizza when you pay a lot of money almost $50 for this dinner!! I will not order anything from this place again!!
(1)
Htes P.
1st. time here. I happened to park in front of Albano's,and when I returned from my appointment I decided to get a slice a pizza. The no frills interior of random tables is accented by poster art. I ordered a Breaded steak sandwich with red sauce and mozzarella cheese. I loved that they toasted the bun. Nice quality steak. It's made fresh so be patience. good counter service. What a random score. I shall return.
(5)
Sandeep S.
OMG..what a treat! Pizza puff.. cheese, onion, tomatoes, mushrooms, sausage, meatballs, hot peppers...yum yum. Ample parking on the side & I met the most happy customers awaiting their orders in the parking lot. It was a carnival!! Highly recommended pizza puffs. Simply superb.
(5)
Jelissa C.
Worst service I've ever received ! Me n my husband just had a baby and to convenience us in time with a new born we called in the order and were quoted 15 minutes . When my husband arrived the women who took the order only had one thing ready after repeating the order three times verbally on the phone ! Her attitude was rude and she was unwilling to help him. The supervisor wasn't any better! She offered a SODA!!! For the inconvenience! You've lost a loyal customer for your lack of efficiency and the amount of disrespect shown and unwillingness to offer customer service !!!!!!!
(1)
Abby B.
Amazing food. Highly addicting. I take all my out-of-town guests here and recommend it to everyone I know. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Giovanni Donancricchia, the owner of Albano's. It's really a shame to see him go that way after how much he's served the community. I hope they find his killer soon.
(5)
Gerardo P.
VERY overpriced & overall it wasn't worth it. $25 for a 12 inch pizza!!! The crust was okay & like too many pizza places very little sauce. I had fresh garlic as a topping & it was either burnt or overcooked as it had a very bitter taste. Not enough sausage either, bit into a few hard pieces of gristle (at least i think it was). I hate to leave a bad review especially for a pizza place, but i was taught at an early age how to make pizzas & someone like me should know a thing or two about great pizza. Also this place is located in an unsavory part of Cicero, your better off going to Falco's or Villa Nova. I'm pretty sure Villa Nova is decent if memory serves me right, but that's beside the point.
(2)
Noomi J.
I found out about this place from my yelp friend David. I wanted to get the pizza puff, but because it takes 30 mins to make, I went with the Italian beef with mozz and hot peppers. Massive and pretty good in taste, though the meat was a bit dry. $8.87 after tax. I can't see myself getting it again, so for now it's 3 stars for me, but I'm interested in trying their pizza puff next time I'm in the area.
(3)
Danny B.
I really enjoyed the pizza puff. Came down to personal preference of not a huge fan of deep fried bread. It's basically a calzone just friend instead of baked. It was very tasty but the fried bread powered over the ingredients inside. I caught myself cutting the bread away and just eating the innards. Great food though. was definitely a good eat.
(3)
Jack K.
101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown in USA Countdown Number: 8 Famous for deep-fried calzone also known as the pizza puff. It takes 30 mins to cook the pizza puff, so I suggest you call to pre-order if you don't want to wait. On the bright side, there's a cd jukebox to keep you entertained. When the pizza puff came out, it was insanely huge and HOT! I ordered it to stay, and they gave me plastic utensils and paper plates. Please don't do what I did - try to cut the pizza puff with the plastic utensils... because the plastic knife melted before I could split it in half. They were nice enough to give me metal utensils when they saw my reactions. Be sure to bring a friend because you will need help finishing the entire puff. Bon appetit!
(4)
Mimi T.
I just picked whatever place was open at 12am and to my surprise this place didn't disappoint me. The pizza I ordered was still hot when it was delivered and super bomb! I got pepperoni, sausage, and jalapeños pizza. I recommend this place!
(5)
Gina C.
The service here is definitely lacking! The high schoolers who answer the phones all have attitudes as if they're being put out by having take your order. The food on the other hand is very good and portions are huge! I recommend the pizza puff and beef sandwich.
(3)
Alex C.
If you're watching your weight and looking to order something healthful, look elsewhere. If you're in the mood to have one of the best pizza's in your life, step right in! As to what to order? Well, their thin is delicious but nothing special. Same goes for the pan. But the stuffed? Oh. My. God. If you love cheese half as much as I do you're in heaven. After cutting yourself a slice mozzarella fills in the space to practically make another piece! And still so much left on the slice you cut! The sauce is tangy but not overpowering. The cheese has that wonderful "pull" to it that is so appealing visually and has that mild yet distinctive taste that you know and love about pizza. The crust is a tad doughy for my taste, but does not distract at all from the experience. I've been ordering from them for over 15 years, and I plan on ordering from them for as long as they stay in business. Some of you found this place after searching for "pizza puff" so I decided to separate this section. If you've heard about Albanos, you know that their pizza puff is unlike any other pizza puff. In fact, I believe it earns it's own distinct name. (pizza bomb?) To confirm the rumors, it is indeed, a whole pizza folded in half and fried (or baked, if you're a wimp). Football sized and shaped, only order it if you're got a monster appetite.
(5)
Buttermilk P.
I have Albano's bookmarked on my Yelp page, but I can't believe what happened to Mr. Donancricchia. My wife and I extend our deepest condolences to his wife and son. I can't imagine the hurt of having him taking by a young punk in such a senseless manner. Anyone who brings a child into this world bears the responsibility of raising that child to respect others and lead a civil, disciplined life among society. If you're not going to do that, don't reproduce.
(5)
Daniel C.
My introduction to this place was when my coworker picked up the italian beef sandwich from this place and we shared it. IT WAS SO GRANDE! it filled an entire 9 inch pie pan. WE shared it and it was still more than enough. Since that moment I have been obsessed with this place and the italian beef sammy and got it twice in the past 8 days! They have a pizza puff that I am really excited to try after reading all of these reviews.
(4)
La'Quita T.
Beefs are absolutely sensational! The right amount of cheese and everything else! I love this place!
(5)
Adonis D.
The pizza is amazing, it reminded me of what good Chicago pizza is, real mozz,cheese fresh toppings, good sauce and tender and crispy thin crust. I have lived in NY and the pizza there is good but not this good. It brought me back to growing up with pizza on Fridays and staying up late to watch Friday Night Videos.... I love this place AD
(5)
Marueen L.
The salads are crazy good!!! My fav is the veggie calzone...it takes me three days to eat the whole thing!!!
(5)
Scott M.
"Pizza Puff"?!? What the heck? OK, I'll try it. The reviews made it sound spectacular, and I'll try almost anything once. I wish I'd paid attention to Jennifer T . . . It's a calzone. A deep-fried calzone. A monstrous, cheesy-gooey, incredible-tasting deep-fried calzone. And it's deep-fried. Take away the "deep-fried" and I'd have given this place 5 stars, because it really tasted wonderful. But with my cholesterol levels I wish I'd have known it was deep fried before I ordered it, and would have taken Jennifer T's advice and had it baked. But back to the taste. I wasn't crazy about the crust because it had that tough-fried texture, and I was in massive-guilt-ridden-I-shouldn't-eat-this purgatory. The two pounds of cheese oozing out of the middle didn't help that little guilt trip. But wow was it tasty on the inside! Their sauce is really flavorful, and everything in there (pep., mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, 2 lbs. cheese) was wonderful together. I'm really looking forward to trying their non-fried pizza, and I may even give the pizza puff another try, but have it baked next time. Really good flavor. The joint itself is pretty divey, but the staff was really, really friendly, and really helpful. No beer, but you can BYOB and they'll give you a cup to enjoy it from. (Note to Yelp: How about a "BYOB" notation in the "Alcohol" category? This is the second or third time that would have been helpful.) Hint - a liquor store is half a block away (at least according to the very helpful staff-person). The puff took about a half hour - exactly what they said it would. Yeah, the parking lot isn't huge, but neither is the inside of the joint, so they should fit each other pretty well. Definitely recommended, and once I try the pizza I may update this review - I'm betting it goes up.
(4)
Melissa T.
First time I've had a pizza puff - it was good but nothing outstanding. It's definitely enough food to feed 70 (ok, 2-3 but the exaggeration hopefully expresses that this puff is freaking huge); I just wasn't impressed by the toppings. Also, I liked the pizza, but my total ended up being more expensive than I was expecting despite having looked at the menu and the prices when ordering. Some people have suggested the italian beefs - the pictures look amazing, so I'd definitely return to try one. All in all, this place was good - and it would have been awesome had it been located in St. Louis where pizza more or less sucks - but it's just not outstanding compared to other delicious places in the area.
(3)
Ryan K.
