Deep Thoughts

News, history, and deep dish musings from Gino’s East. Subscribe via RSS

Gino’s East South Loop Is Back and Better Than Ever

— David Orion Alvarez

If you’ve ever walked down South Wabash on a summer evening, you know there’s something different about this stretch of the South Loop. It’s laid-back but lively. A little gritty, a little polished. It’s where locals find their go-to neighborhood spots, and visitors discover slices of Chicago they didn’t know they were missing.

Gluten-Free Pizza Options That Actually Taste Good

— David Orion Alvarez

Let’s face it—gluten-free pizza hasn’t always had the best reputation. If you’ve ever bitten into a slice expecting melty cheese and bold flavor, only to be met with a dry, cardboard-like crust, you’re not alone. For years, those seeking gluten-free pizza options had to sacrifice texture, taste, or both.

Chicago-Style Deep Dish vs. New York-Style Pizza: Which One Reigns Supreme?

— David Orion Alvarez

Let’s settle this once and for all—Chicago-style deep dish vs. New York-style pizza. It's a debate as heated as a brick oven and as cheesy as, well, our pizza. Both styles have legions of loyal fans, but at Gino’s East, we’re proudly team Chicago deep dish (with plenty of sauce to prove it). But this isn’t about throwing shade—it’s about celebrating the art of pizza, two ways.

Caruso and Gino’s Collaboration: A Spicy New Chapter in Chicago Pizza

— David Orion Alvarez

Chicago is a city built on bold flavors. Whether it's our legendary deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches dripping with jus, or a Chicago-style hot dog (hold the ketchup!), we take our food seriously. But there’s one ingredient that has been quietly setting taste buds on fire for generations—giardiniera.

From Wall to Table: Pizza and Personality at Gino’s East

— David Orion Alvarez

When you step through the doors of Gino’s East, it’s clear you’re not just entering a pizzeria—you’re becoming part of a story that stretches back to 1966. The smell of slow-simmered tomato sauce and freshly baked deep-dish crust might be what first hits you, but it’s the walls that truly stop you in your tracks.

Crafting the Perfect Cheese-Pull Pizza at Gino's East

— David Orion Alvarez

There’s a magical moment in every pizza lover’s journey: that glorious, slow-motion cheese pull. It’s the kind of experience that stops conversations mid-sentence, demands the flash of a camera, and brings pure joy to anyone lucky enough to witness it.

Perfect Pairings: Beers to Enhance Your Deep Dish Pizza Experience

— Andrea Saenz

At Gino’s East, not only are we passionate about crafting the perfect deep dish pizza, but we also pride ourselves on our selection of fine beers. Each beer on our menu is chosen to enhance the dining experience, offering a harmonious match with our hearty pizzas.

The Anatomy of the Perfect Deep Dish Pizza

— David

Discover the anatomy of the perfect deep dish pizza at Gino's East, Chicago's legendary pizzeria. Enjoy fresh crust, rich sauce, melty cheese, and gourmet toppings crafted to perfection.

Gino's East Catering

— David

Gino's East Catering is more than just pizza. We offer a variety of delicious options to satisfy every palate… From classic Italian dishes like spaghetti and meatballs to sandwiches and salads, Gino's East Catering has something to please everyone at the party.

Pizza is the Best Dinner Choice (You already knew this)

— David

Okay, time to confirm your suspicions. Pizza is, hands-down, the best option for dinner. For everyone. Pizza is a beloved food around the world, and for good reason. Not only is it delicious…but…. wait for it: it can also be a nutritious and well-balanced dinner option.

The Mozzarella Stick Story

— David

If you think about it, mozzarella sticks are a fairly bizarre menu item. Take your richest, stringiest, most delicious mozzarella cheese, toss it in bread crumbs, and throw it in hot oil. Fry till golden. How did that idea ever cross any sane restaurateur’s mind?

Deep Dish Around the World

— David

Good things have a way of spreading. Delicious deep dish has inspired the whole globe! Check out some of these international takes on Chicago's classic pizza pie.

How to Eat Deep Dish Pizza

— David

Deep dish looks so good it’s intimidating. How, exactly, do you eat deep dish pizza? Can you use a knife and fork? Where do you start? We’ll tell you everything you need to know in our pizza-eating guide. But at the end of the day, what’s important is that you accept that it is going to be an adventure. Here’s to taking part in a classic Chicago tradition!

Why is Deep Dish So Controversial?

— David

Everyone has an opinion on deep dish pizza. Everyone who’s tried it—and plenty of people who haven’t—have something to say. There are naysayers and die-hards, haters, and superfans. Here in Chicago, it amounts to being a patriot or a traitor—but that’s another topic for another day. From the battle of pizza-vs-not-a-pizza to the recipe-stealing, kitchen-spying history, deep-dish pizza fires people up.

We Stand With Ukraine

— David

We stand with Ukraine. Learn about our commitment to supporting the community and global causes at Gino's East.

Gino's East Family Meal Deal

— David

Make dinner a breeze with our new family meal! For only $30 you get a 12” Deep Dish pizza or 16” Thin Crust pizza, House or Caesar salad and 4 cookies, perfect for 4! Want to spice it up a little bit? Add a bottle of wine, your choice of Chardonnay, Prosecco or Malbec. Get this date night kit for $50!

Deep Dish Conversations

— David

This is Deep Dish Conversations – an interview series in which community advocate, Jerome Moore, sits down with prominent figures in Nashville, TN to discuss deep issues over deep dish pizza.

