I thought I’d talk a bit about the pizza places around Romeoville, especially since I just gorged at Old World Original Pizza & Fat Ricky’s this afternoon. I have my favorites, my least favorites, and one that fills both of those categories. I’ll start with that one first.
Fat Ricky’s is a real conundrum, because I actually can’t stand most of their pizza. Above anything else, it’s bland and flavorless. Adding fresh garlic was almost enough to make their thin crust a passable meal when we ordered it last. Their pan pizza is the same deal, just with more bread, and somehow LESS cheese.
But, here’s why I’ll always go back. I LOVE their Double Decker pizza. I don’t know what makes it so different from their other pizzas, but it’s one of my favorites in town. I assume they use the same ingredients, basically laying two pizzas onto each other. It’s not rocket science.
So, again, what makes it different? Is it the extra sauce? Is it that I request extra cheese? Do they secretly stuff marijuana between the layers, creating a magical pie of delicious delirium? Maybe that’s why I see colors every time I eat one of their pizzas.
I honestly haven’t tried the rest of their food. Katie said the chicken tenders were decent and our friend Sabrina likes their Buffalo Chicken Salad (ranch dressing on the side). The garlic bread is mega crunchy, which isn’t how I prefer it, but was still pretty tasty. One day I’ll get adventurous and try something new.
My favorite all around pizza place in Romeoville, though, is Rosati’s. I’ve never had a bad pie from their. I love their stuffed pizza, and especially love their deep dish, which is cooked up like something from Gino’s East. I have had other food there, so I can personally vouch for their calzones and eggplant Parmesan sandwiches as tasty. The 2.75 slice and a pop lunch deal is pretty nice as well.
My least favorite, and apparently I’m in the minority in this one, is At’s-A-Nice Pizza. Talk about a greasy pie. Even as a kid, I was never wowed by their food. I preferred anything over eating it. Hell, I’d rather eat Pizza Hut than At’s-A-Nice. I remember having to use a napkin to sponge up grease on any piece I ate. The flavor was always just okay. And I can get “okay” pizza anywhere. If I’m spending money, I’d like something a little better.
There’s also a couple places that I’m not including, because I either haven’t eaten there in years, or I don’t remember much about their food. Michael’s Pizza actually used to be my favorite pizza in the area. I was convinced that there was crack in their sauce, because I’d even eat that stuff stone cold. That was actually the only pizza I’ve ever eaten straight from the refrigerator. It turns out that it wasn’t crack, but according to someone who worked there, it was beef grease added to the sauce. Being a vegetarian, that pretty much ended my love affair with that particular chain right there.
And finally, I know I’ve eaten from Giovanny’s. I remember going in and picking up a pizza from there, but for the life of me, I can’t remember what it tastes like. I remember saying I enjoyed it, so I’d probably recommend it over At’s-A-Nice or Michael’s, but I cannot give an honest report. So I won’t. So there.
Of course, none of these places beat the pizza we’ve had from either Pizzeria D.O.C. or Homemade Pizza Co. in Chicago. I’m not a fan of thin crust, but Pizzeria D.O.C. makes some of the best potato and rosemary thin crust around; and don’t get me started about the Wild Mushroom pizza from Homemade Pizza Co. I have, and I will eat an entire pizza from those two places by myself. Luckily Homemade Pizza Co. is opening a couple locations in Naperville shortly, so I’ll be able to get it more often.
Just remember, as my friend Anna learned, it’s called Homemade for a reason. They prepare it fresh, but you have to cook it yourself. Don’t make the same mistakes!
Filed under: Naperville, pizza, restaurants, review, Romeoville, suburbs | 5 Comments »
If it’s one thing Katie and I miss, it’s the falafel from Olive Branch in downtown Naperville. It was a tiny restaurant that could easily be passed up, but if they didn’t make the greatest falafel, falafel sandwiches and stuffed grape leaves I’ve ever had. One day they were gone, replaced by a pizza place, which was then replaced by Olive Branch, only to become a completely empty store front.So, looking for a good falafel sandwich in the suburbs, a friend recommended 
For the longest time, I was convinced Chinese, or any Asian, food was all the same. You could get fried rice, egg foo yung, or any of the other typical dishes from anywhere and they’d all look and taste alike. I live in suburban hell, it’s all I knew growing up. As I got older though, and more importantly, got my own car, I started expanding my horizons.
Appetizers consisted of a gourmet tofu salad. Soft tofu and almonds sat atop a variety of lettuces, all covered in their delicious house sauce. Katie ordered steamed chicken dumplings which she gave a mighty thumbs up to.
But we all agreed that Cho Dang provided a great experience. Our table was full of empty bowls (pictured), and none of us complained about going home hungry. The staff was friendly, explaining anything we didn’t understand, and constantly making sure we were happy. We’ll definitely be making a return visit.
If you’re going to take the plunge, and jump into the world of fine Japanese cuisine, there’s no better place to try than Wild Tuna Sushi located in a small strip mall near the Dominick’s on Route 59 and 95th Street.