Saw this place on Chicago's Best and decided the puff was worth a drive. Double checked Yelp and saw "spacious parking" and nice comments about the dining area. My wife and I came on a Friday night around 8pm assuming from the comments we would be able to sit down and have a meal. The "dining" area was a very small space crammed with tables for possibly 20 people. There were 12 people spread around the booths and tables waiting for their orders. There were no red and white checkered tablecloths. The place was a little rough around the edges. The pickup/order window was packed so we decided to order our food to go. The "friendly staff" yelled whose next and scribbled down our order. One of the girls working was wearing pajama pants. They had 4 phone lines all off the hook. When a customer came in and mentioned he tried to call ahead they told him they didn't have time to answer the phones. There was a sign on the door looking for a phone girl, delivery driver, pizza maker and cook. The parking lot was large but so were the massive car sized dips and potholes. With all that said the food was very good. We had the sausage puff and Italian beef. Both were worth another visit. Try to order ahead and take it home.
(3)
Koryon P.
I usually get Italian beefs from here, but when a friend came to visit he got a pizza puff. Their portions are absolutely wonderful and the food is delicious.
(4)
Rhonda G.
God i'm full. It's been 3 days and I'm still stuffed from the insanely large pizza puff that boasts the #2 spot in the Travel Channels top 5 pizza places to chow down. Kudos to this small town with a seedy past for being famous for something other than corruption and that Capone fella :) About this puff: Seriously bigger than my head. DO NOT order an individual one for everyone in your group thinking that you might be able to finish in one sitting...you won't! The shape of it reminds me of a huge empanada (though I wish it were more flaky). Inside you'll find some gooey goodness created by whatever filling you have selected. My cheese and mushroom was 3 kinds of awesome! Overall, really good but almost too big because I was eating this thing for 3 days. $6.50 for 3 days worth of eating isn't bad but I kind of got sick of it around day 1.5 Wait time can be kind of ridiculous (20-25 minutes) so calling your order in is encouraged.
(4)
Jennifer T.
Italian Beefs and Pizza Puffs are to die for! Their salads are AWESOME! TIP: If you aren't digging the pizza puffs fried, you can request them to bake it. :)
(5)
Kelly W.
So, when I say I grew up on this place, what I really mean is that my Dad knows their number by heart. Yes, this was our staple, Friday night tradition. Albano's Pizza. I have grown to have varying taste for pizzas but if you are looking for a sure win with most taste buds, look no further. The sauce is just the right amount of sweet yet tangy. The cheese is killer. The crust is good enough to eat. (I'm picky about my crust.) The pizza puffs are HUGE and delish. Make sure you pay for the extra cup of sauce, as you will need/want it. Also, if you are not that into salt, I may suggest getting mushrooms to offset the amounts in the cheese. Like many others, I have also found their BBQ chicken wings & Cheesy Beefs and to exceptionally great as well! Thanks for making dinner on Fridays while growing up, less complicated Albano's!
(5)
Junior D.
Top 5 things I order at Albano's 1) Italian Beefs w melted cheese(enough for 2 people) The best in the area!! 2)Pizza-- Great tasting thin crust 3) Fried Chicken Sandwich w mixed cheese on garlic(enough for 2) Amazing and gigantic 4) chicken wings- enough for 2 people huge and tasty 5) Pizza Puff-- Be ready to share Portions are huge and the food taste really, really good!
(4)
McStrokin J.
Great Italian Beef's what more needs to be said?
(5)
Esteban R.
Thee PIZZA PUFFS are Mammoth. the quality of the pizza puff is too good to be true. Every bite i had from the pizza puff had every ingredient from the pepperoni, italian beef, onion, sausage, mushrooms, and the cheese was plentiful. My total was around 14 dollars , but it was worth it. i couldn't even finish the whole puff, and i can eat!!! God bless Albano's pizzeria because you really get your moneys worth and more
(5)
Rickey L.
I work nearby ans Albanos is def my Fav of the neighborhood food joint. The Italian Beefs are awesome.
(5)
Sarah S.
So I went there after I saw them on Travel Channel for #5 best place to eat for their home made pizza puffs. So I walk in and its a neighborhood, family run spot, I like that. The Son was the one who explained how the puffs work and what comes with it and etc.. very helpful and friendly. We both got 2 different puffs with 5 ingredients and a can of pop. Its a small dining room, but I was there for the puffs.. everything was clean and that was most important. So they do take about 25 mins, but when they came to the table my mouth dropped. Its like a medium sized pizza folded in half and deep fried. I got meatballs, green peppers, onions, mushrooms and garlic. It was TO DIE FOR!!! Bring an army with you or be prepared to bring home leftovers. I had meals for 2 days.. its was o so yummy. I will def be back again and again. Its right down the street from Depot Diner so when the lines are too long there.. come here.
(4)
Sean D.
Come hungry. You are gonna get you money's worth at this spot. Great neighborhood vibe. Overheard one customer say on her cell phone "all these white people coming in here ever since it was on TV." Laughed my ass off at that one. the pizza puff is huge and perfect. The dough is fried so it tastes like a stuffed doughnut. ate the puff for two days and it just got better and better. I can't wait to go back to this place. Looking for excuses to drive past every time I'm back in chicago.
(5)
Hball B.
Very very bigggggg portions order one beef for three people good old school place the decor is nothing to brag about but the food makes up for it u know it's good when a old man is running the joint. I got four beefs and 16inch pizza for five people at work I ended up begging my customers to help us eat over 14 people ate it was unbelievable
(5)
Dusty P.
Food: I can speak for the pizza puffs and chocolate shakes only - and I have absolutely nothing bad to say. It's like unsweetened donut wrapped around pizza fillings. I can echo pretty much everything that everyone else has said - they're HUGE, they're inexpensive, they could use a little more sauce but it's not bad enought to make me complain. I got mine to-go. I tossed it in the oven when I got home to reheat a little, and the crust was still crispy. They are - in a word - aMAHzing. (I do wish they would get their liquor license, though.) Atmosphere: I love dives like this. Order at the counter, shoot the shit for 25 minutes at a red-n-white checkered tableclothed table, and then attack the football sized deep fried goodness. No pretense, just laid back relaxation and gorging. Parking: Private lot - easy. Price: These puffs are a steal at $6.50... I don't want to give the owners any ideas, but I would probably spend $8 for what you get. Service: There isn't a whole lot of service needed... but what you get has a friendly, small-town feel to it - total win, in my book. I will definitely be back.
(4)
The J.
Yes, the pizza puffs are huge. Not only are they huge, they're excellent and definitely worth the price. Without a doubt, my favorite thing to order off the menu, but there are 3 other items on the menu worth checking out as well. Italian Beef - It's not a big sandwich in terms of length, but it is FULL of beef and has a very authentic taste to it. The best way to order it is with mozzarella cheese and hot peppers and request it juicy. Probably the best beef sandwich in the Chicagoland area. Chicken Wings - No other joint in the area serves wings like Albano's does. They are to die for! They are HUGE and smothered in hot sauce (Also do BBQ and plain). They're not like those small legs that are served at other restaurants. These are JUMBO WINGS! It is also part of a full dinner which serves fries or baked potato, dinner roll and coleslaw. Definitely the place I go when I want wings. Thin Crust Pizza - I mean after all, this is a pizzeria, so I would be remiss if I didn't comment on their pizza, but in all honesty Albano's makes an awesome thin crust pizza. In my opinion, it's a three-way tie between Albano's, Anthony's and Paisans for best thin crust pizza in the Berwyn/Cicero area. Albano's uses a GENEROUS amount of cheese on their pizza, the sauce is sweet and plentiful and they don't skimp on the toppings, which by the way are fresh. And last but not least, if you don't want to wait at least an hour for your food, order it for pick-up. Pick up is usually no more than 20 minutes.
(5)
Dan J.
Albano's gives you massive portions of great food for super cheap. Most of their menu is under $10 and will provide you with more than one meal. I usually call to pre-order and then pick whatever I am having up since the interior is very small and I am close by. They aren't the fastest place but it is worth the wait. This is not a health food kind of place. Everything is loaded with pounds of cheese and if you like that kind of thing you will not be disappointed.
(5)
AllAround C.
Yes, the pizza puffs are gigantic!!! However, it was ok, but not outstanding. I read that it was actually a pizza folded over and that person is correct. It was messy to eat and too large (if that is possible). I felt like a pig and guilty trying to eat it. I thought the quality of the ingredients was average. Smart idea to beat the competition, but not really worth the hype.
(3)
Gerry D.
I only get the pizza puffs. They are good but I alway bake mine for 30 minutes longer so that some of the juice inside will evaporate. I had an italian beef from here once, wasnt a fan. I urge you to call your order in, as it will take a while for them to make your food. Also however long that they say your food will take, add 10 minutes to that! This is definitely a carry-out spot, if you can even make it into the cramped ass parking lot!