The Lovelady Family - A Slice of Gino's History

— David

Just like our pizzas, family history runs deep at Gino’s East. We chatted with Nikita Lovelady – current Gino’s East manager – to discuss the profound impact that three generations of Lovelady ladies have made on our Gino’s family

Alice Mae Redmond – A Slice of Gino's History

— David

Did a sweet, soft-spoken cook develop part of the pizza that has been acclaimed as the best in Chicago – thus making it the best Chicago-style deep dish pizza in the world?

Authentic Tavern Style Pizza Has Arrived In Nashville!

— David

Chicago’s other iconic style of pizza is now being served at Gino’s East location in Nashville. Known for their famous deep-dish pizza, Gino’s East is proud to bring the Windy City staple to Nashville. Created in the early 20th century, this type of thin crust pizza is famed for its crispy, cracker like crust and distinctive square cut.

Gluten Free Menu Options!

— David

We wanted to take a moment and highlight some of our delicious, gluten free menu options available at some of our restaurants! We have several gluten free options, check them out!

Joining #StopHateForProfit

— David

We are joining the multitude of other companies that are supporting the #StopHateForProfit movement by pulling out advertising campaigns from the Facebook and Instagram advertising platform. Joining the NAACP , Color of Change , the ADL , and all of the other businesses that join us in calling for Facebook to take a more definitive and strong approach to end the misuse of their platform for hate speech, racism, and violence. As of July 1st, we have paused all of our campaigns on their advertising platform, including Facebook and Instagram, to support the #StopHateFor Profit campaign. We encourage fellow business owners and individuals to take action as well and join the campaign. To learn more about the misuse of Facebook, and about the #StopHateForProfit campaign, click here .

Sacred Keepers x Gino's East

— David

In a continued effort to support organizations with the goal of promoting conversations about learning, inclusion, and diversity, we were proud to help provide meals for volunteers working with Sacred Keepers this past Friday. Sacred Keepers Sustainability Lab is a Chicago-based non-profit dedicated to teaching youth to inherit the earth through environmental STEM education, sustainable service learning initiatives and youth-driven social philanthropy. Please join us in continuing to support their initiatives by following them on social! Sacred Keepers Facebook | Sacred Keepers Instagram | Sacred Keepers Website

Patio Season Is Here!

— David

With the temperatures rising and the sun peeking out from the spring clouds, our patios are starting to open! This summer is especially exciting, as we are providing new outdoor dining opportunities! Take a look at some of our awesome patio options below!

Free Beer For Dad!

— David

Treat dad this Father’s Day with a free pint of beer on us!

Introducing the Gino's Family Meal

— David

Make dinner a breeze with our new family meal! For only $30 you get a 12” Deep Dish pizza or 16” Thin Crust pizza, House or Caesar salad and 4 cookies! This meal feeds up to 4 people.

Supporting Forgotten Heroes

— David

As we continue to support essential workers in Chicago and beyond, we wanted to take a moment to highlight an extra special donation. As Chicago continues to take efforts to keep its citizens safe and healthy, travel nurses from around the Midwest, and the country, have come to our aid. Many of these travel nurses bravely left their family and homes to come to the aid of those in need.

Heroes Program's First Delivery!

— David

We are so happy to have donated our first round of meals to Northwestern Hospital in Chicago! Through our heroes program, which has been funded through both our employees as well as customers!

COVID-19 Safety Measures

— David

We are taking the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously and are ensuring safety for you, our customers, as well as our employees and staff within the store. During these unprecedented times, we are doing everything we can to keep everyone healthy and safe!

Deep Dish Instagram Captions!

— David

What is the best way to convey the delicious, cheesy creation that you’re eating to all of your loyal instagram followers? Well, we did the thinking for you! Find the best captions below for your deep dish pictures!

Introducing Our New Packaging!

— David

Learn about our new packaging for our pizza available in grocery stores! New look, same great taste!

Win A Dinner For Two!

— David

Win a free dinner for two! Enter to win a three course dinner for you and a loved one for FREE! Make sure to enter on our website!

New Year, New Location!

— David

We are so excited to come to the West Coast! Bringing a slice of authentic Chicago deep dish to sunny California was no easy task, but we are so happy to finally be open!

Vegan Pizza Is Here!

— David

We finally cut the cheese. That's right. Deep Dish just went vegan and dairy free.

How to host the perfect game day!

— David

GAME ON! If you're hositng a game day party, keep reading for perfect tips and tricks on how to have your audeince saying your party was a touch down!

Our new mobile app

— David

All of your pizza prayers have finally been answered: we have a new app! Whether you're ordering pickup or delivery, our new app makes it a breeze to get a delicious slice in just minutes. Featuring our full menu of pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and more, getting a slice of pizza has never been easier.

10 pizza themed halloween costumes for 2019!

— David

It's official spooky season, which means it is time to start thinking of your Halloween costume for this year! Whether you're headed to a costume party, trick-or-treating, or just hanging out at home, we have 10 great pizza themed costumes to inspire you this year!

Plan your summer city trip!

— David

Even though the summer is coming to an end, there is still time to sqeeuze in one more trip to the city! Even if you're a local, there is always more to discover and do in your own city. We have collected a list of our favorite lists of things to do in Chicago.

The cheesy legend

— David

Meaty Legend, step aside. There’s a new legend in town and it’s all about the cheese.

Chatty AF; Meet Gino's Brew Pub Brewmaster Kevin McMahon

— David

Being a brewmaster requires a whole lot more than just taste testing the latest batch of beer to come out of the barrel. It takes time, dedication, passion, and perseverance. So, today we decided to dig deep into the man behind the beer, our resident beer aficionado, and brewmaster, Kevin McMahon.