(4)
Rene L.
Great italian beef but service is extremely slow waited 15 minutes for one sandwich when no one else was there... But the great food made up for the slow cooking
(4)
Reanna M.
Food here is amazing! Portions are great prices aren't bad either and staff are friendly and go beyond, "how can I help you?". I always opt for take out because it's very dingy and worn looking inside but hey, who comes for the ambiance? The food is great!
(4)
Demetrius G.
I love eating here I give them a number #1 in everything
(5)
Colonel M.
Huge pizza puffs... Really not bad for the price... I'll go here again but next time I'll aak for extra sauce in my puff
(3)
Ang R.
This is a dive. In the best possible way; the pizza puffs are HUGE (at least two meals, at least) and tasty. And cheap! You're not at this place for atmosphere; I don't think you're even here for the other food, though don't take my word on that, because we didn't eat anything else. The pizza puff is the star here, so get one. I had sausage and mushroom, and it was great. Nothing makes me happier than actual fresh mushrooms in/on pizza, and these were fresh. Some were even slightly crunchy, in a good fresh mushroom kind of way. There's a LOT of meat in these puppies, so you've got to really like that. If I go again, I'm going to go veggie, and see how that works for me. Either way, the sausage is tasty, so don't avoid it. It's in an odd location, though if there's no traffic, it's still only 20 minutes from Lakeview by Lake Shore and the Ike. And you can definitely do pub trans if you're into that. All in all, worth the trip.
(4)
Ken T.
I live in the neighborhood and have been going there for last 10yrs. The best pizza and pizza puffs in Chicago. I like that they r friendly and nice for pickup or delivery everyone should try this place they won't be disappointed.
(5)
Arlene G.
I'm only reviewing their pizza puffs cuz it's the biggest pizza puff I've ever eaten in my life! It's like a medium size pizza folded in half with lots of cheese and whatever topping you ask for. I can split it with somebody and still have leftovers for the next day! Wooo hooo!
(4)
Harrison C.
I saw this place on the Food Channel and had to check it out. Now I can see why it was on TV. I've only had the pizza puffs from there but that's all you really need. It's huge! The crust on the pizza puff had that perfect balance between crispy and flake on the outside and warm and soft on the inside and the taste was excellent as well. I usually get the Italian beef, bacon, mushroom and onion and it'll take me breakfast lunch and dinner to finish one. It's sooo good I like to say, "Albano's: worth the drive. worth your life."
(5)
K. T.
I just got back to my hotel after having a late lunch at Albano's Pizzeria with their old owners. Their pizza puff was to die for! Huge portion. Cheesiest, meatiest, biggest pizza puff. So delicious. Well worth the 25 minutes for them to make it. If I lived near this place, it would be on my speed dial and my weekend nosh pizzeria. I'm sad we don't have a place like this in FL. I loved it!
(5)
Rosalinda F.
Review for Pizza only Update:DiNico's pizza has gotten worse, so given a choice I would rather buy and Albano's pizza than a DiNico's pizza. Original Reveiw: I thought their pizza was good, but I much prefer DiNico's pizza. I can't explain why, I guess it's different strokes for different folks. Anyways the cheese was good, the thin crust was good, and the sauce was good. But I just did not like it compared to DiNico's. I think DiNico's had better cheese, sauce, and crust (more crispy which is what I like). They give you good portions on the pizza so it does not feel like they are skimping on the cheese or sauce. Like many places, you get a free pop depending on the order amount and they had Dr Pepper (and RC) which totally rocked!...Sorry for my overenthusiasm, but it just seems I can never get Dr.Pepper at pizza places. The rest of my family (my mom and three brothers) also agreed with me for what it's worth.
(3)
Daniel O.
best pizza puff around. i love this place. it is quite a drive but i will put up with it for atmosphere service and above all the food. the was a joint we had in lisle that fried calzones but they went out of business. a friend of mine told me about this joint and ive eaten here since.
(5)
SJ B.
OMG, I'm still full from eating 1/2 of it yesterday and the other 1/2 this morning. Heard great things about this "dive" and after spending a few hours walking around Oak Park (Frank Lloyd Wright architecture), I was hungry! Just a few miles away and not terribly inconvenient, I tried it out. Yes, it was a 1/2 hour wait for my freshly made, well-stuffed, GYNORMOUS pizza puff. When it was brought out, I literally exclaimed, "holy crap that's huge!". It really is the size of a football and weights a bit more. I had mine stuffed with sausage, onions, and mushrooms and in EVERY bite, there were those goodies. It tastes just like a pizza should and puffed, it's brilliant. During my wait for the GYNORMOUS puff, I saw all ages and colors walk in for pick-ups. Everyone seemed rather excited with the bounty they were taking home and I get it. This place is a dive gem and is a perfect compliment to the neighborhood, thus the incredibly reasonable, dare I say, cheap prices. Alas, it's too far for me to become a regular, but anytime I'm out in that part of Chicago, I'll be back. Reheated this morning, the leftovers were delightful. Just wonderful!
(5)
Jasmin M.
The pizza puffs are huge! I was starving when I went there and only finished about half of it. I shared with my children and there was still pizza puff left over for the next day. My friend told me they were the size of the football, and I was sure he was exaggerating. Not only are they huge, they're actually pretty good and you can choose your own fillings. My oldest is a picky eater, so I was surprised when he was begging to get another one two days later. It's a small "dive" sort of place as others have said, but it was still pretty decent. It was clean, fairly quiet, and not at all crowded when we went. We'll definitely be back there again. I've passed it a thousand times, and never would have thought to go in there if my friend hadn't taken me.
(5)
Justin R.
Ordering from Albanos might become your next party tradition. Let me tell you why, football sized pizza puffs. Thats why. Wait, let me capitalize that just to get the attention of the person who's skimming through this review..FOOTBALL SIZED PIZZA PUFFS. Okay, so now that I have your attention, these things are phenomenal. You can believe me on that one because I only bring out that word on special occasions. Looking at the menu, Stella Albano's Pizzeria has the same fare as any Italian restaurant but they have a whole lot more.They effectivly took a favorite from every type of food and put it on the menu. I haven't been in the restaurant in years and the last time I went there it was a dark place with or 5 booths. The inside may have changed but I think this restaurant is great for the delivery. Remember that one time that you were at home with your friends and wished that you could get a burger, cheese sticks, chicken strips, rips, a pizza, fried chicken, fried shrimp, Italian beef, a six pack of coke, Twinkies, maybe one of those chicken things at 7-11, and an oversized cowboy hat delivered to your door? Well, this place would have been your answer...except for the Twinkies, the 7-11 thing and the cowboy hat. Your on your own with that. So all that stuff is good but the thing that you should order first is the pizza puff. It's not on the menu for some reason but whenever I order it I always ask for it by that name. It is actually a pizza that is folded over, closed, and then fried until golden brown. When you first bite into it, the fried pizza dough crunches and then mixes in with the other ingredients. Spicy tomato sauce, sausage (or whatever topping you want - some like pepperoni for some reason), and tons of gooey cheese will shock your taste buds into life. Portion Size: So it isn't super healthy but you don't have to eat all of it at once. My dad will order a few, cut them up, and freeze them. If you can eat a 12 inch pizza all by yourself this will do you fine, for the rest of us I suggest cutting it in half and putting the other half in the freezer to have another day. //////////////////////////////////////////////////Â///////////////////////////////////////// Something you should know for Oak Park and Forest Park Residents //////////////////////////////////////////////////Â///////////////////////////////////////// The delivery doesn't suck - they are consistently slow. As long as they are consistent with the slow time I'm happy ordering an hour and a half before I want my food...and I can count on it. If they get it to me before an hour I'm one happy dude. They are always still too hot to touch when they get to my place. Bottom Line: Delivery is slow but worth it for the PHENOMENAL PIZZA PUFFS. They will become a party favorite. Order again for large portions of great lasagna and chicken parm. They don't have a website so here's some info: OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK DELIVERY $2-$3 (DEPENDING ON DISTANCE) HOURS Monday - Thursday 3:00PM - 12:00AM Friday - 11:00AM - 1:00AM Saturday - 2:00PM - 1:00AM Sunday - 2:00PM - 12:00AM AND WHAT?!
(5)
Natalie R.
Stella Albano's, I have to dock you two stars for the flying ant we found in our food today. I think my pizza puff (ordered based on Robert R's review) was everything I hoped it would be, and more. I kept eating it after my co-worker found the ant in her salad. I figured that if nothing else, if there were ants mixed up with the ooey gooey cheezy heaven loaded with spinach, mushrooms, and just the right amount of sauce, then those ants were probably high quality to begin with. It was a damn good puff. I snuck a bite of my friend's beef and cheddar, too, and had another foodgasm. I might try you again another day. It is Spring....maybe you just haven't had Orkin Man out yet this season.....but it will require at least five more delicious encounters, ant-free, before I can give you the stars I think you might deserve. I only docked two stars because it was just SO good. Way better than Dimenzo's.
(3)
Ernie I.
The cheesy beef was awesome! Great food and great service... I'm ordering today :)
(5)
Mike K.
It's a small, crappy, out of the way pizza place....and it serves these giant, football-sized pizza puffs, pizza puffs that will make you drive 30 minutes out of the way to get one. Lots of cheese and sause and unbelievably good. It literally took an hour to actually get there and get it, but its sooo worth the trip!
(5)
Justin G.
Pretty much what everyone said so far. Yes the pizza puff is awesome. I actually find it to be more of a calzone than what you normally think of when you hear pizza puff, and it makes sense if you read Robert's detailed review. In Wisconsin, I have had larger ones for the money, but let me say that for whatever reason, whether it is calzone or pizza puff we're talking about, this is the only one that actually tastes like a pizza. I can't wait to trek back through here and try other things too. They also have burgers and regular fast food items in addition to Italian food, so if you have a group and someone wants American fast food, you can get it all in the same place. Just a warning, I came here for lunch on Friday and Friday happens to be the only day they are open at 11am. The rest of the week they don't open until 3pm and 2pm on weekends. It is also easy to pass up. It is about a block or two east of Austin on the south side of the street and they have their own lot, so if you come from the west, keep you eyes open once you pass Austin. Everything seems to be made fresh here too, so it might take a little while for them to make it. Carryout or delivery might be better options than stopping in on a whim.
(5)
Harrison J.
5 lbs of deep fried pizza goodness for only $9 is something that can't be beat. It's no surprise that this place ranked in the top 100 tastiest places to eat. The regular thin crust pizza is pretty good, but this place is mainly known for the football-sized pizza puffs. These are far from the cheap Italco puffs. Instead of phylo dough, they use a very thin pizza dough to support the size and weight of these monsters. They come backed full of cheese, sauce, and whatever ingredients you choose. When you bite into one fresh out of the fryer, it has a slight doughnutty taste with a very flavorful, super-greasy pizza inside. If you can't handle that much fat, grease, and calories, then I would definately suggest trying the italian beef.
(5)
Cesar M.
albanos never disappoints me. always leaves me with a smile on my face. get the pizza-puff or just a chesse and sausage pizza. its all good
(5)
Ted o.
Albanos!!!!.....i spent my formative years in Cicero and this place will always be in high regard because of the juggernaut of a pizza-puff.....at least once a month we all order dinner from Albanos and it is all good stuff.....the cheesy beef is served open-faced in a massive foil container....i love seeing a foil food container...it shines like silver!....MY PRECIOUS!!!!!!......sorry about that.....seriously good food and out of this world PIZZA PUFF....
(4)
Allison K.
I can't believe that only one other person has yelped Albano's! Since I have only have had their delivery, I'm going to only rave about what exactly made me love Albano's Pizzeria. All I can say is PIZZA PUFFS. These pizza puff at Albano's are huge, and just like Robert R. had said, they ARE the size of a football. These pizza puffs are stuffed with lots of cheese, meats, and sauce and they are absolutely cooked to perfection. After having one of these pizza puff's you'll never want to get one of those "tiny" pizza puffs again. Next time I'm craving Albano's Pizzeria I'm definitely going to eat at their restaurant so I can try more items on their menu.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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Rashawn S.
Biggest, juiciest, most delicious italian beef you'll ever eat. What I've always loved about Albanos is that they serve consistently great food. It isn't in the heart of the city, but if you don't experience their beef, you're missing out. Make it dipped with mozzarella and hot peppers on the side....if you're into that kinda thing.
(5)Art M.
Dang, that's a huge pizza puff for how much? Not bad! Not bad at all, in fact it's cheap. This is a good deal, where is it at? Across the street from the crack houses? Order delivery. (-2*'s The pizza puff is deep fried. It tastes like a giant pizza donut. The toppings they use are of a lesser quality than the surrounding businesses. It is not a very great location to visit at night. I chained my bike near by once and my front tire was stolen.)
(3)Michelle M.
Went there yesterday with my husband. The place is greasy, dirty and dark. The wings still had feathers on them! It was a horrible experience. The food made me sick. The pizza puff was not as good at all. It was big but it was not as full or flavorful as it seemed to be on the travel channel. The place didn't even look the same no table clothes and it was very dimmly lit. It must have new owners but they are clearly struggling to keep the resturant and idea that the former owner had alive which makes me real sad. Clearly the restaurant business is hard. The front door was gated up. All I can say is that they are in desperate need of a restuarant makeover. They need Robert Irvine to come and fix the place if they want to achieve success.
(2)David O.
Don't judge this place by its cover, believe me I had my doubts too. Great portions here! The taste isnt the best I've had but it is pretty good. I've had their beef(good), pizza puff(really good) & cheese fries(suck). Sometimes they can be overwhelmed with service & won't answer the phone or take 1hr & 45mins to deliver your order. Be wise & try to call ahead, pickup only! If they dont answer, do like me & go elsewhere. Hunger doesn't wait for nobody!
(4)Aruba R.
Overpriced, rude and very slow customer service and very greasy pizza. If I had relatives or friends who came here from out of town, I would definitely not take them here!!! I would rather go to Jewel and buy a pizza instead, especially if they were hungry! What makes it worse, the staff acts as though they do not care about how they treat the customers and they would rather argue than get out the food or correct the mistake they made. Would not recommend. I would rather go to Giordano's or Edward's Natural Pizza instead. And I will not be coming back here. Ever again!!!
(1)Jean S.
So, it wasn't as bad as last time, but the chicken was over cooked, to the point where it was hard in some spots. So damn disappointed! That was my mother's day meal.
(1)Ron S.
Ordered the famed pizza puffs - DISGUSTING. The crust was hard. Tasted like an old greasy donut. The best part was the sausage inside. The staff were inattentive. The location was small (only a few tables and chairs). Good thing we were the only ones there...WAIT....I should have known it wouldn't be good based on how empty the place was.
(1)Hannah H.
Service was nice, but it does take about 30 minutes for them to make the 'largest pizza puff in the Chicagoland area.' Now, for all of your pizza puff lovers out there, it is not the typical awesome puff you get from Iltaco - it's actually just like a regular pizza, folded over, that comes out piping hot and barely sitting on the plate. I had the cheese, onions, sausages, and green peppers, and it tasted good. The crust itself was slightly crunchy, and the filling was pretty decent - tasted like a regular pizza with a good amount of tomato sauce. The price was decent (about $10), and dining in is an option. Don't expect to finish it, and you can probably share one between two people. They do have a lot by the side of the restaurant. +'largest pizza puff in the Chicagoland area'
(3)Juliette G.
Delivery was about 30 minutes late, but once the pizza arrived it was a magical experience! We got sausage, mushroom, and onion deep dish pizza, and it was so delicious. Holy shit! I don't fancy sausage much, and even I didn't want to pick it off. Soooooo good!!!!!! Four stars for the delivery under estimate and the underhanded remark made when I called to check where it was. Everything else was fantastic.
(4)-E -.
Meh. I've experienced better pizza puffs.
(2)Brandi M.
Rude customer service especially for a family owned business. Ordered a few times once took over an hour and a half for my pizza. Tried to order again today the woman seemed bothered about taking my order. Will never order again hung up in her face. Be nice when people order from your restaurant.
(1)Mary J. C.
Pizza puff was my go to here but recently it hasn't been as good as it used to... Which is a shame, it's alyways sad to see your favorite spots betray you.
(2)Neal C.
The five stars is solely for the amazing Pizza Puff. Think of it as a gargantuan calzone (I ate 1/3 of it there, brought the remainder home, and the weight of the remainder was 2.1 pounds; so this thing is easily 3 pounds!) all for $7.50 plus $1 per topping. Even better: the exterior is a buttery, moist pie-type crust. Slightly sweet, it adds a great texture and balance to the salty fillings. I'd definitely get sausage, as that was my favorite filler. Stay away from the pizza. Bland, thick crust with no real identity. Interior has no ambience either-- but the pizza puff... Wow, really unique and so worth a visit to Cicero.
(5)Patrice S.
This is the worst customer service Resturant on this side of town !!!!!!! I placed a order for delivery gave them my address which is stated on the mailing address because I'm new to this area the lady answering the phone was asking me like 20 questions about my address the direction how far it was etc!!!!!! I'm like do you have map quest I give you an address you find it I'm not going to waste time guiding you to me like really. So finally after being insulted about how far I was from Roosevelt lol I said never mind you can cancel my order they are just rude. The business is probably going under that need an update I'll just order portillos from here on out !!!!!!!
(1)Zach J.
I would like to update to extend my sympathies to the wonderful family that runs this place. That scum bag that killed this owner needs to rot in hell, this place is fantastic and I hope it does not change in quality due to this tragedy. When I heard the news about a pizza place in Cicero, I said please do not be Albanos, please do not be Albanos, but when I found out it was Albanos I was pissed. Just sick and tired of "I am a cold blooded killer" gangbanger routine. How does it make you a man to kill an innocent person!!??? Also I would like to add another thing about the food, this is one of the only places I know that makes an Italian Beef with melted cheese and does not dry out the beef. It is extremely hard to have melted cheese on an Italian Beef without drying it out. I do not know how they it but they do it and it's amazing!
(5)Kat T.
Placed my family pizza order at 6:10p. Told it would take an hour and a half for delivery. Okay. An hour later I'm told they ran out if 2 litters provided with family size pizza and they will only send a 1 liter. Oooookay. It's 8:30p and no pizza. I called earlier at 8p to find out status. Told pizza just left. The least this place can do is provide a courtesy call or show that they care that's it's been two hours plus and waiting. No one should wait close to three hours for a pizza delivery!!! Terrible customer service! Never again.
(1)kathy e.
Will never order from this pizzeria again. We waited an hour and 50 minutes for our pizza to be delivered. The delivery person called our house when she arrived and said she was in front ( in the street blocking traffic). They don't deliver to the door? The pizza was cold. Called the restaurant and told they would resend the pizza or take money off our next order. We could have had a frozen pizza for a fraction of the cost.
(1)Viktor C.
I have to say that I,ve been going here for three years and that alone says a lot. The pizza's are made to order, have it your way, crust thickness included. The Beefs are wet and juicy ..at times to wet..but I like it anyway. The Chicken parmesan is unreal and enough for 2 people. Very good basic ribs..fall off the bone..nice sauce, not to sweet or spicy. the jumbo pizza puff is a sight to behold and Deeelish as well. Almost always great delivery and to sum it up...I have not had a bad thing yet.
(4)A T.
Pretty good pizza, just popped in to take some slices to go. Pizza I had was not really thin-crust, but more along the lines of DiNico's though not quite as thick/doughy and definitely not as thick as Freddy's Pizza. Slices are pretty huge with lots of cheese and toppings. Will definitely be trying their other menu items such as the famed pizza roll.
(4)MeSean W.
Delicious beef/combination sandwiches. Huge tasty pizza puffs. Food here is very good.
(5)Amy T.
Every time i try calling the number it says line busy i want to try their food. Is there another number you guys call? Thanks
(5)Mike B.
Food is great but its time to get more lines in the building... I can never get through
(3)Ronald M.
Tried it for the first time tonight with my family hands down one of the best pizzas on the west side
(5)Shaina W.
I love the food at Albano's, however I feel they need to either update their menu's to reflect actual pricing or communicate the proper way to ring up items. I order from here fairly often; probably weekly since this is a regular spot for my co-workers and I to get lunch/dinner and my entire family loves their food. This evening, I ordered a large(14") sausage and cheese pizza and the menu price was $14.50, but total came out to $17.01. I initially figured we had an outdated menu, so I asked about it when I picked up my pizza, however they confirmed that the menus were current, so I tried showing the worker that I was basically being overcharged by a dollar. She tried to explain it away as taxes, but taxes were only $1.50. Once I checked out my receipt, I saw that they charged me the price for a cheese pizza ($13.00), then the price for additional toppings ($2.50) instead of the price specifically listed in their menu for a 14" sausage ($14.50). I paid the $17 instead of making a huge deal of it, however I still feel that I was overcharged and if I'm being overcharged every time I go there, even if it's by a dollar, it adds up and I'm a little discouraged about going as often as I do. If they want to charge the full price for each added ingredient, I've no problem with that, but it shouldn't show totally different pricing on the menus they're distributing. That is really my only grievance with Albano's. I do love their food: the pizza puffs, cheesy beefs, and pizzas are to die for. They would have 5 stars if it wasn't for the pricing issue. Please up date your menu or make sure everyone is ringing up orders properly and consistently.
(4)Alvaro R.
I am basing this review solely on the food. We ordered a large pizza half sausage and mushrooms and the other half was just pepperoni. I have to say it wasn't great but it wasn't terrible either. I have definitely had better and I have had much worse. It's right in the middle of the pack as far as thin crust pizza in the Chicagoland area goes. I wouldn't mind ordering it again but it's definitely not a must have.
(3)Charles G.
I ordered my food and they said it would take only 45 minutes to one hour and it took almost 2 hours for my food to get here I live nearby I called and asked when my food would be showing up and they said soon but we waited another half hour we ordered a pizza and calzone & the mozzarella sticks the pizza was cold the cheese was not melted on the inside of the calzone and the mozzarella sticks were cold. This place is close to my house there's no reason for them not to have my food here hot!!! The food could've been good just needs to be hot and they need to tell you when your food is going to Arrive no reason to have cold pizza when you pay a lot of money almost $50 for this dinner!! I will not order anything from this place again!!
(1)Htes P.
1st. time here. I happened to park in front of Albano's,and when I returned from my appointment I decided to get a slice a pizza. The no frills interior of random tables is accented by poster art. I ordered a Breaded steak sandwich with red sauce and mozzarella cheese. I loved that they toasted the bun. Nice quality steak. It's made fresh so be patience. good counter service. What a random score. I shall return.
(5)Sandeep S.
OMG..what a treat! Pizza puff.. cheese, onion, tomatoes, mushrooms, sausage, meatballs, hot peppers...yum yum. Ample parking on the side & I met the most happy customers awaiting their orders in the parking lot. It was a carnival!! Highly recommended pizza puffs. Simply superb.
(5)Jelissa C.
Worst service I've ever received ! Me n my husband just had a baby and to convenience us in time with a new born we called in the order and were quoted 15 minutes . When my husband arrived the women who took the order only had one thing ready after repeating the order three times verbally on the phone ! Her attitude was rude and she was unwilling to help him. The supervisor wasn't any better! She offered a SODA!!! For the inconvenience! You've lost a loyal customer for your lack of efficiency and the amount of disrespect shown and unwillingness to offer customer service !!!!!!!
(1)Abby B.
Amazing food. Highly addicting. I take all my out-of-town guests here and recommend it to everyone I know. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Giovanni Donancricchia, the owner of Albano's. It's really a shame to see him go that way after how much he's served the community. I hope they find his killer soon.
(5)Gerardo P.
VERY overpriced & overall it wasn't worth it. $25 for a 12 inch pizza!!! The crust was okay & like too many pizza places very little sauce. I had fresh garlic as a topping & it was either burnt or overcooked as it had a very bitter taste. Not enough sausage either, bit into a few hard pieces of gristle (at least i think it was). I hate to leave a bad review especially for a pizza place, but i was taught at an early age how to make pizzas & someone like me should know a thing or two about great pizza. Also this place is located in an unsavory part of Cicero, your better off going to Falco's or Villa Nova. I'm pretty sure Villa Nova is decent if memory serves me right, but that's beside the point.
(2)Noomi J.
I found out about this place from my yelp friend David. I wanted to get the pizza puff, but because it takes 30 mins to make, I went with the Italian beef with mozz and hot peppers. Massive and pretty good in taste, though the meat was a bit dry. $8.87 after tax. I can't see myself getting it again, so for now it's 3 stars for me, but I'm interested in trying their pizza puff next time I'm in the area.
(3)Danny B.
I really enjoyed the pizza puff. Came down to personal preference of not a huge fan of deep fried bread. It's basically a calzone just friend instead of baked. It was very tasty but the fried bread powered over the ingredients inside. I caught myself cutting the bread away and just eating the innards. Great food though. was definitely a good eat.
(3)Jack K.
101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown in USA Countdown Number: 8 Famous for deep-fried calzone also known as the pizza puff. It takes 30 mins to cook the pizza puff, so I suggest you call to pre-order if you don't want to wait. On the bright side, there's a cd jukebox to keep you entertained. When the pizza puff came out, it was insanely huge and HOT! I ordered it to stay, and they gave me plastic utensils and paper plates. Please don't do what I did - try to cut the pizza puff with the plastic utensils... because the plastic knife melted before I could split it in half. They were nice enough to give me metal utensils when they saw my reactions. Be sure to bring a friend because you will need help finishing the entire puff. Bon appetit!
(4)Mimi T.
I just picked whatever place was open at 12am and to my surprise this place didn't disappoint me. The pizza I ordered was still hot when it was delivered and super bomb! I got pepperoni, sausage, and jalapeños pizza. I recommend this place!
(5)Gina C.
The service here is definitely lacking! The high schoolers who answer the phones all have attitudes as if they're being put out by having take your order. The food on the other hand is very good and portions are huge! I recommend the pizza puff and beef sandwich.
(3)Alex C.
If you're watching your weight and looking to order something healthful, look elsewhere. If you're in the mood to have one of the best pizza's in your life, step right in! As to what to order? Well, their thin is delicious but nothing special. Same goes for the pan. But the stuffed? Oh. My. God. If you love cheese half as much as I do you're in heaven. After cutting yourself a slice mozzarella fills in the space to practically make another piece! And still so much left on the slice you cut! The sauce is tangy but not overpowering. The cheese has that wonderful "pull" to it that is so appealing visually and has that mild yet distinctive taste that you know and love about pizza. The crust is a tad doughy for my taste, but does not distract at all from the experience. I've been ordering from them for over 15 years, and I plan on ordering from them for as long as they stay in business. Some of you found this place after searching for "pizza puff" so I decided to separate this section. If you've heard about Albanos, you know that their pizza puff is unlike any other pizza puff. In fact, I believe it earns it's own distinct name. (pizza bomb?) To confirm the rumors, it is indeed, a whole pizza folded in half and fried (or baked, if you're a wimp). Football sized and shaped, only order it if you're got a monster appetite.
(5)Buttermilk P.
I have Albano's bookmarked on my Yelp page, but I can't believe what happened to Mr. Donancricchia. My wife and I extend our deepest condolences to his wife and son. I can't imagine the hurt of having him taking by a young punk in such a senseless manner. Anyone who brings a child into this world bears the responsibility of raising that child to respect others and lead a civil, disciplined life among society. If you're not going to do that, don't reproduce.
(5)Daniel C.
My introduction to this place was when my coworker picked up the italian beef sandwich from this place and we shared it. IT WAS SO GRANDE! it filled an entire 9 inch pie pan. WE shared it and it was still more than enough. Since that moment I have been obsessed with this place and the italian beef sammy and got it twice in the past 8 days! They have a pizza puff that I am really excited to try after reading all of these reviews.
(4)La'Quita T.
Beefs are absolutely sensational! The right amount of cheese and everything else! I love this place!
(5)Adonis D.
The pizza is amazing, it reminded me of what good Chicago pizza is, real mozz,cheese fresh toppings, good sauce and tender and crispy thin crust. I have lived in NY and the pizza there is good but not this good. It brought me back to growing up with pizza on Fridays and staying up late to watch Friday Night Videos.... I love this place AD
(5)Marueen L.
The salads are crazy good!!! My fav is the veggie calzone...it takes me three days to eat the whole thing!!!
(5)Scott M.
"Pizza Puff"?!? What the heck? OK, I'll try it. The reviews made it sound spectacular, and I'll try almost anything once. I wish I'd paid attention to Jennifer T . . . It's a calzone. A deep-fried calzone. A monstrous, cheesy-gooey, incredible-tasting deep-fried calzone. And it's deep-fried. Take away the "deep-fried" and I'd have given this place 5 stars, because it really tasted wonderful. But with my cholesterol levels I wish I'd have known it was deep fried before I ordered it, and would have taken Jennifer T's advice and had it baked. But back to the taste. I wasn't crazy about the crust because it had that tough-fried texture, and I was in massive-guilt-ridden-I-shouldn't-eat-this purgatory. The two pounds of cheese oozing out of the middle didn't help that little guilt trip. But wow was it tasty on the inside! Their sauce is really flavorful, and everything in there (pep., mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, 2 lbs. cheese) was wonderful together. I'm really looking forward to trying their non-fried pizza, and I may even give the pizza puff another try, but have it baked next time. Really good flavor. The joint itself is pretty divey, but the staff was really, really friendly, and really helpful. No beer, but you can BYOB and they'll give you a cup to enjoy it from. (Note to Yelp: How about a "BYOB" notation in the "Alcohol" category? This is the second or third time that would have been helpful.) Hint - a liquor store is half a block away (at least according to the very helpful staff-person). The puff took about a half hour - exactly what they said it would. Yeah, the parking lot isn't huge, but neither is the inside of the joint, so they should fit each other pretty well. Definitely recommended, and once I try the pizza I may update this review - I'm betting it goes up.
(4)Melissa T.
First time I've had a pizza puff - it was good but nothing outstanding. It's definitely enough food to feed 70 (ok, 2-3 but the exaggeration hopefully expresses that this puff is freaking huge); I just wasn't impressed by the toppings. Also, I liked the pizza, but my total ended up being more expensive than I was expecting despite having looked at the menu and the prices when ordering. Some people have suggested the italian beefs - the pictures look amazing, so I'd definitely return to try one. All in all, this place was good - and it would have been awesome had it been located in St. Louis where pizza more or less sucks - but it's just not outstanding compared to other delicious places in the area.
(3)Ryan K.
Saw this place on Chicago's Best and decided the puff was worth a drive. Double checked Yelp and saw "spacious parking" and nice comments about the dining area. My wife and I came on a Friday night around 8pm assuming from the comments we would be able to sit down and have a meal. The "dining" area was a very small space crammed with tables for possibly 20 people. There were 12 people spread around the booths and tables waiting for their orders. There were no red and white checkered tablecloths. The place was a little rough around the edges. The pickup/order window was packed so we decided to order our food to go. The "friendly staff" yelled whose next and scribbled down our order. One of the girls working was wearing pajama pants. They had 4 phone lines all off the hook. When a customer came in and mentioned he tried to call ahead they told him they didn't have time to answer the phones. There was a sign on the door looking for a phone girl, delivery driver, pizza maker and cook. The parking lot was large but so were the massive car sized dips and potholes. With all that said the food was very good. We had the sausage puff and Italian beef. Both were worth another visit. Try to order ahead and take it home.
(3)Koryon P.
I usually get Italian beefs from here, but when a friend came to visit he got a pizza puff. Their portions are absolutely wonderful and the food is delicious.
(4)Rhonda G.
God i'm full. It's been 3 days and I'm still stuffed from the insanely large pizza puff that boasts the #2 spot in the Travel Channels top 5 pizza places to chow down. Kudos to this small town with a seedy past for being famous for something other than corruption and that Capone fella :) About this puff: Seriously bigger than my head. DO NOT order an individual one for everyone in your group thinking that you might be able to finish in one sitting...you won't! The shape of it reminds me of a huge empanada (though I wish it were more flaky). Inside you'll find some gooey goodness created by whatever filling you have selected. My cheese and mushroom was 3 kinds of awesome! Overall, really good but almost too big because I was eating this thing for 3 days. $6.50 for 3 days worth of eating isn't bad but I kind of got sick of it around day 1.5 Wait time can be kind of ridiculous (20-25 minutes) so calling your order in is encouraged.
(4)Jennifer T.
Italian Beefs and Pizza Puffs are to die for! Their salads are AWESOME! TIP: If you aren't digging the pizza puffs fried, you can request them to bake it. :)
(5)Kelly W.
So, when I say I grew up on this place, what I really mean is that my Dad knows their number by heart. Yes, this was our staple, Friday night tradition. Albano's Pizza. I have grown to have varying taste for pizzas but if you are looking for a sure win with most taste buds, look no further. The sauce is just the right amount of sweet yet tangy. The cheese is killer. The crust is good enough to eat. (I'm picky about my crust.) The pizza puffs are HUGE and delish. Make sure you pay for the extra cup of sauce, as you will need/want it. Also, if you are not that into salt, I may suggest getting mushrooms to offset the amounts in the cheese. Like many others, I have also found their BBQ chicken wings & Cheesy Beefs and to exceptionally great as well! Thanks for making dinner on Fridays while growing up, less complicated Albano's!
(5)Junior D.
Top 5 things I order at Albano's 1) Italian Beefs w melted cheese(enough for 2 people) The best in the area!! 2)Pizza-- Great tasting thin crust 3) Fried Chicken Sandwich w mixed cheese on garlic(enough for 2) Amazing and gigantic 4) chicken wings- enough for 2 people huge and tasty 5) Pizza Puff-- Be ready to share Portions are huge and the food taste really, really good!
(4)McStrokin J.
Great Italian Beef's what more needs to be said?
(5)Esteban R.
Thee PIZZA PUFFS are Mammoth. the quality of the pizza puff is too good to be true. Every bite i had from the pizza puff had every ingredient from the pepperoni, italian beef, onion, sausage, mushrooms, and the cheese was plentiful. My total was around 14 dollars , but it was worth it. i couldn't even finish the whole puff, and i can eat!!! God bless Albano's pizzeria because you really get your moneys worth and more
(5)Rickey L.
I work nearby ans Albanos is def my Fav of the neighborhood food joint. The Italian Beefs are awesome.
(5)Sarah S.
So I went there after I saw them on Travel Channel for #5 best place to eat for their home made pizza puffs. So I walk in and its a neighborhood, family run spot, I like that. The Son was the one who explained how the puffs work and what comes with it and etc.. very helpful and friendly. We both got 2 different puffs with 5 ingredients and a can of pop. Its a small dining room, but I was there for the puffs.. everything was clean and that was most important. So they do take about 25 mins, but when they came to the table my mouth dropped. Its like a medium sized pizza folded in half and deep fried. I got meatballs, green peppers, onions, mushrooms and garlic. It was TO DIE FOR!!! Bring an army with you or be prepared to bring home leftovers. I had meals for 2 days.. its was o so yummy. I will def be back again and again. Its right down the street from Depot Diner so when the lines are too long there.. come here.
(4)Sean D.
Come hungry. You are gonna get you money's worth at this spot. Great neighborhood vibe. Overheard one customer say on her cell phone "all these white people coming in here ever since it was on TV." Laughed my ass off at that one. the pizza puff is huge and perfect. The dough is fried so it tastes like a stuffed doughnut. ate the puff for two days and it just got better and better. I can't wait to go back to this place. Looking for excuses to drive past every time I'm back in chicago.
(5)Hball B.
Very very bigggggg portions order one beef for three people good old school place the decor is nothing to brag about but the food makes up for it u know it's good when a old man is running the joint. I got four beefs and 16inch pizza for five people at work I ended up begging my customers to help us eat over 14 people ate it was unbelievable
(5)Dusty P.
Food: I can speak for the pizza puffs and chocolate shakes only - and I have absolutely nothing bad to say. It's like unsweetened donut wrapped around pizza fillings. I can echo pretty much everything that everyone else has said - they're HUGE, they're inexpensive, they could use a little more sauce but it's not bad enought to make me complain. I got mine to-go. I tossed it in the oven when I got home to reheat a little, and the crust was still crispy. They are - in a word - aMAHzing. (I do wish they would get their liquor license, though.) Atmosphere: I love dives like this. Order at the counter, shoot the shit for 25 minutes at a red-n-white checkered tableclothed table, and then attack the football sized deep fried goodness. No pretense, just laid back relaxation and gorging. Parking: Private lot - easy. Price: These puffs are a steal at $6.50... I don't want to give the owners any ideas, but I would probably spend $8 for what you get. Service: There isn't a whole lot of service needed... but what you get has a friendly, small-town feel to it - total win, in my book. I will definitely be back.
(4)The J.
Yes, the pizza puffs are huge. Not only are they huge, they're excellent and definitely worth the price. Without a doubt, my favorite thing to order off the menu, but there are 3 other items on the menu worth checking out as well. Italian Beef - It's not a big sandwich in terms of length, but it is FULL of beef and has a very authentic taste to it. The best way to order it is with mozzarella cheese and hot peppers and request it juicy. Probably the best beef sandwich in the Chicagoland area. Chicken Wings - No other joint in the area serves wings like Albano's does. They are to die for! They are HUGE and smothered in hot sauce (Also do BBQ and plain). They're not like those small legs that are served at other restaurants. These are JUMBO WINGS! It is also part of a full dinner which serves fries or baked potato, dinner roll and coleslaw. Definitely the place I go when I want wings. Thin Crust Pizza - I mean after all, this is a pizzeria, so I would be remiss if I didn't comment on their pizza, but in all honesty Albano's makes an awesome thin crust pizza. In my opinion, it's a three-way tie between Albano's, Anthony's and Paisans for best thin crust pizza in the Berwyn/Cicero area. Albano's uses a GENEROUS amount of cheese on their pizza, the sauce is sweet and plentiful and they don't skimp on the toppings, which by the way are fresh. And last but not least, if you don't want to wait at least an hour for your food, order it for pick-up. Pick up is usually no more than 20 minutes.
(5)Dan J.
Albano's gives you massive portions of great food for super cheap. Most of their menu is under $10 and will provide you with more than one meal. I usually call to pre-order and then pick whatever I am having up since the interior is very small and I am close by. They aren't the fastest place but it is worth the wait. This is not a health food kind of place. Everything is loaded with pounds of cheese and if you like that kind of thing you will not be disappointed.
(5)AllAround C.
Yes, the pizza puffs are gigantic!!! However, it was ok, but not outstanding. I read that it was actually a pizza folded over and that person is correct. It was messy to eat and too large (if that is possible). I felt like a pig and guilty trying to eat it. I thought the quality of the ingredients was average. Smart idea to beat the competition, but not really worth the hype.
(3)Gerry D.
I only get the pizza puffs. They are good but I alway bake mine for 30 minutes longer so that some of the juice inside will evaporate. I had an italian beef from here once, wasnt a fan. I urge you to call your order in, as it will take a while for them to make your food. Also however long that they say your food will take, add 10 minutes to that! This is definitely a carry-out spot, if you can even make it into the cramped ass parking lot!
(4)Rene L.
Great italian beef but service is extremely slow waited 15 minutes for one sandwich when no one else was there... But the great food made up for the slow cooking
(4)Reanna M.
Food here is amazing! Portions are great prices aren't bad either and staff are friendly and go beyond, "how can I help you?". I always opt for take out because it's very dingy and worn looking inside but hey, who comes for the ambiance? The food is great!
(4)Demetrius G.
I love eating here I give them a number #1 in everything
(5)Colonel M.
Huge pizza puffs... Really not bad for the price... I'll go here again but next time I'll aak for extra sauce in my puff
(3)Ang R.
This is a dive. In the best possible way; the pizza puffs are HUGE (at least two meals, at least) and tasty. And cheap! You're not at this place for atmosphere; I don't think you're even here for the other food, though don't take my word on that, because we didn't eat anything else. The pizza puff is the star here, so get one. I had sausage and mushroom, and it was great. Nothing makes me happier than actual fresh mushrooms in/on pizza, and these were fresh. Some were even slightly crunchy, in a good fresh mushroom kind of way. There's a LOT of meat in these puppies, so you've got to really like that. If I go again, I'm going to go veggie, and see how that works for me. Either way, the sausage is tasty, so don't avoid it. It's in an odd location, though if there's no traffic, it's still only 20 minutes from Lakeview by Lake Shore and the Ike. And you can definitely do pub trans if you're into that. All in all, worth the trip.
(4)Ken T.
I live in the neighborhood and have been going there for last 10yrs. The best pizza and pizza puffs in Chicago. I like that they r friendly and nice for pickup or delivery everyone should try this place they won't be disappointed.
(5)Arlene G.
I'm only reviewing their pizza puffs cuz it's the biggest pizza puff I've ever eaten in my life! It's like a medium size pizza folded in half with lots of cheese and whatever topping you ask for. I can split it with somebody and still have leftovers for the next day! Wooo hooo!
(4)Harrison C.
I saw this place on the Food Channel and had to check it out. Now I can see why it was on TV. I've only had the pizza puffs from there but that's all you really need. It's huge! The crust on the pizza puff had that perfect balance between crispy and flake on the outside and warm and soft on the inside and the taste was excellent as well. I usually get the Italian beef, bacon, mushroom and onion and it'll take me breakfast lunch and dinner to finish one. It's sooo good I like to say, "Albano's: worth the drive. worth your life."
(5)K. T.
I just got back to my hotel after having a late lunch at Albano's Pizzeria with their old owners. Their pizza puff was to die for! Huge portion. Cheesiest, meatiest, biggest pizza puff. So delicious. Well worth the 25 minutes for them to make it. If I lived near this place, it would be on my speed dial and my weekend nosh pizzeria. I'm sad we don't have a place like this in FL. I loved it!
(5)Rosalinda F.
Review for Pizza only Update:DiNico's pizza has gotten worse, so given a choice I would rather buy and Albano's pizza than a DiNico's pizza. Original Reveiw: I thought their pizza was good, but I much prefer DiNico's pizza. I can't explain why, I guess it's different strokes for different folks. Anyways the cheese was good, the thin crust was good, and the sauce was good. But I just did not like it compared to DiNico's. I think DiNico's had better cheese, sauce, and crust (more crispy which is what I like). They give you good portions on the pizza so it does not feel like they are skimping on the cheese or sauce. Like many places, you get a free pop depending on the order amount and they had Dr Pepper (and RC) which totally rocked!...Sorry for my overenthusiasm, but it just seems I can never get Dr.Pepper at pizza places. The rest of my family (my mom and three brothers) also agreed with me for what it's worth.
(3)Daniel O.
best pizza puff around. i love this place. it is quite a drive but i will put up with it for atmosphere service and above all the food. the was a joint we had in lisle that fried calzones but they went out of business. a friend of mine told me about this joint and ive eaten here since.
(5)SJ B.
OMG, I'm still full from eating 1/2 of it yesterday and the other 1/2 this morning. Heard great things about this "dive" and after spending a few hours walking around Oak Park (Frank Lloyd Wright architecture), I was hungry! Just a few miles away and not terribly inconvenient, I tried it out. Yes, it was a 1/2 hour wait for my freshly made, well-stuffed, GYNORMOUS pizza puff. When it was brought out, I literally exclaimed, "holy crap that's huge!". It really is the size of a football and weights a bit more. I had mine stuffed with sausage, onions, and mushrooms and in EVERY bite, there were those goodies. It tastes just like a pizza should and puffed, it's brilliant. During my wait for the GYNORMOUS puff, I saw all ages and colors walk in for pick-ups. Everyone seemed rather excited with the bounty they were taking home and I get it. This place is a dive gem and is a perfect compliment to the neighborhood, thus the incredibly reasonable, dare I say, cheap prices. Alas, it's too far for me to become a regular, but anytime I'm out in that part of Chicago, I'll be back. Reheated this morning, the leftovers were delightful. Just wonderful!
(5)Jasmin M.
The pizza puffs are huge! I was starving when I went there and only finished about half of it. I shared with my children and there was still pizza puff left over for the next day. My friend told me they were the size of the football, and I was sure he was exaggerating. Not only are they huge, they're actually pretty good and you can choose your own fillings. My oldest is a picky eater, so I was surprised when he was begging to get another one two days later. It's a small "dive" sort of place as others have said, but it was still pretty decent. It was clean, fairly quiet, and not at all crowded when we went. We'll definitely be back there again. I've passed it a thousand times, and never would have thought to go in there if my friend hadn't taken me.
(5)Justin R.
Ordering from Albanos might become your next party tradition. Let me tell you why, football sized pizza puffs. Thats why. Wait, let me capitalize that just to get the attention of the person who's skimming through this review..FOOTBALL SIZED PIZZA PUFFS. Okay, so now that I have your attention, these things are phenomenal. You can believe me on that one because I only bring out that word on special occasions. Looking at the menu, Stella Albano's Pizzeria has the same fare as any Italian restaurant but they have a whole lot more.They effectivly took a favorite from every type of food and put it on the menu. I haven't been in the restaurant in years and the last time I went there it was a dark place with or 5 booths. The inside may have changed but I think this restaurant is great for the delivery. Remember that one time that you were at home with your friends and wished that you could get a burger, cheese sticks, chicken strips, rips, a pizza, fried chicken, fried shrimp, Italian beef, a six pack of coke, Twinkies, maybe one of those chicken things at 7-11, and an oversized cowboy hat delivered to your door? Well, this place would have been your answer...except for the Twinkies, the 7-11 thing and the cowboy hat. Your on your own with that. So all that stuff is good but the thing that you should order first is the pizza puff. It's not on the menu for some reason but whenever I order it I always ask for it by that name. It is actually a pizza that is folded over, closed, and then fried until golden brown. When you first bite into it, the fried pizza dough crunches and then mixes in with the other ingredients. Spicy tomato sauce, sausage (or whatever topping you want - some like pepperoni for some reason), and tons of gooey cheese will shock your taste buds into life. Portion Size: So it isn't super healthy but you don't have to eat all of it at once. My dad will order a few, cut them up, and freeze them. If you can eat a 12 inch pizza all by yourself this will do you fine, for the rest of us I suggest cutting it in half and putting the other half in the freezer to have another day. //////////////////////////////////////////////////Â///////////////////////////////////////// Something you should know for Oak Park and Forest Park Residents //////////////////////////////////////////////////Â///////////////////////////////////////// The delivery doesn't suck - they are consistently slow. As long as they are consistent with the slow time I'm happy ordering an hour and a half before I want my food...and I can count on it. If they get it to me before an hour I'm one happy dude. They are always still too hot to touch when they get to my place. Bottom Line: Delivery is slow but worth it for the PHENOMENAL PIZZA PUFFS. They will become a party favorite. Order again for large portions of great lasagna and chicken parm. They don't have a website so here's some info: OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK DELIVERY $2-$3 (DEPENDING ON DISTANCE) HOURS Monday - Thursday 3:00PM - 12:00AM Friday - 11:00AM - 1:00AM Saturday - 2:00PM - 1:00AM Sunday - 2:00PM - 12:00AM AND WHAT?!
(5)Natalie R.
Stella Albano's, I have to dock you two stars for the flying ant we found in our food today. I think my pizza puff (ordered based on Robert R's review) was everything I hoped it would be, and more. I kept eating it after my co-worker found the ant in her salad. I figured that if nothing else, if there were ants mixed up with the ooey gooey cheezy heaven loaded with spinach, mushrooms, and just the right amount of sauce, then those ants were probably high quality to begin with. It was a damn good puff. I snuck a bite of my friend's beef and cheddar, too, and had another foodgasm. I might try you again another day. It is Spring....maybe you just haven't had Orkin Man out yet this season.....but it will require at least five more delicious encounters, ant-free, before I can give you the stars I think you might deserve. I only docked two stars because it was just SO good. Way better than Dimenzo's.
(3)Ernie I.
The cheesy beef was awesome! Great food and great service... I'm ordering today :)
(5)Mike K.
It's a small, crappy, out of the way pizza place....and it serves these giant, football-sized pizza puffs, pizza puffs that will make you drive 30 minutes out of the way to get one. Lots of cheese and sause and unbelievably good. It literally took an hour to actually get there and get it, but its sooo worth the trip!
(5)Justin G.
Pretty much what everyone said so far. Yes the pizza puff is awesome. I actually find it to be more of a calzone than what you normally think of when you hear pizza puff, and it makes sense if you read Robert's detailed review. In Wisconsin, I have had larger ones for the money, but let me say that for whatever reason, whether it is calzone or pizza puff we're talking about, this is the only one that actually tastes like a pizza. I can't wait to trek back through here and try other things too. They also have burgers and regular fast food items in addition to Italian food, so if you have a group and someone wants American fast food, you can get it all in the same place. Just a warning, I came here for lunch on Friday and Friday happens to be the only day they are open at 11am. The rest of the week they don't open until 3pm and 2pm on weekends. It is also easy to pass up. It is about a block or two east of Austin on the south side of the street and they have their own lot, so if you come from the west, keep you eyes open once you pass Austin. Everything seems to be made fresh here too, so it might take a little while for them to make it. Carryout or delivery might be better options than stopping in on a whim.
(5)Harrison J.
5 lbs of deep fried pizza goodness for only $9 is something that can't be beat. It's no surprise that this place ranked in the top 100 tastiest places to eat. The regular thin crust pizza is pretty good, but this place is mainly known for the football-sized pizza puffs. These are far from the cheap Italco puffs. Instead of phylo dough, they use a very thin pizza dough to support the size and weight of these monsters. They come backed full of cheese, sauce, and whatever ingredients you choose. When you bite into one fresh out of the fryer, it has a slight doughnutty taste with a very flavorful, super-greasy pizza inside. If you can't handle that much fat, grease, and calories, then I would definately suggest trying the italian beef.
(5)Cesar M.
albanos never disappoints me. always leaves me with a smile on my face. get the pizza-puff or just a chesse and sausage pizza. its all good
(5)Ted o.
Albanos!!!!.....i spent my formative years in Cicero and this place will always be in high regard because of the juggernaut of a pizza-puff.....at least once a month we all order dinner from Albanos and it is all good stuff.....the cheesy beef is served open-faced in a massive foil container....i love seeing a foil food container...it shines like silver!....MY PRECIOUS!!!!!!......sorry about that.....seriously good food and out of this world PIZZA PUFF....
(4)Allison K.
I can't believe that only one other person has yelped Albano's! Since I have only have had their delivery, I'm going to only rave about what exactly made me love Albano's Pizzeria. All I can say is PIZZA PUFFS. These pizza puff at Albano's are huge, and just like Robert R. had said, they ARE the size of a football. These pizza puffs are stuffed with lots of cheese, meats, and sauce and they are absolutely cooked to perfection. After having one of these pizza puff's you'll never want to get one of those "tiny" pizza puffs again. Next time I'm craving Albano's Pizzeria I'm definitely going to eat at their restaurant so I can try more items on their menu.
(5)